By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

GULFPORT — The North squad broke the South’s four-year winning streak in the 76th Bernard Blackwell Football Classic with a 16-13 win at Milner Stadium on Saturday.

The North team, which was the home team and coached by Ripley’s Perry Liles, took the lead early in the second quarter at 14-13, and they held the visitors scoreless the rest of the way.

“It was a really great game between two really good football teams,” said Liles. “I’m so proud of our north guys. It’s been quite a few years since the North has won, and we’ve worked on making it happen and playing as a team.”

Holly Springs runningback Tray Kinkle carried the winning score from one yard out with just under nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. The North added an insurance score with a safety with 7:43 remaining on the game clock to close out the game’s scoring.

After pinning the South at their own one-yard line on a punt, the South was called for a holding penalty in the end zone, which resulted in the safety.

The South got on the scoreboard first after kicking off to the North to start the game. On the third snap of the game, Hattiesburg’s Demarcus Baker intercepted Itawamba’s Justin Austin Wood and returned it 35 yards to the North’s 14-yard line. The South would advance the ball to the North’s one-yard line, but could not punch it in for a touchdown. On fourth down, their field goal attempt was blocked and recovered by the North, but the North’s player fumbled, and the ball was recovered by the South 18 yards from the goal line.

The South immediately took advantage of their second chance. On the first snap Kemper County’s Kendetryon Backstrom connected with Noxubee County’s Darian Wells for the 18-yard scoring toss to open the game’s scoring at 7-0.

The North responded with a 14-play 67-yard drive resulting with Cleveland Central’s Javaris Beamon connecting with South Panola’s Marcus Christon, Jr. for a 21-pass play to even the game at 7-7.

Pascagoula’s Silas Corder made one of the biggest plays of the game on the South’s ensuing possession as he connected with Quitman’s Jaleil Cameron for a 76-yard pass play to the North’s 5-yard line with about two minutes left in the first quarter.

Oak Grove’s Kylin Champagne would close out the South’s scoring from one yard out as the PAT kick missed.

“It’s been a great week down here and a great opportunity to represent the state of Mississippi and the schools,” said the South’s coach Cory Reynolds of West Jones. “It was a great honor. We have some great coaches and a great group of kids. Not only great football players, great human beings that are going to be great fathers and great husbands and great workers.

“It’s been a great experience,” said Reynolds. “Great weather and a great game today. The kids played hard, it was a fun game, and it’s something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

Christon was named the North’s offensive player of the game, and Madison Central’s Myles Miller was named the North’s defensive player of the game.

Cameron was named the South’s offensive player of the game, and Petal’s Jaylen Doss was named the South’s offensive player of the game.