By Veto Roley/Sports Writer
GAUTIER — In the end, a weird night was a win for Gautier.
Lightning stopped the game early in the third quarter Friday night, but not before Gators sophomore quarterback Keon McNeil threw five touchdown passes to four different receivers and lead Gautier to a 33-19 win over visiting West Harrison in the “Swamp”.
Because the game went into the third quarter, and was stopped after 10 p.m. by game officials after a lengthy delay, officials with the Mississippi High School Athletic Association ruled the game was an official game for the two schools, which are in different classes, meaning the results do not count towards region standings and the playoffs.

Gautier is now 2-1 and West Harrison is 1-2 on the young campaign.
On a stormy night, Hurricane winds blew early as West Harrison came out with an 11-play, 62 yard drive punctuated by Austin McInnis’ 5 yard scoring run to make it 7-0 Hurricanes with 6:27 left in the first quarter. Then, after both teams exchanged possessions without scoring, McNeil took over.
In Gautier’s second drive, McNeil hooked up with Devon Garrett on pass plays of 6 and 24 yards before connecting with the senior wide out for a 29-yard scoring strike to even the game at 7-7.

After the Gautier defense held West Harrison to a three-and-out, McNeil returned to carving up the Hurricanes secondary, hitting Canine Booker on an eight-yard throw on drives set up by runs of 27 and 7 yards by Latrell Pogue.
Gautier’s kick was a bouncer through the West Harrison return team, allowing the Gators to cover the ball when West Harrison was unable to corral the kick. Two plays later, McNeil found Ashaun Tubbs for a 20-yard scoring strike to give Gautier a 21-7 lead.
Gautier again bounced the kickoff through the Hurricanes kick return unit. But, this time Floyd McCray caught the bounce on the right hashmarks at the 32, went left to his blocking and returned the ball down the left sideline for a 68-yard touchdown return.

McNeil, returning to the field for the Gators third consecutive offensive series, directed a nine-play, 70 yard drive hitting Garrett on passes of 17 and 14 yards before connecting with Pogue for 22 yards, giving Gautier a 27-13 lead.
Late in the half, after a Jaden Allen interception, McNeil and Gautier, operating from the Hurricanes’ 47, went back to work. A 26 yard completion to Pogue would set up McNeil’s final score of the night, 28-yard pass play to Garrett, giving the Gators a 33-12 lead with 1:43 left in the first half.
McNeil finished 15-of-25 passing for 221 yards.
McNeil said the win was needed after last week’s 35-14 loss to D’Iberville. “We needed to show what we could do tonight.”
“We did some good things defensively and we looked good on offense,” said Gautier head coach Marc High. “Overall I’m happy with the way we played.”
High noted all three of Gautier’s games have been affected by weather this year. And while he said the Gators got enough of a game in to make them better, they still haven’t been able to play all four quarters without a weather break.

“We still don’t know where our legs will be in the fourth quarter (of a non-delayed game),” he said.
For West Harrison coach Quincy Patrick the outcome was disappointing, saying his team was perhaps too confident after beating Forest 39-17 last week.
“It may have opened some eyes,” he said. “You have to work hard every day of the week.”
For Gautier, Pogue carried the ball 11 times for 86 yards on the night. He also added four catches for 66 yards and a score for 152 total yards in the half. Garrett finished with seven catches for 124 yards and two scores.
Nayshawn Crawford paced West Harrison with 54 yards on 11 carries, including a 16 yard scoring sprint with 37 seconds left in the first half that made the final 33-19.
Both coaches noted Friday’s game was part of a long season.
“We want to be playing good football in late October and early November,” Patrick said. “We’ll be fine.”
“There’s a lot of things we can work on,” High said, “but we feel like we’re in a really good spot.”