The Streak Ends at 89

What a game!!! South Panola vs. Meridian for the 2008 State Championship....20-26. In an overtime fight, South Panola just couldn't get across that line. I was so bad wanting to see that 90-0 record!! They've had an excellent streak....

The game was very exciting! It was back and forth the entire time. By the end of it, I was standing about 2 feet from the TV. They fought hard til the end...Meridian fought back. Both teams played a game they can be proud of! I'm happy to be a TIGER!!!


A little recap of the excitement:

11:55 1st Quarter: South Panola has possession of the football to start the game.

10:44 1st Quarter: Meridian has their first chance with the football following a South Panola punt.

8:05 1st Quarter: South Panola quarterback David Renfroe completes a pass to midfield for a Tigers first down, but the drive stalls.

0:15 1st Quarter: Meridian quarterback Tyler Russell takes a shot at the end zone from the 21-yard line but the pass is incomplete.

End of the 1st Quarter: Meridian has the ball 3rd-and-3 from the 15-yard line. South Panola-0, Meridian-0

11:05 2nd Quarter: Meridian quarterback Russell is stopped on fourth down from the 14-yard line. South Panola takes over on downs.

10:20 2nd Quarter: South Panola fumbles the football on the next snap, and Meridian takes over inside the 10-yard line.

9:06 2nd Quarter: Two plays later, Meridian running back Quarderak Martin takes the hand-off into the end zone to give the Wildcats the lead. Meridian-7, South Panola-0

6:33 2nd Quarter: Meridian punt returner J.J. Harbin muffs a punt inside the 30-yard line, and South Panola has the football 16 yards from the Wildcat end zone.

3:11 2nd Quarter: South Panola quarterback Renfroe connects on fourth down for a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Xavier Lee. South Panola-7, Meridian-7

1:10 2nd Quarter: Meridian quarterback Russell and his receivers cannot connect on back-to-back deep passes. South Panola has the ball following a Wildcat punt, and it looks like the Tigers will run the clock down to the half.

Halftime: South Panola-7, Meridian-7

8:56 3rd Quarter: Meridian is driving, and Russell just completed a pass to the South Panola 6-yard line. 1st-and-Goal.

7:28 3rd Quarter: Meridian quarterback Russell hits wide receiver Marcus McQuarley on a 6-yard touchdown pass to the outside. Meridian-14, South Panola-7

6:16 3rd Quarter: South Panola quarterback Renfroe scoots around the end for a 13-yard run. 1st-and-Goal at the 10-yard line.

5:32 3rd Quarter: South Panola running back Nic holas Parker runs to the left side and scores a touchdown on a 4-yard dash through the Meridian defense. South Panola-14, Meridian-14

4:58 3rd Quarter: Meridian quarterback Russell completes a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Chris Smith. Russell completes two more consecutive passes to set up 1st-and-Goal.

3:10 3rd Quarter: Meridian running back James Barnett plunges across the goal line from 3 yards out to give the Wildcats the lead once again. But the extra point was missed. Meridian-20, South Panola-14

End of 3rd Quarter: Meridian-20, South Panola-14

7:29 4th Quarter: South Panola quarterback Renfroe connects on a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Taylor Rotenberry. With a missed extra point, the game is tied. South Panola-20, Meridian-20

4:14 4th Quarter: South Panola has the ball on their own 33-yard line after a Meridian punt.

1:13 4th Quarter: South Panola running back Nicholas Parker is stopped on 4th-and-One. Meridian takes possession of the football on their 44-yard line. Both fan bases are on their feets.

0:47 4th Quarter: Meridian's Russell completes a screen pass to the South Panola 28-yard line.

0:28 4th Quarter: Meridian has the ball at the South Panola 15-yard line. A field goal is a strong possibility for the Meridian Wildcats to go for the win. Stay tuned.

0:15 4th Quarter: Meridian 3rd-and-9 pass is incomplete. 4th down, Meridian has the kicker on the field with 10 seconds. South Panola calls two timeouts, and Meridian commits a 5-yard penalty. Try is from 35 yards. Kick is no good. OVERTIME here in Jackson.

End of 4th Quarter: South Panola-20, Meridian-20

Overtime: Meridian will be on offense to start the period from the 10-yard line. James Barnett scores on a short touchdown run from inside the 5-yard line, but the extra point is missed. Meridian-26, South Panola-20. South Panola's turn with the football.

Overtime: South Panola has 2nd-and-Goal coming up from the 10-yard line. Nicholas Parker gains 4 yards and sets up a 3rd-and-Goal. Renfroe is sacked on the play. 4th down is all that stands between 90-0 and 89-1. Renfroe is sacked on a 4th down scramble, and Meridian wins the Class 5A State Championship for Mississippi, 26-20, in overtime.

2008 Class 5A Football State Champions: Meridian Wildcats