MHSSA 6A Football Championship Recap and Gallery brought to you by: Play It Again Sports – Hattiesburg, MS
HATTIESBURG – Oxford mounted a stunning comeback in the second half, rallying from a 21-3 halftime deficit to defeat Oak Grove 31-21 in the Class 6A State Championship Game at Roberts Stadium. It was the Chargers’ first state title in their fifth finals appearance.
After spotting the Chargers a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter, the Warriors scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions in the second quarter, the last with 10 seconds remaining in the first half on a trick play, the Philly Special.
But the Chargers roared out of the halftime locker room and scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the third quarter to narrow the margin to 21-16.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Warriors drove to a first and goal at the Oxford 10. Three runs put Oak Grove inside the 1, but Damon Stewart was stopped on a quarterback sneak on fourth down, and the Chargers then drove 99 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
Oxford added a clinching score after stopping Oak Grove on fourth down at the Warrior 28.
Quarterback John Meagher ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries for Oxford (14-1), and he completed 5 of 9 passes for 110 yards and two TD passes. J.J. Pegues caught three passes for 107 yards and both scores.
Nick Milsap ran 24 times for 119 yards to lead Oak Grove (11-4). Stewart completed 14 of 28 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown for the Warriors.
By Stanley Caldwell
