Ryan Moore took a direct snap for 60 yards to the house for East Feliciana on the game’s first play from scrimmage against Kentwood.
The Tigers never trailed after the quick touchdown. The Kangaroos scored on the ensuing drive but never managed to break the Tigers defense again. East Feliciana (8-1) held Kentwood to just 181 total yards of offense in a 22-6 win on Friday night at East Feliciana High.
“I’ve got to take hats off to my defense,” Tigers coach Darius Matthews said. “I’ve got to commend my coaching staff. No moment is too big for us.”
Tigers quarterback Marcus Cannon’s play helped his side extend the lead. He passed for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He added 98 yards rushing on 16 carries. Moore added 91 yards rushing on just five carries, and 41 yards receiving on three receptions.
The win allowed East Feliciana clinch the District 9-1A title.
“It’s something that we had on our calendar to accomplish,” Matthews said. “We had this date circled. We knew it would be a big game, and we played the way we’re supposed to.”
Kentwood (8-1) answered East Feliciana’s opening drive with a methodical 14-play, 60-yard drive that included 12 runs for 54 yards. Kaleb Magee punched it in from 4 yards out in the first quarter.
The Tigers slowed things down on their next drive after the one-play score by ripping off a 15-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. Cannon completed four passes for 67 yards, including an 8-yard strike to Aiden Johnson for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal.
East Feliciana reached Kentwood’s 1-yard line later in the second quarter, but penalties pushed the team back. The Tigers faced fourth-and-goal from the 8, but Kentwood forced an incompletion.
Kentwood failed to capitalize after a three-and-out. The Kangaroos amassed just 7 yards on two of their three drives in the first half.
The Kangaroos crossed midfield to start the third before a Tigers defender punched the ball out of Magee’s hands, forcing a fumble. Tristian McKee scooped up the loose ball and returned it 50 yards to set East Feliciana up at the Kentwood 35.
After the turnover, Cannon scrambled for a 24-yard run to get the Tigers inside the 10. After two penalties pushed them back to the 17, Cannon found Jayvon Jackson over the middle for a touchdown.
Kentwood then drove to East Feliciana’s 11. After two negative runs and an incomplete pass, the Kangaroos faced a fourth down at 27. Magee found a receiver in the end zone, but the catch was ruled out of bounds for a turnover-on-downs.
The Kangaroos crossed midfield again early in the fourth, but Cannon picked off Magee to end another drive. Two plays later, a fumbled handoff gave Kentwood possession at the Tigers 14. East Feliciana held strong despite the short field after Magee threw his second interception of the game to Keshaun Toney on fourth-and-goal.
East Feliciana milked the clock the rest of the way to secure the victory.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten a district championship,” Cannon said. “It’s my last year, and I can say that I was the one who got us a district championship at home.”
