Mangham continues streak over DCS, 23-14

The Swamp – A defensive battle was probably not what anyone was expecting in this annual affair between the two Richland Parish schools as the Mangham Dragons had won six straight meetings by more than 20 points with the closest game back in 2010 which was a 10-point margin.
Delhi Charter Quarterback Mason Hale had four turnovers in the game and the Mangham defense gained the upper hand in the 23-14 win.
The first quarter was all defense as neither team could get much going. However, on the first play of the second quarter, Dragon QB Adam Eley threw a short pass to James Criff and he did the rest covering the 20-yards to the endzone. Kolby Poindexter added the conversion for the 7-0 lead.
That lead was short-lived as J’Quan Polly gathered Poindexter’s kickoff and raced 80-yards for the answering touchdown. Polly’s celebration antics appeared to ensure that Mangham kept the lead after the 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball back to the 18 for the conversion. However, Hale lofted a pass to the endzone that Desmond Longino hauled in for the conversion and gave DCS a very rare 8-7 lead over Mangham.
Defensively, DCS’ once again held off the Mangham offense on the next series but Hale’s first interception of the night tipped off Longino’s hands at the 2:04 mark before halftime and right into Criff’s waiting arms. He raced untouched 49-yards the other direction for the score. Poindexter’s kick put Mangham back ahead 14-8.
The only negative thing for the Dragons in the half came on the next Gator series, as Hale connected with his favorite target Longino for a 43-yard completion down to the Mangham 27. Unfortunately, Criff injured his knee on the tackle of Longino and never returned to the field. As the horn sounded ending the half, Donovon Hayes intercepted Hale for the first of his two INTs on the night to secure the 14-8 lead.
“Turnovers will kill you and we just had too many to overcome tonight,” DCS Head Coach Brett Raley said. “Our defense stayed on the field too long because offensively, we couldn’t do anything consistently running the ball tonight and four turnovers just won’t get it done.”
DCS got the second half kickoff and got one first down at fourth-and-one from its own 34 thanks to a Mangham offsides, but the Gators were unable to capitalize. The Dragons offense decided to flex some muscled on its opening drive as they marched 15 straight running plays from the 15 to the Gator 10.
There DCS freshman lineman Hayden Arledge made three straight tackles to force a Poindexter 28-yard field goal and he connected which upped the lead to 17-8.
On the Gator’s next drive, Hale threw another interception to Hayes and then Hayes took matters into his own hands as two plays later, he broke free for the longest run of the night, 34 yards, to essentially put the game out of reach.
Poindexter misfired on the PAT but the Dragons led 23-8 with 9:36 left in the contest.
Delhi Charter had one last glimmer of hope on the next drive as Hale connected with Longino twice for first downs and Mangham’s Andrew Sevier was flagged for a personal foul for spiking the ball after he thought he had a fumble recovery. The first of Longino’s first downs was eight yards and the second was 49 yards down to the one where the Dragon’s Donte Slaughter saved the TD temporarily. Hale bulled over for the final yard and a two-point conversion would have brought the game back within reach with 5:29 remaining. However, fullback Trenton Jinks was stopped at the one which sealed the win.
Donovan Hayes finished as the game’s leading rusher with 112 yards on 21 carries along with his two interceptions. Eley chipped in four completions for 40 yards and 29 rushing yards on eight carries for the Mangham offense. DCS’ Longino finished as the leading receiver in the game and now has the school record for the most receiving yards in a game with 133 on six catches.
While we’re talking about records, this is the ninth straight Mangham victory in the series with the last DCS win coming back in 2008 at 42-27. Mangham’s defense held DCS to the second fewest rushing yards ever with only 36 yards on 30 carries and also held the Gators to the fewest yards ever back in 2005 at -3, which was the first year DCS joined LHSAA.
However, this was the first time DCS was held without a rushing first down in a game. I did verify that DCS had four rushing first downs in that 2005 game and the negative yards were mainly due to a long fumble and two sacks.
In case anyone cares, this was the first district contest of the year for these teams but I vowed several years ago with the power point system and when the divisions were split into public/private that I would not write about district records, etc. since it is basically meaningless now.
Mangham will travel to Beekman Charter (0-3) next week to take on the Tigers. Beekman lost 43-0 to Vidalia last Friday.
Delhi Charter will be on the road next week as well to play D’Arbonne Woods Charter (0-3) for the first time ever.
The Wolves are coming off a 50-7 forfeit to Lincoln Prep in which the game ended at halftime. Kickoff for both contests is scheduled for 7 p.m.