Chicks hold off Okolona, Miss., 25-24

OKOLONA, Miss. -- The Blytheville Chickasaws overcame five turnovers and hung on for a 25-24 win over host Okolona, Friday night.

Blytheville's Demekko Clark picked off Chieftain quarterback Tyson Eddie with 1:11 to play, and moments later Demadre Clark ran for a key first down to ice the game.

Banged up earlier in the contest, Demadre Clark still managed an 11-yard touchdown run late in the game that gave the lead back to the Chicks, who were ahead most of the game, until an Okolona defensive score with 6:12 remaining. Demadre Clark finished with 171 yards to lead all Blytheville rushers.

Early on, it didn't appear the game would come down to the wire. Blytheville got off to a fast start, scoring two quick touchdowns.

Demadre Clark started the game with a 32-yard run. Four plays later, the Chicks (2-0) converted a fourth-and-1 with a five-yard run from Clark. Caleb Brown punched it in from six yards outs with 10:03 left in the first quarter, capping an eight-play 62-yard drive. Waltarius Daniels booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead -- the extra point proved to be critical late in the game.

Okolona turned it over on downs at the BHS 28 and the Chicks marched down the field again. This time, they took to the air. Tyrell King caught four balls from Bailey Cason on the drive, including a 16-yard touchdown grab at the 4:43 mark. The eight-play scoring drive put BHS up 13-0. King was just getting started as he hauled in nine catches for 113 yards in the first two quarters alone and 11 for 121 in the game.

The Chieftains (1-2) put together another drive on the ensuing series, but the Chicks stopped them again on downs at the Blytheville 20.

After the two teams traded punts, Okolona's Rod Jones intercepted Cason deep in OHS territory and ran it 45 yards with Cason making the potential touchdown-saving tackle.

The host Chieftains took advantage, as Tyson Eddie scored on the 1-yard quarterback keeper. Blytheville stopped the two-point conversion, but a penalty gave OHS another opportunity. JC Buchanan then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 13-8.

A fumble on the next snap gave it back to Okolona in Chickasaw territory -- at the 44 -- with 2:48 left in the half. However, the Blytheville defense forced a three-and-out to give the Chickasaw offense another chance with 1:52 showing.

A flag and a sack put Blytheville behind the sticks and the score stayed 13-8 going into the break.

The two teams traded turnovers in the third quarter before Blytheville added to its lead. Blytheville drove from its own 46 -- following Tyree Jones' fumble recovery -- to paydirt.

Cason capped the 12-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving it 19-8.

The Chieftains answered following Blytheville's fourth turnover -- a fumble.

On the next play, Buchanan raced 34 yards to the end zone and Okolona ran in the conversion to trim the lead to 19-16 with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Okolona took the lead on another turnover as Jones stripped Cason and ran it all the way, 66 yards, for the score with 6:06 left to play. Buchanan ran in the conversion to give the home team a 24-19 edge.

Clark answered with several big runs, including an 11-yard touchdown burst. The two-point conversion was no good, but the Chicks went back on top, 25-24, with 4:49 left.

The Chicks finished with 415 total yards, running 80 plays in the game. Blytheville rushed 55 times for 241 yards, while Cason was 18 of 25 passing for 174 yards and two interceptions.

Okolona finished with 249 total yards, led by Buchanan's 191 rushing yards. Blytheville hosts Marion at 7 Friday night at Haley Field.

mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com