OKOLONA – Conventional wisdom said the Okolona Chieftains would come out a winner over the Thrasher Rebels Friday night and the Chiefs took it to heart, romping to a 61-8 victory on senior night.

The coaching team at Okolona is already looking to this Friday's battle against Smithville and knows what is at stake.

"We've still got next week," said Coach Calvin Aldridge. "We've got to play hard next week."

The Chiefs and Seminoles are tied in the top position in 1-1A at 5-0 each in division play. This Friday's game will decide who will stay at number one and who will fall to second place.

By the quarters

The Chiefs didn't waste any time getting on the board as the Rebels received and went three-and-out, turning the ball over to Okolona on their own 45 yard line. Senior Kentray Ware gained four yards on the first down and took it all the way on second down, behind great blocking, for a 51-yard TD. Sophomore Jordan Ivy made the conversion run good for an 8-0 Chiefs lead with 8:42 on the clock.

Antwan Ivy's kickoff was good to the Thrasher five yard-line and the Chiefs made the field position theirs with Levaughn Jones and Kentray Ware dropping Thrasher QB, Tollison Welch, behind the goal line for the safety and another two points on the board.

The Rebels kicked to the Chiefs and, again, the Okolona boys took full advantage on offense as senior QB Zack Brooks hit Ordarrion McCoy in the end zone for a 40-yard TD. The kick went wide but the Chiefs went up 16-8 with 7:15 left in the first quarter.

The Rebels gained possession on the Chiefs kick, but didn't get far. Rebel Demario Dawkins picked up eight yards and the Chiefs defense held on second down and senior Kelsey Blanchard got the sack on third to force the punt. Martavious Ford got a big block on the punt, giving the Chiefs excellent field position on the Rebels 30 yard-line.

The senior shining moments just kept on coming as Ryan Isbell gained five yards and Derrick Ivy completed the first down with a 10-yard reception from Brooks. Isbell moved the ball to the eight yard-line and Jones punched it across the goal line to up the Chiefs to 22-0 at the close of the first quarter.

The second quarter began with Thrasher showing some sparks as Tavin Jones picked off Brooks and ran back to the 32, but the Chiefs defense shut down Dawkins run with Isbell, Marques Conway and Victor Chunningham making the stop for loss. Second and long saw Arirus Jenkins grab interception and take it back to the 36, setting up a 16-yard pass reception from Brooks to Antwon Grady. Isbell ran it in from the 20 for the TD and Arirus Jenkins PAT was good for a 29-0 lead.

Blanchard and Cunningham were pivotal in stopping the Rebels next possession with Blanchard dropping RB Patrick Miller in the backfield for a loss and 88 getting the sack to force the punt. Following a Chiefs block on the punt, Ware ran in the 15-yard TD and 9 PAT was good for a 36-0 lead.

The Chiefs closed the half with Brooks hitting Ware for the 46yard pass for TD and a 2-0 lead.

Future shines

The second half started with a bang as Ware ran for a first down and Brooks connected with A. Grady for a 43-yard TD pass. Jenkins PAT sailed good for a 49-0 lead with 10:08 in the third. The Rebels punted their possession following a Ware QB sack and L. Jones gained the first down followed by Grady with a second on a 15-yard pass. D. Ivy kept things going the Chieftains way with a 13-yard run for first down and Isbell completed the drive with a 23-yard TD run. The third quarter closed with the Chiefs up 55-0.

The future of the Chieftains program took over in the fourth quarter with freshman Everett Brooks, flowing Blanchard's blocking down the sideline for a 50-yard run and sophomore QB Jordan Ivy keeping for a 12-yard TD and a 61-0 lead.

On Thrasher's next possession, sophomore Desmond Hodges made the leap over the Rebel receiver for a clean pick and an Okolona possession. The Chiefs turned it back to the Rebels on a fumble and the Rebels finally found the momentum to score. After falling to the Chiefs defense on two downs, Welch finally punched in a fourth and inches for a Thrasher TD. Miller ran in the conversion to put eight points on the board and avoid the shutout.

The Chiefs played until the final buzzer with E. Brooks gaining a 12-yard first down and Fred Ward taking it on the run 50 yards and inside the five-yard line before being dragged down at the horn.

"We got a lot of players in there," Aldridge said. "Our younger guys did really well."

Upcoming action

The Chiefs will take on the Seminoles Friday night to decide division championship.

"We had a great crowd here and we'll need them all at Smithville," Aldridge said.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on the Seminoles field.