Horn Lake’s Brandon Jackson (1) leaves flying Warren Central defenders Jessey Pedyfoot (5) and Chico Hunter in the dust for some of his 236 yards in a 22-0 victory over the Vikings in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs. (Jon GiffinThe Vicksburg Post)

[11/15/03]Brandon Jackson lit up Warren County once again.

The Horn Lake senior bruised, broke and pounded his way to 236 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles defeated Warren Central 22-0. The Eagles advance to the second round of the playoffs and will host Starkville.

Jackson carried Horn Lake to victory for the second consecutive year in Vicksburg. Last season, he rushed for 285 yards and six touchdowns against Vicksburg High in a 55-54 overtime win, also in the first round.

“I think the stats pretty much speak for themselves,” Horn Lake coach Larry Gann said of Jackson. “The offensive line gave him a crease and that’s about all he needs. He just played a big-time game in a big-time game.”

“It’s the playoffs,” said Jackson, who is being recruited by schools such as Alabama and Michigan State. “This is the second time in a row we made it to the second round. Everybody came out and played football.”

After defeating Grenada and Vicksburg back-to-back, Warren Central never seemed to muster the energy needed to win again.

Warren Central had opportunities throughout the game, but could never cash in for scores.

“We could never capitalize,” WC receiver Amos Chase said. “We had plenty of breaks, but we never capitalized. It was basically just preparation.”

Larry Warner, who had run for more than 200 yards in three games for WC, had to fight to pick up 41 yards on 13 carries, marking the first time he was held under 100 yards since becoming the starter on Oct. 3.

“We were flat,” WC’s Jason Williams said. “We couldn’t score. It was hard for us to stop them on defense.”

The Vikings’ first lucky break came in the first quarter when Vaughn Mims broke through the line and blocked Andy Keen’s 46-yard field goal attempt. Warren Central started at its own 40-yard line, but went three-and-out.

Later in the second quarter, Jackson busted off a 19-yard touchdown with 8 minutes, 38 seconds remaining to give Horn Lake a 7-0 lead.

On Horn Lake’s next possession, Otis Stamps picked off quarterback Gavin Ellis’ pass and returned it 41 yards to the Eagles’ 42. Christian Hales’ 29-yard pass to Amos Chase set up the Vikings inside the 20-yard line, but two false starts backed them up to the 29.

After three incomplete passes, Will Clark missed a 47-yard field goal with 35 seconds left before the half.

The score remained 7-0 until the fourth quarter when Aaron Belew intercepted Hales’ screen pass to set up Horn Lake at the Vikings’ 12. Three plays later, Jackson found the end zone for his second score.

Horn Lake added a 28-yard field goal by Keen on its next drive to give the Eagles a 16-0 advantage.

On the Vikings’ next possession, Andrew Harris returned Hales’ second interception 68 yards for a touchdown with 45 seconds left in the game.

“The offense just wasn’t clicking tonight,” Chase said. “Coach said we weren’t prepared, but all in all I think we just weren’t clicking tonight based on a lot of mistakes in the game.”

Horn Lake stitched together long drives that kept Warren Central’s defense on the field for most of the game. With the Vikings’ defense tired out, the Eagles controlled the clock and the pace of the game to preserve the shutout.