Gulf Live: OS routs mistake-prone D’Iberville in battle of unbeatens
Originally published 10/1/21
D’IBERVILLE, Mississippi -- By the end of the first half of play Friday night, the D’Iberville Warriors had fumbled the ball away twice, both leading to Ocean Springs touchdowns, had 33 yards in total offense, had run 18 offensive plays (to Ocean Springs’ 40) and had five illegal procedure penalties and three for offsides.
Other than that, they were having a swell time.
The Warriors’ inability to stop shooting themselves in the foot led to a 28-0 halftime deficit en route to a 42-14 loss to the Greyhounds in a Region 4-6A contest between two teams unbeaten coming into the game.
While the D’Iberville offense couldn’t get out of its own way, the Warrior defense had little success in stopping the Ocean Springs offense, which amassed 334 yards in total offense, led by running back David Humphries, who tallied three rushing touchdowns.
Initially, it didn’t appear Humphries was destined for a standout game. At the end of the Greyhounds’ first offensive series, Humphries had three carries for -27 yards -- thanks to a fumbled handoff which he finally recovered, but not before losing 28 yards.
But it got better for the senior back, as he finished the contest with 26 carries for 147 yards, meaning he gained 175 yards on his other 25 carries.
D’Iberville’s first series, meanwhile, was highlighted by the first of their two illegal procedure penalties, leading to a three-and-out. Ocean Springs would receive the ensuing punt and drive 67 yards in 10 plays, with Humphries capping the drive with his first TD, from nine yards out. Bart Edmiston added his first of his six point-after kicks.
Roughly two minutes had gone off the game clock before Ocean Springs had the ball again, thanks to a Warrior fumble at their own 23-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Bray Hubbard connected with John Paul Coulter on a 30-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 14-0 with six seconds left in the first quarter.
The Warriors next offensive possession ended the same as the previous one -- with a fumble in their own end of the field. This time, the Greyhounds took over at the D’Iberville 42 and, seven plays later, Humphries scored his second touchdown, this one on a 7-yard run.
Ocean Springs would add a fourth touchdown before halftime. Taking over at their own 43 after a poorly-executed pooch kickoff, the ‘Hounds drove the remaining 57 yards 10 plays, with Hubbard finishing things off with a 9-yard TD run.
The Warriors opened the second half with far better offensive execution, scoring on each of their first two offensive possessions, with running back Drey Lenoir scoring both times on fourth-and-goal plays from the 1-yard line.
Problem was, each time D’Iberville scored, the Greyhounds did as well, first on a 19-yard run by Hubbard and then on a 1-yard run by Humphries three minutes into the fourth quarter, the last score of the game.
Hubbard finished the game 11 of 15 passing for 117 yards and a touchdown and added another 60 yards and two scores on the ground. Lenior led the D’Iberville offense with 15 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Ocean Springs averaged 5.6 yards per offensive play, compared to 4.1 yards for D’Iberville. Of the Warriors’ 183 total offensive yards, 52 came on one Lenior run during the first series of the second half.
With the win, Ocean Springs improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in region play, good for a tie for first in the region with unbeaten Harrison Central and Gulfport. The Greyhounds will host Biloxi in a rare Thursday night game this week. D’Iberville, now 5-1 and 1-1, respectively, will host Pascagoula Friday night.
