Choctaws upset nationally-ranked West Georgia

By Datti Jinkiri

Mississippi College’s football season has had its ups and downs, but the team picked up its second win in dramatic fashion against a tough opponent. Ron Craten’s two-point conversion run with four seconds remaining capped off an impressive Choctaw comeback and helped the team top fifth-ranked West Georgia 39-38 in Carrollton, Georgia on October 1. The Choctaws trailed by as many as 18 points in the game and did not have a lead until Craten’s conversion.

Running back Marcus Williams was impressive yet again, as he finished the game with 17 rushes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. His three-yard score helped set up Craten’s winning two-point conversion. Williams now has three 100-yard rushing games in 2022.

Quarterback DeAnte Smith-Moore completed three of five passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game with an injury. His replacement was quarterback John Henry White, who put in a high-quality performance in relief. White joined Williams in the 100-yard club, as he tallied 13 rushes for 103 yards (including 31 yards on the Choctaws’ eventual game-winning drive) and a touchdown. He was named GSC Freshman of the Week for his efforts.

Both Me’Kyle Franklin and Sam Wilder helped the Choctaws fight back from the deficit with back-to-back touchdown catches. Franklin’s 32-yard reception with nine seconds remaining in the first half cut the Choctaw deficit to eleven points. Wilder caught a 38-yard score from Smith-Moore at the beginning of the second half to bring the Choctaws within four.

Defensively, the Choctaws were led by defensive back Nick Grady. Grady was named GSC Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting two passes and tallying four total tackles and two pass breakups. His two interceptions lead the Choctaws this season. Defensive back Grant Watts and linebacker Jason Betz both paced the team with nine total tackles apiece in the game.
The win – which was Mississippi College’s first Gulf South Conference (GSC) win of the season – is arguably the program’s best victory since returning to the Division II level in 2014.