PASS CHRISTIAN — Ladd Scriber threw five touchdown passes, three of which went to Terry Patton Jr., as Pass Christian routed Richland 48-6 Friday night in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs at McDonald Stadium.
Scriber amassed 274 passing yards in the first half alone as the Pirates (8-2) roared to a 28-0 halftime lead. Patton Jr. caught six passes for 151 yards in the first half – and 7 for 169 in the game. He had TD catches of 11, 39 and 16 yards.
Pass will travel to Quitman in second-round playoff action next Friday.
“We were definitely clicking on all cylinders,’’ Pass Christian coach Jeff Stockstill said. “I thought we had a good week of practice. I expected our team to play well. We got a little sloppy midway in the second quarter but we regrouped at halftime and put these guys away.
“These guys (Scriber, Patton Jr.) have been playing together for a long time and they have chemistry with each other. We run a lot of routes in practice. The seniors got to host a playoff game and will have another game next week.’’
Scriber finished 13 for 15 passing for 309 yards. He also hit Micah McKay with a 10-yard TD pass and Anthony James with a 10-yard TD strike in the third quarter. James finished with four catches for 109 yards.
Jacquez Alexander-Dedeaux rushed for 90 yards on 12 carries, including a 1-yard TD run. Lathan Lewis returned a punt 28 yards for Pass’ final TD.
It was Pass Christian’s second playoff victory since the inception of the state playoffs in 1981.
The Rangers fell to 6-5 to end their season and averted a shutout with a touchdown on the last play of the game. The ferocious Pass defense held the Rangers in check the whole night, except for a failed 46-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter and the late touchdown.
“It was fun, doing it for these guys,’’ Patton Jr. said. “We’ve been waiting for this moment. I was ready to play.’’
“We had a great four days of practice,’’ Scriber said. “I couldn’t be more thankful for the guys I have around me. It goes all around. It was a complete team effort. We have playmakers on defense.’’
“You just have to take what the defense gives you,’’ Stockstill said. “Once Ladd and Terry connected, we weren’t going to fix what wasn’t broken. We stayed with it. Ladd was in the zone and we let him do his thing.’’
The Pirates scored touchdowns on their first three drives of the game.
