Warriors run away with season opener

(as published in The Democrat on August 23)

The Senatobia Warriors began their 2011 football campaign at home with a victory over the Winona
Tigers with a 34-12 final score.

The victory for the Warriors served as a measure of revenge over the Tigers as Winona handed
Senatobia a loss in Winona in the 2010 season opener.

Senatobia Head Coach Phil Oakley said that it is always good to start a season off with a victory, and that this win was especially sweet due to the loss to Winona to open last season.

The jitters were evident early on in the game with both teams fumbling the football and the game
remained scoreless until the Warriors jumped ahead with two quick scores near the end of the first half.
Senatobia entered the locker room with a 14-0 advantage.

Led by strong performances by Quarterback Quintavius Burdette, an Arkansas State commit, and
Running Backs Quinterrius Wink, Deundre Bohanna and Demetrius Garrett, the Warriors just had too
many able bodies available to carry the ball and the rushing attack proved to potent for the Tigers to
defend.

Burdette finished the game with two rushing scores of 41 and 34 yards, and two passing touchdowns of
51 and 13 yards. Wink had a 20 yard rushing score.

The news was not all good for the Warriors on this night, however, as they also lost starting Tight End
Justin Morgan, presumably for the season, with a broken arm suffered during the Warrior offense’s first
drive of the game.

Oakley said that losing Morgan was especially painful because he was the team’s starter at the Tight End
position and now the team doesn’t have anyone to play the position, which can be critical for an offense
that revolves around its rushing attack.

The Warriors play a second consecutive home game Friday as they host the Byhalia Indians.

Oakley expects the Byhalia team to present his warrior with quite a challenge. He says the Indians are a
smashmouth team looking to line up and run the ball at the opponent.

Byhalia won a lopsided season opening matchup, beating Tishomingo County 46-16.