Young Mary Persons defense shines

The returning player numbers didn’t look good for Mary Persons heading into its season opener Friday against Jackson.

The Bulldogs had just two players returning on each side of the ball against a Jackson squad that had 10 players back on defense.

Yet Mary Persons, which took on its longtime rival in front of a near-capacity crowd at Dan Pitts Stadium, had an answer.

Mary Persons’ young defense gave up less yardage than the Red Devils. In turn, the Bulldogs worked their way to a 28-21, double-overtime victory.

The Mary Persons defense gave up 157 yards of total offense. Ninety-seven of those yards, however, came on one play: a 97-yard pass play that Ny’J Smith broke open once quarterback Shaderious Crowder got him the ball.

Take away that play, and Jackson managed just 60 yards of total offense and a half-dozen first downs.

The Mary Persons offense, meanwhile, racked up 307 yards and 19 first downs.

Up front, Mary Persons’ top defensive recruit, junior Malik Herring, got the better of Jackson’s big-name prospect, senior Michail Carter, at least from a unit vs. unit standpoint. Mary Persons ran for 171 yards on 52 carries. Jackson? Just 2 yards on 34 attempts.

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Young Mary Persons defense shines ."