NMCC seniors seal dramatic win over Portageville

New Madrid County Central celebrates an interception by Malakhi Hughes (8) during a 28-27 win over Portageville on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

NEW MADRID, Mo. — On a night dedicated to honoring its seniors, New Madrid County Central’s grizzled veterans refused to let their final home game end in disappointment, rallying from a late deficit to secure a thrilling 28-27 victory over Portageville on Thursday, Oct. 24.

In a game that encapsulated the highs and lows of the season, the Eagles’ (4-5, 2-2 SEMO Central) ability to execute under pressure was on full display, as they secured a memorable comeback against the Bulldogs’ (4-5, 2-3 SEMO South) formidable defense.

“Our seniors carried this team to a victory,” said NMCC coach Tyler Fullhart. “It’s always sweet when you win a rivalry game, especially the way we did it. I’m extremely proud of the guys for not lying down.”

NMCC's Jayden Williams (24) runs for a 91-yard touchdown during a 28-27 win over Portageville on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

NMCC’s fast start was fueled by a big kick return from Erik Tillmon to open the game. On the Eagles’ first play from scrimmage, Charlie Resonno raced 32 yards to the end zone, giving the team a 7-0 advantage just 16 seconds into the game.

“We started the game well,” Fullhart said. “But we started well last week and we didn’t finish. So knew it was going to be all about finishing tonight.”

Both teams struggled to hold onto the ball early, with fumbles exchanging hands on consecutive possessions.

Portageville Huston Partin (5) tries to escape New Madrid County Central’s Charlie Resonno (21) during the Eagles’ 28-27 win on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Tillmon recovered the Bulldogs’ fumble, only for Owen Roberts to return the favor by recovering an Eagles’ fumble on the very next play. This exchange of errors highlighted the intensity and pressure of the rivalry, as both teams fought to maintain their composure.

“We had a lot of self-inflicted issues,” Fullhart said “We had to overcome and it would have been easy for them to check out. They didn’t, and finished til the end.”

NMCC’s lead swelled to 13-0 after freshman Jayden Williams’ lone touch of the game, a spectacular 91-yard touchdown run with eight minutes and 21 seconds left in the opening quarter. The explosive play showcased Williams’ incredible speed and agility, as he burst through the Portageville defense and raced to the end zone.

NMCC's Ja'Kwon Jones (2) breaks a tackle during a 28-27 win over Portageville on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“The only regret I have there is not giving it to [Williams] some more throughout the game,” Fullhart said. “He’s an absolute stud, a team player and he loves the weight room. I love having him on our team, and the future is very bright for him.”

Portageville narrowed the lead to 13-7 on the following drive, thanks to a strategic move that saw Owen Roberts, typically an offensive lineman, take on the quarterback role in a heavy goal-line formation. His 1-yard touchdown run demonstrated the Bulldogs’ adaptability and determination to stay in the game.

But not to be outdone, the Eagles widened their lead to 19-7 with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Mungle to Tillmon on a pivotal 4th-and-goal.

NMCC's Malakhi Hughes (8) returns an interception during a 28-27 win over Portageville on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“[Tillmon] had been sick all day, but tonight was important to him,” Fullhart said. “I’m glad to see him compete the way he did. He battled through and had a good night.”

Tillmon’s contributions were instrumental throughout the drive, with two significant catches for 26 and 33 yards, respectively, setting the stage for the score.

As the first half drew to a close, NMCC had another opportunity to extend the lead after the turnover battle raged on and Jack Pipkin recovered a fumble.

Portageville's Rylan Partin (10) throws during a 28-27 loss at New Madrid County Central on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

However, the Eagles coughed up the ball a short time later, giving it back to the Bulldogs on a recovery by Parker Laws at the NMCC 24-yard line with just 28.1 seconds remaining.

After being tackled inbounds with no timeouts remaining, it appeared the clock would run out but Portageville managed to hustle to the line of the scrimmage, spike it and stop the clock with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock.

In a moment of high drama, Rylan Partin launched a jump ball toward the corner of the end zone, and Evan Winsor, rising above a crowd of defenders, secured the 11-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the lead to 19-13 at halftime.

Portageville's Parker Laws (11) recovers a fumble during a 28-27 loss at New Madrid County Central on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“I thought time had run out, but it didn’t,” Fullhart said. “They made a play. It was a heck of a throw and catch. We were there, in position, but [Winsor] just made a play on it. It’s not the way you want to in the half, but again, it was one of the self-inflicted issues that set it up.”

Portageville opened the second half with a bang, as Rylan Partin’s 20-yard touchdown run tied the game, 19-19. The Bulldogs’ momentum continued as they forced a punt, regaining possession and capitalizing with Xayvion Bogan’s connection with Parker Laws on a 5-yard jump pass for a touchdown, converting another crucial fourth down. This score gave Portageville its first lead of the game 27-19 with just under four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

“It was a competitive game,” said Portageville coach Luke Rayfield. “Both sides were giving their best effort and that was evident with all the big plays happening all over the field. I liked how we responded. We had chances to close the game, but we just ran out of time.”

The Bulldogs’ defense further tightened its grip when Huston Partin intercepted a rushed pass, a play that seemed to sap the energy from the Eagles and cast doubt.

Yet, NMCC was not ready to concede. With the game slipping away, Pipkin delivered a tackle for a loss, forcing Portageville into a daunting 3rd-and-22 situation.

This defensive stand compelled the Bulldogs to attempt a pass, which Malakhi Hughes intercepted, returning it nearly 80 yards to the 3-yard line. This play was arguably the turning point of the game, reigniting the Eagles’ hopes and setting the stage for their dramatic comeback.

“It was a huge play,” Fullhart said. “Our defense has been good year. We played some tough teams and shot ourselves in the foot some on offense, but our defense has been sound.”

NMCC capitalized on the turnover, with Resonno scoring an 8-yard touchdown to narrow the gap to 27-25 with seconds left in the third quarter.

“Portageville made some adjustments and shut down a couple of times,” Fullhart said. “We had to find some answers. We relied on our senior offensive linemen. Trae Hydle, Marv Cranford and Zach Gamblin have been doing it for a long time with us. We put it on them at the end to seal the deal. We’re proud of them.”

The Eagles’ defense, led by Pipkin, Connor Henderson, and Drew Allen, then rose to the occasion, combining for multiple sacks on Portageville’s next two drives. These defensive stands prevented the Bulldogs from moving the ball and forced them to punt.

“We had some select guys on the sideline who refused to let us go down like that,” Fullhart said. “They kept the energy high. You could hear the motivation from guys like Jack Pipkin, Jaden Guest, Nolan Mungle and Hydle. They were consistently keeping everyone encouraged and moving in the same direction.”

With the game hanging in the balance, NMCC regained the lead for good with 3:21 left in the game on a 19-yard field goal by Jan Closheim, a foreign exchange student from Germany.

This was the first time Fullhart, as a head coach, had called for a field goal attempt.

“[Closheim] loves football and is a great kid,” Fullhart said. “We’ve been practicing that all year long and he was stone-cold. He’s full of confidence, knows he can do it and wants the opportunity.”

In the final moments, NMCC’s Ja’Kwon Jones intercepted a pass on, allowing the Eagles to run out the clock with Resonno’s game-clinching first down to secure the victory.

[Resonno] knew that a first down would win the ballgame,” Fullhart said. “He’s a dog and our workhorse.”

The Eagles’ defense was nothing short of spectacular in the fourth quarter, effectively shutting down Portageville’s offense and holding it to negative yardage.

Resonno was a standout, finishing the game with 21 carries for 177 yards and two touchdowns. His efforts not only contributed significantly to the Eagles’ victory but also saw him eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Mungle also played a crucial role, completing 5-of-11 pass attempts for 64 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Portageville’s top performers included Antonio Higgenbottom, who carried the ball 19 times for 88 yards, and Rylan Partin, who contributed both on the ground and through the air. Partin completed 7-of-12 pass attempts for 85 yards, including a touchdown and an interception, and added 67 yards and a touchdown on 17 rushing attempts.

This victory was particularly sweet for NMCC, as it avenged a crushing 43-0 defeat to Portageville from the previous season. The triumph not only highlighted the growth and resilience of the Eagles but also set a positive tone as both teams prepare to compete in their respective district tournaments next week.

“We had a bad taste in our mouth from last year,” Fullhart said. “We got whooped. So to be able to come back this year and right the ship was awesome.

“It feels great and we want to ride this wave,” he concluded. “Our district is very tight and anybody could play anyone, anywhere. But we just have to focus on cleaning up some things. I’m just happy we have the opportunity to do that and see what happens.”