Garrett Orgas-Fisher helped PRCC to a win over Itawamba CC

POPLARVILLE, Miss. (VDN) — Vicksburg native Garrett Orgas-Fisher helped Pearl River Community College to a win over  Itawamba CC last week. Orgas-Fisher plays defensive back for the Wildcats where he finished with nine tackles and two pass deflections in the 48-42 win.

Orgas-Fisher is a graduate of Warren Central High School where he played under Head Coach Josh Morgan.

Just when it looked like all hope was lost for the Pearl River football team Thursday night inside Dobie Holden Stadium, lightning struck in the form of Kedrick Triplett (Florence, Ala.).

The Wildcats (1-1 overall) had watched a 25-point lead evaporate into a 42-41 deficit at the hands of Itawamba (0-2), but Triplett refused to let the story end there. Backed up on their own 12-yard line with just over a minute left, quarterback Reese Mooney (Clinton; Denham Springs) dropped back, looked up the seam and rifled a strike to Triplett. From the instant the ball touched his hands, Triplett was off to the races — sprinting 88 yards for a go-ahead touchdown that secured a dramatic 48-42 Pearl River victory.

“I was a little scared before the moment, but I was talking to the Lord,” Triplett said. “It was a Georgia versus Alabama moment. We had to make a play, and I was lucky enough to make that play. I’m honestly speechless.”

Triplett finished the night with four receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wildcats’ effort.

“The bright spot is that they didn’t quit,” head coach Seth Smith said. “Most kids would’ve given up and took the loss. They are resilient and were tonight. We’ve got some things that we’ve got to clean up.”

The fireworks started early for PRCC as freshman Cory Jackson(Petal) took the opening kickoff, dodged defenders and sprinted 90 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point try was mishandled, leaving the Wildcats ahead 6-0.

ICC responded on its second drive, marching downfield and punching in a short rushing score to take a 7-6 lead. Pearl River answered right back when Jalen Anderson (Slidell, La.) sacked the Indian quarterback and ripped the ball free, giving the Wildcats possession at the ICC 21-yard line. Two plays later, Keenan Franks (State Line; Greene County) powered into the end zone from 10 yards out to regain the lead, 13-7.

Mooney and Triplett connected for their first touchdown with 38 seconds left in the opening quarter. Triplett caught a pass in the flat, turned upfield and blazed past defenders for a 61-yard score, extending the advantage to 20-7.

PRCC tacked on another before halftime, using a five-play, 40-yard drive capped by Franks’ second touchdown run of the half. The Indians added a field goal before the break, but the Wildcats carried a 27-10 lead into the locker room.

Franks struck again midway through the third quarter, carrying the ball four times for 56 yards on the drive, including a bruising 36-yard touchdown run that stretched the margin to 34-16.

The Wildcats added one more big play to cap their scoring surge. Mooney hit Howard Kinchen (Lafayette, La.; Patterson) on a curl route, and the sophomore spun out of a tackle before tight-roping the sideline for a 38-yard touchdown to make it 41-16.

That’s when things got dicey. Itawamba mounted a furious rally, scoring 26 unanswered points to storm ahead 42-41 with less than two minutes remaining.

But that just set the stage for Triplett’s heroics.

After his 88-yard strike reclaimed the lead, the Wildcat defense sealed it. ICC drove into Pearl River territory in the final seconds and heaved a desperation pass into the end zone, but Daniel Pickens (Gautier; Resurrection) leapt and secured the interception to put the game on ice.

Mooney completed 10 of 18 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Franks had an incredible night on the ground, rushing 12 times for 102 yards and scoring a trio of touchdowns.

Anderson finished with a team-high seven tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Amarion Tyson(Picayune) tied him in tackles and had 0.5 TFLs.

Pearl River hits the road for the first time this season next week, traveling to Summit to take on Southwest. Kickoff against the Bears is at 7 p.m.