By BRANDON SHIELDS
Special to the Democrat

JACKSON — For Centreville Academy it was just too little, too late.

Behind the duo of Trey Benson and Dillon Johnson, as well as four first-half turnovers, St. Joseph Catholic School of Greenville ran past Centreville Academy 42-22 to claim the MAIS Class AA State Championship for the second year in a row Saturday afternoon at Jackson Academy.

It was also the Fighting Irish’s second state title in school history.

“Too many mistakes and too many turnovers,” said Centreville Academy coach Bill Hurst. “Kids came back in the second half and made a game of it, so I’m proud of them for playing hard.”

Trey Benson started the scoring off for the Irish on a 30-yard touchdown run up the middle to take an 8-0 lead following a two-point conversion with 5:22 left in the first quarter.

After a Centreville Academy fumble, Dillon Johnson would scamper into the end zone from 20 yards out that gave Greenville St. Joe a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

On the Tigers’ next possession, Centreville’s Daniel Vine fumbled, and Benson would scoop and score from 38 yards out to extend the Irish lead to 22-0 with 51 seconds left in the first quarter.

Following Centreville Academy’s fourth turnover of the first half, this time an interception, Johnson would connect with Elvis Scott on a 37-yard touchdown pass to extend the St. Joe lead to 28-0 with 9:32 left in the second quarter.

“Defense sealed it for us, but when you got backs like we do, just put it in their hands and let them do what they do,” said Greenville St. Joe coach John Baker. “It is all heart with both them and they played hard and are so proud to bring another state title back to Greenville.”

The Tigers would cut the Irish’s lead to 28-14 in the third quarter on a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Thomassie to Haze Greer and on a 3-yard touchdown run by Daniel Vine.

After forcing a fumble, Centreville would get to the St. Joe 16-yard line, but Thomassie would get sacked on back-to-back plays and the Tigers would turn ball over on downs.

Johnson would then ice the game for St. Joe with touchdown runs from 66 and 39 yards out and would finish the day with 175 yards rushing on 19 carries with three touchdowns. He also went 4-of-9 passing for 114 yards with a touchdown to lead the Irish (12-1).

“Just a team effort and that’s what got it done for us and to go back-to-back feels great,” Johnson said. “The turnovers in the first half were big momentum, but in the second half they hit us in the mouth. Just had to have an answer.”

Daniel Vine added a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for Centreville Academy.

Vine would have 153 yards rushing on 21 carries with two touchdowns to lead the Tigers (8-6).

“We came through adversity this year and came a long way,” Hurst said. “They came together as a team, but all year we had fumble problems and it happened tonight. St. Joe has a bunch of speed and were too much for us and their coach does a great job.”