From staff reports

RICHLAND — Caleb Johnson’s goal 25 minutes into the second half proved to be the game winner as the Cathedral Green Wave upset the Richland Rangers 2-1 Tuesday night in the first round of the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A South State Playoffs.

The goal by Johnson gave Cathedral a 2-0 lead. Richland, the Division 5 and defending South State champion, scored off a corner kick to make it a 2-1 game, but the Green Wave’s defense preserved the win.

“We played as a team tonight. We played as one tonight,” Green Wave head coach Rick Simons said. “Defense stepped up. It was a good game all the way. We played smart. We knew if we would allow a lot of corner kicks, that would be our downfall.”

Among those Simons said were key in Cathedral’s win were seniors Harrison Burns and Kris Griffiths and junior goalkeeper Aaron Sandifer.

Cole Mann scored Cathedral’s first goal 15 minutes into the first half off a corner kick. Johnson’s goal was from about 25 yards out.

“Beating a Jackson (area) team is good,” Simons said. “He’s (Sandifer) like a third coach on the field.”

Cathedral, the Division 7 runner-up, will host Division 8 champion St. Patrick in the second round this Saturday. Simons said he hopes to get the game started at either noon or 1 p.m.

“It’s about time,” Simons said. “That three to four-hour drive down there can wear you out. It’s good that they’ll be driving here for a change.”

Franklin County boys 4, Crystal Springs 0

MEADVILLE — The Crystal Springs Tigers, runners-up in Division 5, were hoping to make a good showing in the first-ever trip to the Class 1A/2A/3A playoffs. They did for one half, but the Division 7 champion Franklin County Bulldogs made sure that would be it as they scored four-second half goals and advanced to the second round.

“We came out slow tonight. We had a number of shots early on that went just wide,” Bulldogs head coach Jamie Madison said. “The guys played hard. We kept telling them we have to keep taking shots and eventually they’ll fall.”

In the second half, Kin Mullins scored two goals within the first five minutes that Madison said took the air right out of the Tigers. David Brown added a goal with an assist from Coleman Graves and Zach McCormick later scored a goal with an assist from Hunter Hatcher.

“Our goal was to pass the ball better. We played all 24 kids tonight,” Madison said.

Franklin County (16-5-1) will be traveling to the Gulf Coast on Saturday to take on Division 8 runner-up Resurrection.

Franklin County girls 2, Richland 1

RICHLAND — Franklin County was good on two of its four penalty kicks while Richland came up empty as the Lady Dawgs upset the Lady Rangers 2-1 Tuesday night in the first round of the Class 1A/2A/3A South State Playoffs.

“Joycelyn Haygood and Courtney Reid both play stopper and sweeper. They played good defense. Our keeper Haley Netherland, played great tonight,” Lady Dawgs assistant coach Ben Yarbrough said. “We shut them down.

Karlee Mullins gave Franklin County, the Division 7 runner-up, a 1-0 lead just five minutes into the game with an assist on a long pass from Sedriq Newellton. It looked like that lead would hold up until Richland scored on a gal from nearly 30 yards out with 13 minutes left in regulation to make it a 1-1 game.

“For most of the second half, it was back and forth, although we controlled the minute 60 percent to their 40 percent,” Yarbrough said.

Neither team was able to score in either of the two 10-minute overtimes, thus penalty kicks were needed to determine the outcome. Regan Scott and Mullins each scored for the Lady Dawgs while Reid played goalie in the shootout and didn’t allow a single goal in four opportunities for Richland.

Franklin County (13-8) will take on the winner of the Greene County-Our Lady Academy game on Saturday.

Gulfport girls 9, Natchez High 0

GULFPORT — The Natchez High Lady Bulldogs ran into a buzz saw Tuesday night in the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A South State Playoffs as they were not match for the Gulfport Lady Admirals.

“We weren’t expecting to win the game coming into the game. We were hoping to keep it close,” Lady Bulldogs head coach Lena Yarbrough said. “Gulfport has an exceptional team. They’re the defending state champion.”

The Lady Admirals, also champions of Division 8-5A, took advantage of Natchez High’s mistakes while making very few of their own. The Lady Bulldogs, runners-up in Division 6-5A, did have some scoring opportunities, only to come up empty.

“They passed the ball real well. We made too many mistakes,” Yarbrough said.

Natchez High finished its season with a 3-13 record. Gulfport will take on the winner of the Pascagoula-Brandon game on Saturday.