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Conquistadors Win First Game of Season, 48-8

August 21, 2010

Playing their only home game prior to an Oct. 1 game against arch-rival South Panola, the Olive Branch Conquistadors opened the 2010 football season with a 48-8 thrashing of Memphis East.

“There’s a lot of talent on this football team,” said head coach Scott Samsel. “It was a good job, a good effort and a good start.”

The Quistors raced to a 21-0 lead after one quarter, thanks to touchdown runs by Courtney Gladney (three yards), Jalen Miller (79 yards) and Byrekus “Jap” Payne (12 yards). Jonathan Pittman connected on all three point-after attempts.

Olive Branch’s defensive unit contributed the next touchdown, at the 9:24 mark of the second quarter, as Jalen Collins intercepted a Mustang pass and returned it 61 yards for the score. A second pick, this one by Kam Williams, led to a 28-yard scoring strike from Todd Mays to Ryan Cordice for the Quistors’ fifth TD of the half.

Pittman again was perfect on the extra point tries, and Olive Branch carried a 35-0 advantage into the locker room at the half.

The third of the Quistors’ five interceptions on the night resulted in Olive Branch’s sixth touchdown of the game, as Torrey Gill grabbed the ball and raced 41 yards for the score. Pittman’s extra point closed out the scoring in the third quarter as the Quistors held a 42-0 lead.

Collins, who’d already scored on one interception and had another TD pick nullified because of a penalty, nabbed his third INT (second official) of the contest and took it to the Memphis East six-yard line. With 7:41 left, Jamarcus Williamson bulled his way into the end zone. Pittman’s kick was no good.

Memphis East finally got on the scoreboard with 4:15 showing as Brian Kimbrow scored from the three. Brandon Barron then connected with Robert Fields on a two-point pass play for the final total.

“I was pleased with our effort,” Samsel noted. “I thought we played pretty well, and we made the plays when we needed to make them.”

The Quistors leave Thursday, Aug. 26, for a road trip to Florida for a 6 p.m. game against the Cocoa (Fla.) High School Tigers on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium. Cocoa, which opens its season against Olive Branch, is the two-time defending Florida state champion.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Eastern time, 5 p.m. Central.

(Photos by Jamie Mercer)