[LAUREL, MS] The Muddy River Counselors entered the MSAHA Playoffs with the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season with an undefeated 5-0 record. The 14UB Playoffs were heavily populated with 8 teams participating.
The first matchup for the Counselors was against the #8 seeded Scott County Flames. The Counselors went out to a 29-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 61-8 victory over the Flames.
The semi-finals had the Counselors matching up with the #5 seeded Mt. Zion Lions, who had defeated the #4 Hattiesburg Forerunners 21-16 in the first round.
From the start, all-conference player Luke Sanders exploded. He went off for 23 first half points and finished with 28 points as the Counselors took a 40-point win, 60-20.
In a surprise championship matchup, the Counselors had a date with their cross-town rival, the Jackson Victors in the championship round. The #3 seeded Victors had just knocked off the #2 seeded PCA Paladins in the semi-final.
The game started with the Victors taking a 12-8 lead, which the Counselors tied up at halftime at 15. The second half belonged to the Counselors and they pulled out the 40-25 finish to capture their second straight MSAHA 14U Boys Title.
This year’s Counselors squad had seven players on roster and they all had an exceptional playoff run. Caleb Sanders and Sun Michael Williams moved on from the 14U age group and the other guys had to step up and that they did. The Counselors went 8-0 this season to push the Counselors to a now 20-game 14UB winning streak dating back to their championship loss to the Laurel Knighthawks on February 20, 2021 in the Counselors inaugural season.
Luke Sanders, Drennon Garza, Isaac Veverka, and Noah Sanders all will be 14U-eligible next season, so the Counselors are looking to continue the streak.
