The stage was set for an epic battle between undefeated teams to battle for the Division 1-4A championship, but this wasn't two ordinary teams. Not only would the winner claim the division title, but the two teams also came in ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state in the class 4A polls.

On Saturday, No. 1 ranked Shannon Red Raiders came into Indian Stadium to take on No. 2 ranked Itawamba AHS Indians in a game originally scheduled for Oct. 30. The matchup drew a crowd of more than 5,000 to watch the 21-12 IAHS victory.

In an SEC-type atmosphere, the Indians kicked off to the Red Raiders at 2:30, and the defenses of each team immediately took over.

IAHS attempted a 29-yard field goal on their first offensive drive, but Glynn Brown's kick bounced off the left upright to leave the game scoreless.

After the IAHS defense stopped Shannon's offense in their tracks due to huge stops by Trae Bobo and Dan Huddleston, IAHS began their second drive.

On the Indians' first play from their own 37, quarterback Maikhail Miller hit Deshawn McGaughy on a screen pass, which he turned into a 63-yard touchdown scamper.

The play was called back due to a holding penalty, and the Indians were forced to punt three plays later.

After the team exchanged punts in the second quarter, Shannon was able to get on the scoreboard after a 60-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Legilbert Bogan to wide receiver Chris Davis.

The Red Raiders' extra point attempt sailed wide right to leave the score 6-0 midway through the second quarter.

IAHS answered less than two minutes later, as Miller and Deshawn McGaughy led a very physical rushing attack. McGaughy took the first handoff and raced 34 yards for a first down to the Red Raider 41 before he was wrestled down. He followed with an option pitch from Miller to pick up another 25 yards to give the Indians another first down at the Shannon 16.

The Indians called the exact same play, and this time Miller kept it himself and rumbled 16 yards and ran over a Red Raider defensive back at the goal line to knot the game up at 6. Brown's PAT was a low line drive that was blocked to leave the game deadlocked.

Shannon immediately began a drive that went 62-yards starting with a play that caught the Indian defense off guard.

The Red Raiders' star running back Keon McGaughy had been lining up at quarterback in the "Wildcat" formation and had been taking direct snaps to run the football, but he dropped back for a pass and hit a wide open Davis for a 44-yard gain.

That big play ultimately set up a 9-yard touchdown run by McGaughy, but the two-point conversion attempt was intercepted by Colin Chatham to give the Red Raiders a 6-point lead going into the half.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle between both teams, and neither allowed any points on the board. However, IAHS caused a fumble after a big hit on Keon McGaughy, which was recovered by Chatham. The Indians continued a sustained drive that started at the end of the third quarter into the final period.

After a screen pass from Miller to McGaughy went for 22 yards and Miller hit Austin Shumpert for a big first down conversion on a third and 12, IAHS capped off the drive early in the fourth quarter with a 3-yard run by McGaughy to tie the game up at 12 each. Brown's extra point sailed between the uprights to give the Indians their first lead of the day, 13-12.

Shannon moved the ball to near midfield, but the IAHS defense took over. A big quarterback sack by Josh Eason set the Red Raiders back 7 yards, and Nick Stegall teamed up with Matt Harris to drop Bodarius Taylor for no gain and force a punt.

IAHS marched 74 yards on their next drive with Deshawn McGaughy carrying most of the load on the ground. McGaughy picked up 60 yards on four carries to get the ball to the Shannon 14 where Miller took a snap and raced around the left end to score a crucial touchdown right in front of the home crowd.

Coach Jamie Mitchell opted to go for a two-point conversion to try and make it a two-possession game with less than three minutes left in the game. Miller took a three-step drop and fired a bullet into the visitors' side of the endzone, where Devonta Jackson made a nice diving catch to put the Indians up 21-12.

That's all the IAHS defense needed, as they once again rose up to stop the Shannon offense. Ashton Shumpert broke through the Red Raider offensive line to deliver a big hit on Bogan to force a fumble, and Stegall pounced on it to claim possession for the Indians at the Shannon 26.

With about 2:30 left on the clock, and the Red Raiders out of time outs, Miller went to a knee four straight times to turn the ball over to Shannon at the Red Raider 37 with :13 seconds remaining in the game.

Shannon completed a long pass to the IAHS 30, but Asian Ruff batted down a meaningless pass into the endzone as time expired to give the Indians the 21-12 victory, and their second division championship in the past three years.

Deshawn McGaughy paced the IAHS offense with 156 yards rushing on 17 carries with a touchdown. He also added another 22 yards receiving. The passing game struggled a bit, as Miller went 9 for 21 for 129 yards with one interception. Austin Shumpert led the team in receiving with two catches for 32 yards, but both were big as the second one set up the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The defense received an outstanding game from linebacker Trae Bobo, defensive linemen Josh Eason and Nick Stegall, and Ashton Shumpert, defensive end.

The defense gave up three long passes, one which went for a 60-yard touchdown. They also managed to complete a feat no other team on the Shannon schedule has so far this year. The defense held Shannon's star running back Keon McGaughy to only 93 yards on 18 carries, with a touchdown.

The victory matches the Indians with the Amory Panthers, a team they defeated 49-7 in the season opener, a game which the starters were pulled immediately after halftime when they built a 49-0 cushion.

Coach Mitchell stressed to his players that it is tough to beat a team twice in one season. He believes Amory will give the Indians everything they have.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. against the much improved Panthers. Admission for Friday nights game will be $7.