Mississippi high school football championship score: Heidelberg beats Charleston in 2A for first title

HATTISEBURG — Heidelberg’s Chase Craft did it all.

The sophomore quarterback helped lift Heidelberg to an MHSAA Class 2A state title with a 38-6 win over Charleston on Saturday at M.M Roberts Stadium. The Oilers (14-1) avenged last season’s state title loss to Charleston (12-3) and won their first football title. Saturday was the second state championship appearance for Heidelberg’s program.

Craft ended the afternoon with 323 scrimmage yards and five total touchdowns, going 14-for-21 passing. After a tied 6-6 game going into halftime, Heidelberg scored 32 unanswered second-half points, and its defense held Charleston to 156 yards.

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Charleston vs Heidelberg score updates

Final: Heidelberg 38, Charleston 6

Heidelberg 38, Charleston 6: Chase Craft to Ja’kayden Moore

Chase Craft has recorded his fifth touchdown on the day following a 3-yard pass to Ja’kayden Moore with 4:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Heidelberg 30, Charleston 6: Chase Craft finds Ja’kayden Moore

Following a fumble by Charleston, Heidelberg’s Chase Craft finds Ja’kayden Moore on a 29-yard pass with 8:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. Heidelberg is successful on the two-point conversion.

Heidelberg 22, Charleston 6: Heidelberg gets safety

Charleston’s snap went over the punter’s head and went behind the end zone for a safety with 11:49 remaining in the fourth quarter. Heidelberg is successful on the two-point conversion.

End of third quarter: Heidelberg 20, Charleston 6

Heidelberg 20, Charleston 6: Chase Craft to Lathaan Gavin

Heidelberg adds its third touchdown of the game from Chase Craft, finding Lathaan Gavin on a 51-yard touchdown pass with 5:02 remaining in the third quarter. Heidelberg is successful on the two-point conversion.

Heidelberg 12, Charleston 6: Chase Craft to Alrekus Graves

Chase Craft finds receiver Alrekus Graves for a 54-yard passing touchdown with 9:50 remaining in the third quarter. Heidelberg failed the two-point conversion.

Halftime: Charleston 6, Heidelberg 6

Charleston 6, Heidelberg 6: Chase Craft rushing score

Quarterback Chase Craft gives Heidelberg its first points of Saturday’s game with a 36-yard rushing touchdown with 7:45 remaining in the second quarter. Heidelberg failed the two-point conversion.

End of first quarter: Charleston 6, Heidelberg 0

Charleston 6, Heidelberg 0: Marcus Flowers, Jr. receiving score

Charleston quarterback Devon Olive found Marcus Flowers, Jr. on a 20-yard pass, and Flowers broke a few tackles to score an 87-yard touchdown with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Charleston failed the two-point conversion.

Charleston vs Heidelberg history

Series: Charleston leads 1-0

Charleston’s last win: 2023 (26-22)

Charleston vs Heidelberg weather in Hattiesburg

According to AccuWeather, it will be 53 degrees around kickoff, and a 0% chance of rain.

MHSAA state championship schedule

Thursday

Class 3A: Choctaw County 34, Noxubee County 27.

Class 7A: Tupelo 28, Brandon 16.

Friday

Class 1A: Baldwyn 21, Simmons 20

Class 5A: West Point vs. Gautier, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Class 2A: Charleston vs. Heidelberg, noon

Class 4A: Louisville vs. Poplarville, 3:30 p.m.

Class 6A: Grenada vs. Hattiesburg, 7 p.m.

MHSAA football playoffs preview, additional reading

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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