LAKE PROVIDENCE – With DeSoto pulling within six points late in the third quarter, Briarfield Academy quarterback Jamie Fortenberry knew it was time for the Rebels to respond.

Briarfield did just that as Fortenberry hit Sam Minsky for a 59-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute, 6 seconds left in the third quarter. Craig LeBeau then added a 2-yard TD plunge in the fourth quarter as the Rebels took the MPSA Class A quarterfinal contest 26-7 Thursday night at John Hopkins Field.

Briarfield (10-2) advances to host Benton Academy, a 21-0 winner over Bayou, next week in a semifinal game in Lake Providence.

DeSoto (9-3) came in with the reputation as a stout defensive club and they made Briarfield work for its yardage. But again, the Rebels were able to get a terrific all-around game from Fortenberry, who passed for 136 yards and one score and rushed for another 66 with two TDs.

&#8220They were in a man press on our receivers, but our line stepped up and we were able to run the ball,” Fortenberry said.

DeSoto got its lone score with 2:45 left in the third when Zack Haas tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Drew Smith. Tyler Griffin’s kick made it 13-7, Briarfield.

On the enusing possession, the Rebels faced a third-and-5 from their own 41. Fortenberry rolled out and looked for Minsky who was running an out pattern in order to gain the first down. Instead, Minsky broke by the Thunderbird defender and raced down the sideline for the key 59-yard score.

&#8220It was our rollout pass and Sam made it into a big play,” Fortenberry said.

&#8220We were really looking for a first down, but once I got the ball, I saw I could get more out of the play. It was big to score there because we needed to get the momentum back,” Minsky said.

A 2-point conversion try failed, but Briarfield had a 19-7 lead and it forced DeSoto to go to the pass.

That’s wasn’t good because Minsky picked Haas off on the final play of the third quarter. Briarfield cashed in moving 68 yards in 12 plays capped by LeBeau’s 2-yard run to seal a spot in the semifinals.

&#8220They basically showed what they wanted to do and that was to run the clock,” Rebels coach Lance Prine said of DeSoto’s plan. &#8220They did a great job with the time of possession, but that score we got before the half was big.”

Briarfield took a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter on Fortenberry’s 10-yard TD run and Stephen Hernandez’s PAT kick. DeSoto answered with a 17-play drive that ate nine minutes off the clock. They reached the Rebel 1 before two runs were stuffed, forcing a turnover on downs.

Facing a third-and-seven from its own 5, Fortenberry hit Stephen Landreneau on a 46-yard fly route. He then completed a 22-yard pass to Minsky for a first down at the DeSoto 26 with 1:02 left in the half.

On third down, Fortenberry took a draw 11 yards to the 15. He scored two plays later on a 1-yard dive that made it 13-0 with 18 seconds left before halftime.