FULTON – Deshawn McGaughy knows how to make the best of a situation.

McGaughy, Itawamba’s senior tailback, needed just six touches and a few hours notice Thursday to completely dominate the Indians’ 34-7 win over Division 1-4A rival New Albany.

After finding out the game had been moved up a day due to expected bad weather just hours before kickoff, McGaughy responded with six carries for 155 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Indians improve to 7-0.

“They told us in sixth period that we were playing tonight,” McGaughy said with a smile, “but I’m always ready to play.”

It showed.

McGaughy ripped off two TD runs in the first quarter, including a 14-yard strike just two minutes into the game and a breathtaking 78-yard gallop down the home sideline that included a pair of broken tackles.

McGaughy “was the difference tonight,” IAHS coach Jamie Mitchell said. “We still looked sloppy at times in the first half, but even when we didn’t block the way we should, he knows how to make a play. I’m glad he’s on our side.”

With IAHS, the Journal’s No. 3 large school, leading 12-0 after one quarter, McGaughy added a 15-yard scoring run midway through the second. Junior QB Maikhail Miller added the 2-point conversion run and Itawamba led 20-0 at halftime.

“We still have to eliminate mistakes on the offensive side of the ball,” Mitchell said, “but when you’ve got a back like McGaughy, he makes up for a lot of bad execution.”

McGaughy’s final carry of the night, a 26-yard TD run on the Indians’ second play of the third quarter, pushed the lead to 28-0.

“My team depends on me to make a play when I get the ball,” McGaughy said. “I don’t care if I get it six times or if I get it on every play, I’m just trying to make a big play.”

Itawamba pushed the lead to 34-0 midway through the third when Miller connected with senior Bronson Smith on a 52-yard scoring strike.

“We’ve played seven games and we’re 7-0,” Mitchell said, “but the biggest thing is that we are 2-0 in the division.”

New Albany got on the board on its first drive in the fourth quarter when QB Tyler Basil found senior wideout Taylor Goode on a 39-yard TD pass. After Sonny Harrison’s PAT, IAHS led 34-7.

On a night when the offense stole the show, Itawamba’s defense also played well, forcing three turnovers and limiting New Albany (4-4, 0-2) to just 72 first half yards. Sophomore cornerback Austin Shumpert had two interceptions and a fumble recovery for the Indians.

Itawamba finished with 416 total yards, including 325 on the ground, while the Indians’ defense allowed 177 total yards and sacked Basil four times.

Itawamba visits Tishomingo County next week while New Albany (4-4, 0-2) will host North Pontotoc.