YAZOO CITY — At this rate, the members of the offensive line on the Noxubee County High School football team won’t have to do any sprints at practice for the rest of the season.
Led by a dominating ground game that piled up 360 yards, Noxubee County defeated Yazoo County 34-7 in the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A North State playoffs.
With the win, its eighth in a row, Noxubee County (11-2) advances to play host to Cleveland, which eliminated Lafayette 14-6, in the third round at 7 p.m. Friday.
“We came out and played hard from the beginning to the end,” Noxubee County coach Tyrone Shorter said. “We had a fumble that resulted in their score. If not for that, we would have shut them out. We did shut their offense out. I thought we played well in all three phases of the game.”
Junior quarterback Timorrius Conner was 11 of 15 for 196 yards. Ladaveon Ball had five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, Kynbotric Mason had three catches for 110 yards, and Ladaveon Smith had two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. The passing attack helped the Tigers amass 556 yards in total offense.
Shannessy Sherrod led the ground game with 20 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Anzarius Taylor had seven carries for 76 yards, Conner had four carries for 41 yards, Michael Tate had one carry for 40 yards, Tyquintin Ramsey had six carries for 35 yards, Javarcus Walker had five carries for 22 yards, and Josh Little had two carries for 20 yards.
“They did a great job,” Shorter said of his running backs. “That was the game plan going in, to control the game with the run. Sherrod got stronger and stronger as the game went. He ran the ball really hard. Taylor and Ramsey did, too. I was pleased with the running backs and our offensive line. They did a great job all game of staying on blocks. That is where we need to be this time of the year.”
Shorter said the running game opened things for the passing attack, especially on play-action looks.
Jeffery Simmons added a fumble recovery for a touchdown on defense.
“Defensive coordinator George Richardson had a heck of a game plan,” Shorter said. “It started up front with the defensive linemen. They controlled the line of scrimmage and put pressure on their quarterback all night. We also had a good game plan against a very good receiver they have. Our defensive front dominated the whole game and controlled the game and allowed our linebackers to flow to the football. They were all flying around and we had five or six guys on the ball making tackles. Our pass defense was incredible. We just did a great job defensively all around. I think at halftime they had 43 total yards. They continue to play lights out. We need to stay aggressive.”
Shorter said the Tigers need to be aggressive on both sides of the football. He doesn’t think that should be a problem because he has said the past couple of weeks that the offensive line, which is led by center Bobby Mays, has set a goal of rushing for 300 yards each game. When the team arrived back in Macon at 2 a.m. Saturday, Shorter said Mays said to him, “We’ll crank that train up Monday and get ready to go.”
Shorter said that comment speaks to the focus his players have this season after losing to Lafayette 9-0 last season in the North State playoffs. He said the coaching staff doesn’t give out stickers for notable game performances, but he credits Michael Ashford, who he said is the best offensive line coach in the state, for getting the offensive line to play at such a high level. Shorter said the reward might have to be taking some sprints off for that group.
When he was asked what conditioning the offensive linemen would have to do if they helped the Tigers rush for 400 or more yards, Shorter said they “definitely” wouldn’t have to do any sprints. For a team hungry to win another state title, that could be the ideal motivation for a group of Tigers that is setting the example for the rest of the team.
“We really played good as a team,” Shorter said. “My offensive coordinator (James Patterson) said we should have scored over 40-something points. I am pleased with our offense and defense and our special teams. We covered kicks so well. I am so proud of our kickoff team. They have really worked at it and got good at it this week. I thought we put together a really great game as a team and have to continue to play like this. We didn’t have a lot of penalties and played solid. We have to continue to play solid like this.
“These guys are focused. They know what is at stake. They know they have to play well every game or they go home. Since the playoffs started, the focus has been there.”
n Aberdeen 66, North Pontotoc 30: At Ecru, the Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the MHSAA Class 3A playoffs by scoring a season-high in points.
Aberdeen (10-3) will play host to Kemper County (10-3) Friday in the third round.
“Offensively, I think we just took what they gave us,” Aberdeen coach Mark Bray said. “Our tough schedule earlier in the year helped us prepare for games like (this).”
Aberdeen scored on its first three possessions and led 20-7 after one quarter. The Bulldogs led 28-7 at halftime.
Williams hit Tramonte Prather (35 yards), Jerrick Orr (42 and 86 yards), and B.J. Williams (82 yards) for touchdowns.
Josh Williams also had two rushing scores (17 and 5 yards), while Donte Carter (3-yard run), Tyreke Gates (4-yard run), and Cameron Blaylock (12-yard run) had the other touchdowns.
Williams was 17 of 21 for a career-high 436 yards and four touchdowns.
For North Pontotoc (11-2), Zay Cullins rushed 23 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Aberdeen and Kemper County are Class 3A, Region 4 rivals. In the regular season, Aberdeen scored in the last minute to earn a 40-36 victory.
“We will have to play better defensively,” Bray said. “Everybody is good at this stage.”
Alabama
n Ragland 20, South Lamar 12: At Millport, Alabama, the Stallions lost in the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 1A playoffs.
Kyle Redmond rushed 11 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns for the Stallions. Dustin Weathers had 13 tackles and a sack, while Justin Cheeks had 10 tackles.
Ragland (11-1) received a 19-yard touchdown pass from Stoney Merritt to Thomas Braxton, a 5-yard touchdown run from Dylan Lidley, and a 3-yard run from Coby Fuller.
Ragland led 14-6 at halftime.
South Lamar, in its first postseason appearance since 2008, finished the season 5-7.
Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters contributed to this report.
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