MACON — Timorrius Conner hit Ladaveon Smith with a 5-yard touchdown pass, and Deveon Ball got just enough of a pass to A.J. Brown to break it up to help the Noxubee County High School football team hold on for a 26-20 double-overtime victory against Starkville in the season opener for both teams Friday night.
Conner connected with Smith on fourth down to give the Tigers a six-point lead. Their conversion pass went incomplete, which gave the Yellow Jackets the opening they needed. Quarterback Montario Montgomery hit Brown on an 8-yard pass play to start the drive, which began from the 10-yard line. But Noxubee County allowed 1 yard and -1 yards on the next two plays to set up fourth down. Ball, who was responsible for covering Brown most of the evening, got both of his hands in help Brown lose the handle and secure the Tigers’ victory.
Last season, Starkville defeated Noxubee County 51-19 in Starkville.
This season, Conner was 15 of 30 for 122 and three touchdowns. Senior defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons was all over the field, recovering a fumble, deflecting a pass that led to an interception, and blocking an extra point in the fourth quarter that kept the game tied and ultimately forced overtime.
Montgomery was 23 of 33 for 253 yards. Brown had 14 catches for 143 yards
n Columbus 49, Kemper County 27: At Columbus, Kendre Conner led a balanced attack with three rushing touchdowns as the Falcons opened the prep football season with a victory at Falcon Field.
Conner rushed for 135 yards, including scores of 1, 21, and 44 yards. Kylin Hill also had a 46-yard receiving touchdown from quarterback C.J. Gholar and two 82-yard kickoff return touchdowns.
The other score was a 9-yard touchdown pass from Gholar to Marquavious Mitchell.
“For a first game, we played really well,” Columbus coach Randal Montgomery said. “We had one turnover and it was late. Kendre and Kylin really gave us a solid 1-2 punch. We will be riding them all year like that.”
The Columbus defense also was up to the task.
Kemper County ran 30 more plays than Columbus. Down 13-7, the Falcons changed the complexion of the game with three straight three-and-out possessions.
From there, Columbus scored the final three touchdowns of the half to take a 28-13 lead at halftime.
Mario Bradford and Hezekiah Manigo led a dominating performance for the Falcons.
“Last year, we had a lot of I guys,” Bradford said. “They were here to get scholarships. This year is different. We are more of a team. You saw that from the way were flying around out there hitting people.”
Hill begin the second-half with the first of his two kick returns. The Falcons scored 35 unanswered points before reserves helped allow two late touchdowns by the Wildcats.
For more on these games and the rest of the local roundup, go to www.cdispatch.com on Sunday, or check the print edition of The Commercial Dispatch.
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