Noxubee County High School sophomore Kyziah Pruitt grew up watching the school’s football team. He knew the honor it was going to be to play for Tyrone Shorter.
Shorter has worked as a coach at Noxubee County High for 19 years. He served as an assistant and then defensive coordinator for veteran coach M.C. Miller, and played a key role in the program’s first state title. Since taking over as coach for Miller in 2010, Shorter has led the Tigers to three more Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A state championships.
So when Pruitt didn’t play in his first game with the varsity team — a practice game at the New Hope Jamboree — he needed a lift. The purpose of the event was to get even lightly regarded players some work.
Shorter spoke to Pruitt shortly after that game.
“He told me to keep my head up and that he was planning on me making some big plays for the team that year,” Pruitt said.
Pruitt was down during the game. Afterward, he experienced the highest level of confidence he has had as a player. His coach believed in him. He knew he could accomplish anything if he could blend that belief with God-given talent.
Pruitt later made good on his coach’s prediction. He gained more playing time on offense and on defense. With a roster full of seniors, seeing a freshman make plays was unusual.
He punctuated his freshman campaign with a 97-yard fumble return for touchdown against St. Stanislaus in the state title game.
“It was the best feeling in the world,” Pruitt said. “It also felt like the longest run of my life, to finally get to the end zone. When I scored that touchdown, it was like the whole season made since. It’s that moment when you realize you can play this game. You can be one of the big boys.”
With all of those seniors gone, Noxubee County is trying to make history by winning a third-straight state championship. No Class 4A has accomplished that feat.
Much like Pruitt a year ago, the Tigers are trying to blend some God-given ability with a coach’s belief.
In 2014, Noxubee County won the state title with a bunch of juniors leading the way. It stood to reason a year older, wiser and more mature, Noxubee County would have no problem repeating. After a 2-4 start, the Tigers won their final 10 to make it two in a row.
This season, things have been more challenging. Even though a sophomore, Pruitt knew his role as a leader.
“The hardest thing when you lose seniors is not replacing all of those plays, it’s replacing the leadership,” Pruitt said. “Coach Shorter told me I really needed to be a leader. He was counting on me to help take control of things.”
Shorter’s first message sent good vibrations to Pruitt. The second challenge did the same.
“When he tells you the team is counting on you, that’s great,” Pruitt said. “You are a sophomore, and you know that everybody is counting on you. It’s a team sport, but it really helps your confidence, when you are the one counted on to push the others.”
Noxubee County has been on a roller-coaster ride in 2016. A one-point victory at Columbus could rank as one of the best victories under Shorter. A 47-6 loss at West Point followed. Rarely, have we seen the Tigers not show up for a game. Granted, West Point played well. However, Noxubee County had a bevy of shortcomings that night.
Inside region play, it has been business as usual. Noxubee County has started 3-0. The Tigers last lost a region game in 2011. To continue that streak, Noxubee County will have to win Friday at Caledonia and beat Houston in Macon. The Hilltoppers also are 3-0 in Class 43A, Region 4 play.
“All we can do is keep working,” Pruitt said. “Each game we play, we need to get better. There is going to be nothing easy for this team. We know everybody is out to get us because the last couple of years. We just have to seize this opportunity.”
Pruitt has seized Shorter’s words and made the most of his opportunity. Arguably, one of the best sophomores in the state, Pruitt has done it on both sides of the ball, which is rare at the Class 4A level. He has 49 catches for 789 yards and eight touchdowns. He has been a steadying influence quarterbacks Maliek Stallings, a sophomore, and Armoni Clark, a junior. Pruitt also has 12 tackles, an interception, and four pass deflections. His speed is his biggest asset at both positions.
It remains to be seen if Noxubee County has enough in the tank to win seven more games and a third straight state championship. Last Thursday, Noxubee County looked like a team capable of winning any classification in the first half of a 34-26 victory against Louisville. When the final horn sounded, a 28-0 lead was gone, but the Tigers were still a winner.
It’s that fine line between being good and great.
Shorter will continue to motivate. Pruitt will continue to lead.
The belief, attitude, and swagger are there. The Tigers will have to back it up with actions because the games will keep getting bigger.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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