JACKSON — Tray Baber rushed for 160 yards on 19 carries and scored a touchdown as Noxapater beat Shaw 21-10 to claim the MHSAA Class 1A state championship.
It’s the Tigers’ first state title.
Quarterback Ethan Hamilton also had a rushing touchdown for Noxapater (12-3) and Barrett Carter sealed it with a 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the second quarter that made it 21-0.
Class 2A Finals
West Bolivar 26,
East Marion 7
Jovious Wade rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown Friday as West Bolivar beat East Marion 26-7 to claim the Class 2A state championship.
It’s the fifth state title for West Bolivar and its first since 2007. The Eagles forced seven East Marion turnovers.
Demario Brown sealed the game for the Eagles on Friday with a 46-yard fumble return in the third quarter to give West Bolivar a 19-7 lead.
Demarrion Haynes also had a rushing touchdown for West Bolivar (15-1), which finished with 243 total yards.
Xavier Grindle scored East Marion’s only touchdown on a 78-yard pass from Deandrey Johnson in the first quarter. Grindle also rushed for a team-high 69 yards. East Marion finished with a 13-2 record.
Class 6A Finals
Olive Branch 35, Petal 34
Todd Mays rushed for a 1-yard touchdown and then the go-ahead 2-point conversion with 1:12 remaining in the fourth quarter as Olive Branch rallied to beat Petal 35-34 Friday night for the Class 6A state championship.
It’s the first state title for the Conquistadors (15-0), who nearly ended up losers to Petal (10-5) on the final play.
Petal’s Austin Franklin missed a 38-yard field goal as time expired. Franklin made a 43-yard field goal on the previous snap, but an Olive Branch player was ruled offsides, which is a dead ball penalty.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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