MACON — Jabrayon Leflore cut to his right.
The Leake Central High School running back didn’t have the football. He was simply carrying out his fake. It didn’t matter. A Noxubee County defensive lineman still hit him behind the line of scrimmage.
Three other Tigers were tackling the quarterback for a safety.
That safety was one example of the dominance of Noxubee County’ defensive line Friday night in a 44-0 victory against Leake Central in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A, Region 4 game at Tiger Stadium.
The victory on Homecoming helped Noxubee County (5-4, 3-0) clinch its sixth-straight region title and extend its region winning streak to 29 games. It also locked up a No. 1 seed in the upcoming Class 4A playoffs.
If not for a 47-yard run early in the third quarter, Leake Central (4-5, 0-3) would have been held to minus-26 rushing yards on 18 carries.
“We’re coming together as one,” said Miles Smith, the leader of Noxubee County’s defense.
There never was a concern from a talent perspective for Noxubee County coach Tyrone Shorter. All he needed to do was find a way to get the Tigers to play together the right way.
“That was our problem at the beginning. Now they’re getting comfortable playing with each other. They’re starting to communicate and you’re seeing the difference,” Shorter said. “I told those guys, ‘When we play good up front, that’s going to be the difference maker.’ ”
The defensive line was an active ingredient in holding Leake Central to 43 yards. The Tigers’ front provided constant pressure that ruined the Gators’ passing game and its attempts to run. Leake Central had 12 incompletions and an interception and only four completions for 22 yards.
Noxubee County needed two quarters to throw Leake Central into disarray. In the final seconds of the second quarter, two Leake Central offensive linemen shoved each other between plays after another run was stopped for a loss.
Twelve of Leake Central’s 19 rushes were stopped for a loss.
The unity on the defensive line has led to better performances — 19 points allowed per game in the last three games compared to 31.6 in the first six — and to greater depth.
Shorter said Noxubee County now has a rotation of six defensive linemen it can use at any time. Verdell Clemons, for example, was a noticeable presence in the interior, especially when flanked by linebacker Chokang Brooks, who occasionally lined up as a defensive lineman.
Still, Smith is the one most often in the opposing backfield. That’s no accident.
Shorter has tried to exploit matchup advantages with the four-year starter by moving him to different positions.
“He’s one of those kids we do that with to keep offenses from keying on him,” Shorter said. “He’s just so quick, so powerful.”
The result showed on plays like the safety.
“Everybody was supposed to be blocked. Every man on the front was supposed to be covered,” Smith said, “but everybody pushed the line and did what they were supposed to do, so they got there on time.”
Said Shorter, “They all believe. They’re all getting a chance to play. We got about six linemen, and that’s what it’s going to take this late in the year and getting into the playoffs.”
Noxubee County’s defense also gave its offense short fields. The Tigers responded by scoring touchdowns on all but one of their possessions. The other ended with an interception in the end zone.
Jaqualyn Smith was the only Tiger to find the end zone multiple times, doing so on runs of 5 and 13 yards in the first half. Kyziah Pruitt, Rashad Eades, Kaiyus Lewis, and Jaylon Barnett also scored.
Noxubee County will wrap up the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday when it plays at region rival New Hope.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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