Trojan defense undone by mismatch
New Hope’s best season in a decade came to an abrupt end on Friday. The Trojans fell short in a home playoff shootout with Canton, losing 50-41 after a remarkable display of offense from both teams.
Quarterback Eric Gilkey III led a prolific Tigers offense to victory thanks in part to skill players Joshua Gray, TyTrevien Greenwood and Kevarsia Taylor, all of whom registered touchdowns in the high-scoring win, but the playbook really opened up for the visitors because of receiver Jayden Cration.
The four-star junior receiver already has offers from Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and it didn’t take long for him to show why. Twice in the first quarter, Cration was able to spread the Trojan defense thin, separating from man coverage with a quick move and charging up the sideline unimpeded.
The first play resulted in a 38-yard gain to help set up the Tigers’ first touchdown of the game. The second instance was a 42-yard touchdown.
From that point on the Trojans had two guys on Cration, one in press man and another operating as his own personal safety. The receiver did very little for the rest of the game, but that didn’t matter. The Tigers’ playcallers pounced at the opportunity to open up the rest of the field, happily feeding the other playmakers to run up the score.
The adjustment was a necessary one for the Trojans to make, but they only got three defensive stops the rest of the game as the Tigers added to the lead and created separation on the scoreboard.
— Colin Damms
Defense carries Tigers to quarterfinals
Quarterback KaMario Taylor has put Noxubee County on his back all season, but in the second round of the MHSAA Class 3A playoffs against Jefferson Davis County, it was the Tigers’ defense’s turn to shine in a 31-6 victory.
The Jaguars were poised to strike first on their opening drive after a Noxubee County punt, holding the ball for the final nine minutes of the first quarter and into the second. But the Tigers stood firm in front of the goal line, stopping JDC on fourth down after a 19-play drive consisting entirely of runs.
Noxubee County again stopped the Jaguars on fourth down to open the second half, at which point the Tigers’ lead was just 6-0. That defensive dominance kept the hosts in front before the offense found its footing late, with Taylor rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another. His younger brother, Jaiden Taylor, had a receiving touchdown and two interceptions, the second of which he returned for the final score of the night.
Tyran Cotton also had an interception in the fourth quarter as Noxubee County continued to put the clamps down on the Jaguars once the visitors were forced to throw the ball. With BJ Payton, Kendrick White and Jeremiah Jackson up front and Jaiden Taylor headlining the secondary, the Tigers will need more performances like Friday’s from their defense if they are to win their first state title since 2017.
— Benjamin Rosenberg
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