There wasn’t a lot to take away from the football side of things that we didn’t already know about Noxubee County in their 42-3 playoff win on Friday. The atmosphere around the stadium was celebratory from the opening kickoff and only spread throughout the team as the game drew to a close.
Perhaps the lasting image of the night should be brothers KaMario and Jaiden Taylor dancing at midfield. The two combined for all but two of the team’s touchdowns on the night, with Jaiden registering a pick-six as well as two receiving scores.
“It’s amazing, for real,” Jaiden Taylor said after the game. “We’ve been doing this since we were just little kids, and he ain’t but a year older than me. We’re just having fun.”
KaMario, a senior, spoke about living in the moment with his fellow seniors, but for his brother, as well, it’s the last year of them playing together. They’re trying to cherish the time left this season while striving to enshrine it in the history of the program. They’ve been to the title game each of the last two years only to come up short, but this year they want to be dancing at midfield of M.M. Roberts Stadium.
“Last year is behind us,” Jaiden said. “This year we want to finish, we don’t want to be on the crying end unless it’s tears of joy.”
Trojans and Green Wave show playoff readiness in district title clash
West Point finished district play undefeated with a 14-7 win over New Hope on Friday, making them the top seed in Region 1-5A for the playoffs with New Hope the second seed.
In a game that lived up to the hype, both coaches watched their respective teams and came away knowing they were ready for whatever was next.
“I think playing a physical brand of football like West Point plays, like we play, it gets you ready for the next one,” Trojans head coach Allen Glenn said after the game. “It gets us ready for the speed of the game we’ll face moving forward. We’re just looking forward to playing again.”
The Green Wave secured a narrow win thanks to their defense, but that’s not to say the Trojan defense didn’t live up to the billing either. Each team came up empty on offense in multiple drives into opposition territory, including goal-line stops for both defenses. It was a true test of iron sharpening.
“They’re just a good football team,” West Point head coach Brett Morgan said of New Hope. “They’re similar to what we are, they find ways to run the ball and create advantages in the run game. They play good defense, they run to the ball and tackle. It’s a similar build, they don’t beat themselves. We knew this, expected this, wanted this, and it was everything I thought it would be and more.”
— Colin Damms
Panthers look the part in 1A playoff opener
West Lowndes set out to make a statement on Friday night against Tupelo Christian Preparatory School. From the first whistle, the Panthers showed they were ready to capitalize on every opportunity in their matchup against TCPS.
After West Lowndes deferred the kickoff to the 2nd half, TCPS received. Though not much happened for TCPS as they would fumble on the 27 yard line, and West Lowndes wasted no time turning it into points.
Dylan Gardner broke loose for a touchdown run, immediately establishing control. TCPS responded with a fourth-down touchdown pass later in the quarter, but their risky onside kick attempt backfired, giving West Lowndes prime field position. Three plays later, the Panthers found the end zone again, building an early lead they wouldn’t let slip.
Penalties challenged West Lowndes throughout the game, with 10 false starts coming in the 1st half alone. Head coach Anthony King acknowledged his team’s need to clean up their play.
“We were real sloppy,” King said. “We have to get better after having too many flags.”
Despite the setbacks, West Lowndes’ defense came through when it mattered. With interceptions and timely stops, they held TCPS at bay while the Panther offense continued to pile on points. A quarterback keeper and a 3-yard touchdown run by Kam Evans closed out a dominant first half, putting the Panthers squarely in control with a 46-7 lead.
In the second half, West Lowndes added another score, solidifying their lead. Though TCPS managed a safety late in the game, it was little consolation as the Panthers secured a win that moves them into the next round of the MHSAA 1A Playoffs.
–– Noah McCord
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