MACON – The streak lives.
Anyone who follows high school football in the state of Mississippi knows about the Noxubee County High School football team’s defense. While the Tigers’ speed, quickness, and size have changed through the years, the defense’s ability to swarm and to choke the life from offenses has remained constant.
This season’s group is no different. Even though Noxubee County lost stalwarts up front like Javancy Jones and Dylan Bradley, the passion for hard-hitting, buzzing football is evident in a younger group that is looking to make it mark.
Still, something was missing Friday night as Noxubee County prepared for its game against West Lauderdale: A shutout. The Tigers came close in their first seven games and stood tall after having to protect more short fields than it wanted to, but close isn’t good enough for a team that strives to win a state championship every season.
Against West Lauderdale, Noxubee County’s defense delivered an effort some of the past state title teams would admire. Sparked by senior Eric Hunt (three sacks), Noxubee County registered nine sacks and allowed just 113 yards in a 35-0 victory in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A, Region 4 game.
“That was great. I am glad for our kids,” Noxubee County coach Tyrone Shorter said. “These guys really came out and played really hard tonight. They had a great week of practice and we just put one together.”
The shutout enabled Noxubee County to stretch its streak for consecutive seasons with at least one shutout to seven. While this year’s defense might not be quite as the 2012 state title defense, which had five shutouts, or the 2009 (10) or 2008 (seven) teams, the Tigers still swarm and run to the ball as good as any team in the state. Noxubee County used its speed to shut off West Lauderdale’s ability to get to the edge. As a result, the Knights (6-3, 2-1) were forced to find ways to beat the Tigers up the middle. Aside from one sustained drive in the third quarter when it rushed for three first downs, West Lauderdale had trouble moving the football on the ground. Noxubee County accounted for -63 yards in sacks, which left West Lauderdale with 47 rushing yards on 41 attempts.
“That is a statement saying the Noxubee defense is back,” Hunt said of the shutout. “We are all out there to have fun. I like to see my teammates to have fun. That means they are excited and ready to play.”
Hunt epitomizes the prototypical player in a Noxubee County defense. Listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Hunt isn’t the biggest player on the field. But what makes up for what he lacks in size with versatility. The senior, who is a three-year starter, can play linebacker, up front, and in the secondary. He also has earned playing time at running back and is the Tigers’ primary return man on punts and kicks. Shorter said Hunt is his quarterback or field general on defense.
“I spread him around and put him in a lot of different places and he just continues to make plays,” Shorter said. “He is a smart player. He is a heck of a player. His motor never stops, and that is the type of player we need. He puts everybody in the right positions. We are blessed to have him.”
Hunt also is the Tigers’ source of energy. Even when he misses a tackle — like he did in the first quarter when quarterback Larry Ross escaped his grasp and found Kyle Thompson for a 10-yard gain and a first down, Hunt is going to keep coming. He had his first sack on the next play.
“When I am out on the field ballin’, they can’t stop me,” Hunt said. “I don’t believe I can be blocked.”
Hunt flashed his speed in the second quarter when he read Tyler Lantz rolling right and followed his diagonal pitch forward to Cetin Ozen by wrapping up Ozen for a 4-yard loss.
In the third quarter, Hunt showed he is a fan of professional wrestler John Cena after he made his second sack. Hunt stepped forward after the play and waved his hand left and right in front of his face and then saluted, mimicking the move Cena does to say “You can’t see me.” That was the case numerous times Friday night, as Shorter’s decision to move Hunt around gave him a chance to have clear lanes to the quarterback on blitzes or on penetration into the backfield.
“He is our leader,” Noxubee County senior defensive back Antraveon Jamison said. “He talks and talks. Before the game, he will ask us, ‘Are you ready? Are you ready?’ He motivates everybody. If you have a leader playing that good, everybody else is going to want to play the same way.”Jamison made an impression in his first game back from a broken collarbone with an interception. Jamison’s return means Noxubee County has the depth to move Mahlon Robinson from safety back to his normal position at cornerback. It also gives the Tigers another aggressive and speedy defender who can help create havoc.
“It means a lot (to get Jamison back),” Shorter said. “His presence was immediately felt on the field. He had the big interception, and that is what we have been missing, someone playing on the ball the way he can play the ball. It is huge to have him back.”
Noxubee County’s best work in pursuit of the shutout came in the first half. West Lauderdale received its first possession thanks to a fumble and took over at the Tigers’ 48-yard line. An 18-yard run by Ross gave the Knights a first-and-10 at the 19. But the Tigers stopped the Knights for no gain on the next two rushed and then forced a 3-yard loss on third down. West Lauderdale fumbled a fourth-down pass after a 2-yard gain.
West Lauderdale’s best chance to score came on its third possession, when it again capitalized on a fumble and took over at the Tigers’ 20. A sack by Edrion Rice on third down set up a fourth-and-13 at the 28. Hunt put an exclamation point on the hold by making a big hit on Noah Nix after he caught a pass from Ross and dropping him for a 2-yard loss.
Shorter said the defense has delivered all season, especially in come-from-behind victories against Kosciusko and Leake Central to start region play.
“That is a good sign of a good defense,” Shorter said of the defense’s ability not to let opponents score after they get short fields.
“We talk about sudden change. We talk about situations all of the time. We have the guys in that mind-frame that the offense is going to make mistakes. That is a part of the ballgame. When we do turn the ball over, we are not rattled by it. We get out and play good defense and we are looking for a big play.”
Shorter has encouraged Hunt to try to make big plays on offense and special teams, too. That’s why he could forgive Hunt for trying to make something happen when he fielded a bouncing punt near midfield in the fourth quarter and then fumbling it. Shorter said Hunt makes that play nine times out of 10 and that is something the Tigers would correct in practice.
Although it doesn’t look like Noxubee County has a lot to tinker with on defense, Shorter and his players said there is plenty of fine-tuning left to accomplish. If that work gets done, Noxubee County will be primed to put a few more shutouts on the scoreboard.
“We have a whole lot of improvement to make and improving to do,” Shorter said. “We have to get better against the run. I think our pass defense is really good. West Lauderdale gashed us some with the run. We just have to get better because deep in the playoffs you’re going to have to stop the run.”
Said Hunt, “We have to keep coming to practice and work hard and being motivated and coming to practice and putting it all out.”
Noxubee County (5-3, 3-0) has clinched a playoff spot and will play host to Caledonia on Friday. It will close the regular season Nov. 1 with a game at Houston
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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