If there’s one thing Noxubee County has done well this season, it’s performing in big-time games, regardless of result.
Friday night was yet another example of that, taking a 5-1 Kemper County team down to the final seconds of the game.
Quarterback Kamario Taylor shined, recording seven total touchdowns, but the Tigers came up short in a 48-46 loss, dropping them to 3-4 on the year.
This Friday is an opportunity to get back to .500, heading back home to Macon to host Enterprise Clarke.
“We just need to find a way to finish games,” Noxubee County head coach Teddy Young said. “That’s the biggest thing. … Just doing the little things right.”
Young talked about winning in the trenches in order to be successful on Friday, a facet of the game for which the Tigers are still searching for consistency. Noxubee County hopes to flip that narrative beginning this week.
These early season games have provided the preparation needed to be successful once October and November come around, and now, the Tigers just need to pounce.
“We’re going to try to take advantage of our home-field advantage,” Young said. “We always play well at home, so we just have to get back on the winning side.”
Louisville (7-0) at Caledonia (3-3), 7 p.m.
Caledonia is fresh off a much-needed bye week after a 3-3 start to the season and an unfortunate 0-1 start in district play following a road loss at Kosciusko.
Bye weeks at this point in the season are perfect for teams looking to make deep runs in the playoffs, and the Cavaliers are aiming for success in district play and the upcoming Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A playoffs.
“We’re a beat-up football team,” head coach Michael Kelly said. “We’re coming off a tough division loss. I thought our kids played hard. We just couldn’t find a way to get it done in the end. We gave everyone some time off to reset and I’ve been pleased with them this week.”
With just three district games remaining, the road to the playoffs is not an easy one for the Cavs. This week presents the toughest test of the group, a home game against arguably the best team in the state in Louisville.
The Wildcats are a perfect 7-0 this season and have the clear edge in this matchup, currently 8-1 against Caledonia following a 21-point win last season.
West Point, Starkville and Noxubee County have all fallen to Louisville, and they’re looking to make Caledonia their next win to cross off en route to a 12th state championship.
The Wildcats are rolling, so if Caledonia wants any shot of taking down the top dog in the Magnolia State, they’ll have to play their best to beat the best.
“We need to go be the best team that we can be, and that’s been the challenge for our kids,” Kelly said. “We can’t beat ourselves. I want the best football team that we can put on the field. When we step on the field on Friday night, I want them to play at their best.”
New Hope (0-6) at Corinth (1-6), 7 p.m.
A new season started for New Hope last week, as the Trojans entered district play after an 0-5 start in non-district play.
Team leaders held a players-only meeting this week to get this team back in the right mindset to make a run at the playoffs, because district play is the right time to do it.
Friday night presents a fantastic opportunity to do so, facing a one-win Corinth team on the road.
“It helps a lot when we have a great group of kids and a great group of leaders,” New Hope head coach Seth Stillman said. “Even with the loss last Friday, it’s not over for us. There’s bigger things ahead.”
These teams, despite now being district opponents, have a short history against each other, facing off just one previous time back in 1991.
New Hope came out victorious in that affair, doubling up Corinth in a 24-12 win, but that was more than 30 years ago.
Right now, the Trojans have their work cut out for them, playing a team that’s scored twice as much as them so far this season despite having just one more win overall.
The Trojans need a complete performance to get that elusive first win of the season under their belts.
“There’s a handful of guys on our football team that really, really get it,” Stillman said. “They’re taking the things that the coaches are saying to heart. They understand where we’re at and they’re putting it on their shoulders to get it corrected.”
Other games
East Rankin Academy (2-6) at Oak Hill Academy (3-5), 7 p.m.
Columbus Christian Academy (0-8) at Kirk Academy (8-0), 7 p.m.
Hebron Christian (1-6) at Marvell Academy (Ark.) (1-6), 7 p.m.
Victory Christian (2-3) at Russell Christian Academy (3-4), 7 p.m.
Aliceville (Ala.) (2-5) at Cold Springs (Ala.) (3-4), 7 p.m.
Pickens Academy (Ala.) (1-6) at Clarke Prep (Ala.) (5-3), 7 p.m.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 45 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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