STARKVILLE — Noxubee County came out on fire in Friday night’s season opener against Starkville.
The Tigers forced two turnovers on downs early against what was expected to be a high-powered Yellow Jacket offense, scoring two lengthy touchdowns after each turnover.
With less than four-and-a-half minutes to go in the first quarter, it was all Tigers, up 12-0, but in a matter of seconds, Starkville awoke.
A’Braylen Jenkins returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the house to cut the deficit to 12-7, and it was all Starkville from there, scoring 49 unanswered points in a 49-18 rout of Noxubee County.
“To me, that’s the play of the game,” Starkville head coach Chris Jones said. “That gave us momentum. That gave us the spark that we needed, not just an explosive play, but an explosive touchdown. It was big just to get momentum.”
The remainder of the first half turned into the Trey Petty and Braylon Burnside show for Starkville (1-0) as Petty had three total touchdowns in the final 16 minutes of play in the half, one rushing and two passing, both to Burnside.
“He knows where I want him to be and then, I know where he’s gonna be,” Petty said. “It makes it easy as a team and it opens up things for other receivers.”
Petty let the ball fly on Friday, connecting on some deep passes to Starkville receivers. His arm was on full display, as well as his feet.
Just as he showcased his arm, his legs got him and Starkville out of what was a 3rd and 20 in the first half as the Jackets were backed up to their own 10 yard line. Out of nowhere, he escaped defenders, pulling off a 31-yard scramble for a first down and then some.
However, that kickoff return and a fumble recovery on a botched snap from Noxubee County (0-1) late in the first quarter is what made the difference at the end of the night.
“We came out playing our type of football, offensively and defensively,” Noxubee County head coach Teddy Young said. “Then, we had some self-inflicted wounds. With a great program like Starkville, you can not give them opportunities and we gave them opportunities.”
Tigers quarterback Kamario Taylor showcased his offseason work well, bouncing off defenders and making passes in traffic and tight spaces.
Starkville, however, proved to be too much at the end of the night, making an important statement out of the gates for the rest of Mississippi to see.
“Everybody knew the message from the beginning of the game,” Petty said. “Play hard, don’t give up, stay playing physical and I think that’s what we did.”
Starkville 49, Noxubee County 18
Noxubee County (0-1) 12 0 6 0 – 18
Starkville (1-0) 13 29 7 0 – 49
First quarter
NC – Dequadrion Welch 79 pass Kamario Taylor (kick failed), clock 8:01
NC – Martavius Wicks 61 run (kick failed), clock 4:28
S – A’Braylen Jenkins 80 kickoff return (Ja Cori Gallegos kick), clock 4:15
S – Courtland Cooper 4 run (kick failed), clock 1:16
Second quarter
S – Braylon Burnside 11 pass from Trey Petty (Jay Stevenson 2-point conversion), clock 10:47
S – Burnside 20 pass from Petty (Gallegos kick), clock 4:14
S – Stevenson 18 run (Gallegos kick), clock 1:23
S – Petty 8 run (Gallegos kick), clock 0:00
Third quarter
S – Cooper 82 run (Gallegos kick), clock 7:23
NC – Jaylen King 61 pass from Taylor (two-point conversion failed), clock 4:37
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