MACON — Noxubee County football stepped out to practice on Wednesday with their new field still under construction. The Tigers football players took a long walk down the hill from their fieldhouse behind the school, through the away end of the stadium, and past a brand-new turf field that – along with a track around its outer ring – is still undergoing installation. At the south end of the field is another slope that leads down to an open field, where the Tigers warmed up for the day’s practice.
The coaching staff was still making its way down with supplies and sorting through attendance as the players led themselves through warmups.
“I think we’ve got just about everyone here,” said one assistant.
In Noxubee County, where football is king, attendance is rarely a problem.
Among the players leading those warmups is Jaiden Taylor, a senior two-way player who led the Tigers last season in receptions and receiving yards, interceptions, and total touchdowns by players not named Kamario Taylor.
Jaiden has since taken the No. 1 that once belonged to his brother and will look to continue the family tradition of dominating for the Tigers.
“That’s the tradition,” he said of switching to his brother’s number. “People wanted me to stay at 12, and I really wanted 99, but I couldn’t get the jersey, so I went and got No. 1.”
When asked about the responsibility that comes with his seniority and leadership, Taylor didn’t talk about pressure, accountability or any other buzzwords. What he and his team try to do, above all, is enjoy the game they all love for as long as they can.
“I’m the teammate who makes sure everyone has fun,” he said. “If you ain’t having fun in this sport, then what are you doing? You’ve got to love this to be out here.”
Defensive strength
The Tigers finished the 2024 season 11-3, the fifth 10-plus- win season with head coach Teddy Young at the helm, and claimed their first district title since 2020. They ended a nearly two-year long winning streak by local rivals Louisville and embarked on a 10-game winning streak that took them all the way to Hattiesburg.
They did not, however, win the state championship, and their goal remains the same with a talented senior class returning for another shot at the Class 3A crown.
Taylor is one of several returning starters on defense, including the team’s leading tackler from a year ago, BJ Payton. The unit is a strength for the team with so much experience returning, and is hoping to lock down opponents early and often.
“They’ve looked really good,” Young said. “We’re returning eight starters on that side of the ball, and they’ve been flying around. I think it’ll be hard for teams to score on us.”
Defense is where Taylor feels like a “natural” fit, and he loves the work required of defensive backs. As a leader on the back end, he’s had a good view of his teammates’ work as well and how much they’ve grown since last season, which ended with yet another heartbreak in the state championship game.
“They work hard, all of our guys are progressing,” Taylor said, pointing out teammates. “A prime example, (Adrian Bryant) went from 215 to 235. He’s working, and we’re all trying to get to the big stage and win this time.”
The Tigers have made a trip to the big game in Class 3A for three straight years, falling just short each time. A big reason why has been the strength of the offense led by Kamario Taylor.
The former four-star recruit is now fighting for a backup spot at Mississippi State, where his brother is currently committed as well, but the younger Taylor brother has plenty of faith in Kamario’s successor, Jykeim Goodwin.
QB1
Goodwin spent last year backing up Kamario and playing snaps alongside Jaiden at defensive back, but he’s known his new favorite receiving target since well before high school.
“People don’t know, but he’s always been my quarterback,” Jaiden said of Goodwin. “We grew up together, we’ve always been on the same peewee team together. Our chemistry has been there, and we’re trying to build it with the rest of the team so we can all ball out together.”
Goodwin is confident in taking over the job, and Young is confident his team can win with the understudy stepping up into the QB1 role.
“It feels amazing, and I know I’ve got it in me,” Goodwin said. “It’s always been there. I’ve been backing up Kamario, and he’s been helping me a lot. I’ve got it down pat. (I worked) to get my head on straight, make sure I’m prepared for the moment.”
Goodwin is no stranger to the position, and he’s certainly no stranger to Young’s offense and the players who will line up around him. It’s something he’s worked toward, and he’s ready to lead the team out onto a brand new field next week for kickoff on Aug. 29 against Heidelberg.
“It’s coming along,” Young said of the offensive adjustment with Goodwin taking the reins. “We returned offensive linemen, Ladereoun at running back and Jaiden as our playmaker. It’s just getting our quarterback play, and I think we’ll be good offensively.”
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