On the heels of a performance that made him last week’s Dispatch Player of the Week, Noxubee County’s Jadien Taylor went out and wowed once more.
Known for his speed and hands as a wide receiver and ability to make defensive plays in the secondary, Taylor looked more like his brother, former Tiger quarterback and Mississippi State freshman pass-thrower Kamario Taylor, Friday in a 46-13 win over Nettleton. Wearing the No. 1 uniform, the same one his brother wore during his years of excellence as a Tiger, Taylor threw for four touchdowns and 165 yards on 6-of-7 passing.
Oh, and he also hauled in three catches for 108 yards and two more scores. Taylor finished the game with six total touchdowns and produced 283 yards by himself to lead his team to their highest scoring output all season and earn back-to-back honors as The Dispatch’s Player of the Week. Noxubee head coach Teddy Young said there isn’t a skill position Taylor can’t play and put up big numbers.
“He’s been very big for us. He’s just a football player,” Young said. “Any position you put him in he can play at the highest level at that position like he’s been doing all his life. Being able to play quarterback, his football IQ is off the charts so that gives us a guy back there who knows what defenses are trying to do and knows how to execute the offense to attack it.”
Taylor’s outing was just another piece of evidence to Young that he is a “special player.” His throws weren’t just quick and easy screen passes either: “He was going through progressions and was running the whole offense.”
“For him to go out there and put up that statline at quarterback and then go out and play at wide receiver – he also had an 80-yard punt return that was called back for a holding call – he had a great night,” Young said.
Moving him around to different positions keeps opposing defenses guessing and is one reason why the team is 6-3 overall and 2-1 in Region 4-3A games. When Taylor has the ball, good things happen for the Tigers, Young said, even at quarterback.
“(We are) just (creating) different ways to put the ball back in his hands and make defenses have to prepare for anything,” he said. “We’ve been thinking about this for a while, he just needs more reps at the position.”
Honorable mentions
Starkville quarterback Kingston Johnson was 13-of-15 for 217 yards and two touchdown throws during the team’s 55-14 win over Murrah. New Hope running back Jacob Jefferson ran for 90 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and caught two catches for 14 yards and a score during the Trojan’s 20-0 win over Pontotoc last Friday. Heritage Academy quarterback Joshua Tate threw four touchdown passes in a 34-13 win over rival Starkville Academy. West Point quarterback Colt Whitacre went 7-of-10 through the air for 105 yards and touchdown to help his team win 51-7 over Caledonia.
You can help your community
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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
