Noxubee County secured a spot in the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game with an incredible 36-34 comeback win on the road at Magee on Friday.
The Tigers, 11-2, overcame a 34-16 fourth-quarter deficit to win the state semifinal, scoring three touchdowns, converting an onside kick and getting two stops at midfield on defense all in the final five minutes of the game.
The Trojans, 12-1, came into the matchup undefeated and showed they deserved their reputation after coming out and punching the Tigers in the mouth early on. Magee took a 15-0 lead going into the second quarter as Braeden Gregory and Jeremiah Cole both found the end zone early for the hosts.
The Tigers’ offensive line struggled to buy time for KaMario Taylor early on and it took some doing to get back into the game. A 98-yard fumble return put the Trojans up 22-0 but the Tigers found their feet with a score on either side of the half.
It appeared that the Trojans had sealed the deal with some clock control and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, but Taylor and head coach Teddy Young went to work executing three scoring drives in crunch time to seal the win and book a trip to Hattiesburg for the state championship game.
The Tigers will face Choctaw County for the Class 3A crown at Southern Miss’ M.M. Roberts Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Noxubee County 36, Magee 34
Magee (12-1) – 8 14 0 12 – 34
Nox Co. (11-2) – 0 8 8 20 – 36
First quarter
M – Braeden Gregory run (two-point conversion), clock 4:53
Second quarter
M – Jeremiah Cole run (Brady Fairchild kick), clock 11:51
M – Tavirious Harris fumble return (Fairchild kick), clock 4:01
NC – Michael Dancy pass from KaMario Taylor (two-point conversion), clock 2:06
Third quarter
NC – Jaiden Taylor pass from KaMario Taylor (two-point conversion), clock 8:44
Fourth quarter
M – Akavion Griffith run (two-point attempt failed), clock 9:12
M – Gregory run (two-point attempt failed), clock 5:44
NC – Dede Wells pass from Taylor (two-point conversion), clock 5:04
NC – Taylor run (two-point attempt failed), 4:16
NC – Pass from Taylor (two point attempt failed), clock 0:32
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