LOUISVILLE — Noxubee County football wrote its own history on Friday night.
The Tigers ended Louisville’s historic winning streak with a 28-13 win in their rivals’ backyard.
Head coach Teddy Young’s team is just that, young, but they grew up in a big spot on both sides of the ball, refusing to give in on defense and fighting all the way to finish the job.
“It means a lot,” Young said after the win. “This senior class has been working hard, doing everything they need to do. It’s big. That’s my mentor, he’s got a great program here and it shows how good our team can be. We’ve just got to be consistent.”
The Tigers (3-2) were once again led on offense by outstanding quarterback play from KaMario Taylor, who scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground and two more through the air to cap four excellent offensive drives.
The Tigers had reached the doorstep twice early only to see dropped balls and pass breakups keep them out. The third time was the charm however as Taylor’s 25-yard gallop to the goal line set up the opening score on the next play.
“I’ll be real, we weren’t all clicking, that was just a spark of the electrifying offense that we have,” Taylor said after the game. “We came out here and we busted our tail, everyone did their assignments, everyone blocked and the O-line did a great job protecting me, and our receivers made plays when they needed to be made.”
But it wasn’t just the Taylor show. The defense held the Wildcats to just two scores, adding a couple of fourth-down stops and an interception from Tyran Cotton.
The offensive line did its part on the other side of the ball, opening up the running game, and the receivers stepped up as well. Dede Wells and Taylor’s brother Jaiden each caught a touchdown, with the Taylor-to-Taylor connection sealing the game in the fourth quarter.
“It was a great team effort all the way,” Young said. “Defense was great, special teams played great. I’m proud of them, they’re growing up on that side of the ball, and when it was time to make a play they made plays. That’s why we tell them to keep going every week. They get better, and that’s what happened tonight. They put it all together.”
Wildcats head coach Tyrone Shorter had won four in a row over his old team and former right-hand man, and his back-to-back defending state champion team had won 30 games in a row coming into Friday night. Most signs pointed to a 31st win, but football is played on the football field and Young’s group got the job done.
The former mentor of both coaches and a legend of both schools, M.C. Miller, was on hand with his family to hand over the Toothpick Bowl trophy. He of course had a toothpick hanging out of his mouth as he shook hands and embraced Young, a celebratory moment for both communities to see his legacy continue in a game worthy of the occasion.
“It means a lot to me, and Coach Miller means a lot to both of us,” Shorter said. “He coached Coach Young and myself, I coached Coach Young, as well, and he was part of my staff at Noxubee. I’m proud of him, I’m glad to be a part of Coach Miller’s tree. I learned a lot from him, I love him and I’m glad to see him out here tonight. There’s a lot of talent out here tonight and they made more plays than us.”
The emotions of the occasion were not lost on the players, and Taylor recognized what the legacy meant to everyone as they take the trophy back down Highway 14.
“It means a lot to us,” Taylor said. “That’s for Coach Young, beating the team from down the road. We did it for Coach Young. He deserves it with all the work he puts in, how much film he watches, how he puts us in the right spot. That’s who we play for.”
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