MACON — Zachery Kauffman watched feverishly as the Noxubee County High School football team drove for a game-winning touchdown.
In its Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A, Region 4 opener against Kosciusko, Noxubee County didn’t find the end zone in the fourth quarter.
But the Tigers had Kauffman as a backup plan.
Kauffman kicked a 31-yard field goal with 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining to lift Noxubee County to a 9-7 victory Friday night.
“That was probably one of the most nerve-racking things I’ve been through in a game,” Kauffman said. “I had the whole game on my shoulders.”
Noxubee County (3-3, 1-0 region) used the power running of Jessie Bryant and Eric Harris to position itself for the winning field goal. Bryant had several key scrambles to extend the drive, while Hunt had a couple of nice gains, but the march for a touchdown stalled. Noxubee County coach Tyrone Shorter was more than confident Kauffman could be the difference.
“We still made a lot of mistakes, but we are still learning,” Shorter said. “I am really proud of this young team. I am really proud of (Kauffman). I had complete confidence in him. It is good to know you can win a game in this fashion.”
Last season, Noxubee County won all 16 games it played and didn’t have a close game in region play en route to a Class 4A state title. After losing 23 seniors from that squad, Shorter knows the margin for error is much smaller this season. Throughout the week, he instilled confidence in Kauffman just in case the Tigers needed the junior kicker in the end.
“When you’re kicking a field goal, a lot of things have to go right,” Shorter said. “The snap, the hold, and the kick all have to work together. I was confident in (Kauffman). We had worked all week in practice at that distance. I told him that if it came down to it, 31 yards was his distance and he could nail it.”
Kauffman knew he could make it from that distance in practice with ease. But it was a different story with the game in his hands and a stifling defense in front of him. Kauffman welcomed the challenge.
“I was hoping for that drive to end in a touchdown, but I was more than happy to take on that opportunity of kicking a field goal to win it,” Kauffman said. “I’m glad I was able to help our team win the game.”
As the ball was snapped and held for Kauffman, he cocked his leg and sent the football sailing through the uprights.
After the field goal, Noxubee County had to stop Kosciusko (2-5, 0-1) two more times. The defense was up to that challenge, too. Earlier in the game, the Tigers held the Whippets on a fourth down at the goal line to prevent a game-winning touchdown. This time, Noxubee County forced a three-and-out and then got an interception to seal the deal.
While nothing has been easy, Shorter feels like a challenging non-region schedule has placed the Tigers in a position to defend their region championship.
“We knew we were going to have to play Kosciusko tough tonight,” Short said. “Our plan was to come in here and run the football. We just have to keep fighting.”
The fight will continue Friday night when Noxubee County travels to Leake Central, which lost its region opener at West Lauderdale.
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