MACON — While Noxubee County High School has racked up victories and a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A state championship under coach Tyrone Shorter, Shorter revealed the accolade he is most proud of Wednesday morning.
“In the last three years, we have joined South Panola as the two schools with the most junior and senior college signees in the state,” Shorter said. “I take great pride in that. For a small community such as ours, that is really a big deal.”
Eight Noxubee County football players signed scholarship offers in a ceremony in the school library. The Tigers had 16 players in their senior class. Last season, 12 members of a 23-person senior class signed letters of intent. That number also grew toward the end of the school year. This year’s number is expected to as well.
“It takes two seconds to make a mistake and it can take the rest of your life to pay for that mistake,” Shorter told the newest group of senior Tigers ready to leave the nest. “You have had the upbringing that tells you the difference between right and wrong. Now it is your opportunity to go out and make a mark on the friends and classmates that you will have at your next destination.”
Noxubee County players signing Wednesday included Division I signee Jessie Bryant, who is headed to Mississippi Valley State. Last season, Dylan Bradley signed Division I with Southern Mississippi. Denzell Clemons, Antraveon Jamison, Edrion Rice, and Tamarcus Williams are headed to defending NJCAA national champion East Mississippi Community College.
The Dispatch Large Schools Defensive Player of the Year Eric Hunt signed with Itawamba C.C., while Roderick Patterson and Anthony Brown are headed to Southwest Mississippi C.C.
Noxubee County saw its defense of the 2012 state championship end with a 9-4 record and a third-round playoff loss at Lafayette County.
“This is an emotional day for me,” said Hunt, who led the Tigers with 68 tackles and 11 sacks. “I have been to war with these brothers for all of these years. We had a lot of good times. I am really proud they are all here with me. We will always be brothers even though we will be representing at different schools.”
Shorter said the togetherness of this season’s team allowed it to have success on the field. It also allowed the players to have success in the classroom.
“Football players are sometimes by default the leaders of your school,” Shorter said. “This group really took that challenge to heart. They wanted to set an example every day of how hard you have to work in every aspect, from going to class, to the weight room, to the practice field.
“This group won a lot of games because they had a belief. They had that special character. You can’t coach that. It is how these young men were raised.”
Bryant is looking forward to an opportunity to play for new Mississippi Valley coach Rick Comegy. Comegy was named to his position two weeks ago; roughly six weeks after being fired by in-state and conference rival Jackson State.
“He has a vision for the program, and I am excited about an opportunity to go in there and play a part of that,” Bryant said. “I have played football my whole life, so it is rewarding to know I will have the opportunity to continue to play on the senior college level. It is something you can’t take for granted.”
Few things were taken for granted Wednesday as the Noxubee County presentation included words of encouragement by athletic director Charles Stevenson as well as other members of the administration. Each reminded the seniors to remember where they came from and to represent the community with pride and dignity.
The day was especially emotional for Shorter.
“This is my group,” Shorter said. “I got these kids when they were in seventh grade on the junior high level. When they moved up, I got to move up with them, so it should end up being the only group I ever coach for six seasons. I saw them come in as young boys and go out as men. And here is something — not once did I get a bad phone call about any of them. It is going to be hard to let go of this group. They mean a lot to me.”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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