MACON — Eight weeks is an eternity in the marathon that is a high school football season.
In that time, teams can change identities, learn how to win, and acquire a championship swagger.
The Noxubee County High School football team followed that path last season, going 2-4 in the non-region portion of its schedule before winning 10 games in a row to capture its second-consecutive Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State title.
This season, a 26-21 loss to Kemper County set Noxubee County on a similar journey. Seven weeks later, the Tigers are three steps away from duplicating that feat and winning an unprecedented third-straight Class 4A crown.
Noxubee County showed what it learned from that loss to Kemper County last week in a 24-21 victory against Senatobia. The Tigers used a 50-yard touchdown pass from Maliek Stallings to Kyziah Pruitt with two minutes remaining to keep their season alive.
The next step will come at 7 tonight, when Noxubee County (9-4) will take on Pontotoc (12-1) in the third round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Amory will take on Lafayette will meet in the other semifinal to determine the North State title game
Noxubee County coach Tyrone Shorter said his team likely wouldn’t have been able to win like it did last week because it was still putting things together. He credits a non-region schedule that also included games against Starkville, Columbus, Forest, Meridian, and West Point for showing his players how to respond to adversity.
“It is a different ballclub,” Shorter said. “Against Kemper County, we were up 21 points and we allowed them to come back in the second half.”
Shorter said the defense’s ability to adjust is the biggest difference since September. Early in the season, Shorter said the defense struggled to make changes quickly. He attempted to fix that issue by simplifying things and taking the calls away from some of the players. The result has been a defense that is reacting instead of thinking and started to play more aggressively.
That is a welcome sign for the Tigers, who are 79-7 in the last three months of the season in the last 10 seasons.
“I think we are playing solid and faster (on defense),” Shorter said. “The team has matured and come together. We are getting more leadership than we were getting in week six. The level of play is a little different. They know it is win or go home.”
Pontotoc enters the game riding a five-game winning streak. It defeated Greenwood 35-14 last week. Its only loss is a 26-18 setback to Amory on Oct. 7.
Pontotoc defeated Houston 24-14 on Aug. 19 in it season opener. Noxubee County beat Houston 41-7 in a Region 4 game on Oct. 28.
Shorter felt confident the Tigers were going to rally last week even though they committed to many mistakes, including penalties and turnovers. He liked the fact so many players wanted the ball with the game on the line.
“I think everybody in our stands thought the game was over with, but our kids didn’t,” Shorter said. “Our kids were resilient. They were like, ‘This is not fixin’ to be over.’ ”
Shorter said he felt the anxiety on his team’s sideline late in the fourth quarter against Senatobia. He said he attempted to quiet the nerves by telling his players to “calm down.” He smiled and said he looked over his shoulder and said to his players, “told you” after Pruitt’s touchdown.
The score was part of an overall maturation the Tigers have experienced. Shorter said Noxubee County isn’t thinking as much on defense and is relying on its habits and athleticism to make plays.
“I think we are playing really good defense,” Shorter said. “Even though Senatobia scored 21 points last week, they scored on a kickoff return and a couple of busted plays. But I thought we played very well defensively in that game.”
Shorter believes the Tigers will continue to learn how to play smarter and faster. He felt the same things would happen last season and was vindicated after the slow start because many believed Noxubee County should have run the table.
Shorter said he heard the same rumblings this season as the Tigers limped to a 2-4 non-region play. Seven weeks later, Noxubee County has made everyone forget about that team and is primed for the final three steps on the road to another title.
“Last week, two very good football teams (St. Stanislaus and West Lauderdale) lost, and we came close,” Shorter said. “North football in 4A is tough. There are four very good football teams left. We have to play our best game, and I think Lafayette has to play their best game.
“I know everybody is saying it is going to Lafayette and Noxubee County for the title, but it is not a gimmie.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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