What a difference a year makes. When Noxapater played French Camp in football last year, Noxapater was a 39-7 winner in a season that saw the Tigers reach the 1A North State final with a 12-3 record, while French Camp finished 3-8. But that was then, this is now. When the teams played last week, it was a whole different scenario. French Camp scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions in route to a 42-15 victory. It was the second straight impressive performance in Region 2-1A games by the Panthers, following a 33-12 victory over West Lowndes. “We're hitting a nice stride right now,” said French Camp coach Nathan Wright. The Panthers received the usual outstanding performance from quarterback C.J. Johnson and a breakout performance by freshman running back Silas Hodge. Johnson passed for two touchdowns, ran for one and scored on an 82-yard kickoff return, all in the first half as French Camp took a 35-6 lead at halftime. Hodge carried 15 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns, and had a 31-yard TD run called back by a penalty. His previous best game was 78 yards on nine carries in a win over Okolona. “We’ve needed him to contribute more,” Wright said. “We really need a two-punch not a one-punch. We need both of them to really go.” Johnson was 4 of 6 passing for 91 yards and ran eight times for 79 yards before sitting out the fourth quarter. It didn’t start out well for French Camp. The Panthers lost a fumble on the game’s second offensive play, giving Noxapater the ball at the French Camp 41. The defense stepped up, holding Noxapater to four yards. When the ball was snapped over the head of punter Branson Baysinger, French Camp took over at midfield. The Panthers scored on six running plays, four by Hodge and the last two by Johnson, who scored on a five-yard run. On the next possession, the Panthers went 70 yards in five plays. Johnson had a 34-yard run, followed by a 28-yard TD pass to Cody Perry. It became 21-0 early in the second quarter when Johnson hooked up with Darrion Smith on a 42-yard pass on fourth-and-18. Smith sprinted down the right sideline and Johnson hit him in stride at the goal line. Noxapater got on the scoreboard midway through the second period on a 7-yard run by quarterback Donnie Chunn. A 34-yard pass from Chunn to Kyle Phillips on fourth down set up the TD. Any momentum Noxapater might have gained from the score was quickly erased when Johnson took the ensuing kickoff in stride at the 18 and went straight up field for the score. “It’s frustrating,” said first-year Noxapater coach Roy Rigsby. “The number one thing we said all week was ‘Don’t kick if to (number) One (Johnson).’ We practiced it over and over again and we practiced kicking it away from One. Then the lights go on and we kick it straight to One. Young kids. On the next possession, French Camp needed only one play to score, a 54-yard tackle-breaking run by Hodge. He also scored the Panthers’ final TD on a six-yard run early in the fourth quarter. “He’s a really strong kid. He can break tackles,” Wright said. “It was good to see him do that and get into the end zone.” Hodge had scored only one TD in the previous five games. Rob Surrette was perfect on six PATs. Freshman middle linebacker Landon Rushing led the Panthers’ defensive effort with 15 tackles. Two other freshmen, Avery Summers and Gavin Nutt, had interceptions and Ethan Wright recovered a fumble. Noxapater got a fourth quarter safety when a bad snap rolled out of the French Camp end zone, and a TD on a two-yard run by Rashad Hornesbuger. Chunn was 10 of 13 for 159 yards and carried 10 times for 55 yards. He started at quarterback because K.D. Carter missed the game with a shoulder injury. French Camp is 3-3 and 3-2 in Region 2-1A. The losses have come against the region’s top two teams, two-time defending state champion Nanih Waiya and Tupelo Christian. The Panthers are off this week, then close the regular season with region games at Hamilton October 23, at home against Vardaman October 30 and at Smithville November 6. Win out and French Camp will finish no worse than third to qualify for the 1A playoffs beginning November 13. The off week comes at a good time with French Camp battling injuries. Tight end/defensive end Rashawn Sayles and wide receiver/defensive back Macon Bentley have been out with injuries, Sayles with a concussion and Bentley with a broken collarbone. Wright hopes to have them back after the break. Noxapater is 2-3 in region play (2-4 overall), with the other losses to Nanih Waiya and Tupelo Christian. The Tigers play a road game at West Lowndes Friday, a game that could determine fourth place and a spot in the playoffs.
