Although there were some things Nanih Waiya head coach James Courtney saw that his team could improve upon, he was pleased that his Warriors took care of business in the first round of the MHSAA Class 1A State Football playoffs on Friday night, jumping out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead on the way to a 45-8 win over Myrtle in a game that was played with a running clock for the entirety of the second half. “We played alright, but we have got to get better,” Courtney said. He was pleased with the improvement in the passing game and the way his Warriors got on the scoreboard early. Tyquan McCully took the opening kickoff, bobbed and weaved his way through the middle of the field, then broke into the open and raced 80 yards for a touchdown. “That set the tone,” Courtney said of the kick return. “We have been really good on special teams. When you have got guys on the back end like we do, you have a chance (to score) anytime if you just block a little.” The Warriors return to action on Friday night when they play host to Baldwyn at 7. The Bearcats won a 28-20 thriller over visiting French Camp Academy in the opening round last week. While most of the NW offense this season has come on the ground, the Warriors passing attack has steadily improved. On Friday night Tanner Courtney hit on 8-of-11 passes for 107 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown strike to Austin Sanders. Taylor Higginbotham had three catches for 36 yards, while Sanders had two for 43. “We are going to need it,” Coach Courtney said of the passing game. “We are going to have to throw it sometime.” Nanih Waiya, now 10-0 on the season, scored three first-quarter touchdowns against the Hawks on Friday night. Following McCully’s kick return, Sanders scored on a 3-yard run and McCully scored on a 16-yard jaunt. Second quarter touchdowns came on a 3-yard run by Courtney and a 10-yard run by Sanders. The first-half scoring was closed out on a 32-yard field goal by Jake Vick as time expired giving the winners a 38-0 HT lead. Vick was good on all six of his PAT attempts on the night. “He is a weapon,” Coach Courtney said Vick. “If we get inside the 30 we believe we can make that kick.” The lone second half touchdown for the Warriors came on the pass reception by Sanders. Myrtle scored on a 37-yard pass play late in the game and ran in the two-point conversion. Sanders rushed for 92 yards on 10 carries, while McCully had two carries for 44 yards and J.R. Coleman two for 22.
