The Choctaw County football season, and the Chargers' 10-game winning streak, came to an end with a 33-14 loss to Noxubee County in the 3A North State final.
Turnovers were Choctaw County's downfall. The Chargers had three and Noxubee County turned each one into a touchdown. That was a reversal of a regular season game between the teams, won by Choctaw County 28-18 thanks to five Noxubee turnovers.
It ended an outstanding season for the Chargers, who won Region 4-3A and had playoff victories over Ruleville Central, defending state champion Water Valley, and Amanda Elzy.
“As I told the kids afterwards, nobody had us in the North half,” said first year coach Jeff Roberts. “There isn't a sole in the state who had us playing all the way to the North half. That's a positive.”
After Noxubee took a 19-0 halftime lead, the Chargers appeared ready to get back in the game when Kendall Coleman ran 71 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half. But Noxubee broke the game open with two third quarter touchdowns for a 33-7 lead going to the final period.
Choctaw County added a late touchdown on a 45-yard pass from Tylan Carter to Ques McNeal.
The Chargers averaged 357 yards of offense entering the game, but were held to 235. “Their defensive line is really good. It's probably one of the best defensive lines in the state,” Roberts said.
Carter competed seven passes for 102 yards and had seven carries for 26 yards. Coleman was the Chargers' leading ball carrier with five carries for 78 yards.
Dicenzo Miller, the teams leading runner, had seven carries for 31 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury suffered when he blocked a field goal attempt. “He has been dealing with that shoulder all year,” Roberts said.
Noxubee totaled 323 yards of offense, led by senior quarterback Marlon Windham. He completed 11 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown and ran 13 times for 94 yards and a TD.
The Chargers started the season 1-3 before reeling off 10 straight wins, including 4-0 in region play.
“I always give credit to the kids,” Roberts said. “They're the ones out there playing hard and doing everything you ask them to do. I can't ask for a better first year. I'm proud of them. I'm proud of the their effort. I'm proud of the coaching staff and everybody.
“Obviously I would like to still be practicing. But sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way. I hate that we are not still playing, but it's a successful year,”
Carter finished the year with 969 yards and 12 touchdown passing and 1,113 yards and 12 TDs running despite being limited in several late season games with an ankle injury. Miller carried 221 times for 1,483 yards and 15 TDs.
There is reason to be optimistic about the future. Carter is a junior, Miller a sophomore and Antonio Kennedy, who ran for 758 yards and six TDs, a freshman.
“Any one of those kids can break one and take it to the house at any time,” Roberts said.
Two other key underclassmen are McNeal, a junior, and kicking specialist Trace Beard, a sophomore. McNeal played well on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and defensive back. Beard was 51 of 58 on PATs and three of four on field goals while also handling the punting chores.
In its first year in 3A after dropping down from 4A, Noxubee will play for the state title against Jefferson Davis County at 11 a.m. Friday at the University of Southern Mississippi's M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg. In a rarity for a championship game, both teams have five losses.
That will be the first of six championship games Friday and Saturday.
