The Noxapater Tigers were looking forward to last Friday night’s game against Okolona as an opportunity to show their hometown fans what they could do.
They delivered on their promise as the Tigers, now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Region 2-1A play, picked up their first home win of the season in fine fashion, blanking Okolona 34-0.
“We were able to run the football and control the clock and the time of possession,” said Noxapater head coach Casey Orr of his Tigers, which are ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 1A by Mississippi Gridiron. “We came out early and led 14-0 at the end of first quarter,” he said. “We got some guys in early and gave them a chance to play.”
Noxapater came into the Okolona game with road wins over Choctaw County (Ala.), 26-6; Eupora, 32-15; and Smithville, 22-14; but had lost its only game to Starkville Academy by the score of 22-7.
This week the road challenges continue for Noxapater as the Tigers head north to face region foe Tupelo Christian. The TCPS Eagles (4-1) have scored a whopping 226 points in five games this season.
“They are a good football team,” Orr said of Tupelo Christian. “Tackling in space is going to be important, but we also have to get pressure on the quarterback. He keeps the play alive. He has rushed for 500 yards and passed for 1,600 already this season.”
Noxapater and Nanih Waiya are tied atop the 2-1A standings at 2-0, while West Lowndes, Hamilton, FCA and Tupelo Christian are all right behind at 1-1.
K.D. Carter, who rushed for 72 yards on nine carries against Okolona, scored a pair of first-quarter touchdowns on Friday night, scoring from 35 yards and 1 yard out. Raheem Hathorn scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, while Donnie Chunn scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter. Don Rush closed out the Noxapater scoring on the last play of the game by returning a fumble 98 yards for a touchdown.
Jimmy Graham had a solid game for the Tigers rushing for 74 yards on 22 carries, while Rush had one catch for 30 yards and Kyle Phillips two for 11.
Hathorn recorded a team high nine tackles for the Tigers, including two behind the line of scrimmage, while three of Sawyer Roberts’ eight stops were for losses. Ryan Whitfield had five tackles for the winners, while Carter and Lane Bailey had four each. Phillips broke up a pass for the Tigers.
