No matter the sport or their records, a Nanih Waiya-Noxapater game is always a big deal.
But this year’s annual Winston County football showdown will feature a pair of 10-1 teams and 7-0 records in Division 3-1A, making these week’s matchup a showdown for the division title. The web site www.mississippigridiron.com has Nanih Waiya ranked No. 2 in Class 1A and Noxapater ranked No. 5.
In other words, it’s a big deal for both teams and communities.
“Regardless of the record, it would be a big-time game,” Nanih Waiya coach James Courtney said. “Our kids know their kids and they share some classes together and everybody wants to win to have bragging rights for the year. And it means being No. 1 in the division and hosting a first-round playoff game. It’s a big game, that’s for sure.”
Noxapater coach Casey Orr agrees..
“It’s a big game because it’s Nanih Waiya and Noxapater,” Noxapater coach Casey Orr said. “If we were both 1-10, it would still be a big game. The fact that we are both 10-1 just adds to it. It should be fun.”
The Warriors’ only loss on the season was a 33-23 loss to still unbeaten Winona in week three of the season. Winona is 11-0 on the season. The Tigers only loss came in Game 1 of the season, a 14-6 setback to Class 3A St. Andrews in a game played in a pouring rain.
The Tigers have scored 356 points this season and given up 99 while posting five shutouts. Meanwhile, the Warriors have outscored opponents 458-85 and also have five shutouts.
The Warriors are averaging 332.8 yards a game rushing and 46.2 passing for 379 yards a game of total offense. Their leading rusher is junior Shia Moore who has 1,141 yards on just 76 carries and is averaging 15 yards a carry. Quarterback Donovan Turner hs 938 yards on 80 carries while bother Devean Turner has 677 yards on 55 carries. They are led on the offensive line by mammoth offensive tackle Caleb Warren, who stands at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds and is committed to play at Ole Miss.
“They are extremely good up front, easily the best we have seen all year long,” Orr said. “Our defense has been good all year long. We are going to have to do something to slow them down. They have a high-powered offense and have three or four backs that run the ball hard. We have to be solid tacklers and get those guys on the ground.”
Meanwhile, the Tigers are averaging 294 yards a game on the ground and 23 yards a game passing. The Tigers are led by freshman quarterback K.D. Carter who has 1,098 yards and 20 TDs on the season. Joshua McClendon has 723 yards on 103 carries while Raheem Hathorn has 642 yards on 89 carries.
“From a defensive standpoint, we have to eliminate the big play,” Courntey said. “We have to limit their quarterback and can’t allow him to get lose, he’s a slippery back. We have to make the drive the length of the field. On offense, we have to finish off drives in the red zone. When you watch them on film, they bend a lot of defense but tighten up in the red zone. They don’t give a lot of touchdowns.”
Both coaches agree that the game may come down to a matchup between the Nanih Waiya offensive line and the Noxapater defensive line.
“Their strength is the defensive line, I don’t think that’s debatable,” Courtney said. “We have to be able to get some movement. Our strength is our offensive line. We have to get the front four blocked.”
