With playoff seeding on the line, Nanih Waiya put in its best performance of the season. The Warriors ran for 372 yards and hammered homestanding Ethel 44-7 on Friday night. The Warriors improve to 5-4 on the season and 3-1 in division 6-1A play. The Warriors will travel to Velma Jackson on Thursday in the regular-season finale. Nanih Waiya coach James Courtney said his team came up big in the running game, despite being down an offensive lineman. ìI thought we played really well after we settled in,î Courtney said. ìOffensively we had a big night. We were without our center and had to move our right guard to center and played a freshman at right guard and those two really played well along with our other guys up front. We thought all of our backs ran well. It was a good night to run the ball because our offensive line, tight ends, and fullback really opened up some good running lanes.î After swapping possessions to start the game, Ethel took the early lead as they scored on an 8-yard run with 1:54 left in the first. The PAT was good and the Tigers led 7-0. The Warriors responded with a seven-play, 77-yard drive. After a big 55- yard run from Briceton Boler, Isaiah Russey scored on a 4-yard run with 11:15 left in the second period. Russey ran in the two-point conversion and the Warriors took an 8-7 lead. After forcing an Ethel punt the Warriors went 83 yards in 13 plays as Boler finished off the drive with a 4-yard run. Boler then hit Kade Massey on a twopoint conversion and the Warriors led 16-7 with 3:13 left in the first half. ìOn defense, after we settled in, really played well,î Courtney said. ìWe had to adjust some because we really felt like Ethel would throw it a ton so we came out in a light box, but they really set out to try and run it. Hopefully we can build on this effort going forward. It started with a good week of practice which we felt was key.î The Warriors got the ball to start the second half and went 50 yards in nine plays as scored on a 14-yard run by Russey. Riley Watkins kicked the PAT and the Warriors led 23-7. After Ethel turned the ball over on downs, the Warriors hit a big play as Massey scored on a 53-yard run. Watkins booted the PAT and the Warriors led 30-7. The Warriors continued to add to its lead in the fourth quarter. The first score was a 31- yard pass from Caysen Dewberry with 11:00 left in the fourth. Watkins hit the PAT to make the score 37-7. The Warriors finished off their scoring as Dewberry scored on a 44-yard run with 5:11 left in the game. Watkins hit the PAT for the final margin of 44-7. The Warriors had 372 yards rushing and 46 passing for 418 yards of total offense. Boler had a big night with 158 yards rushing on 18 carries while Massey had 79 yards on eight carries. Russey had 67 yards on eight carries while Dewberry had 48 yards on two carries. This weekís game The Warriors will end the regular season this Thursday as they travel to Velma Jackson. The Falcons are 7-1 on the season and have outscored opponents 280-93. After a seasonopening loss to Canton (45-28), Velma has reeled off seven straight wins over Yazoo County (24-22), Jim Hill (22-14), Leake Central (32-12), Ethel (48-0), McAdams (39- 0), Noxapater (46-0) and French Camp (41- 0). ìVelma is really good,î Courtney said. ìThey are well coached and it helps that they have one of the top players in the state and probably country as far as that goes. We have got to find a way to run the football and keep the chains moving and the clock rolling. We feel like our offense is suited to play that style but doing it on paper and doing it on the field are two separate things. I believe our guys will buy into the plan and give it our best effort. Itís a huge game and we need to play really well as we prep for the playoffs.î A win over the Falcons would give the Warriors the Division championship and a loss would likely put them as the No. 3 seed.
