Golden Tornadoes strike first, hold on to win 19-16 over Noxubee County

  Kentrick Kennedy ran for 187 yards and 23 carries and Laurel withstood a furious rally by the Noxubee County Tigers to win the Class 4A Championship 19-16 to finish the Mississippi High School Activities Association Championships series in Jackson.

The Laurel Golden Tornadoes struck hard after stopping the Tigers on the Laurel 28 yard line in the first quarter..  Kennedy of the Laurel  Tornadoes broke past the front line, dashed into the secondary, cut between two Noxubee defenders, picked up two blocks downfield and broke for the sidelines.  Beating two Tiger defenders to the goaline marker Kennedy dove into the endzone for an electrifying 72 yard touchdown run.  The extra point put Laurel ahead 7-0.

  After a fumble by Noxubee County deep in their endzone gave Laurel a golden opportunity on the Noxubee 28 yard line.  After a first down and goal Laurel was unable to score.  A three point try by the Golden Tornadoes was stymied by a bad snap and the kicker never had a chance to attempt the kick. 

  The Tigers problems were not over.  A bad punt put Laurel back in business on the Tigers 22 yard line.  However Laurel was unable to score when a fourth and one was stuffed by Noxubee County for no yards.  One a fourth and 7 the Tigers went for broke and attempted a fake punt on their own 5 yard line, and came up a half yard short.  The Noxubee defense again rose up and stopped Laurel on a fourth and goal on the Tigers 4 yard line. 

  A blocked punt by Laurel puts them back in business on the Noxubee County 22 yard line.  Finally they strike paydirt with a 22 yard touchdown to Russell Breeland.  Laurel misses their extra point but lead 13-0.  A skykick yields another chance for Laurel with 4 seconds left in the first half but the Golden Tornadoes are unable to capitalize.

  Laurel wasted no time in driving with the second half kickoff down the field, culminating with a 22 yard touchdown pass by Akeem Davis to Clifton Pollack.  The extra point was muffed and with 8:48 to go in the third quarter Laurel expanded their lead to 19 to 0.

  With 8:32 in the third quarter Noxubee County got it's first break when they blocked a Laurel punt and took over at midfield.   Noxubee County went for it on fourth down and Conner of the Tigers hit Vincent Sanders for a first down on the 16 yard line.  Two plays later Demarkus Harmon ran right up the gut for 9 yards and touchdown.  Noxubee County went for a two point conversion, a pass to Demarkus Harmon, and converts.  With 6:01 Noxubee closed to 19-8.

  In the second half Noxubee started to pound Denmarkus Harmon at the Laurel Tornadoes.  Laurel rose up and sacked Conner, then Conner broke out of a broken pocket for 8 yards for a first and goal on the 7.  A handoff up the middle to Harmon set up Noxubee County on the two.  Another handoff to Hamons brought the ball to the half-yard line.  On the next snap Conner dropped the ball, but got it back and went in for a touchdown.  The two pointer was good and the Noxubee County Tigers closed to 19-16 with 6:40 left in the game.

  Laurel responded to the pressure by putting together a final drive, capped by runs up the middle by Kennedy.  On a fourth and two on the 25 yard line a bad snap went over Akeem Davis' head and he covered the ball at midfield.  Noxubee County had one more chance with 2:32 in the fourth quarter. But Laurel rose up and stopped the Tigers one last time.  Two incompletions, a short 3 yard swing pass, and then an incompletion on fourth down stopped the Tigers.  The Tornadoes drained the clock but Noxubee got the ball back for one more pass, an interception by Laurel on the 4 yard line with no time remaining.

  The Laurel Golden Tornadoes finish the season at 14-1 and the Noxubee County Tigers finish at 12-4.

-- David Shows