#HSFT16: Stop No. 46 – Noxubee County Tigers

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) —  Noxubee County isn’t settling for a back to back Title, they have their eyes set on repeating, and that’s more often than once.

The Tigers made history this past year, as they were the back to back 4-A State Champs for the first time in team history, and a talented senior class departs.

But don’t think that losing big names like Jeffery Simmons, LaDaveon Smith, Timorrius Conner and Qendarion Barnett will hurt the Tigers, especially on defense.

“Very talented defensively…”, said head coach Tyrone Shorter, “…we don’t have a lot of size, be we’re going to be quick and play Noxubee County football on defense, and we’re going to be physical, be quick, and we’re going to run to the football.”

There’s a special mix of upperclassmen with underclassmen on this year’s Tiger team.

Noxubee has a strong senior group with plenty of young names like Malik Stallings and Kyziah Pruitt that are eager to prove themselves on the field.

“The young guys are growing up really fast because, with me being a leader to them, they follow in my footsteps.”, said senior Kymbotric Mason.

“Watching guys like Jeffrey [Simmons] tackle last year, just seeing how they work in the weight room every day, we just got to go out and eat every day”, said Kyziah Pruitt.

“We’re trying to start a dynasty,we’re just trying to win every year…we’ve got three more years, and we’re trying to win it every year”, said Pruitt.

But all the talk has centered around Noxubee going for the 3-peat this year. Most preseason predictions have left the Tigers out of the 4A State Championship game, which only motivates the back to back State Champs even more to prove them wrong.

“I guess they’re jealous”, said Tyler Dooley, “I mean, back to back to back, you’re going to get that from a lot of people.”

“We’re the underdog right now, but we plan to prove everybody wrong”, said Pruitt.

“We love those doubters right now. We’re just going to go out and show them that we can three-peat”, said Ty’Quintin Ramsey.

“To win the championship is very hard on any level is very hard, and for us to do it back-to-back, its special”, said Shorter, “…the expectation is so high around here, everybody’s talking about three-peat.

“Do we have the team to do it? Yes. I think we have the football team to repeat.”

Noxubee will start the season on the road with their annual powerhouse matchup against Starkville then follow up with another road trip at 6-A riser Columbus.