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photo by Hannah Reel
Natchez’s Javon Washington carries the ball up the middle to gain yards against Petal Friday night. The Bulldogs advanced to play Ocean Springs Friday night.
Local teams continue run for state titles
Published Monday, November 16, 2009
NATCHEZ — Seven local teams saw postseason action this past Friday, and four of them — Trinity, Natchez High, Franklin County High and Ferriday High — ended up advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
Trinity Episcopal School hosted Sylva Bay Academy in the second round of the MAIS Class A South State Playoffs, and rode a strong performance by all-purpose back R.J. Fleming to a 43-38 win.
The victory put Trinity back in the South State championship game for the first time since 2006, and head coach David King said that was an accomplishment of which to be proud.
“I think there was a stat I was looking at the other day, that said six of the last nine years we’ve played in the South State championship, so that’s pretty impressive,” King said after the game.
Fleming tallied 167 yards and three touchdowns rushing. He also had a touchdown catch for 61 yards, and was 5-of-6 in passing with 101 yards.
Perhaps the most thrilling local victory Friday came at Natchez High School, where the Bulldogs came back against Petal for the second year in a row to win in the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs.
With less than a minute to go in regulation, and down by four points, Bulldogs quarterback Javon Washington led his team down the field and scored on a 1-yard carry to give Natchez a 19-17 lead with 35 seconds to go. Natchez would hold on to that lead as time expired, giving the Bulldogs a berth in the second round of the postseason against Ocean Springs Friday.
Last season, Washington also led his team on a last-minute scoring drive to beat Petal in the first round of the playoffs at Petal’s home stadium. Bulldogs head coach Lance Reed said the confidence of his players is what led to them being able to come from behind.
“Our kids are confident in what they can do,” Reed said. “They go out there with confidence, which gives them a chance to win the ball game.”
Reed said his team still has areas it can get better at, and will have to if it wants to proceed even deeper into the playoffs.
“Defensively, we want to do a better job at containing the run, making our tackles and taking the right angles of pursuit,” Reed said.
Cathedral School ended its late-season miracle run with a 27-7 loss to Weir High School. Cathedral managed just one fourth-quarter touchdown, but Green Wave head coach Craig Beesley said he was proud of his players no matter what the outcome.
“I thanked our seniors for the way they led the team,” Beesley said. “We were all disappointed in the outcome, but I told them they have nothing to be ashamed of. Weir has been in the playoffs 23 straight seasons, so I think that experience really played a part in the outcome.”
With Cathedral (4-7) having no more games left, Beesley said he’s looking forward to offseason workouts and spring practice.
“We have to continue to work hard and get better. We have to keep these young guys together. We like the group that’s coming back, but we’ll definitely miss the ones that are graduating. We just have to keep improving.”
Comments
Posted by Big_Red16 (anonymous) on November 16, 2009 at 1:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go DAWGS!Keep fighting and working hard.You guys are making your school and community proud.Natchez get behind your team and show them much support. They deserve ALL of our support. Keep making noise DAWGS you all are WINNERS!!!!!! WHO let dem DAWGS out?
Posted by TRON601 (anonymous) on November 16, 2009 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember fudamentals and consistency count on Friday Bulldogs. Thats to both Bulldogs teams (Franklin Co.) Back to NHS. Offensive line: Protect Javon at all costs. If you haven't been using the chop block in the past, use it Friday night because you all are the bread winners against a quick and agressive Ocean Springs Greyhounds team. Some highlights about them is that they have outscored their opponents all season 302-108. Thats an average score of 25-9 per opponent/game. They pitched a four week shut-out streak from Week 4 to Week 7 of their season 66-0. They dont give up a lot of points, with the most being 22 against Tylertown in a one point loss in week 3. Give the Chiefs credit here.
A positive for Natchez is that we average 31 points a game. So we prove that we can score on you and are a dangerous team to get in a shoot-out with. But defensively, we give up a questionable 23 points a game. Against a team like this, who averages 25, we must get better on D hands down. They thrive on the running game, as do all coast teams. Sam Noblin, their starting QB has a respectable 851 yards passing, considering they have recorded 2048 on the season as a team running the ball. Joe Morrow is their go-to receiver with 26 catches recorded for 517 yards. But as the stats above tell you, they dont pass much because they pound the ball in the trenches all day. Defensively, Wade Wells-76, Dawson Wells-56, and J.T. Dickson-68 are their tackling duo. So these guys are a strong defensive bunch, but I dont think they will weather the Washington, Davis, Pollard storm Friday. Another storm is coming through Ocean Springs and it ain't a tropical one this time. (just a little humor to the huddle) But, overall, good luck to NHS and we will see how this one turns out as I am always confident and excited about the NHS football program.
Posted by 1AMERICA (anonymous) on November 16, 2009 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I traveled 6 hours to watch the Natchez High Bulldogs play and got to the game 1 hour before Kickoff and supported in full. But I was emphatically disappointed with the attendance at game. It was really sad and down right sorry of the people of Natchez, who love to run the school down about how there is nothing GOOD about Natchez public school system including the kids and you finally get something worthy of some praise, you don' t show up to do it!!! From here on out stop it with your comments if your not willing to get involved with nothing!!! Listen, it's hard to put together winning teams and programs with no support!!! And I do realize that there are those that will hate just to hate, but for those of you who actually CARE, PLEASE GET INVOLVED WITH SOME ASPECT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BUILD SOME PRIDE IN YOUR KIDS TO WIN!!!!! I remember Natchez when it was full of pride and swagger, please help to get it back. Natchez is known throughout the STATE for winning from Thompson Bucks, to North and South Natchez to early Natchez High During the 90's!!!!!!
Posted by jagdog (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The players and coaches at Natchez High have put a lot of hard work and effort into this season and they definitely deserve the support of the entire community. When we traveled to Hattiesburg the Natchez fans were loud and on our feet most of the game. Even the Hattiesburg fans told us they were impressed with our team and the fan enthusiasm. So for all of you that are going to the game at Ocean Springs, and I hope that is a lot of you, we expect the same level of support. The kids on the field can hear and see us, so come on out and help cheer the team on to victory. Coach Reed has built a very exciting brand of football at Natchez High and I for one am expecting a hard fought Bulldog victory on this Friday night. I was reading the newspaper from Ocean Springs and the caption read something like Greyhounds to face unfamiliar foe. Let's go down there and show them who we are. I agree with 1America. It is time we get that swagger back in Natchez.
Posted by TRON601 (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thats why I posted my comment above talking about the caliber of team Natchez is playing. I want our boys to go down there with high hopes, but I don't want our boys to go down there with big heads and lose focus. Think about what you are playing for and what this means to you and the program. I was expecting to meet Hattiesburg this round, but that didnt happen. Lets not get manhandled like they did by this semmingly intense and hard fighting Greyhound team. Like jagdog said. They dont know who we are, but by the end of the night, lets make sure they definitely remember. Good luck tomorrow night NHS.
Posted by pbl1978 (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LET'S DO IT AGAIN BULLDAWGS!!!!!!!!. Keep that same winning attitude and teamwork as you had during the football season. DON'T STOP NOW BULLDAWGS, JUST BARK ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE FACULTY AND STAFF, PARENTS, FRIENDS, ENEMIES, AND OTHER'S. Keep that positive attitude as always, it's not over until the clock show 000. HAVE A SAFE TRIP TO AND FROM. JUST AS MR. MOORE SAID IN THE PEP-RALLY ON LAST FRIDAY, IT'S THE FAITH WE GOT TO HAVE. GO DO IT DAWGS.
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