Natchez High’s defense pitched a shutout and its offense finally got going in the second half as the Bulldogs defeated the Port Gibson Blue Waves 26-0 Friday night to remain undefeated.

Natchez High’s offense was not as fluid as it was in its first two games of the season. At least it wasn’t for three quarters against a stingy Port Gibson defense.

However, the Bulldogs’ defense played as well as, if not better than it did in a Week 1 victory against Wilkinson County.

“The defense played great,” head coach Roy Rigsby said. “They made some big plays and were assignment oriented, and it paid off.”

Natchez High was only up 6-0 at halftime and 12-0 at the end of the third quarter before scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Blue Waves (2-1).

Chris Scott was 6-for-11 passing for 96 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions to go with three carries for 10 yards and one score. E.J. Woods led the Bulldogs rushing attack with 60 yards on five carries.

“We didn’t do a whole lot schematically. We actually simplified things,” Rigsby said. “We were ahead, and if we knew we stayed ahead, then we would win. We made up our minds that we weren’t going to lose.”

Defensively, Ryon Rigsby and Devonta Stancel led the charge as each had nine tackles and three tackles for loss. Rigsby forced a fumble and Stancel had two sacks.

“Champ (Rigsby) and Devonta are good friends, and they’re going to be junior leaders for us as the season goes on,” coach Rigsby said. “They did a great job this week of studying film and doing what the coaches asked them to do, and they put themselves in a position to be successful.”

Natchez High (3-0) is off next Friday before playing at Jefferson Davis County, the current No. 3 team in Class 3A, at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15.

 

NATCHEZ HIGH 26, PORT GIBSON 0

PG 0 0 0   0 —   0

NHS 0 6 6 14 — 26

PGNHS
First downs N/A N/A

Rushes-yards N/A 37-252

Passing yards N/A 96

Total yards N/A 348

Passing (C-A-I) N/A 6-11-2

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — NHS: E.J. Woods 5-60; Chris Scott 3-10, 1 TD.

PASSING — NHS: Scott 6-11-2, 96, 1 TD.

RECEIVING — NHS: Dedarious Jackson 2-29, 1 TD.

DEFENSE — NHS: Ryon Rigsby 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble; Devonta Stancel 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Woods 8 tackles, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery.