NATCHEZ — Laurel High School sophomore quarterback Xavier Evans scored rushing touchdowns as the Golden Tornadoes defeated the Natchez High Bulldogs 44-15 Friday night to finish undefeated in MHSAA Region 3-5-A.

Evans scored on a 27-yard run with under a minute to go until halftime to give Laurel (8-3, 7-0) a 24-7 halftime lead. He added touchdown runs of 16 and 11 yards in the third quarter as the Golden Tornadoes would stretch their lead to 44-7 at quarter’s end. Melyjah Windham scored on a 15-yard run nearly midway through the third quarter.

Zias Perryman helped give Laurel the early lead on a one-yard touchdown run. William Mora’s extra point made it 7-0. Natchez High responded when Paul Hargrave threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to James Singleton early in the second quarter and Desnick Bolden’s point after tied the game at 7-7.

Michael Terrell gave the Golden Tornadoes the lead for good on his 12-yard touchdown with about 8 minutes left until halftime to make it 13-7 and Mora added a 24-yard field goal about five minutes later for a 16-7 advantage.

Ryon “Champ” Rigsby scored on a 10-yard run and ran in for the two-point conversion with 5 minutes remaining in the game.

Natchez High (7-4, 4-3) will be the Region 3-5A No. 3 seed in next week’s MHSAA Class 5A South State Playoffs thanks to West Jones’ 24-20 comeback win over Brookhaven High School. The Bulldogs will play at Region 4-5A No. 2 seed Picayune High School in a first-round game next Friday at 7 p.m.