Almost in scripted fashion for the second consecutive week, JaTyler Moore delivered another game-winning pass to Jay Lofton in the final seconds Friday, this time giving the Winona Tigers their first North State Championship, after a roller coaster emotional battle culminating in a 22-14 win over Calhoun City’s Wildcats.
As fireworks brightened the night sky over Tiger Stadium, the band played the school fight song as fans stormed their home field, and the Tigers celebrated their first advancement to a state final. The defending state champion Wildcats ended their season with an 11-3 record.
Winona, 11-3, will play for the Class 2A State Championship against Taylorsville, 14-1, at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 1, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on the Ole Miss campus. For Winona, the second oldest football program that played Mississippi’s first high school football game in 1905, this will be the Tigers’ first appearance in the state championship by all available accounts.
Just one week removed from a 22-15 victory at Scott Central where the Tigers won a three-quarter defensive slugfest that turned into a fourth quarter scoring blitz, Winona Head Coach Joey Tompkins said the win over Calhoun City was another example of his team’s resolve.
“They have a will to win. They don’t quit. I call them cardiac kids because they’re going to give me a dang heart attack,” Tompkins said. “I’m just so proud of every one of them.”
Tompkins, in his fourth year leading the Tigers, said he was confident that Winona would be ready for the Wildcats again, having defeated Calhoun City 31-20 on Oct. 13. Tompkins said the Wildcats didn’t do anything different than expected.
“I didn’t think we would have a problem getting ready. We had a roller-coaster ride all year. When it comes to big ballgames like this, there’ll be a wrinkle or two but when it gets down to it, you’re going to do what you do and that’s what they did,” Tompkins said.
This game was like Scott Central as Winona overcame mistakes and miscues to find a rhythm. “Defensively, we played well all night. Offensively, we couldn’t get a lot going, but we made plays when we had to make plays,” Tompkins said. “We turned the ball over in the first half which was uncharacteristic of us. JaTyler underthrew a pass, but he made up for it in the end. I’m just super proud of the guys.”
On Winona’s first possession of the game, Moore threw an interception deep in the Tigers’ own territory. Calhoun City capitalized later, running for a 6-yard touchdown. The Wildcats failed a 2-point conversion attempt and with 6:36 left in the first quarter, held a 6-0 lead.
The Wildcats snagged another interception about a minute later, taking possession at the Tiger 20-yard line. The Wildcats reached the 4-yard line before Winona’s defense forced a turnover on downs. Starting at their 7-yard line with 2:40 left, the Tigers reached their 20-yard line but were called for a holding penalty, backing them deep as time expired.
Winona’s drive continued into the second quarter, but the Tigers were forced to punt. The Wildcats stalled and turned the ball back to the Tigers on downs on the Winona 7-yard line.
D.J. Ringo gave Winona some additional breathing room, scrambling to the Winona 28-yard line, followed by Lofton’s run to midfield.
After another run by Ringo, Moore connected with Chris Olton to put Winona at the Wildcat 22-yard line with 2:50 left in the half. J.T. Townsend rushed to the Wildcat 13-yard line and Moore rushed to the nine and Ringo put Winona on the 4-yard line.
Moore finished the drive with a 4-yard rush for the go-ahead touchdown and the PAT was good for a 7-6 Tiger lead with 53 seconds left.
Calhoun City tried to re-take the lead early in the third quarter with a 30-yard field goal that fell short. Winona almost widened its lead when Lofton ran from near midfield for a touchdown, but the score was nullified on a holding call.
In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats reached the Tiger 20-yard line, and Winona’s defense appeared to stop the drive. A long pass was nullified when Calhoun City was called for an ineligible receiver penalty. Facing fourth down and five, the Wildcats converted for a first down to the Winona 13-yard line. The Wildcats powered up the middle for a touchdown and added a 2-point conversion for a 14-7 lead with 9:37 left to play.
Winona’s next drive stalled but the Tigers held defensively to get their next possession at the Tiger 13-yard line with 6:54 left to play. A personal foul face mask penalty on Calhoun City helped Winona reach its own 35-yard line. Runs by Ringo and Moore put Winona at the Wildcat 24-yard line. Facing fourth down and goal at the 5-yard line, Moore scrambled to his left and squeezed inches inside the front corner of the end zone for a score. The PAT kick was good to tie the game at 14-14 with 2:54 left to play.
“It was a busted play but JaTyler made a play and that’s what we expect him to do and he did it,” Tompkins said of Moore’s effort.
Winona later took possession on its own 49-yard line and a few plays later, a Moore to Lofton pass put Winona at the Wildcat 5-yard line with 55 seconds left. On third down and five, Moore scrambled to his right and connected with Lofton for the game winning touchdown. Garrett Ables added the 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 22-14 with 21.3 seconds left.
“The 2-point conversion was a called play. It didn’t work the first time like I had drawn it up because they rushed. But this time they held a guy that went into the flats and Garrett ended up getting into the end zone anyway,” Tompkins said.
All attention is focused now on Taylorsville which holds regular appearances in the post season.
“These kids have never been on this stage before. It means a lot to them to be competing for a state title. It means a lot to this town,” Tompkins said. “Winona has had better players come through before, not taking anything away from these kids now, but there hasn’t been a better team. These kids play together and will play all four quarters. It’s a great day to be a Tiger.”
