Winona improved to 5-0 on the football season with a 28-7 victory over Morton last Friday night, but Coach Joey Tompkins said it will take a better effort this Friday to make it 6-0. The Tigers have a road game with unbeaten Water Valley.
“If we play like we did Friday night, they're going to beat us," Tompkins said. "We have to play better in all three phases of the game.”
The defense came up with five turnovers against Morton enabling the Tigers to improve to 2-0 in Region 5-3A. Davandre Bays led the way with his second and third interceptions of the season, earning praise from his coach.
“He's in the right place at the right time, and that's all you can ask for as a coach,” Tompkins said. “He's doing almost exactly what you ask of him all the time. He's a guy we love having on the football team, a guy who will do what it takes to win.”
La'Christian Forrest and Daterrious Williams also had interceptions and Quinten McCorkley recovered a fumble.
Jalen Campbell was once again the Tigers' leading tackler with 11, including three for losses. Tay'Shaun Pointer and Garrett Ables each had seven tackles.
The defense limited Morton to 185 yards. Senior Von Jenkins accounted for most of the Panthers' offense with 28 carries for 125 yards.
Winona had its lowest point total of the year.
“We just didn't play very well offensively,” Tompkins said. “We moved the ball a good bit. We had some pre-snap penalties, we had some personal fouls, we had some holding penalties. That's all stuff we are going to have to own and do a better job coaching.”
Tompkins did have praise for the blocking of H-back Anthony Richardson. “He probably graded out higher than anyone.”
The Tigers led 7-0 at the half on a 58-yard touchdown run by Blake Cooper in the second period, then broke the game open with two third quarter TDs to make it 21-0 entering the fourth quarter. Campbell scored on a three-year run and An'darius Coffey connected with Jay Lofton on a 30-yard scoring pass. After Morton scored on a 29-yard pass from Skilar Squires to Lamarcus Denson in the fourth quarter, Campbell added another three-yard TD run.
Winona finished with 215 yards on the ground and 143 through the air as Coffey completed 14 of 28 passes. Cooper was the leading ball runner with 10 carries for 105 yards. Coffey ran 14 times for 73 yards. Lofton had five receptions for 75 yards and eight carries for 31 yards.
Cade Eldridge was four of four on extra points.
Water Valley edged Calhoun City 14-13 to improve to 5-0. “They're the best team we play up to this point. We're going to have our hands full, no doubt,” Tompkins said.
Water Valley is led by junior quarterback Blayne Clark and senior running back Kenterrious Rucker.
The website MaxPreps has Winona as the second ranked team in 3A and Water Valley third. Defending state champion Jefferson Davis County is first.
For Winona fans planning to make the trip north to Water Valley, it's a 55-mile drive via I-55 and Highway 7. It will not be a region game for Winona.
