When Winona needs a tough yard, Jalen Campbell will usually get the ball.
“He doesn't play a whole lot on offense because he's our best defensive player,” Coach Joey Tompkins said of the senior linebacker who leads the Tigers with 62 tackles, including 13 for losses.
Campbell got the ball in the fourth quarter against Water Valley with the Tigers trailing 20-14 and scored on a one-yard run. It was his fifth TD of the season on 14 carries.
Cade Eldridge added his third extra point of the game for a 21-20 lead, providing the final score in a battle of unbeaten 3A powers.
Quarterback An'darius Coffey scored the Tigers' other two touchdowns on runs of 8 yards in the first quarter and 14 yards in the third quarter.
“I thought we played really well defensively. We were opportunistic,” Tompkins said.
Led by Davandre Bays, Winona forced six turnovers. Bays was sensational with three interceptions, five tackles and a forced fumble. He has five interceptions in the past two games and six for the season. Jadarius Thomas had an interception and a fumble recovery and Tay'shaun Pointer recovered a fumble.
The Tigers totaled 245 yards, 220 on the ground and 25 through the air.
“Offensively, for whatever reason, we are struggling,” Tompkins said. “We didn't play well up front. We have to do a better job of what we do best and that's running the ball.
“We're not doing a good job blocking and that's supposed to be our strong point. It's kind of frustrating. We have to get better.”
Coffey had three completions, all to Chris Olton, for 25 yards and was the team's leading runner with 25 carries for 93 yards. Blake Cooper had 13 carries for 58 yards and Jay Lofton 14 carries for 46 yards.
Winona is 6-0 and 2-0 in Region 5-3A with victories over defending region champion Forest and Morton. Up next is a region road game with Southeast Lauderdale Friday.
“They have been struggling to win games, but they have some good players,” Tompkins said of Southeast Lauderdale, which is 1-5.
The team's only win came Sept. 7 against Newton County. The last two outings were losses to Scott Central 27-2 and West Lauderdale 41-0.
Offensively, Southeast Lauderdale is led by junior quarterback Travis Ruttley and senior running back Malik Miller.
