Winona combined offensive and defensive excellence in remaining unbeaten with a 42-14 victory over Southeast Lauderdale. With the victory, the Tigers improved to 7-0 and 3-0 in region 5-3A.
Coach Joey Tompkins said his team was struggling on offense following a 21-20 victory over previously unbeaten Waster Valley Sep. 21. “We played a lot better this week,” he said. “We had one turnover in the first half while going in to score, but other than that we executed well.”
The first defense also played well, holding Southeast Lauderdale scoreless in the first half. Southeast Lauderdale (1-6) scored two second half touchdowns against reserves.
The Tigers scored two first quarter touchdowns and added three more in the second quarter for a 35-0 halftime lead.
Jay Lofton started the scoring with an 8-yard run. Blake Cooper had TD runs of 50 and 12 yards, An’darius Coffey threw TD passes of 22 yards to Ahmad Robinson and 21 yards to Chris Olton and Jalen Campbell scored on a 4-yard run.
Cade Eldridge was a perfect six for six on extra points.
The Tigers totaled 322 yards of offense. Cooper finished with 11 carries for 131 yards. Coffey was 7 of 12 passing for 124 yards. Robinson was the leading receiver with three for 48 yards.
Campbell led the team in tackles with five, including one for a loss.
Next up for the Tigers is a home game Friday with Kemper County. The Wildcats are 1-6, but 1-0 in 5-3A following an 18-15 victory over Morton last week.
“They’re very athletic,” Tompkins said. “They’re young, but they have a lot of speed.”
With a win, Winona will be assured of a home game in the opening round of the MHSAA payoffs.
Looking ahead, the Tigers have a home game with Calhoun City Oct. 12, a road game against Choctaw Central Oct. 19 in the final region game, and a road game with Kosciusko Oct. 26.
The playoffs begin Nov. 2 with Winona playing a team from Region 8 in South Mississippi.
