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Jefferson County players raise the Blue & Gold Bowl Trophy on Friday. (Ben Hillyer/The Natchez Democrat)

Jefferson County quarterback Royale Shelvy could not be contained by the Natchez High defense Friday night. (Ben Hillyer/The Natchez Democrat)

Jefferson County quarterback Royale Shelvy could not be contained by the Natchez High defense Friday night. (Ben Hillyer/The Natchez Democrat)

Jefferson County head coach Roderick Holmes celebrates his team's 14-22 win over the Natchez Bulldogs. (Ben Hillyer/The Natchez Democrat)

Natchez High quarterback Ashton Minor scrambles for extra yardage during Natchez High's 14-22 loss to Jefferson County. (Ben Hillyer/The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — Heading into Friday night’s showdown between Jefferson County High School and Natchez High School at Tom F. Williams Memorial Stadium in this rivalry game that is now dubbed “The Highway 61 Rivalry”, both the Tigers and the Bulldogs were looking to bounce back after tough losses the week before.

Led by Royale Shelvy, MHSAA Class 3A Jefferson County stunned Class 5A Natchez High 22-14 to back above .500 for the season while handing the Bulldogs their second straight defeat.

While the head coach for the winning team was pleased with his team’s effort, the head coach of the losing team is still searching for answers.

“Royale Shelvy carried the team on his back. But it was a team effort. We bounced back from a devastating loss last week at homecoming,” Tigers head coach Roderick Holmes said. “We were poised on offense and we were able to control the clock all night.”

And for the second week in a row, Natchez High was held to under 20 points – both games being at home. Leaving head coach Steve Davis wondering what has happened to not only this up-tempo style of offense, but the team’s toughness.

“We’re not playing Natchez football right now. We’re struggling to find answers to what ails us. We’ve lost some key people and we just can’t seem to get things together,” Davis said. “We’ve gone back to making mental errors. We’re not matching what the other team brings to us.”

Jefferson County led Natchez High 8-6 at the end of the first quarter and 16-6 at halftime. And the Tigers did just enough in the second half to hold off the Bulldogs.

“The defense was able to get the stops necessary for a big win tonight. I give all the credit to God. I also appreciate the hard work the coaching staff put in to put in a great game plan,” Holmes said. “Thanks for all the amazing supporters from the big city of Fayette.”

On other hand, Davis said, “We’re just not playing physical enough. I’ve got to find a way to get us playing the kind of football we started playing with (at the beginning of the season).”

Jefferson County (3-2) plays host to longtime rival Port Gibson High School next Friday at 7 p.m. in its MHSAA Region 7-3A opener.

Natchez High (3-2) next plays at Hazlehurst High School at 7 p.m. next Friday.

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