MAGNOLIA — Jefferson County head coach James Herrington decided to call on starting senior athlete James Claiborne to quarterback the Tigers’ season-opener Friday night at South Pike.

The move paid off for Herrington as Claiborne led Jefferson County on two touchdown drives as the Tigers stunned the Eagles 20-6 Friday night. But it was what the head coach saw in Claiborne a few weeks ago that led to this move.

“Three weeks ago, I started looking at him more, from the first day I put him in at practice. The offense just seemed to respond to him,” Herrington said. “He managed the huddle, played like a three-year letterman, played like a senior, made everybody better. He got better every day, so he took the reins and made it easy for me to start him.”

The Tigers got on the scoreboard in the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Jalen Herrington, who added the two-point conversion run. Then late in the second quarter, Jefferson County’s defense recorded safeties on back-to-back possessions to go into halftime with a 12-0 lead.

“Outstanding night by the defense. We didn’t give up a score until late, off of a muffed punt and able to get in on a short field,” Herrington said. “We held them scoreless the first three quarters.”

Then in the third quarter, Claiborne threw a fade pass to Dykevis Ford that resulted in a 65-yard touchdown and Claiborne threw a pass to Herrington on the two-point conversion to give Jefferson County a 20-0 lead.

Jefferson County (1-0) plays at Natchez High next Friday at 7 p.m.