Friday nights’ season opener between Natchez High School and Wilkinson County High School came down to the team with the most playmakers.

Natchez was that team, first on the scoreboard with a 14-yard interception return from Mo Lyles in the first quarter, plus a Shavoké Herrington punt return in the third quarter. Those plays lifted Natchez (1-0) to a 26-14 victory.

The win marks the first of Natchez’s season and head coach Roy Rigsby’s first win with his new coaching staff.

“It feels good to win,” Rigsby said. “It’s always a good feeling.”

The MHSAA Class 3A Wildcats (0-1) leaned on quarterback Ja’Quorias Stewart on the opening drive, but two penalties force a third and long from the Wildcat 14-yard line. Stewart’s pass on an out route was intercepted by Lyles and returned for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

It was Lyles’ first career interception.

“I just broke on the ball when I saw the quarterback throw my way,” Lyles said.

Wilkinson County matched Natchez just inside the nine-minute mark. Stewart connected on a 41-yard TD pass to Travion Jones to tie the game 6-6.

“(Stewart) is a former receiver, but as the game progressed, he started doing what he knew he could do,” Wildcat head coach Kenneth Brown said.

Stewart was 9-for-24 passing in his first start and passed for 107 yards, 105 of which came in the first half.

Chris Scott tossed his first TD of the season, a 10-yard screen to Travion McDuffie who attacked the pylon to give Natchez a 12-6 lead at halftime.

Wilkinson County changed tactics in the second half, running the ball seven of eight plays on the opening drive of the second half to take pressure off Stewart.

Natchez’s defense forced a punt, a grounder that Herrington fielded and dashed 93 yards for a TD.

“I looked up and saw a lane,” Herrington said. “I just ran as fast as I can.”

With a 20-6 lead, Natchez kept the ball in the hands of running back Tydarius Terrell. The Bulldog senior helped Natchez kill the clock in the third quarter, rushing 25 yards on the final drive before he tweaked his knee on a screen pass.

It turned out to be a false alarm, and he finished with 14 rushes for 87 yards.

“Ty is a tiger,” Rigsby said. “It’s hard to keep him off the field.”

Natchez’s subs entered with approximately six minutes to go in the game. Ernest Woods ran in a touchdown, finishing the game with 52 yards on just four carries. Wilkinson County’s Juan Anthony returned a kickoff 93 yards on the following play.

Scott was 18-for-32 passing for 172 yards for the Bulldogs, and McDuffie led Natchez receivers with 43 yards.

The Wildcats will host Amite County next week, while Natchez travels to Jefferson County.