Natchez Middle School wins Jr. High Championship
Published 1:03 am Saturday, October 19, 2019
FAYETTE — Natchez Middle School Bulldogs defeated Jefferson County Jr. High Tigers 20-0 Thursday night in the Southwestern Athletic Jr. High Conference Football Championship at Jefferson County High School.
“The championship game was a lot of fun and the energy was electric from beginning to end,” Bulldogs Head Coach Josh West said about the championship game. “The energy all came from the fans who lined all along the fence line.”
Caron Williams scored two touchdowns in the championship game. Williams’ first touchdown was a 60-yard punt return. Williams’ second touchdown was a 40-yard pass from Kaden Walton for a touchdown.
In the game, Williams accumulated 130 all-purpose yards.
“Williams is one of the naturally gifted athletes I have been able to coach. I knew what kind of talent he possessed, so it was unleashing the beast and letting him play,” West said about Williams’s performance in the game.
Stacy Murphy, Tigers head coach, said he thought the Tigers had a chance to win after the first quarter was tied.
“I knew the first time Natchez scored, we didn’t really get down as much. But after the second time the Bulldogs scored, we were trying to hold on. After that, it was like riding on a bronco, we tried to hold on,” Murphy said about the Tigers’ performance in the championship game.
Standout players for the Tigers were Jamarian Claiborne, Jaekwon Collins, Christian Jackson, Ky’Jameonne Bingham and Kamron Grover.
Claiborne and Collins are two of the Tigers who play both offense and defense. Murphy said Collins multiple blocks for the Tigers in Thursday night’s game.
“The most memorable thing about this season is my defense carried me through this season.
We kept three to four teams scoreless during the season. We really relied upon our defense this year,” Murphy said about the Tigers’ defensive performance the entire 2019 season.
This year was Murphy’s eighth championship game.
The Tigers won the Jr. High championship in 2005, 2007 and 2015. Murphy was an assistant coach when the Tigers won the championship in 2005 and 07.
The Bulldogs won their fourth straight Jr. High championship on Thursday night at Jefferson County High School.