Here are three things you need to know about Winona, Taylorsville’s opponent in Friday’s MHSAA Class 2A State Championship game. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on the campus of Ole Miss in Oxford.
1. How they got here?
Prior to playoffs, Winona finished the regular season 7-3 overall and 3-1 in Region 2-2A.
Despite losing to Leflore County (who finished fourth in region play) in a shootout, 56-42, the Tigers claimed the Region 2-2A title over last years 2A champs Calhoun City.
Entering the playoffs as a No. 1 seed, Winona defeated Newton (29-28), West Tallahatchie (62-22), Scott Central (22-15) and Calhoun City (22-14) to advance to Friday’s Class 2A title game vs. Taylorsville.
In Winona’s 2A North title game vs. Calhoun City, the Tigers scored 15 unanswered points in the final quarter to knock off the reigning 2A champs for the second time this season.
This will be Winona’s first state championship appearance in school history.
2. How they run offensively?
Winona runs the ball to set up the passing game. The Tigers average 37 runs plays per game in contrast to its 11 through the air.
Junior running back DJ Ringo leads Winona in rushing yards with 1,035 on 178 carries and 15 touchdowns.
Senior quarterback JaTyler Moore and junior running back Jalan Campbell also contribute to the ground game. Moore has 728 yards on 147 carries and 12 touchdowns, while Campbell has carried the ball 89 times for 651 yards and eight touchdowns.
Through the air, Moore averages 138 yards per game. The senior quarterback has 1,932 yards on 157 completions and 27 touchdown passes. He favorite target is junior wide-out Chris Olton. Olton has 740 yards on 52 receptions and nine touchdown catches. Junior Jay Lofton leads Winona in touchdown receptions with 11.
3. Who has beaten Winona?
Just as important as who they’ve beaten, its equally as important to visit their losses.
As mentioned before, Winona solo loss in Region 2-2A came against Leflore County in a shootout, 56-42. Leflore County finished the season 6-4 overall and 1-3 in Region 2-2A.
Winona’s two other losses came in back-to-back weeks (Week 2 and 3) early in the season. Choctaw County, who lost last Friday night in the Class 3A North State Championship game to North Panola, defeated Winona in Week 2, 29-21.
The following week, Nanih Waiya, who knocked off Resurrection Catholic in the Class 1A South State Championship game to advance to Friday’s 1A title matchup with North champion Simmons, defeated Winona in Week 3, 48-28.
