The goal for the Ethel Tigers going into their game with defending Class 1A South State champion Nanih Waiya last Friday night was to have fun.
EHS head coach Dave McCrory said there were some bright spots in his team's 40-0 loss to the Warriors.
“Our goal was to have fun and get better against a state title contending team,” said Ethel coach Dave McCrory. “We did a good job on those aspects.”
Offensively, Ethel was led by quarterback Kendal Dotson who would go 9 of 14 passing for 145 yards.
Izik Stewart was the top receiver for the Tigers catching five passes for 115 yards.
Nanih Waiya (9-1, 7-0 Region 3-1A) would rush for 366 yards total.
Shia Moore would lead the Warrior rushing attack with 155 yards on just five carries and scored two touchdowns.
Devean Turner had a rushing and a receiving touchdown for Nanih Waiya.
Now up for Ethel (1-8, 1-6 Region 3-1A) is its season finale as the Tigers host West Lowndes (2-7, 2-4).
The Panthers are led by a dual-threat quarterback in Jherquaveus Sanders.
“West Lowndes is a very athletic bunch," McCrory said. "The quarterback is long and rangy that runs and throws it well,” McCrory said. “We want to continue to improve and that’s our number one goal each game we have played.”
McCrory said that the foundation has been set this year by the senior class and must continue moving forward for the 2019 season.
“The seniors have laid the foundation, and this is the beginning of taking this program into places it’s never been,” McCrory said. “Once the last whistle is blown Friday night, our underclassmen must turn their attention to 2019 and we have to have a mindset that the process is never over.”
With this year being a reclassification cycle for MHSAA the Tigers won’t know its new region until Friday, Nov. 30, the day of MHSAA football state championships.
McCrory has already worked on the non-region schedule for the 2019 season with Coffeeville, Newton County Academy and Clarkdale already scheduled for the first three weeks of the season.
