Senatobia started with a bang and ended their first home game with a decisive 48-32 win over a good New Albany team Friday night.
Playing at Bobby Franklin Field on the campus of Northwest Mississippi Community College, while their new football stadium is being renovated, the Warriors wowed the crowd on the opening kickoff when Silas King grabbed the ball and raced 99-yards for the touchdown.
The run is being touted as a school record and will be officially submitted to the Mississippi High School Activities Association for documentation.
The Warriors backed that play up with a defense that forced New Albany to turn the ball over on a 4th-and-1 early in the first quarter.
Senatobia then used three plays to score again as quarterback Javion Irby ran right from the 38. Irby also ran the two-point play to give Senatobia a 15-0 lead halfway through the first quarter.
But New Albany came to play and scored on their first play from scrimmage following the kick.
Senatobia bobbled the kick on the ensuing kick to them and New Albany recovered.The Bulldogs went on to score to make the game 15-13 at the end of one quarter.
New Albany scored on the first play of the second quarter, but Senatobia bounced back to score on their next possession.
The lead changed again just before the half and the teams were tied 29-29 at intermission.
Senatobia’s defense then came on strong and stopped a 4th-and-4 to open the second half. The Warriors used six plays to score with Irby carrying it in from the six.
New Albany got a field goal, but that was it for the Bulldogs.
Senatobia went on to score two more times to claim the win.
When the Warriors were able to seal the corner’s the running backs did well.
“The backs ran very strong, we blocked and the defense did what they had to do,” said Senatobia Coach Carter Norris. “We made some mistakes, and we’ll work on that, but I was pleased with this game.”
Senatobia takes on Independence Friday night, again at Bobby Franklin Field.
