WEBB — The West Tallahatchie Choctaws dominated the Ray Brooks Tigers 42-8 in the Region 3-1A opener for both teams here Friday night.
The 34-point margin of victory was West Tally’s greatest since Sept. 1, 2017, when they beat Coahoma Aggie 34-0.
“We were happy to get the win,” said Choctaws head coach Lorenzo Pimpton. “We needed that.”
West Tally evened their record at 2-2 while Brooks fell to 0-2 on the season.
Pimpton said his players performed better, especially along the offensive and defensive lines.
“The linemen played very well. I was very impressed with them,” he noted.
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West Tally received the opening kickoff and scored on the second play of the game when Ja’quarius McGee dashed 15 yards to paydirt. Jalen Madden ran for the conversion, and the Choctaws led 8-0.
The home team extended their lead on a 5-yard first-quarter TD run by Madden — his first of three on the night — and a two-point conversion carry by Malik McGee.
Brooks answered a on a 46-yard touchdown pass, followed by a throw for the two-pointer, and trailed 16-8 at that point — a score that would hold through the half.
The second half was all West Tally.
Madden scored on a 4-yard carry and then ran in the conversion for a 24-8 Choctaws advantage midway through the third act.
Madden punched the ball in from the 1-yard line early in the final period. The Chocs failed to connect on a conversion pass, but still extended their lead to 30-8.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Choctaws pinned Ray Brooks on their own 4. A couple of plays later, a bad snap caused the ball to roll into the end zone, where West Tally’s Dontavius Garner pounced on it for a TD. Again, the conversion failed, but with 4:38 remaining, the home team led 36-8.
The final points of the night came courtesy of the next kickoff. The football bounced off of a Tigers return man and back toward the incoming Choctaw coverage, where Jesdarius Williams pounced on it at the Brooks 26.
On the final play of the game, West Tally quarterback Dontrel Byrd connected with McGee for a 30-yard touchdown.
Game stats were unavailable on Tuesday.
This week, the Choctaws travel to Attala County for the first of three straight road games, where they will battle the 0-4 Ethel Tigers. Ethel is fresh off a 34-7 loss at McAdams last week.
“We’re playing .500 ball now, but we want to continue and, hopefully, have a winning season,” said Pimpton.
IN THE PHOTO: A Choctaws running back prepares for impact near the Ray Brooks goal line Friday night in Webb. West Tallahatchie defeated the visiting Brooks Tigers 42-8 for their most dominating victory in more than two years. (Photo by Clay McFerrin)
