2025 Football Preview: Noxapater Tigers

With summer workouts in the rearview and the Friday night lights of Mississippi just around the corner, the Noxapater Tigers are gearing up for another hard-fought football season. Known for their gritty play and small-town pride, the Tigers enter the year with high hopes, fueled by returning talent and a hunger to make their mark in the 1A ranks. Under the steady leadership of their coaching staff, Noxapater aims to combine experience, determination, and discipline to navigate a challenging schedule and keep the Tiger faithful roaring all season long.

The Tiger football team closed out the final half of the 2024 season with a 4-2 record. Coach Kelly reflected on building from that momentum, saying, "It was a confidence booster, but didn't finish exactly where we wanted to finish. That was a motivator to propel us in to a really good offseason of summer weights, spring training, and fall camp. We are using that for motivation to get to where we want to be this season."

He noted that his players were committed throughout the offseason, showing up each day with the goal of improving from the day before.

One standout was junior wide receiver and linebacker, Kameron Lewis, who set the tone by attending every workout and practice. Lewis spoke about the identity of the Tigers heading into the 2025 campaign: "Our leadership is solid, we are all on the same page, and we are going to give 100 percent each play."

Junior quarterback Logan Sanborn will lead the Tigers’ offense as they aim for a deep playoff run. Sanborn expressed confidence in his teammates: "Our chemistry is great. Everyone knows their roles and trusts each other to get their individual job done." When asked about the team’s strength, he emphasized, "Experience. We have a lot of upperclassmen that know their jobs."

Looking ahead, Lewis said fans should expect a fast defense, while Sanborn promised explosive plays and an up-tempo offense. Coach Kelly added, "In my 4 years of being here this is the fastest team we have had in a long time. We have fast receivers we can get the ball out to in space. We are going to try and move it as fast we can on offense. It's going to be fun."

A consistent theme from Kelly, Sanborn, and Lewis was leadership. Coach Kelly emphasized that his upperclassmen are setting the example for the younger players—not just on the field, but off it as well.

This marks Coach Kelly’s fourth season leading the Tigers. During his tenure, he has helped establish a standard of excellence both on and off the field. Along with his staff and players, Kelly has worked to engage with the community, with the goal of making the town of Noxapater proud in 2025.

The Tigers will kick off their season at home against Southeast Lauderdale on August 29. Notable matchups include an October 3 home game against Sebastopol to open district play, followed by a much-anticipated rivalry game on October 9 when the Tigers host cross-creek rival Nanih Waiya. All games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.