The Ethel Tigers are Region 5-1A champions for the first time since 1995 after defeating Sebastopol 14-8 on Thursday night in a dramatic defensive battle.
Tied 8-8 with just 33 seconds remaining, Ethel executed a 35-yard hook-and-ladder trick play for the game-winning touchdown. Quarterback Taylon May completed a pass to Maddox Renfrow, who pitched it to Caden Merritt for the decisive score.
“We practice it all the time,” Ethel head coach Junior Graham said. “With the coverage they were in, we felt like if we got the pitch, we could score, and we did.”
After a good kickoff return from Sebastopol, the Tigers’ defense sealed the victory when Renfrow intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Ethel’s defense set the tone all night, holding Sebastopol to just 183 total yards, 57 of which came on a single play, and forcing three turnovers. In addition to Renfrow’s game-ending pick, Caden Merritt recorded an interception and Jayden Ferguson recovered a fumble.
“We’ve been riding our defense all year, and we did once again,” Graham said. “Once we got past that first drive, we adjusted to the speed of the game, and I really thought our defense played lights out.”
On offense, Zantavious Clark led the Tigers with 92 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Ethel finished the game without committing a single turnover.
With the division title locked up, Ethel earns the No. 1 seed in Region 5-1A and will host a first-round playoff game against either West Lincoln or Mount Olive.
The district championships holds extra meaning for Coach Graham, who returned to his alma mater ahead of the 2025 season.
A 1983 Ethel graduate and member of the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame, Graham brought a championship pedigree back to his hometown program after a storied career spanning over 30 years, including a state championship at Weir in 2003.
Now in his second year back on the Tigers’ sideline, he has guided his alma mater to its first district title in 31 years.
“We’re going to embrace this sucker,” Coach Graham added. “It’s been a long time coming.”
