By Myra Bean

The MYAA (Miss. Youth Activities Association) kicked off the youth football season Saturday.

Batesville Tigers hosted the Clarksdale Lumberjacks, taking two of three games: 7-8 year olds; 9-10-year olds; and 11-12-year olds.

The Sardis Falcons were slated to open in Oxford after a venue change but that game was postponed due to weather conditions in the Oxford area.

7-8-year olds

Clarksdale won the 7-8 game 30-14 on runs of 25, 58, 70 and 58.

Batesville scored its first touchdown with 23 seconds left in the first half on a 48 yard run and on a 22 yard run with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

9-10-year olds

The Tigers won the 9-10-year old game 20-7.

Quarterback Cordarrius Pride scored the first touchdown on a 32-yard run with 5:02 left in the second quarter. The extra point kick was no good as Batesville led 6-0.

The Tigers’ defense put up a stellar performance as Donte Carr tackled the Clarksdale runner for a five-yard loss on their first play from scrimmage. Also in the second quarter, Anterior Draper logged a sack.

With 6:04 left in the third quarter, Eldrick Brooks stiff armed the last Lumberjack in his path and sprinted 28 yards down the left side for a touchdown and 12-0 lead as the extra point was no good.

In the meantime, with eight seconds left in the third, Clarksdale got on the board with a 34-yard run and extra point run to cut the lead 12-7.

Brooks scored the last touchdown for the Tigers with 5:48 left in the game on a 14 yard run. Jordan Evans kicked the two extra points for the 20-7 lead. The drive was aided by a 14 yard reverse play by Stanwon Porter.

11-12-year olds

The 11-12-year old Tigers took a 20-0 lead into halftime and shutout the Lumberjacks 26-0.

Quarterback Kenneth Jefferson aired out the ball for 114 yards in the game. He connected with Markee Cooks on an 82-yard touchdown pass for the third score of the half with 6:13 on the second quarter clock.
Stedarrius Sanford returned the opening kickoff 60 yards for a touchdown. The second touchdown was a nine-yard run by Kendrickus Carter with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.

Jenari Dean and Sanford scored the two extra points on the first and second touchdowns, respectively.

 The final touchdown was a four-yard run by Jefferson with 5:52 left in the game. The extra point failed.
The Batesville Tigers will be on the road at North Pontotoc Saturday. Sardis will make up the game with Oxford later and Saturday will play at Grenada.