By Robert Wilson
Tri-County Academy’s Hayden Hunt and his teammates want a three-peat. In other words, a third straight state football championship.
And the senior running back led the way taking another step toward their goal.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Hunt gained 235 yards on 27 carries and scored four touchdowns and a two-point conversion to lead Tri-County to an impressive, 52-18 victory over Leake Academy in a game between the top two rated teams in MAIS Class 3A Friday night on senior night at Tri-County in Flora.
For his outstanding performance, Hunt has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
Hayden, who has been slowed by ankle injuries all season, was finally back at 100 percent Friday against Leake. It showed. He scored on a 60-yard run in the first quarter, a 25-yard TD run, a 3-yard TD run and a two-point conversion in the second quarter and a 52-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
Hunt has gained 440 yards and scored seven TDs and helped two-time defending MAIS state champion Tri-County to a 8-1 record and a No. 1 ranking in MAIS Class 3A by MaxPreps.
Hunt had 1,654 yards and 21 TDs and helped Tri-County to a 13-0 record and a second straight MAIS Class 4A state championship last season as a junior. He gained a career-high 250 yards against Canton Academy last season.
“Hayden got hurt in our first game,” Wasson said. “He has played in every game but not much. He was back and feeling good Friday night. Hayden is a fast running back with a lot of toughness and has a lot of yards after first contact.”
Hunt plays baseball and runs track. He plays outfield and was a part of the MAIS Class 4A state championship baseball team last season. Hunt runs track. He was a part of the Class 4A state champion in the 400 and 800 meter relay last season.
Hunt is the son of Josh and Jana Hunt. Josh is a graduate of Woodland Hills Baptist Academy. He was a three-time state champion saddle bronc rider in the Mississippi High School Rodeo. He attended Fort Scott Community College and University of South Alabama on a rodeo scholarship. He was a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Ozark Region champion. He competed professionally for 10 years. He is a business owner in Flora. Jana graduated from Clinton High and Hinds Community College in nursing allied health. She played soccer and was a cheerleader at Clinton. Jana has been a registered nurse at Baptist Hospital for 19 years. Hunt has two younger brothers, Cade and Easton. Cade is a sophomore at Tri-County and plays football, baseball and runs track. Easton is a seventh grader at Tri-County and plays football, baseball and runs track.
Tri-County travels to Riverfield, La., Friday night in its last regular season game.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a football player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by texting Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
WEEK ONE: Gage Crapps, East Rankin Academy
WEEK TWO: Knolyn Bryce Archie Bailey, Lanier
WEEK THREE: Caleb Unger, MRA
WEEK FOUR: Samuel Stockett, MRA
WEEK FIVE: Waylan King, Callaway
WEEK SIX: Tripp Smith, Madison Central
WEEK SEVEN: Trevon Willis, Velma Jackson
WEEK EIGHT: King White, Germantown
WEEK NINE: Knolyn Bryce Archie Bailey, Lanier
