There was no final-minute loss this week for Meridian High School.

A week after yielding a game-winning touchdown to Wayne County High School in the waning moments, the Meridian defense sacked, harassed and corralled Noxubee County High School en route to a resounding 28-0 win Friday night.

The Wildcats (1-3) recorded three sacks and picked off four passes, returning three for touchdowns to top the No. 2 team in The Clarion-Ledger Super 10.

“We played really good on defense all season long,” Meridian coach Larry Weems said. “I thought we had a good plan and the kids executed well, and they did what we expected them to do.”

The win marked the 100th win for Weems in his tenure as head coach of Meridian.

“I’ve been here since 1978 off and on, and as a head coach this is my 10th season,” Weems said. “We’ve been fortunate to have some good kids and some good coaches come through here, and we try to do what we always do and that is coach up the players. I’m just happy for the players and the coaches to be able to get the win.”

Meridian led 7-0 at halftime, but three interceptions that were returned for touchdowns bridged between the middle of the third quarter to the middle of the fourth, pushed the Wildcats ahead by four scores.

“I’m very proud of my guys,” said senior safety Zaire Jones, who recorded the an interception in the final minute to seal the win. “We can’t do it without the (defensive) line, and they can’t do it without the linebackers (and defensive backs). I commend everyone on their effort (Friday).”

Perhaps the biggest of the three touchdown returns came from C.J. McClelland.

With Meridian clinging to a one touchdown advantage five minutes into the second half, the junior linebacker stepped in front of a Timorrius Conner pass attempt and raced 35 yards the other way for the score.

“This is great to come out with the win,” McClelland said. “We stayed humble, and we did everything in our power to come out with the W, and it’s a great win. The defense dictated everything.”

The Meridian defense held Noxubee County to just 206 yards for the game. The Wildcats came up with a momentum-swinging stand when it held the Tigers (2-2) on downs inside of its 5 yard line. Noxubee County standout defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, the No. 1 player in the State of Mississippi according to 247Sports, was stuffed on fourth down short of the goal line by the Meridian defense.

“Throughout the year, it seemed like when we had to come up with the big play, we just came up a little bit short,” Weems said. “We’ve had our opportunities, and (Friday) we did. We felt like we knew what they were going to do, but knowing and stopping them is two different things. If they’re going to stack-I, (Simmons) is going to get it.”

The Meridian offense then answered with its best drive of the night. Charged long tosses from quarterback Tray Warren to receivers Quincy Lenton and Daniel Crowell, the Wildcats marched 98 on 10 plays to record their only offensive touchdown score. The scoring drive was capped by a 1 yard run designed run from Warren.

“I just made my reads and got it to our key players,” Warren said. “I was just trying to keep my fundamentals and was feeling good. Getting that first lead of the game felt great.

“It’s a big turnaround for us, and this is a big win we want to build on.”

But Friday night belonged to the defense.

Kenny Glenn and Justin Grant each recorded fourth quarter interceptions that were returned for touchdowns to cap the win.

“It’s a great feeling,” Jones said. “We just want to stay consistent in what we do.”

Warren finished the game 8 of 15 passing for 76 yards. Crowell had four grabs for 44 yards.

Meridian will be off next week before opening up district play the following week against Jim Hill High School.

“I learned that we’re capable of playing at a pretty high level,” Weems said. “We just have to do it; other teams are going to play that way.”