Southwind football‘s Jordan Daniels had dreams of a big play, but things appeared a nightmare in the beginning.
Standing on the muddied 5-yard line, receiving a kickoff after Briarcrest tied Southwind at 28-28 in the third quarter, the ball slipped through the senior’s hands. In the frantic moments as he grasped hold of the football, soaked by the rain, he glanced up and locked eyes with coach Jerome Griffin.
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The eyes staring back at him told him one thing.
“I looked at my coach’s eyes, and I just knew I had to score it,” Daniels said.
Football firmly within his grip, Daniels wove through the traffic, breaking Briarcrest tackles to eventually run free for a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown with seconds left in the third quarter. The score, followed by an ensuing defensive turnover on downs, was instrumental as Southwind secured a thrilling 48-42 home victory on Sept. 25 over Briarcrest (4-2) in Week 6 of the TSSAA football season.
“That was really big,” Griffin said. “We had a turnover and got that kickoff return for a touchdown, and that really was the game. He made some big plays tonight. He’s explosive.”
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In the previous month before Southwind’s (6-0) meeting with Briarcrest, the Jaguars hadn’t allowed a single point, outscoring opponents 187-0 in the previous four games. Saints quarterback Hudson Tucker changed that, though, as the senior finished the night 18-of-35 passing for 239 yards and five touchdowns.
When Griffin needed to change things defensively following Daniels’ score, he turned to an unconventional source — his own quarterback in Kelvin Perkins. Perkins, the 2023 Class 5A Mr. Football, entered at safety and made two big plays, tackling Tucker on a third-down run, and stopping JD Donaldson behind the line on fourth down.
“I’m a ball player,” Perkins said. “I’m ready for any moment, anywhere on the field. Like they say, big-time players make big-time plays. I’m not afraid to stick my nose in on fourth down.”
Back with the ball in the fourth quarter, Daniels extended Southwind’s lead to 42-28 with a 1-yard touchdown run, breaking the streak of trading touchdowns in a game that featured three ties.
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“I dream of these moments,” Daniels said. “Big games like this, that’s what I’m made for. We fought for that W tonight.”
Perkins finished with four tackles on defense, and on the offensive side of the ball, he was 11-of-15 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns, including a stunning grab from senior Tray Moore. Perkins also carried the ball eight times for 93 yards and a TD.
Why close victory is important for Southwind football’s future
Southwind knows it has something special. Griffin knows it. His players know it. But the team’s goal of a first state title game is still plenty far away. In the program’s 18-year history, the team has never advanced past the state semifinals, which it did in Class 5A in 2023. Now, though, the team is in Class 6A.
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“I think this is gonna humble us,” Griffin said. “I think we thought we were better than what we were. I think this will ground us for these next four games.”
Penalties and coverage lapses plagued Southwind’s offense and defense, but time and time again, the offense responded with explosion. Of the team’s seven touchdowns, three were plays of over 40 yards, and Perkins also had a 17-yard rushing score. Jontae Alexander led receivers with 65 yards and a touchdown (a 47-yarder) on three catches.
“We know when we face adversity, we just gotta stick together,” Daniels said. “We know what we can do. Can’t nobody beat us but us.”
Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal’s high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com or on X @wendellsjr_.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Southwind football stays unbeaten in high-scoring win over Briarcrest
