Bearcats bounce back in a big way, blank Nettleton 42-0

Baldwyn needed a response. It got one.

One week after a lopsided Skunk Bowl loss at Booneville, the Bearcats turned in their most complete performance of the season Friday night, shutting out visiting Nettleton 42-0 to move to 2-1.

It was Baldwyn’s first shutout of 2026, and it came from a defense that had surrendered 44 points a week earlier. Head coach Neal Allen was blunt in his assessment after the Booneville loss, saying his team had been beaten soundly for most of the night. The answer at home against Nettleton did not leave much room for interpretation.

The Bearcats opened the season with a 28-13 win over Kossuth behind the backfield tandem of Rush Watkins and Brylan Watson. That victory has aged well — Kossuth handled Tishomingo County 31-13 on Friday night.

Nettleton dropped to 0-3. The Tigers opened with a 24-18 loss to Hatley and a 45-28 loss to North Pontotoc before Friday’s shutout in Baldwyn.

Baldwyn hits the road Friday for a trip to Mooreville, which is coming off a 40-17 win over South Pontotoc. The Bearcats then travel to Mars Hill Bible in Florence, Ala., on Sept. 25 and to Biggersville on Oct. 2 before a trip to Water Valley on Oct. 9.

Baldwyn returns home Oct. 16 to face Hatley — the same Hatley team that beat Nettleton in Week 1 — before closing the regular season at Hamilton and at home against Walnut, a 22-14 winner over Holly Springs on Friday.