Tupelo hosted its first home football game of the 2015 season Sept. 4 against Shannon.

After a week of tension between the in-county rivals, students and fans from both schools came to show their support and to see who would pull out the victory. The rivalry started in 1980 and Tupelo leads the series 14-4, with 2000 being the last time Shannon beat THS.

Tupelo claimed its first touchdown in the first quarter with a pitch and catch from senior quarterback Daniel Bristow to running back Donte Freeman. With a successful two-point conversion, Tupelo led 8-0. Sophomore linebacker Jett Johnson also snagged two picks in the first quarter alone. The first quarter ended with THS leading 15-0 after a touchdown from Daiqurrius Pounds and not a single first down from the Red Raiders.

Kegan Huddleston raised the Golden Wave’s lead to 22-0 in the second with a 90-yard rush. With 5:12 left in the half, Freeman caught a 10-yard pass from Bristow for another TD for the Wave.

Soon after the start of the second half, Freeman gained his third touchdown of the night, pushing Tupelo’s lead over the Red Raiders to 35-16. Late into the third quarter,  Bristow found his way into the end zone from 23 yards out for a TD. The game ended with a Golden Wave victory of 55-16 over Shannon, this being the most points scored at Renasant Field by Tupelo with Trent Hammond as head coach.

THS will travel to face the Brandon Bulldogs Sept. 11.