Mister Pick Six

At this time last year, Noah Durrett was another face in the crowd for the Cedar Creek defense with 17 total tackles in his junior season.

Now, his name stands alone in the program record books.

Durrett, a senior for the Cougars, finished the regular season with three pick-6 interceptions – a school record – along with 55 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and a sack. The previous record was two interceptions for touchdowns in a single season, but now Durrett lays claim to the historic feat. For context, the Cougars had two pick-sixes total as a team last year.

“He’s gotten more confident,” Creek head coach William Parkerson said. “If you’re confident, you’re going to make plays, and he’s playing like that. The whole group is playing confident, and him specifically. Confidence is a heck of a thing.”

But for as confident as he and the defensive staff were in the preseason when they opted to make him a starter, a season for the history books wasn’t on top of mind.

“Did I notice he could flash and make plays? Yes. Did I think he’d have three pick-sixes? No, I didn’t,” Parkerson said.

Durrett returned a 23-yard pick-6 against Delhi on Sept. 22, a 40-yard pick-6 against Tensas on Sept. 29, and a 51-yard pick-6 on the road at Lincoln Prep on Oct. 26.

Like his head coach, Durrett attributed his takeaway production to confidence of seeing the field more and being trusted by the coaching staff.

“I would just say more confidence and playing time,” Durrett said. “I wasn’t starting last year. I just give 100% on each play. You never know how you can turn something around.”

Does he have a favorite?

“The Delhi one because it put us on top,” Durrett said.

Durrett knew his interception numbers were impressive on their own, but defensive coordinator Mark Ware let him know how close he was to making history.

“Once I got the first one, he (Ware) came to me and was like, ‘I want you to get the record,’” Durrett said.

Besides starting for the first time, Durrett said playing under the leadership of Parkerson has been another element that’s led to his confidence growing throughout the year.

“It’s been awesome. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had,” Durrett said. “You can tell he cares a lot about us and does a lot of team bonding stuff. He wants me to be the best I can.”

Durrett’s eye-catching plays have been a large part of a turnover- happy defense this season for Creek, with the Cougars forcing 21 takeaways.

Parkerson said Durrett’s flashy plays have been infectious for his teammates, with everyone wanting to get in on the action and turn the tide in games.

“He’s just trusting his eyes and letting his reads taking him where he’s supposed to go and just uses his instincts and is making plays,” Parkerson said. “You start making plays, it becomes contagious for everyone, and he wants to keep making them.”