Vote now: Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school athlete of the week?

Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school athlete of the week for Oct. 19-25 as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff. Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Thursday at 11:59 p.m and the winner will be announced Friday morning. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, please email regan@scorebooklive.com or tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @sblivems.

WEEK 1 WINNER: REID FLANAGAN, HERNANDO

WEEK 2 WINNER: JONATHAN HARRIS, PETAL 

WEEK 3 WINNER: GOLDMAN BUTLER, BIGGERSVILLE 

WEEK 5 WINNER: TAYLEN SMITH, WARREN CENTRAL

WEEK 6 WINNER: JONATHAN VAUGHN, MERIDIAN

WEEK 7 WINNER: JARQUEZ HUNTER, NESHOBA CENTRAL

WEEK 8 WINNER: JEREMIAH ROBINSON, PETAL

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WEEK 9 NOMINEES: 

Xavier Walton, Oxford CB/WR: Walton had three interceptions to lead Oxford to a 39-0 win over Olive Branch.

Cayden Betts, Corinth RB/LB: Betts scored four touchdowns -— including a 75-yard kickoff return — and racked up more than 300 yards from scrimmage in Corinth’s 35-20 win over Ripley.

TJ Colom, Walnut WR: Colom had 29 carries for 273 yards and 5 TDs in Walnut's 52-28 win over Strayhorn.

Zy McDonald, Ridgeland QB: McDonald connected with Chandler Williams on a 17-yard TD pass play in the final minute to rally Ridgeland to a 33-29 victory over Neshoba Central. McDonald accounted for all five Ridgeland touchdowns — four TD passes and a 33-yard rushing TD. 

Jarquez Hunter, Neshoba Central RB: Jarquez Hunter scored three touchdowns — including a 93-yard TD run — in the Rockets’ 33-29 loss to Ridgeland.

Christian Baglione, Northwest Rankin K: For the second consecutive week Christian Baglione booted a game-winning field goal as time expired, this time a 34-yarder to give Northwest Rankin a 23-21 win over Pearl.

Tristan Shorter, Oxford LB: Shorter snagged a one-handed interception and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown in Oxford’s 39-0 win over Olive Branch.

Khi Holiday, Tupelo Christian Prep QB: Holiday went 17-of-25 for 303 yards and seven TD passes through the air, and added 92 yards rushing and another TD on the ground in TCPS’ 57-0 win over Smithville on Thursday night.

JT Evans, Madison Central LB: Evans had 14 tackles in Madison Central's game against South Panola.

Alex Gross, North Panola DE: Gross had 3 rushing TDs as well as 10 tackles with 5 TFLs against Water Valley.

Caleb Parten, Northwest Rankin QB: Parten threw three touchdown passes and led the Cougars on a game-winning drive in the final minutes that resulted in a 23-21 win over Pearl. Parten finished the night 16 of 32 for 232 yards.

Eli Smith, East Central RB: Smith, a sophomore, rushed 22 times for 186 yards and a touchdown to lead East Central to a 44-30 win over Pascagoula.

Caleb Miller, Clinton QB: Miller rushed 15 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 105 yards to lead Clinton to a 31-16 upset of Warren Central.

Xavier Davis, Hartfield Academy RB: Xavier Davis broke the Hartfield Academy record for rushing yards in a season, going over 1,000 yards in Hartfield’s 42-7 win over Tri-County. 

John Avery, Tupelo Christian Prep WR: Avery had 8 catches for 161 yards and three touchdowns in TCPS’ 57-0 win over Smithville on Thursday night.

Keilon Parnell, Pascagoula QB: Parnell went 15-of-32 for 294 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and added 141 yards rushinng and another TD on the ground in Pascagoula’s 44-30 loss to East Central.

D’mariun Perteet, South Panola RB: Sophomore running back D’mariun Perteet carried the ball 16 times for 94 yards and a touchdown to lead South Panola to a 12-10 upset victory over Madison Central.

Zailon Johnson, Brandon RB: Johnson caught seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in Brandon’s 24-22 loss to Oak Grove.

Gage Peterson, St. Stanislaus College QB: Peterson completed 17 of 31 passing for 258 yards and 2 TDs in the Rock-a-Chaws' 42-35 comeback win against Vancleave.

CJ Hill, New Albany RB: Hill had 16 carries for 286 yards and 2 TDs in New Albany's 56-7 win over Tishomingo County.

Justin Walley, D’Iberville WR/CB: Walley caught a touchdown pass and returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown to lead D’Iberville to a 22-13 win over Gulfport.

Shakori Regan, Vicksburg OLB: Shakori had 4 rushing TDs in the Gators' win over Canton.

Houston Johnson, Pascagoula WR: Johnson caught nine passes for 174 yards and two TDs in Pascagoula’s 44-30 loss to East Central.

DK Jenkins, Mendenhall QB: Jenkins had 186 yds and 2 TDs on 12/22 and 110 yds with 1 TD on 8 carries against Northeast Jones.

Shade Foster, Pearl QB: Foster completed 9 of 16 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns in Pearl’s last-second 23-21 loss to Northwest Rankin.

Colin Maggard, West Jones LB: Maggard had two interceptions in West Jones’ 42-12 win over Natchez.

DeMarcus Johnson, Vicksburg DL: Johnson had 2 sacks and numerous tackles in Vicksburg's 36-20 win over the Canton Jaguars.

Charleston French, Amory RB: French carried the ball 18 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns and added a TD reception in Amory’s win over Booneville.

Jonathan Vaughn, Meridian SB/QB: Vaughn carried the ball 16 times for 97 yards and three touchdowns and caught 7 passes for 73 yards in Meridian’s 37-20 loss to Petal.

Jackson Parker, West Lauderdale QB: Parker accounted for four touchdowns and racked up 249 yards of offense — 132 passing and 117 rushing — to lead West Lauderdale to a 40-0 win over Choctaw Central.