It feels like Bogue Chitto senior Ja’Christopher “Jay” May has been hearing his named called over the PA at Troy Smith Field for a long time now.

That’s what happens when you become a starter for the varsity team as a freshman.

May and his Bobcats moved to 3-1 on the season with a 27-7 win over Puckett High on Friday.

A starting tackle on offense, May had a huge hand on defense in holding the Puckett offense without a score for over three quarters from his linebacker position.

May made eight tackles, had two tackles for a loss and returned an interception for 30-yards and a touchdown.

For his strong play, May has been named The Daily Leader Defensive Player of the Week.

Bouge Chitto is a versatile team with guys able to plug and play in different spots up and down the roster, but May is Mr. Versatility out of the whole group.

A tackle who can snap or play guard like a fullback, his natural position is likely tight end. May has solid hands and nimble feet for a young man his size — talents he also used on the basketball court as a power forward for the Bobcats.

That’s why linebacker is a natural spot to place the instinctive May on the defensive side of the ball.

On the season, May has made eight tackles for a loss and had one sack for the Bobcat defense. He’s also forced two fumbles.

May got a little time on the sideline Friday as BC led by three scores late and coach Gareth Sartin worked in some younger players.

In tight games, like a 21-14 loss at Mize the week before that served as the first loss of the season for Bouge Chitto — May will very rarely come out for more than a couple plays at a time throughout the night.

May, Colton Frith, Cameron Williams, Hunter Goebel, Deacon Wallace, Tanner Wilson, Cory Lester, Darrett Fleming and Cedric Washington make up a tight knit senior class for the Bobcats that coach Gareth Sartin leans on for leadership.

May and Williams both saw lots of playing time in 2019 for a rebuilding BC team that finished 5-7.

The Bobcats went 6-5 in a 2020 season that was pockmarked by Covid-19 related cancellations. A first-round playoff matchup at Scott Central went into the books as a 2-0 forfeit by Bogue Chitto due to the virus.

Last season May and his teammate finished 8-3, were runners-up in Region 7-2A and lost a first round home playoff game to the Pelahatchie High Chiefs.

The biggest games of the season still lay ahead of BC in 2022 including a Possum Bowl matchup at home on Oct. 7 against Loyd Star and back-to-back trips the following two weeks to play at region opponents East Marion and Amite County on Oct. 14 and 22 respectively.