The West Point High School football team’s first goal this season is to finish region play with an undefeated record.
The Green Wave is one quarter of the way closer to that goal.
West Point will look for its third straight win in Class 5A, Region 1 action at 7 tonight when it travels to Clarksdale for another region game.
“We have three very long road trips, essentially going to Memphis,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “It is very difficult to travel that far and be really motivated to come out and play a great game.”
The two-time defending Class 5A state champions went 1-3 against a challenging non-region schedule. Prior to the region opener against Lake Cormorant, Chambless addressed his team and reminded it the meaningful games were straight ahead.
“Coaches told us we still had a chance to go undefeated in the region,” senior receiver William Harrell said. “He challenged us to win our final seven games and to go through the region undefeated.”
West Point is showing flashes of greatness. At the same time, it also has shown it can make mistakes and create adversity for itself.
“We have a chance to be a pretty good team,” Chambless said. “You see the ability. You know we are working hard in practice. It seems like we are improving on a week-to-week basis.”
The Green Wave committed four turnovers last week in a 33-22 victory against Hernando. West Point gained 463 yards of total offense. Quarterback DeQuinten Spraggins paced the efforts with 156 rushing yards, 118 passing yards, and three touchdowns.
“I think we are really beginning to click,” Harrell said. “When we are working together as a team, we feel like nobody can stop us. We are making a couple of mistakes per game. We just have to get rid of those and we can win all of our region games.”
Clarksdale (4-2, 2-0 region) will be West Point’s stiffest challenge yet in league play. Inside the region, Clarksdale won at Hernando (21-14) and defeated Saltillo (34-3) at home.
Flint Hill Christian (0-7) at Hebron Christian (2-3)
The Eagles (2-3) will return home for Homecoming after back-to-back heartbreaking losses on the road.
Hebron Christian let halftime leads get away in a 52-50 loss at Park Place Christian Academy and in a 28-26 loss at Kemper Academy.
“This is an unusual week since it is Homecoming,” Hebron Christian coach Tri Nason said. “There are some distractions. The last couple of weeks we have had great practices and not won, so maybe this week it can work in reverse.”
Kemper Academy, the defending Mississippi Association of Independent Schools’ eight-man state champion, had a goal-line stand in the closing minute to preserve the victory. Hebron Christian took possession on the Kemper Academy 9-yard line, but two rushing plays and two passing plays left the Eagles 3 yards short.
“We have been stressing to the kids how close the last couple of games have been,” Nason said. “Sometimes, you can get frustrated. We are really close to being 4-1. It is just a couple of plays here and there.”
Hebron Christian has gained 300 or more yards of offense in the past four games, and led at halftime in all of them. Nason feels like a return home might be the thing to reverse the team’s fortunes.
“The kids are very excited about being back at home,” Nason said. “We have only played one home game all year. I think being at home and playing in front of our friends will be a big motivational boost.”
Hebron Christian will play host to Calhoun Academy in its regular-season finale next week.
Heritage Academy (3-4) at Oak Hill Academy (0-7)
Improved play and the return of a couple of injured plays have given the Raiders a boost.
Oak Hill Academy hopes that lift will give it an edge at 7 tonight when it plays host to Heritage Academy for its Homecoming game.
“We really played hard Friday night,” Oak Hill coach Benjie Merchant said of a 35-6 loss last week to Leake Academy. “It was our best effort in a number of weeks. I thought the kids really responded and played hard. The second half was a real solid half for us.”
Oak Hill Academy had suffered three straight shutouts before last week’s Class 2A, District 2 home loss to Leake Academy.
“We played with a little more spirit,” Merchant said. “We did some things right and it gave us a little confidence. Hopefully, we can build on that for the rest of the season.”
Oak Hill Academy will follow Heritage Academy with an open date, a road trip to Kirk Academy, and a home game with Immanuel Christian.
Merchant and his staff are looking to receive a boost from the return of Conner Baird, who has been out since the first week due to injury. Baird is expected to play receiver, giving quarterback Adam Tumey another option.
Against Leake Academy, transfer Diquan Ewing had a pair of receptions for 40 yards and an interception.
“Now that we are getting some players back, we are going to throw the ball more,” Merchant said. “We have really struggled with balance and consistency. Hopefully, we will do better in those areas the rest of the way.”
Heritage Academy, a Class 3A opponent, defeated Magnolia Heights 56-21 last week at home. That victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Patriots.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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