It was only a matter of time.
West Point (11-1) and Oxford (8-4) have a habit of meeting one another in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A playoffs.
It happens for a third straight season at 7 tonight at Holcomb Field in Oxford. The contest is a second-round matchup and will put the winner two wins away from a state championship.
“West Point and Oxford have formed quite the rivalry,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “I think the kids really enjoy playing in games like this. There is always a lot on the line. We just have to take care of business.”
Oxford has ended the West Point season in each of the last two seasons. The loss came in the second round in 2014 and third round in 2015. In both seasons, Oxford also won the regular-season matchup which basically decided the Class 5A, Region 1 champion.
“This one is personal to us because of the way the last two seasons have ended,” West Point senior wide receiver Demarrio Edwards said. “When a team ends your season, it means a little more when you play them again.”
West Point snapped a five-game losing streak overall in the series with a 22-8 win at home Sept. 23. The Green Wave trailed 8-7 at halftime but pitched a second-half shutout.
“That win really gave us a lot of confidence because we had been having a hard time winning against Oxford,” West Point junior defensive lineman Terence Cherry said. “We would play well for a while and then it would get away from us.”
Oxford has been rebuilding under first-year coach Chad Cutcliffe.
The Chargers fell to third in the region after losing to Lake Cormorant in the final game of the regular season.
Falling to third meant Oxford was on the road for the first round of the playoffs where it beat Grenada 34-16.
“We know the other games do not matter now,” Edwards said. “We need to go out focused and determined to play our best game of the season.
“For the seniors, this is our last chance for a state championship, so every game is big the rest of the way. We want to win three more games.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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