BY WILL NATIONS
Special to The Dispatch
LAKE CORMORANT — Nearly five miles away from the banks of the Mississippi River, West Point High football team’s Chris Calvert’s running was akin to the river’s current – powerful and fast.
On his opening carry Friday night, Calvert took an outside toss, exploded out of the backfield and preceded downhill. The senior running back trucked a defender five yards into the run, planting the would-be tackler to the ground; then raced another 44 yards, breaking a tackle in the process. It was a statement and a 49-yard carry, his longest of the night.
“I don’t mind that being my first carry,” Calvert said.
The rest of the contest was pretty much the same for the running back who wears No. 3.
Calvert dominantly averaged 17.3 yards per carry and scored three rushing touchdowns as the West Point Green Wave trounced the Lake Cormorant Gators 45-7 in Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A, Region 1 action.
“It is a great feeling tonight,” said Calvert, who wore a shy smile after the game. “I know as a team we earned those yards. The offensive line blocked very well. The wide receivers blocked well on the outside, too. Without those guys, I would not have been able to do what I did tonight.”
West Point (7-0, 3-0 Region), which is the No. 1 team in The Associated Press’ rankings, tallied its 20th consecutive win, dating back to the 2016 season.
“These guys on the team love each other, and they know what their ultimate goal is as a team,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said.
Calvert, who rushed 13 times for 226 yards, notched his first touchdown right before halftime. Calvert went 15 yards on the ground, capping a seven-play series and giving the Wave a 25-point advantage. The carry capped a 118-yard first half. Then, he added 108 yards during the second half and two-touchdown runs of 16 and 31 yards, respectively.
Following Lake Cormorant’s lone touchdown, Calvert made several defensive tacklers miss, juking at will and changed field, giving the Wave a 32-7 advantage. Then on the next possession, Calvert was tough to bring down, pounding the ball for a 31-point advantage.
“We are keeping are principles throughout the season,” Calvert said. “We are keeping God first and playing as team. That’s what is important.”
Along with Calvert’s performance, West Point rushed for 423 yards and passed for 158. Marcus Murphy maintained the balance with 85 yards on the ground and 114 yards through the air. The Mississippi State commitment had a touchdown in each category.
Jake Chambless made his return to action and made his presence felt early in the game. After four weeks nursing a shoulder injury, the junior quarterback, who completed five passes for 45 yards, bolstered the Wave to a 12-point, first-quarter advantage. He connected on a pair of touchdown passes to Jason Brownlee of 20 and 12 yards.
“It felt better tonight because I haven’t played and felt like I wasn’t a part of the team,” Jake said. “It was a great. Jason (Brownlee) is an unbelievable target. I don’t know why nobody has offered him a scholarship.”
The West Point defense ripped easily through the Lake Cormorant offensive front all night. The green and white held the Gators, which had 22 carries, to 17 yards on the ground. West Point tackled Lake Cormorant’s running backs behind the line of scrimmage six times. The total rushing yards were less than a yard per carry.
Despite its first touchdown in five quarters, West Point was menacing against its Friday opponent. The Wave’s defensive unit prevented Lake Cormorant (2-5, 1-2) to less than 100 yards of total offense and four first downs.
“We have penned our ears back and have played great football defensively this season,” Coach Chambless said about his defensive unit that has allowed an average of eight points per game.
The win sets up a battle of undefeated teams as the Olive Branch Conquistadors (7-0, 3-0) visit West Point’s McCallister Field Friday night.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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