Don’t look now but the West Point football team has a 6-1 record.
Many felt this would be the year the Green Wave would return to the elite and contend once again for the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A state championship.
Well after some tough sledding early, it appears things are definitely headed in that direction.
It is still not a totally-dominant offensive team as expected but certainly enough weapons in place to win the whole thing.
Three of the final four Class 5A, Region 1 games are on the road, so many challenges still lie ahead.
However, the championship pedigree is shining through early with this club.
How about some other prep football-related questions as we head to Week No. 9:
1. Will we have any area teams competing for state championships at Davis Wade Stadium?
Well, obviously, you have to like where West Point stands right now.
Clayton Knight needed some time to know his new teammates. The Green Wave are now throwing the ball with more authority and flirting with balance.
The West Point defense may be one of the state’s most under-rated units.
Class 5A has been top-heavy in years past. It looks like there is more balance this season.
Despite some non-region struggles look for Noxubee County to make a push in Class 4A, while Starkville and Columbus both have a chance to fight through mid-season adversity to be standing tall at the end.
2. Who has turned in the area’s best coaching job?
Well this is a relatively easy one.
Heritage Academy is 7-1 overall and winners of six straight. A lot of credit to first-year coach Sean Harrison and his staff for making this happen.
It has not been the most difficult schedule ever. However, it is quite similar to schedules played in the past which might net the team a .500 record.
The Patriots are riding high with an offense that is cranking out both points and yards. You can tell the team has fun playing together. That is big.
Heritage Academy is 2-0 in district play and looks poised to earn home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Indianola Academy is this week’s opponent. The unbeaten Colonels are also in Class AAA.
This should be a good foreshadowing of how well Heritage Academy can do in the playoffs.
3. Should we read more into Columbus losing at Horn Lake?
Certainly, the most puzzling result of last week took place in DeSoto County where Columbus lost 44-35 to Horn Lake in Class 6A, Region 1 play.
A year ago, Columbus was a slow-starting team on the road. This year, the opposite has been true. Columbus had already beaten Kemper County, New Hope and DeSoto Central.
Again in this game, Columbus actually held a 28-17 lead midway through the third quarter when things fell totally apart.
Frequently, too much is made of one player beating a team single-handedly. However, on this night, Horn Lake sophomore Tyler Grim ran for 283 yards and accounted for five touchdowns.
Columbus has played excellent defense under Randal Montgomery. The inability to stop No. 25 was quite confusing.
Columbus should win the next two and then face a huge showdown with South Panola at home. Help with Horn Lake in the region standings may be harder to come by.
4. Is Starkville really in danger of missing the playoffs?
At 2-1 in Class 6A, Region 2 play, it is certainly not time to panic. However, the down-the-stretch schedule is not kind to the Yellow Jackets.
Starkville still faces Madison Central, Warren Central and Clinton. In other words, there are no more 70-0 victories coming down the pipe.
Any football team should be allowed a bad loss. Starkville had it when it fell on the road to Northwest Rankin in region play.
However, the losing needs to stop now. Falling at Madison Central Friday would certainly put Starkville back in the danger zone.
5. Do we still believe in West Lowndes?
At 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Class 1A, Region 1 play, the Panthers are hanging tough.
West Lowndes held a halftime lead but saw it slip away in last Friday’s loss to Smithville. Now, the other 1-1A power is up next – Vardaman.
Quite simply, the Panthers have a little bit of this and a little bit of that. They don’t have a lot of this and a lot of that.
Quarterback Casey Smith needs to stay healthy, that would help.
After playing Vardaman, West Lowndes has a soft landing to the schedule.
This means West Lowndes should make the playoffs. However, in that locker room, they are good enough to want more than that.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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