WEST POINT — Friday night was time for Jason Brownlee to show out.
Instead of talking about his exploits in a 48-6 victory against Saltillo, the West Point High School junior wide receiver prefers to talk about how well the Green Wave offensive line blocked and the efforts of senior quarterback Clayton Knight.
But Brownlee can’t help smile when asked about his performance.
“The quarterback just gave me some good balls that allowed me to go up and get them,” Brownlee said.
Brownlee went up and caught three balls from Knight and turned them into touchdowns to help West Point move a step closer to a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 1 title. Brownlee delivered another strong defensive game at cornerback to go along with his 87 receiving yards to earn The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week honor.
“I told Clayton before the game I wanted to have 100-something yards receiving,” Brownlee said. “I told him we were going to make a statement (against Saltillo).”
Knight, who transferred from Saltillo High prior to this season, admitted it was “a little different experience” going back to the place he used to play. But he said he enjoyed the “love” he felt from the home fans and the signs with his name that they brought to the game. Knight made the most of his return, going 7 of 13 for 130 yards. He hit Brownlee with touchdown passes of 10, 63, and 14 yards to help the Green Wave (8-1, 5-0 region) wrap up a playoff berth. West Point can take another step closer to securing the region title at 7 p.m. Friday with a victory against New Hope (5-4, 2-3).
Brownlee, a 6-foot-2, 170-pounder, has 18 catches for 402 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a season-high four catches for a season-high 106 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-6 victory against Center Hill on Oct. 7.
Brownlee’s production at wide receiver ranks with the best West Point has seen in recent years. Through eight games, West Point had 869 yards passing and 1,682 yards rushing. With at least two games remaining, the total of passing yards likely will eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time in the last eight years.
Dason Thomas’ 1,382 yards passing in 2014 are the most for a quarterback in that stretch. The Green Wave had 14 touchdown passes that season and 14 in 2009, which was Justin Cox’s junior season.
West Point’s rushing yardage more than doubled its passing output in every season in that stretch except 2014.
Knight could help the Green Wave achieve their most balance on offense since that season. He admits it was an adjustment joining a program that loves to run the football as much as West Point. Knight said having receivers like Brownlee have made the transition easier.
“He went off. He showed out. He did his thing,” Knight said. “I don’t think the offensive line had any penalties. I have to get the ball out a little bit faster, but it isn’t anything that can’t be fixed.”
Knight and Brownlee said they worked together in the offseason and in seven-on-seven camps to build the chemistry needed to have a successful season. Knight said he enjoys having a wide receiver who also plays basketball like Brownlee because he knows he can throw the ball up and Brownlee is going to do his best to get it.
Knight also feels the Green Wave have the three best backs in the state — Marcus Murphy, Chris Calvert, and Andre Lane — so he knows coach Chris Chambless is going to stick with tradition and use the ground game to punish opponents. Still, he said it has been fun to build relationships with Brownlee and the other receivers to add a different dimension to the offense. He said he can use his feet to make plays passing or running when things break down.
Brownlee is the same way. Knight said Brownlee “has shown out a lot” the last three games on both sides of the ball. In fact, Knight called Brownlee a “monster” for his ability to make catches and to break up passes.
On offense, Knight said Brownlee will come up to him in the huddle and put his arm around him to let him know when he is open and when he would like him to throw the ball to him. The relationship has grown so strong that Brownlee doesn’t have to say anything and he knows Knight will throw the ball up for him if there is a potential play to be made.
“We just have a connection,” Knight said. “I have a connection with Mario (Edwards), too. (Jason) is really athletic. He can go get it on the corners.”
Brownlee told the coaches he wanted to try his hand at receiver when he was a freshman. He has played both ways ever since his first year with the varsity football team. When asked which position he prefers, he said wide receiver and hopes he gets a chance to play football at the next level. He said he has started to receive interest from colleges, and he hopes he will pick up more offers as he matures physically and learns more about playing wide receiver.
Coming off a career-high three-touchdown effort, Brownlee said he didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about his accomplishments. He said he wants to improve on blocking and running routes. He feels that timing will get even better the more he and Knight work together. If Brownlee feels Knight needs a little help, he is willing to talk to Knight in the huddle and put his arm around him to reassure him he will make a play.
“He knows when o throw the ball and when not to throw the ball,” Brownlee said. “We just found that connection and went with it.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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