WEST POINT — West Point High School junior running back Aeris Williams understands the importance of playing football for the Green Wave.
“When we lose a game, people around town start talking,” Williams said. “When we don’t play well, it is a tough week.
“People expect state championships around here.”
Fortunately, the buzz around Clay County has been a positive one of late.
West Point improved to 2-0 in Class 5A, Region 1 play with Friday night’s 49-14 win at Hernando.
Williams paced the Green Wave with 154 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
For his efforts, Williams has been named this week’s The Dispatch Prep Player of the Week.
“On offense, we feel like we can compete with anybody,” Williams said. “It is all a matter of executing. If we block right and we run right, we feel like nobody can stop us.”
The Green Wave has made strides offensively since the start of the season. In narrow non-region defeats to South Panola and Noxubee County, West Point managed one touchdown combined.
“We have really progressed a lot since the start of the season,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “Aeris is a big part of that. He is a big bruiser of a running back. He takes contact head on.”
West Point will look to keep the region hot streak alive Friday night when Clarksdale comes to Hamblin Stadium.
“The goal is to win the region championship,” Williams said. “Even though we had some early losses, I think we learned a lot from those games.
“We want to play for the state championship. The first goal is to win the region championship. We are off to a really good start there.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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