While most teams set goals of region and state championships, West Point High School coach Chris Chambless is more modest.
“We simply try to get better each week,” Chambless said. “If we get better each week, the championships will take care of themselves.”
West Point has indeed consistently gotten better this season. The Green Wave will look for more improvement Friday night when they play host to Clarksdale in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 1 contest.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Hamblin Stadium in West Point.
“You have to like being 2-0 in region play,” Chambless said. “That is a good start. We have good focus and a good attitude.
“The job now is to build on the fast start.”
West Point improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in region play with last Friday night’s 49-14 region win at Hernando.
Junior running back Aeris Williams scored three touchdowns to pace the West Point offensive attack.
The Green Wave actually built a 42-0 lead before the Tigers scored a couple of late touchdowns against reserves.
“It was our most complete game of the season,” Chambless said. “The three second-quarter touchdowns really gave us separation in the game.
“It is difficult to go on the road and win a region game. We were really solid all the way around.”
Clarksdale enters the contest at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in region play.
The Wildcats dropped a 35-21 region decision at Saltillo last Friday night.
“Clarksdale has a really physical team,” Chambless said. “They had good size when we played them last year.
“The key for us is to concentrate on what we do best and to get better at that.
“If we take care of ourselves and continue to get better, we will be fine.”
West Point won last season’s meeting, 37-19.
Hebron Christian (7-0)
at Flint Hill Christian (0-6)
Hebron Christian’s magical season continued with last Friday night’s 28-16 win over Kemper Academy.
The Eagles will try to make it eight straight with Friday night’s road trip to Flint Hill Christian.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Bessemer, Ala.
“The win against Kemper may have been our best game of the year,” Hebron Christian coach David Foster said. “Certainly, Kemper was the best team we have faced.
“I am proud at how we battled back. We were down by 10 points for the first time this season. The kids never gave up. They kept battling and found a way to come back.”
Quarterback Will-Corben Rogers completed two touchdown passes to Ryan Moore to help erase the early deficit.
Rogers also added a rushing touchdown.
Taylor Coggins ran 21 times for a team-high 82 yards.
“Offensively, we had some really good drives in the second half,” Foster said. “Defensively, we made some adjustments in the second half and played much better.”
Flint Hill Christian is winless. The Flames have been shutout in back-to-back games, including a 61-0 loss at Victory Christian.
Hebron Christian won last season’s meeting, 52-6.
Oak Hill Academy (3-4)
at Heritage Academy (2-5)
After suffering a big blow to its playoff chances, Oak Hill Academy looks to rebound in a non-district game against Heritage Academy.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Columbus.
The Raiders lost their second straight with a 42-0 defeat at Leake Academy.
“We will go back and work hard this week and get ready for a big game with Heritage,” Oak Hill coach Daniel Merchant said. “Our effort was not good enough against Leake.”
Heritage Academy won last season’s meeting, 49-0.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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