WEST POINT — The celebration didn’t go unnoticed.
When the Oxford High School football team defeated West Point 30-20 for the first time in school history last October, the Chargers were understandably excited. After all, the win snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Green Wave and symbolized a major step for the program, which reached the 2013 Class 5A state championship game. In the wake of the victory, the Chargers enjoyed an animated postgame celebration.
West Point cornerback Jalen Lee was watching.
“We saw them celebrate,” Lee said. “I knew that was a big win for them, so the celebration didn’t bother me, but we can’t let it happen again. They took care of business at home. Now we have to do the same thing.”
Lee and West Point will have the chance to erase the memories of last year’s loss at 7 tonight when they play host to Oxford in a pivotal Class 5A, Region 1 matchup at McAllister Field.
Lee believes the high-flying Chargers (3-1), ranked No. 1 in Class 5A in The Associated Press poll, will find an improved Green Wave group waiting. Lee, a senior defensive back, has been a big part of that improvement. A year ago, the West Point defense uncharacteristically allowed 34 points per game on the way to a five-loss season, the most for West Point since 2001.
This season has been a different story. West Point is allowing 18 points per game. Throw out a 34-3 loss to Starkville, the state’s best team, and that number drops to 14 points per game. The improved defense isn’t just in the raw statistics. Outside of the loss to Starkville, West Point (3-2) has surrendered three scoring drives of more than 20 yards. Aside from a 2-yard touchdown drive by South Panola, West Point held South Panola and Columbus out of the end zone.
“Our players have grown a lot mentally this year,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “They are becoming smarter, they are taking the coaching we give them. They trust their pre-snap reads. They’re flying to the football.”
Lee has been a big part of the turnaround. As a junior last season, Lee said, “I wasn’t aggressive enough. I thought I was already good enough.”
Now the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior believes “I’ve come a long way. I’m aggressive, playing hard every day.”
Lee’s emergence has included 16 tackles and an interception he returned 98 yards for a touchdown to seal West Point’s 35-7 victory against Columbus.
To Chambless, who has won 92 games in nine-plus seasons at West Point, Lee has been one of the defense’s most improved players.
“We preach to our kids that we don’t want them to just exist, we want them to be able to think, to react,” Chambless said. “Jalen fits that mold. He has humbled himself to the fact that he can get better every single day, and he’s working hard to get there. We have faith that he can cover anyone at any time.”
Any time has arrived.
Tonight, Lee will draw one of the state’s most difficult assignments for a cornerback, as he will be tasked with slowing down wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, who is ranked as Scout.com’s top wide receiver nationally among juniors. The Ole Miss commitment brings speed and playmaking ability to the position.
“He’s real good. It’s an incredible challenge,” Lee said. “He’s got good hands, very god after the catch. I have to be an excellent tackler. But it makes me excited. I think playing him can make me better.”
Metcalf has 27 catches for 287 yards and two scores. Teammate Kyree White has 19 catches for 474 yards and six touchdowns.
“It’s a tremendous challenge,” Chambless said. “As a defense, you have to be very disciplined because they can challenge you in so many ways. They can throw it better than anybody and they can run it, too.”
The meeting between the teams renews a series that has seen West Point go 8-1 against Oxford since 2001. For Lee, tonight’s showdown will allow West Point the opportunity to make up for last season’s loss to Oxford.
“We want to earn our respect back,” Lee said. “The only way to do that is to win the game.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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