Junior Demarrio Edwards has watched the West Point High School football team’s offense grow up before his eyes.
“The numbers we are putting up right now are scary,” said Edwards, who plays quarterback, wide receiver, and anything else that might pop up. “To think we are doing all of this with mainly two sophomores is incredible. It has been fun to be along for the ride.”
Edwards is referencing sophomore quarterback Marcus Murphy and sophomore running back Chris Calvert. Each have cleared the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
Both will be the focal point at 7 tonight when West Point (9-2) plays host to Ridgeland (5-7) in an opening-round game of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A playoffs at Hamblin Stadium.
West Point enters postseason play on a six-game winning streak. For the season, the Green Wave is averaging 35.5 points per game. The squad scored 28 or more points in all seven of its Class 5A, Region 1 games.
West Point coach Chris Chambless knew the offense would be a work in progress. Turns out, the work has progressed quite nicely.
“It’s a new season so everybody is 0-0,” Chambless said. “However, I really like what I have seen from this team. Even though we are young in certain spots, we don’t get wide-eyed. You can tell these guys feel like no moment is too big for them.”
West Point cranked out better than 400 yards in its lone region loss, a 50-28 setback to Oxford. A shutout loss to Starkville is the only damp spot on a near-perfect resume.
The formula has been simple — patented, run-oriented scoring drives. Murphy and Calvert typically each break a long run per game. Defensive scores by Jeffrey Drake also have aided the cause. During the back stretch of region play, huge leads have enabled Murphy to throw the ball more. He threw two touchdowns passes last week in a 34-0 regular-season ending victory against Lewisburg. Prior to that, a 44-0 victory against New Hope was highlighted by an Edwards-to-Murphy touchdown pass.
“We have more options this year,” Edwards said. “The offensive line has played better. We know No. 2 (Murphy) and No. 3 (Calvert) are going to ball out every Friday night. You can tell the confidence level of this team has gone way up since the start of the season.”
West Point ended the regular season with three-straight shutouts. The Green Wave hasn’t allowed a point in 14 straight quarters.
“West Point always plays great defense,” Edwards said. “I think that has given the offense a new comfort level. We know we don’t have to be perfect because they have our backs. It’s a special formula. It has allowed us to really take off. The playoffs are different, though. Coach has been stressing how it’s a new season. One mistake here and you are out. We have to play with more urgency.
“We have to have that killer instinct that West Point teams of the past had.”
The West Point-Ridgeland winner will face Grenada or Clarksdale in the second round of the playoffs.
NOTE: Tonight’s Class 6A North State playoff matchup between Starkville and Olive Branch will air locally on WMXU-FM (106.1).
The broadcast assignment for the game was changed because WKBB-FM (100.9) will be air Mississippi State basketball tonight.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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