WEST POINT — West Point High School football player Terrence Cherry always has been a man of few words.
The massive defensive lineman prefers to lead his team by verbal motions and play-making actions.
“Sometimes I can give a teammate a look and they know what I am trying to say,” Cherry said. “To be a leader, you have to be vocal. You really have to push your teammates. I am learning to do just that.”
Cherry and the rest of the West Point Green Wave will begin the regular season at 7 tonight when they play host to Louisville at Hamblin Stadium.
“(Cherry) makes plays,” West Point defensive coordinator Roger Burton said. “When the ball is snapped, he is going to the find the ball and be involved in the end result of the play. That is the kind of play that rubs off on all the younger guys. They see a guy going out and giving relentless effort for the entire play on every play. You can’t help but be proud of that.”
A year ago, Cherry earned more and more playing time as a sophomore. The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder quickly found a knack for pressuring the quarterback, causing sacks, and forcing turnovers. Cherry finished with 61 tackles, including 10 for loss.
“In the spring game, he was everywhere. He was a one-man crew,” Burton said. “You could tell he had put in the work during the offseason to have a special year. That has carried over into the summer and into the fall practices. He is bidding to make it his defense.”
Cherry said aggressiveness is part of his nature. While flashing a big smile off the field, the mean streak takes over when the lights come on at the stadium.
“I love hitting people,” Cherry said. “As a defensive unit, everything is personal to us. We really try to fight the other team for every yard they get. I really like playing in this defense. We are free to make plays. My light is always on. The job is to make that disruptive play that can turn the game around.”
West Point’s defense made tons of those types of plays last season en route to a 11-3 record. The season ended for a second-straight year with a loss to Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A, Region 1 rival Oxford in the playoffs.
In 2014, Oxford beat West Point in the second round. Last season, Oxford beat West Point in the North State finals. It was West Point’s second loss in the past four North State championship games. The Green Wave last won the state title in 2010.
“We feel like we have a team that can win a championship,” Cherry said. “The last couple of years, there has been some doubt because we couldn’t beat Oxford (two losses in the regular season and the two postseason losses). This year, we are a more complete team. The offense has more things it can do. The defense is solid. We feel like we can be a championship team. We just have work harder than everybody else and we have to stay focused on the goal at hand.”
Led offensively by juniors Marcus Murphy and Chris Calvert, West Point begins the season with lofty expectations. In this week’s rankings, West Point (No. 6) is the highest-ranked Class 5A team in The Clarion-Ledger Super 10. West Point is No. 1 in the Class 5A poll.
“We feel like we can really be a solid football team,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “I don’t think how you feel about your football team really matters in August, though. … I know the kids have been working hard to get to this point. They know we have a chance to have a special season. I think getting close a year ago really helped to motivate. We have a lot of guys back from that team that know we were close.”
Burton cautions the defense still will have to learn how to play together. The possibly exists that nine juniors could be in the starting lineup on that side of the ball.
“I think we are ready,” West Point senior defensive back Trevino Harris said. “It has been a little while since West Point football has been on top. We are here to change that. This is the most excitement we have had for a season since I have been here. Everybody in the community is talking about championships.
“It feels good to hear that. The expectations are always high around here, so it’s not like we are going to fill any added pressure.”
A year ago, West Point routed Louisville, 46-7. Tonight’s game will set the stage for a brutal finish to the non-region schedules, which includes No. 4 Starkville, No. 5 Columbus, and No. 10 Noxubee County.
“We have confidence, but it’s not over-confidence,” Cherry said. “We have to play as a team because there are no superstars on the defense. As long as each person does their part, we have a chance. We are ready to play and do our talking on the field.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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