WEST POINT — The final horn sounded Thursday.
Players from Lake Cormorant jumped into each other’s arms, and even the coaching staff couldn’t help muster pure unfiltered jubilation. The Gators (4-1) had just pulled off a massive victory for their program, upsetting powerhouse West Point 35-26 on its own home field on a short week of preparation.
From a historical perspective, the loss seemed all the more significant, as it’s been a long time since West Point (4-2) has lost multiple games in the same season.
After winning four straight state championships with each year consisting of one loss or fewer, the Green Wave have now lost at least two games for the first time since 2015, when the team finished 11-3. Thursday was also the first time West Point has lost at home since Sept. 4, 2015 against Starkville. In addition, the loss also snaps a streak of 36 straight MHSAA Class 5A, Region 1 victories dating back to 2015.
Nevertheless, while some Green Wave players hung their heads in disappointment in the postgame huddle, West Point coach Chris Chambless was relatively upbeat. The goal of winning a fifth straight championship is still in reach.
“The sun will come up tomorrow,” he told his players.
Of course, the Green Wave played a day earlier than they were accustomed to out of precautions taken in light of Hurricane Delta. West Point played like a team that had its practice schedule thrown off, committing multiple turnovers that resulted in Lake Cormorant scoring drives.
“It’s hard to overcome when they capitalize off it,” Chambless said.
But Chambless refused to blame the loss on a short week.
“We just didn’t execute well in all three phrases,” he said. “We’ll get better. There’s a lot of football left.”
West Point took a 10-7 lead into halftime thanks to a 59-yard touchdown reception from receiver Trey Ryland, but Lake Cormorant turned a fumble in the third quarter into points as quarterback Telvin Amos found Jordan Martin for a 40-yard touchdown. Amos finished with three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown on the evening.
On the Gators’ next possession, Amos threw another touchdown pass, this one of the 30-yard variety to Chauncey Jackson to put his team up 21-10. Late in the third quarter, West Point running back JaKobe Pate answered with a 2-yard rushing touchdown, and the Green Wave built on their momentum by recovering a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Cameron Young gave West Point a 24-21 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the contest after a 9-yard run.
Amos answered with the go-ahead touchdown on Lake Cormorant’s next possession, and Jeremy Henderson delivered the dagger with a 67-yard rushing touchdown with 4:18 left in the game.
“We had the momentum there for a little while; we just weren’t able to hold on to it,” Chambless said. “My hat is off to them. We get everybody’s best shot. We have to realize that. They’re going to play us like it’s the Super Bowl every other team we play.”
The Green Wave are back in action on the road next week against Grenada.
“We’ll bounce back just like we’ve done in the past when we lose,” Chambless said. “We have to pick it back up Monday. We have to play some football and get better.”
Lake Cormorant 35, West Point 26
LC 7 0 14 14 — 35
WP 3 7 6 10 — 26
First quarter
WP — Alex Harper 23 FG
LC — Tony McCray Jr. 48 pass from Telvin Amos (Kevin Frayle Ruiz kick)
Second quarter
WP — Trey Ryland 59 pass from Corbin Kelley (Harper kick)
Third quarter
LC — Jordan Martin 40 pass from Amos (Ruiz kick)
LC — Chauncey Jackson 30 pass from Amos (Ruiz kick)
WP — JaKobe Pate 2 run (pass failed)
Fourth quarter
WP — Cameron Young 9 run (Kelley pass from Pate)
LC — Amos 3 run (Ruiz kick)
LC — Jeremy Henderson 67 run (Ruiz kick)
WP — safety
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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