WEST POINT — Last year couldn’t have ended better for West Point football.
The Green Wave defeated Picayune 38-26 in the MHSAA Class 5A state championship for its 11th state championship in school history, matching South Panola for the most ever in the state of Mississippi. It was also the fourth consecutive title for West Point.
In normal circumstances, the Green Wave would be focused solely on making history by capturing their fifth straight state championship. But with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to be a nuisance, West Point Chris Chambless said his team will simply be thankful for each day it’s allowed to compete.
“You never know if you’re going to have tomorrow or not with a (potential) shutdown,” Chambless said. “You just don’t know. You have to handle things different for you.”
Yet, as long as there are games on the calendar, the Green Wave will be prepared, Chambless said.
“This is different for everybody right now,” Chambless said of the new team protocols in place. “But the goals are still the same. We have the same goal, this year is just a little tougher. But everyone is on the same playing field with it. As long as they let us play, we’re going to prepare to play and get ready to go.”
Since practice started Monday, West Point has put a priority on social distancing when possible, wearing masks in the locker room and rigorous cleaning and sanitizing.
“It’s totally different from what we normally do,” Chambless said. “We keep things pretty clean around here normally, but we’ve gone to a totally different level this year. Hand sanitizer is everywhere on the practice field and inside of the buildings. Our young men and coaches have handled this very well, they know for us to be able to get through the year and play this season we have to be diligent.”
Practice will also have a different look, as Chambless said there will be far less contact in practices in preparation for West Point’s scheduled season opener against Starkville Sept. 4.
“It has to (have less contact). Any coach that tells you otherwise is lying to you,” Chambless said. Practices are going to have to be scheduled in ways that will put contact at minimum even though you have to get ready to play. You try and take care of yourself and your kids.”
On offense, four-year standout quarterback Brandon Harris has graduated, and will be replaced by Corbin Kelley. Kelley played in several games last season and is expected to lead the West Point offense.
“He’s taking the reins now and has run with it,” Chambless said.
Chambless said Jakobe Pate and Cameron Young will likely split carries at running back, while Jamar Davis and Jaekwon Bradshaw have provided steady leadership on the offensive line.
Defensively, West Point will be anchored up front by Jequarius Thomas and Dahmarion Williams, while Jykeon Cunningham will lead the linebacker corps. With less contact reps coming for West Point this year, Chambless said the discipline on defense will be key.
“As long as we stay sound and play fundamental technique football, we’ll be fine,” he said. “We need to make the right reads, run downhill and make tackles and just do the little things it takes to win football games.”
If West Point is fortunate enough to complete its season and capture its fifth straight championship, Chambless said there’d be a sense of attainment that’s almost unexplainable.
“I think it would be really satisfying,” he said. “You talk about being able to do something like that, not only having to go through what we’re going through but doing that for our community would be special. One thing we preach to our guys here is we’re not going to be selfish. We’re doing this because it lifts our community up and gives our school pride. That’s the reason we come to work everyday and work hard is to give our town and county something to be proud of. In the past we’ve been able to get the job done, our guys have worked so hard that just being able to get on the field this year would be a big positive for us.”
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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