HATTIESBURG — West Point was just 2 yards from getting off the field.
As the third quarter wound to a close in Saturday night’s MHSAA Class 5A championship game against Picayune, the Green Wave defense faced a fourth-and-2 from its own 19-yard line. The Maroon Tide led 27-21, and they were threatening to score again.
But with a simple stop, West Point would get the ball back with a full quarter to play, needing just a touchdown to win a record-breaking 12th state championship.
It was up to the Green Wave defense, a staunch unit allowing fewer than 12 points a game.
And one last time Saturday night, West Point couldn’t get it done.
Picayune’s Chris Davis bounced outside, picked up the first down and raced to the 5-yard line. The Maroon Tide scored two plays later.
It was like that all night as Picayune (14-1) carved up West Point (11-3) in a 40-21 win, avenging the Tide’s loss two years ago to the same team in the same game on the same field.
The Green Wave reached the state championship for the sixth straight season, but it ended in heartbreak for the second year in a row.
“I’m proud of my guys,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “They had a heck of a year. We didn’t finish how we wanted, but we’re here.”
Getting back to the title game was one of the Green Wave’s goals coming into the season. Winning, of course, was another.
But Picayune put a stop to that. The Maroon Tide ran for 393 yards on 7.4 yards per carry as they gashed the Green Wave defense.
Dante Dowdell, named the player of the game, had 25 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Davis had 139 yards on just eight carries, scoring on plays of 37 and 73 yards.
Darnell Smith also had a key 59-yard rushing score for Picayune, fighting through multiple defenders and pushing a would-be tackler into the end zone to put the Maroon Tide up for good at 27-21 in the third quarter.
Chambless praised Picayune’s ability to produce yards after contact, which Dowdell, Davis, Smith and Co. did consistently all night.
“They’ve got an excellent run game,” Chambless said. “Dowdell’s unbelievable, and they’ve got other guys too.”
West Point has been known for having a similar crop of running backs, but they couldn’t outshine the Tide on Saturday night.
Senior Cameron Young did his best, rushing for 92 yards on 14 carries and scoring all three West Point touchdowns. The Green Wave were held to 4.8 yards per rush, a far cry from Picayune’s mark.
Young said the Tide showed things West Point never saw on film and didn’t prepare for in practice, but it didn’t make the difference.
“At the end of the day, that didn’t have anything to do with the outcome,” Young said. “We didn’t execute well at certain times.”
West Point uncharacteristically melted down on a fourth-quarter drive down 34-21. Running back Keshawn Henley was ejected for a personal foul on the kickoff, a 15-yard penalty; after the next play, the Green Wave were called for sideline interference.
West Point got the ball into Picayune territory, but Ahmari Cox fumbled a reverse pitch from Young, and Jamonta Waller of the Tide grabbed it in stride at the Green Wave 35-yard line and raced into the end zone for the back-breaking score.
“We moved the ball on them and did some things that we wanted to do,” Chambless said. “The time factor got to us and made us get out of our element. We executed some, and some we didn’t.”
Trailing by 19, West Point drove to the Picayune 26, turned the ball over on downs and never threatened again.
The Maroon Tide closed out a relatively comfortable win, notching their sixth state title overall and their first since 2013.
They crowded around the golden football trophy on their side of the field as the Green Wave watched in silence. Senior linebacker Keon Cunningham comforted position-mate Jhace Mallard as the junior fought back tears.
“Watching another team celebrate with what’s thought to be yours, it just drives you harder,” Young said.
On Saturday, the senior back completed a West Point career he said he wouldn’t trade for anything, but many of his teammates still have plenty left to play for.
The Green Wave always begin preparation for the upcoming season the Monday after their current campaign ends, and this year will be no different.
Chambless said he plans to tell his current juniors — next year’s seniors — the exact same thing he always does.
“It’s y’all’s team now,” he said. “We’re going to go wherever you want to take us.
“They’ll answer the bell,” Chambless added.
Picayune 40, West Point 21
West Point (11-3) 7 7 7 0 — 21
Picayune (14-1) 7 13 7 13 — 40
First quarter
P — Chris Davis 37 run (Morgan Craft kick)
WP — Cameron Young 1 run (Alex Harper kick)
Second quarter
P — Dante Dowdell 7 run (Craft kick)
WP — Young 10 run (Harper kick)
P — Davis 73 run (kick failed)
Third quarter
WP — Young 5 run (Harper kick)
P — Darnell Smith 59 run (Craft kick)
Fourth quarter
P — Dowdell 2 run (Craft kick)
P — Jamonta Waller 35 fumble return (kick failed)
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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