WEST POINT — Even though his high school football career is over, Jeffrey Drake is still working hard for West Point High School.
Drake finished his standout career as one of Class 5A’s best players. However, the senior wide receiver/defensive back believes it is his responsibility to push returning teammates to be the best they can be next season.
“Every seventh period, we are still in there working with the sophomores and juniors,” Drake said. “We are going to make sure they get their work in. You get one chance at this. This is all you got. You got to work out and grind hard because this is your only life and your only chance. They are so close (to a state championship) and they don’t even know it.”
Drake and a small senior class helped lift West Point back to the top of Class 5A. In the past two seasons, West Point won 20 of 28 games. Last crowned state champions in 2010, a youthful squad this season proved it has staying power.
Drake did his part as the quarterback of the defense with six interceptions and 45 tackles. He also had six catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns, two interception returns for touchdowns, and a kick return touchdown.
For his efforts, Drake is The Dispatch’s Large Schools co-Defensive Player of the Year for 2015.
“I really want to thank God for everything,” Drake said. “I want to thank the fans for being there with us throughout the whole year. It was a good season. We came a long way. We lost a lot of good seniors.
“We had some guys step up and made that us better. We had some sophomores and juniors who didn’t back down from the expectations of the program. They worked hard to make sure we had success.”
West Point finished 11-3 and 6-1 in Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 1 play. For a second-straight season, West Point lost to eventual North State champion Oxford in regular-season region play and postseason play (second round in 2014 and third round in 2015).
“When the season started, we knew we were going to have a young team,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “Jeffrey was going to be a key cog in what we were doing on defense. However, we wanted to get him more touches on offense. He has such great speed and a great work ethic.
“He is going to do everything you ask. He is such a leader. He makes the other players around him better. You want that on the field for as many plays as you can get it.”
After a heart-breaking defeat to Starkville in the 2012 North State championship game, West Point followed that up with back-to-back five-loss seasons. The defense wasn’t living up to a reputation for hard-nosed, physical play and was allowing too many big plays.
When Drake was in seventh grade, he saw the program win its last state championship. He then saw a steady decline. His mission was simple: Get West Point football back on top.
“He was the kind of player who made us all better every day,” West Point sophomore quarterback Marcus Murphy said. “He never took a shortcut or took a play off. When one of your leaders is that way, it rubs off on the whole team.”
Playing in the tradition-rich West Point program has a special vibe.
“Every Friday (during the season), when you wake up, you know West Point is going to be live,” Drake said. “All the students are telling you good luck during the day and all that. At night, you want to go hard and you want to do it for the fans. Football is a West Point tradition. The fans are going to love you no matter what. They are always there. They are a big reason why the seniors wanted to help bring West Point football back.”
Drake said the West Point coaches start talking about the program’s tradition in seventh grade. The expectations are high but established early.
“I was really down when I first started,” Drake said. “Each year, the coaches could tell me they I had grown up a little more. I was smarter, bigger, and faster. Playing here has just been a blessing. I remember in ninth grade going against (Mississippi State’s) Aeris Williams every day in practice. He was a big-time prospect in the state. How could that not make you better? He was setting the example that the rest of us wanted to follow.”
Drake also saw an example set at home.
“The first shutout for my football career goes to God,” Drake said. “He has blessed me so many times and given me this great chance. My mom and dad (Priscilla and Jeffrey Drake) have always been supportive, as well as my sister (Makayla). My church family (at Baptist Grove MB Church in Prairie) has been great. Reverend Joseph L. Lampkin has always led me and pushed me in the right direction.
“Playing for coach Chambless has been blessing. He and all of the assistant coaches make up the best staff in the state. I could not have asked for anything better. The coaches were always hard on us in practice, but they loved us on the field. These coaches have won state championships, so we knew their leadership could take us. Coach Chambless really helped make me the man I am today and I will always be thankful for that.”
With more than two dozen schools competing to Drake on National Signing Day, he knows a special time is coming in February. Next fall, he will be the one of West Point High’s biggest supporters.
“For the seniors, there aren’t a lot of us, but I would not want go into battle with anybody else,” Drake said. “It was an incredible experience. No matter where we each go, we will always be connected. I will be very proud of my other brothers.
“West Point football is back and the younger guys will make sure all of our hard work from this season pays off in the end.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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