WEST POINT — Two weeks into the 2022 season, both West Point and Columbus sat with identical 0-2 records.
An 0-2 start to the season was incredibly unusual for the Green Wave, who have been one of the best 5A teams in Mississippi in recent years, but something more commonplace for the Falcons, who outside of 2021 had lost their first two games of the season in four straight years.
However, the switch to district play got the gears turning for both teams.
West Point returned to its formidable self, scoring 40-plus points a game and mowing down opponents, but more surprisingly, Columbus, who had scored just six points through its first four games, found its offensive groove and clinched a playoff spot for the first time in six years.
Now, the Green Wave and Falcons will duke it out on Thursday night for bragging rights and a chance at a district championship.
“When I first took the job, our mindset was to get to and win a district championship,” Columbus head coach Joshua Pulphus said. “For us to start out the season 0-4 in non-division play and then turn around and rally and put ourselves in a position to win a division championship in one year, we’re back on track for where this program needed to be.”
Columbus (5-5) has gotten to this point thanks to great quarterback play from Shaun Williams, who came into the season as the backup before a season-ending injury to starter Jaquavious Bankhead forced him into the starting role.
Williams has done a fantastic job in his place, using his frame to dominate on the ground, pick up bulk yardage and in turn, open up the passing game for the Falcons.
The offense itself has scored 22.7 points a game since the start of district play, really turning into a force to be reckoned with.
As the offense has started rolling, the same has rung true on the defensive side of the ball, where the Falcons have given up 17.3 points a game in district play and just 11.8 points a game in their five district wins.
“Everyone started to buy into the program and into the process,” Columbus linebacker Hemyar Nagi said. “That began in practice, and when practice started cooking, no one can stop us … We’re all feeling good right now, but we know that we can’t be satisfied.”
Columbus, coming into this game with a 5-1 district record, isn’t the only team that’s looking to secure itself a district championship.
West Point, a perfect 6-0 in district play so far, has cruised to where it currently sits, with a 7-2 record overall and an offense that has been on fire since the start of the district schedule, scoring 44.6 points a game.
The Green Wave are all too familiar with this position, having won six of the past seven MHSAA Class 5A, District 1 championships and being the reigning champions.
If you want to come at the kings, you better not miss.
“This is a huge game for us,” West Point head coach Chris Chambless said. “Our team knows that. Our community knows that. It’s like I told our guys this year that we have to keep our eyes in front of us.”
“We have to steer straight ahead to where we want to go and do what it takes to get there.”
What has taken the Green Wave to this point has been one of the most potent rushing attacks in the entire state, a three-headed monster that begins with quarterback Kahnen Daniels and continues onward to running back Keshawn Henley and QB/RB Quinterion Tillman-Evans.
The three are dynamic players in their own unique ways and have built an offense that has been virtually unstoppable in recent weeks.
West Point is known for its running game, and this year, the Green Wave have put the Golden Triangle and the entirety of MHSAA Class 5A football on notice for that.
Like Columbus, West Point’s offensive success has trickled down into its defensive success, giving up just 12.1 points a game to opponents on its current seven-game winning streak.
That’s the type of football that needs to be played on both sides of the ball to silence Columbus early and put all of the momentum on West Point’s side.
“As a team, we’re preaching that the job isn’t finished,” linebacker Jhace Mallard said. “Nobody is getting complacent. Things have been much more intense this week since they’re a heavy run team.”
“There’s a lot at stake. We know that if we lose, we lose the driver’s seat. We have a team goal that we need to get to, and we have a team in our way, so we have to take care of business.”
This very much feels like a dynasty versus a team of destiny-type situation, but with the preparations that have gone into the regular season thus far, all of that will be decided Thursday night for a district title.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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