WEST POINT — The Green Wave began the 2024 season with an epic defensive showdown with Louisville on Friday night. The defending state champions met in a game worthy of the preseason hype, but the Wildcats ultimately came out on top, scoring the only points in the second half to win, 15-14.
“It just hurts,” Green Wave head coach Brett Morgan said. “We were right there to win the game, laid it all on the line and came up just a bit short.”
It was an even game, pitting two teams with experience and depth. It was a far cry from the decisive 35-13 win the Wildcats picked up in this matchup a year ago. That parity certainly showed on the defensive side as the two teams combined for just three points in the second half, but the Wildcats made one more play to get the win.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our guys,” Morgan continued. “We talked last week about how we didn’t respond well to adversity. We saw a lot of it and we responded to it tonight. It was just two really good defensive football teams going at it right there, and just a couple plays make a difference in a game like that.”
The Green Wave came out and ran the ball just like the old days, opening the game with an eight-minute drive to score a touchdown. On offense it was a steady dose of Cam Randle and Shamane Clark running the ball with Quintin Thompson taking most of the snaps and throwing in rhythm. Justin White was a favorite target through the air, making several catches through double coverage, scoring the opening touchdown and moving the chains twice on fourth down attempts throughout the night.
A lightning delay postponed the game for about an hour, but when play resumed the teams traded blows and West Point went into halftime up 14-12.
Both defenses stood up in the third quarter, with the Green Wave forcing three consecutive three-and-out drives, though the offense failed to take advantage of good field position and twice came up empty-handed after drives into Wildcat territory.
As the clock ran out, Louisville had to punt again, but a low kick had the Green Wave special teams confused as to whether the wayward kick was a live ball. In the chaos, the ball was touched and the Wildcats pounced to set themselves up at the Green Wave 47-yard line.
The Wildcats drove to the 1, and on 4th and goal they opted to try for a touchdown. They got the ball in the end zone, but a pre-snap penalty pulled them back another five yards and they settled for a field goal to take a 15-14 lead.
Again the Green Wave defense held strong to get the ball back with four minutes to play. White made another huge catch to convert on fourth down deep in their own half, and that seemed to inject some life into the Green Wave who reached the edge of the red zone.
First there was an interception in the end zone called back with offsetting penalties, then a blocked field goal waved away for another penalty, and then a dramatic Hail Mary from Colt Whitacre to seemingly win the game for the Green Wave. That, too, was called off, this time thanks to a block in the back. Finally the game ended with another Hail Mary attempt falling short.
“Just a wild ending,” Wildcats head coach Tyrone Shorter said. “This is what I expected. We have two defending champions – 24 state championships on this field tonight. We knew it would come down to the wire, there’s no telling what’ll happen in this ball game right here.”
Emotions were high after the game, but Morgan‘s team showed the same offensive versatility and defensive grit that opponents have come to expect of the Green Wave.
“They changed head coaches but they didn’t change their identity or how they do things,” Shorter said. “He’s a great football coach and I’m glad he got this job to keep the tradition going. He’s a good friend of mine, it’s a shame someone had to lose, but his era is just beginning tonight. It’s bittersweet for him but he’ll get that team going again and I expect to see them playing for the 5A title again.”
For West Point the loss stings, but the team has been here before. The job has always been to get better each week regardless of the result, and now their focus shifts to Starkville.
“We’ve got to let it soak in and hurt for a day, but come Sunday we get ready for the next one,” Morgan said. “We can’t let Louisville whoop us twice. We’ll let it hurt and learn from it, this Golden Triangle gauntlet doesn’t get easier so we don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves. Onto the next one.”
West Point 14, Louisville 15
Louisville () 0 12 0 3 – 15
West Point () 7 7 0 0 – 14
First quarter
WP –Justin White 13 pass from Quintin Thompson (Jack Carter Taylor kick), clock 3:49
Second quarter
L – Zaiden Jernigan 2 run (two-point run failed), clock 11:23
WP – Javon Randle 44 pass from Thompson (Carter Taylor kick), clock 8:41
L – Xzarion Haynes 6 run (two-point pass failed), clock 1:44
Fourth quarter
L – 41 21 field goal, clock 8:44
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