WEST POINT — West Point will play host to another highly anticipated local battle under Friday night lights this week. It’s a matchup that turned into a barnburner last season, and there’s every chance of seeing the same this time around.
The Green Wave are looking for their first win of the season after back-to-back losses by one score. Those losses came against two of the strongest teams in the state, and that won’t change this week with Noxubee County coming to town.
Head coach Brett Morgan is proud of his team through two weeks, but in order to get back in the win column his defense will need to slow down one of the most dangerous players in the country.
Noxubee quarterback KaMario Taylor threw for 220 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the Tigers’ 39-7 win over Philadelphia last week. He ran for 155 yards, amassing 325 total yards and two scores in the Tigers’ 43-22 loss to Starkville the week before, operating as a one-man wrecking ball against the Jackets.
“A player like that, he’s going to get his. He’s just that good,” Morgan said. “You can’t let them beat you everywhere else, you have to defend everyone on the field. He’s going to make plays but you have to have a next play mindset, you’ve just got to play the next play.”
Taylor burned the Green Wave last season for 482 total yards and five touchdowns as the Green Wave came from behind in a 50-40 win in Macon. The Tigers led by three scores at one point, but the eventual 5A champions were 0-2 and needed the win to get on the right track.
“I don’t want to go through that again,” he said with a laugh. “I think we were down by three touchdowns and found a way to come back and win it, but I think it’ll be the same thing. It’s a Golden Triangle game, it’s a great challenge and it’ll take everything we’ve got to win. They’ve got the best player in the state at quarterback, a phenomenal player, so we’ve got our hands full and offensively we’ve got a tough job going against their defense.”
The Tigers (1-1) are looking to finish the job this time around, both against West Point and in their ultimate goal of winning a 3A state title. They’re relying on some young players to step up at receiver and on defense, but head coach Teddy Young likes what he’s seen from them through two games.
“I’m seeing a lot of good things,” Young said of his defense. “We’ve got guys playing who didn’t start last year, a lot of freshmen and sophomores, but they’re getting better. They’re getting better each week and that’s what we’re asking of them. I’m excited about that side of the football.”
Playing against the likes of Starkville and West Point may seem like a lot to ask of the young unit, but it’s been a positive experience so far. Against the Green Wave, the young Tigers will see what they’re made of against a prolific rushing attack.
“It does big things for them,” Young said. “We’re playing some of the best in the state and it’s a great football environment. Now when we get to big district games, playoff games, championship games, those guys know what it’s like to be in that environment.”
Young’s team may have new players stepping up, but having Taylor leading the way is a huge boost. He has kept the Tigers offense rolling through the good and the bad and his leadership makes him that much more valuable in bringing up new talent.
“We have a young receivers group so having him back is making them better,” Young said. “We try to not ask him to do too much, but at the end of the day, when it’s time to be KaMario Taylor he’s going to do those things. We’re going to let him be him on Friday nights.”
Both coaches have hopes of avoiding the same chaos from last season’s matchup, but they’re expecting nothing to change in terms of competitiveness and offensive quality.
“I think it’ll be that type of game again,” Young said. “They’re 0-2 but lost to two of the best teams in Mississippi. They play hard and I’m expecting another hard-fought game, maybe another shootout. If we can’t stop the run they’ll be putting up points, and I think our offense will come ready to play.”
“We’ve been pretty good in spurts, but you can’t just play two or three quarters and expect to beat a team like Noxubee,” Morgan said. “We need to focus and we need to play all four quarters.”
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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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
