WEST POINT – It may be its 10th straight time, but Friday night West Point celebrated like it was its first time in forever.
Led by a bone-bruising and stalwart defensive effort, the Green Wave put the clamps on a high-flying and explosive Holmes County Central offense in a display of colossal hits and championship-caliber grit in a 20-6 triumph in the Class 5A North Half championship game to usher in a chance at the program’s third three-peat.
When the final whistle blew, the Green Wave leaped into the air and jumped up and down in pure excitement at what they’ve achieved so far and where they’re headed. West Point got two rushing touchdowns from Kingston Branham and a touchdown throw from Quintin Thompson to set the stage for a state championship bout with Brookhaven on Thursday in the program’s 10th straight bid to play for a title.
“It wasn’t pretty,” head coach Brett Morgan said. Holmes County, you have to tip your hat to them, they fought their guts out. (They) played us extremely hard, we didn’t play perfect but we found a way to win. Just survive and advance this time of year, so just very thankful, very happy. We get an opportunity to go play in our 10th straight state championship, so man, we have to keep going.”
An unrelenting onslaught of determination helped the Green Wave pull away after staring at a 6-0 hole to start the game. The Jags started their first drive in West Point territory thanks to a flag on the Green Wave on the game’s opening kickoff and only needed eight plays for Jartavious Smart to find the end zone from 1-yard out. The Jags were stopped short on a 2-point conversion try. With momentum their way, the Jags defense forced a three-and-out on West Point’s first offensive drive, and it looked like Holmes Central was steaming clear ahead for the upset – then the Green Wave’s defense woke up. The Jags were stifled in three straight plays and were forced to punt, and West Point used two runs by Thompson to set up Branham’s first score from 22-yards out. The team went for the two-point conversion but couldn’t convert.
Branham broke up a defensive battle in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run to give his team a 12-6 lead, and Thompson fired a 17-yard touchdown pass for the game’s last score. The Green Wave’s defense held a Jaguar offense that set a school record for points scored in a season (508) to just one touchdown.
“Great team defense,” Morgan said. “They went down and scored on the first drive on us and we shut them out the rest of the way. (They have) an extremely explosive offense, and I just couldn’t be prouder of how we played. Just super proud of our defensive effort.”
The victory improves the Green Wave’s undefeated mark to 13-0 on the season, and Morgan said his team is fired up for the opportunity to add one last victory come next week.
“It’s a long year, a long season. I’m proud they’re getting to enjoy (it),” he said. “We’re excited to go play in the state championship. It’s less than a week away, so we’re getting ready to go.”
West Point faces Brookhaven at 7 p.m. Thursday at Davis Wade Stadium for the MHSAA 5A state championship.
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