MACON — Gathered around in the postgame huddle, West Point players started doing the Gator Chomp, made famous by the University of Florida.
All of it came after Green Wave head coach pointed out senior running back/quarterback Kahnen Daniels, who had the performance of a lifetime on Friday night.
In what became an early nominee for game of the year in Mississippi, Daniels accounted for all 50 points from West Point, rushing for a career-high 427 yards and seven touchdowns in a 50-40 win over Noxubee County.
After the game, the Florida commit deflected the praise toward the guys blocking in front of him.
“It’s an honor to play this game,” Daniels said. “It’s an honor for the ability to score that many points in one game, but I give it all to my offensive line. They blocked well tonight. And my fullbacks, give all the credit to them.”
Friday night was a shootout from the opening kickoff, with both teams combining to score 34 points in the first quarter alone en route to 90 total points scored and around 1,000 yards of total offense.
As has been the case through their first two games of the season, Noxubee County (1-2) came out throwing haymakers, taking a 14-6 lead late in the first quarter and a 28-20 lead into the half.
Junior quarterback Kamario Taylor made plays with his feet and with his arm, throwing for two touchdowns and running for one in the first half alone as he finished with five total touchdowns (three passing and two rushing.)
“He’s our leader,” Noxubee County head coach Teddy Young said. “We go as he goes. He’s healthy and when he’s healthy, he’s, to me, the best quarterback in the state. I wouldn’t trade him for nobody.”
Taylor did his part, as did the entire offense, but mental mistakes, whether it be from a botched snap on a punt in the second half or the failure to capitalize off turnovers, cost the Tigers in a game they were leading deep into the third quarter.
That’s when West Point (1-2) stepped in and sealed the deal, making big plays defensively to put the offense in positions to score.
The Green Wave capitalized on multiple short fields in the second half, spurring a 30-point second-half outburst and 16 points in the fourth quarter alone.
“We knew how tough it would be coming in,” West Point head coach Chris Chambless said. “I’m so proud of our guys for sticking together. Nobody got down. Nobody stopped believing in what we were doing and we ended up getting the job done. That’s what it’s all about.”
At the end of the night, it was the Kahnen Daniels show, and the entire state of Mississippi – and maybe even some Gators fans – were treated to a historic performance that led to a crucial first win of the season for the Green Wave.
“It’s an honor,” Daniels said. “It’s a dream come true. I always dreamed about performing for a top program and I have the ability and chance to go do that next year. I’m going to continue to do what I gotta do this year and play until the end.”
West Point 50, Noxubee County 40
West Point (1-2) 14 6 14 16 – 50
Noxubee County (1-2) 20 8 12 0 – 40
First quarter
WP – Kahnen Daniels 3 run (two-point failed), clock 8:14
NC – Dequadrion Welch 46 pass from Kamario Taylor (kick good), clock 6:14
NC – Lekyleron Dancy 65 return off interception (Ekamryn Smith two-point), clock 3:13
WP – Daniels 65 run (Daniels two-point), clock 2:57
NC – Ladareoun Mosley 65 pass from Taylor (two-point failed), clock 2:08
Second quarter
WP – Daniels 37 run (two-point failed), clock 11:49
NC – Taylor 7 run (Taylor two-point), clock 6:54
Third quarter
NC – Taylor 5 run (two-point failed), clock 10:21
WP – Daniels 3 run (Daniels two-point), clock 4:40
WP – Daniels 35 run (two-point failed), clock 4:26
NC – Mosley 70 pass from Taylor (two-point failed), clock 4:14
Fourth quarter
WP – Daniels 5 run (Daniels two-point), clock 11:55
WP – Daniels 17 run (Daniels two-point), clock 8:08
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