WEST POINT — The Brett Morgan era at West Point began with a defeat, but it was by no means an out-of-character performance for the Green Wave.

Concerns about drastic changes in identity were dismissed after an eight-minute opening drive that saw West Point’s offense expertly mix the run game with the pass, utilizing skill players from every position and setting the tone in a grinding, hard-fought game against defending 4A champions Louisville.

Simply put, it was Green Wave football.

Cam Randle, Javon Randle, Quintin Thompson and Shamane Clark kept the Wildcats on their heels throughout the first half, and the connection of Thompson to Justin White in the passing game helped keep the secondary on its toes despite the typical run-heavy approach.

“They’re West Point, we knew they were going to come downhill running the football at us,” Wildcats head coach Tyrone Shorter said after the game. “They control the clock, their identity stays the same.”

The two defending champs combined for a total of three points in the second half, a fourth-quarter field goal for the Wildcats after West Point’s defense pushed them back from the goal line. Chaos ensued on the final drive for the Green Wave, who saw three straight plays replayed because of penalties. An endzone interception, a blocked field goal attempt, and a successful Hail Mary saw the fans go through every emotion in just a few minutes. The play that stood fell short of the end zone as the clock struck zero, but there should be optimism in defeat for West Point. The Green Wave still have the look of a football machine and aren’t going anywhere just yet. 

— Colin Damms

New faces, familiar result for Yellow Jackets

MACON — Without most of its offensive weapons from the 2023 team that fell five points short of a state championship, Starkville looked just fine in its 43-22 win at Noxubee County to open the 2024 campaign.

The Yellow Jackets’ offense was humming, scoring touchdowns on five of its first seven drives and six out of 10 overall. The transition at quarterback from Trey Petty, who is now a freshman at Illinois, to Jayden Ruffin was as smooth as could be. A senior who started last year at defensive back, Ruffin displayed plenty of poise in the pocket in his first start behind center, throwing for three touchdowns and completing 12 of 20 passes for 202 yards.

Starkville is also without its top two running backs from last year, Jay Stevenson and Courtland Cooper, but Abrayln Jenkins and Torian Knox are quite the dynamic duo themselves. Jenkins rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, while Knox notched both a rushing and receiving touchdown.

Defensively, the Yellow Jackets limited Tigers quarterback Kamario Taylor and intercepted him twice in the second half to remain in front.

“Jayden Ruffin played well. Jenkins played well, Knox played well,” Starkville head coach Chris Jones said. “We’ve got some guys. The more they play, the more comfortable they’ll get, the more confidence they’ll get. Hopefully they can just build off this win and get better next week.”

— Benjamin Rosenberg