Trojans embracing newfound success
New Hope football is on the verge of a district championship after its 42-7 win over Lafayette. The Trojans have already secured the first winning season since 2016 after going 0-10 in 2023. The team has embraced the new culture under first-year head coach Allen Glenn, and both newcomers and upperclassmen have played an important part.
“I said it earlier this season, we want this more than anything,” senior Lonnie Shinn Jr. said, expressing the dedication of a group that didn’t want last year to define them. “We’ve worked for it, we pay for it and every week we’re fired up to play on Friday. We want to shock the state and keep pushing. 1-0 every week.”
Shinn and the senior class want to help secure the team’s ninth win this week, which would equal the Trojans’ win total from the past three seasons, combined.
It’s not just seniors pulling their weight though, it’s everyone on the team, including freshman quarterback Tyrekus Brooks.
“I’ve been playing football since I was really little,” Brooks said. “It sort of comes naturally to me. My role early was the new guy, I had to show what I can do. Now I’m one of them, I’m part of the team.”
Brooks scored a hat-trick of rushing touchdowns on Friday, and though he’s just a freshman he understands the significance of what the team is doing.
Up next is West Point, a football institution of success and the defending Class 5A champions. It’s what the Trojans want to make for themselves, and that focus shifted the moment the teams shook hands on Friday.
“I’m ready for the next game,” Brooks said after the win against Lafayette. “That’s all I’m worried about now. It’s one week, one game at a time.”
— Colin Damms
Panthers peaking at the right time
West Lowndes knows full well that all a team needs to do is get into the playoffs and something special can happen.
After finishing third in their four-team district last season, the Panthers went on the road and defeated Myrtle, then upset Potts Camp to reach the quarterfinals. West Lowndes’ run ended there with a blowout home loss to eventual MHSAA Class 1A state champion Biggersville, but the Panthers had given themselves something to build on entering the 2024 season.
Head coach Anthony King’s team went 2-4 in non-district play, though West Lowndes did take Biggersville to overtime on the road. After the Panthers were blown out at home by Vardaman to open the district portion of their season, they went to Okolona and pasted the Chieftains 52-13, then returned home and crushed Smithville 48-0 in last week’s regular-season finale.
Ordinarily a Wing-T team through and through, West Lowndes changed its offense this year but still loves to run the ball and has several backs capable of doing so. Seniors Dekambi Evans and Jonivon Edwards and junior Jakylen Lucious all broke free for explosive plays against Smithville, and the Panthers’ offensive line overwhelmed the Seminoles at the point of attack.
West Lowndes (4-5) opens postseason play at home Friday night against Tupelo Christian Prep, and will play either Strayhorn or Ashland in the second round with a win. The Panthers are once again playing their best football of the season late, which could make them a tough out when it matters most.
— Benjamin Rosenberg
Starkville needs to get its offense back on track
In the Yellowjackets 31-8 loss on the road to Madison Central in a critical Region 2-7A matchup, Starkville only managed 256 yards of total offense, including 113 yards of total offense in the second half.
Madison Central rushed for 282 yards, including 195 yards in the second half.
“We’ve got to get back to the drawing board on offense and find a way for those guys to execute better,” Starkville coach Chris Jones said. “We didn’t play like we’re capable of playing for whatever reason. Everything they did, offensive-wise, we were prepared for, but in the second half our defense was tired because they were on the field a lot because offensively we had too many three-and-outs.”
The good news, if there’s any, is that Starkville (6-3, 1-2 Region 2-7A) is in the playoffs.
As far as the playoff scenarios for Region 2-7A, Tupelo has clinched the No. 1 seed.
If Madison Central beats Clinton on Thursday, then Madison Central is the No. 2 seed, Starkville the No. 3 seed, and Germantown the No. 4 seed.
If Clinton wins and Starkville loses, then Clinton is the No. 2 seed, Madison Central the No. 3 seed, and Starkville the No. 4 seed.
If Clinton wins and Starkville wins, then Starkville is the No. 2 seed, Clinton the No. 3 seed, and Madison Central the No. 4 seed.
-– Brandon Shields
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You can help your community
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 28 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
