CLEVELAND – While the night was cold with temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s, the action on the football field was hot and heavy on Friday at Parks Field at Mickey Sellers Stadium.
The defending 5A State Champion West Point Green Wave and the 12-0 Cleveland Central Wolves battled in the Mississippi High School Activities Association 5A North Half title game in front of a packed house with fans on both the home and visitor sides cheering their teams. The winner would get a chance to advance to the 5A State Championship game.
The game was as advertised as both teams slugged it out. The Wolves played the Green Wave tough, but the Green Wave persevered and came out on top, 14-7. The Green Wave (10-3) will play Gautier for the 5A State Championship on Dec. 6 at M.M. Robert Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg at 7:30 p.m. The Wolves concluded their season at 12-1.
West Point Head Football Coach Brett Morgan said his team did what it needed to do against a tough CCHS squad.
“They’ve got a really good defense and a really good offense,” Morgan said. “Our defense played phenomenal football. That’s our identity and that’s what we hang our hat on. We played really good defense, and our offense did just enough. We were really good in special teams. We had a clean game on that end. We found a way to survive and advance. I can’t say enough about our defense, about our offense’s toughness and the cleanness of our special teams. I can’t say enough about our coaching staff, our fans and our community. We have found a way. Survive and advance.”
The Wolves got the ball first to start the first quarter. CCHS was able to score and were forced to punt. West Point’s ball carrier fumbled the football, and CCHS recovered it. The Green Wave’s defense stopped the Wolves on their drive as they forced a turnover on downs. The score would end up being 0-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, West Point got a huge play from its defense. Jermaine Elliot intercepted a pass from CCHS quarterback Javaris Beamon to give the Green Wave possession of the ball. West Point’s offense ended up going on a good drive. With 2:26 left in the first half, junior Quintin Thompson marched into the end zone on an 11-yard run. Place kicker Jack Carter Taylor delivered the point after kick, and the Green Wave led 7-0.
The Wolves fought back as they went on a quick drive that was capped off by a four-yard touchdown run from Kaleb Perry. Jack Wright kicked the point after attempt, and CCHS tied the game at 7-7 with 1:16 left in the first half. The score would remain 7-7 going into the locker room at halftime.
After CCHS stopped West Point on its first drive of the second half in the third quarter, the punt from the Green Wave ended up pinning CCHS at its own six-yard line. West Point was able to force CCHS to punt. The punt from CCHS was short, and West Point’s Quintarrius Dawson received the ball and returned it to Cleveland Central’s four-yard line. The Wolves’ defense played tough but the Green Wave found a way to get back on the scoreboard. Senior Shamane Clark, who was running near the Wolves’ sideline, threw to Colt Whitacre who was near the Green Wave sideline. Whitacre made the catch and ended up with an eight-yard touchdown reception with 4:57 left in the third quarter. The kick from Taylor was good, and the Green Wave led 14-7.
“They (CCHS) actually covered the play,” said Morgan. “Their defensive ends did a great job. They covered, the player just kind of jumped early and the good Lord smiled on us. Our quarterback made one heck of a play, and Colt Whitacre went up and got it. I’m so proud of him.”
West Point’s defense played tough and was able to keep CCHS off the scoreboard the rest of the second half. West Point’s offense did a solid job of running the football and controlling the clock.
Clark, Thompson and Micheal Williams did a great job of running the football for the Green Wave on offense. Elliot had an interception, and Damarvion Haughton had a fumble recovery to give the Green Wave their big plays on defense.
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