As members of the West Lowndes High School football team walked downhill back to the field after halftime, a circle formed around Phillip Blair as he danced.
Quinshawn Lucious, now sans shoulder pads, leaned on the fence and talked to spectators. After the game, Symetrious Pippins did back flips at midfield.
For the first time in more than two months, there was a celebration at the West Lowndes football field.
“We had a good time tonight. It was a good win,” Travion Lucious said. As a smile took over his face, Chayil Phinizee added, “Everything’s cool.”
On Thursday, West Lowndes snapped a seven-game losing streak that dated back to a season-opening victory against Caledonia with a 46-6 victory against Ethel in a Mississippi High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) Class 1A, Region 3 game.
West Lowndes (2-7, 1-6 region) will play Sebastopol next week in its season finale.
“This team struggled all year, so it was great for us to get a win,” West Lowndes coach Anthony King said. “It’s been a long year. It was good to get another win.”
King believes his team could have been a playoff team if it had gotten a few bounces in a 12-8 loss to Leake County or a 14-12 loss to Hamilton. He said this team “could have easily” taken the district’s final playoff spot with those breaks.
West Lowndes received every break Thursday thanks to mistakes by Ethel.
Ethel granted West Lowndes 15 yards by virtue of penalties before the opening kickoff. West Lowndes’ Jherquaveus Sanders then returned the kickoff 60 yards to the 8-yard line. Phinizee scored the first of his two touchdowns on the next play. West Lowndes turned fumbles on Ethel’s first two possessions into touchdowns. Quinshawn Lucious and Quan Montgomery scored the rushing touchdowns on four- and two-play drives to make it 24-0 3 minutes, 13 seconds into the game.
Travion Lucious also scored on a night that saw four Panthers have at least 40 rushing yards. All of them did it on five or fewer carries. West Lowndes didn’t attempt a pass.
The homecoming boost was what the Panthers needed as they try to use the final two weeks to build for a better 2018. The idea of embarking on that final week as a Panther was a sore subject for some.
“It’s going to hurt,” Quinshawn Lucious said. His brother, Travion, a junior, said the same thing. He knows the experience without his brother will be different.
Then again, different is what West Lowndes is seeking. King hopes for different results in 2018 and a different vibe around the team in the offseason and next season.
“We just wanted to go out on a two-game winning streak and go into next year with a winning streak,” King said. “That’s the key to this whole thing.”
King admits wins like the one his team earned Thursday night are emotional.
“I’m at a loss for words,” King said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
