HATTIESBURG — West Point successfully defended its Class 5A crown with a 28-21 victory over Gautier in Hattiesburg on Friday, the program’s 13th state title and first under new head coach Brett Morgan.
The Green Wave’s remarkable success over the past two decades has seen several teams lift trophies, and the formula is simple: Run the damn ball.
“We believe in what we do,” Morgan said after the win. “I think we have good schemes and I think running teams win in the playoffs. If you look at the teams that have won here, they’re running the football.”
West Point’s ball carriers combined for 263 yards, led by Shamane Clark’s 168 yards and three touchdowns to give the Green Wave (11-3) control.
Clark emerged this year as the primary ball carrier, finishing the year with over 1,500 yards on the ground after the departure of 2023 stars Kahnen Daniels and Quinterion Tillman-Evans. The whole team was locked in on “12-6,” the date of the championship game, and building on the legacy of the greats who came before them.
Clark wore that standard and expectation as a badge of honor, and he’ll now have a ring to wear as well.
“Man, I’m real emotional because, since the start of the season, we were counted out,” He said after receiving the Player of the Game award. “Since we lost KD and Q, two good backs, they thought we wouldn’t make it. We brought it out for ‘12-6’ every day. Look where we’re at now.”
The Green Wave had a slow start defensively and they looked set for a long night against the Gators. Class 5A Mr. Football Paul Irving led a quick drive to open the scoring in the first two minutes, capped by a score from running back Latrell Pogue, but that was their last taste of the end zone for the half.
The Green Wave answered thanks to a 69-yard run from Shamane Clark to set up a Quintin Thompson score, and the defense proceeded to force a pair of turnovers on each of the next two drives. Clark found the end zone twice in the second quarter as the Green Wave took full command of the game.
“He’s just been that guy for us all year, he’s been steady,” Morgan said of Clark’s performance. The speedy but diminutive ball carrier had the hot hand and West Point kept feeding him throughout. Another defensive stop before the half was followed by a 14-play, 71-yard drive that took 7:51 off the clock to build a 28-7 lead for the Green Wave, putting the Gators in a near-impossible spot for a comeback as Clark completed his hat-trick.
“I love that kid,” Morgan continued. “He’s just no-nonsense, comes to work, salt-of-the-earth type of player. Couldn’t be happier for that kid.”
The Gators would score twice, but good clock management and gritty defense from West Point kept the prolific challengers at bay long enough to ice the win and give Morgan his first Gatorade bath as head coach.
Even after nine straight title game appearances, the feeling hasn’t gotten old for Morgan, his staff or the players. It’s expected of them but they love and embrace that in the team culture. It’s ingrained in them, so much so that they didn’t skip a beat even after the retirement of the legendary Chris Chambless.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be different,” Clark said of the transition. “Coach Morgan was the offensive coordinator and we believe in Coach Morgan. We trust Coach Morgan, we love Coach Morgan. We treat him like he’s family.”
Morgan himself embraced the moment in a way befitting of the program culture, by already thinking about getting back to work next week.
“I can’t really wrap my head around it, and we’re not going to look at it,” He said. “We’re fixing to go back to work too, back in the weight room and probably take up stuff on Monday. Coach Welch might give them the day off on Monday, but we’ll sure be back Tuesday. It’s just what we do.”
West Point 28, Gautier 21
Gautier — 7 0 7 7
West Point — 7 14 7 0
First quarter
G – Latrell Pogue 11 run (Eric Robinson kick), clock 10:03
WP – Quintin Thompson 2 run (Jack Carter Taylor kick), clock 1:54
Second quarter
WP – Shamane Clark 1 run (Taylor kick), clock 5:58
WP – Clark 9 run (Taylor kick), clock 4:54
Third quarter
WP – Clark 1 run (Taylor kick), clock 4:04
G – Kainen Rush 46 pass from Paul Irving (Robinson kick), clock 1:32
Fourth quarter
G – Kasin Thomas 5 run (Robinson kick), clock 0:19
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