WEST POINT — West Point football coach Chris Chambless beamed with pride Friday night.
The Green Wave’s leader had just watched his team deliver a dominant performance in its final regular season home game en route to wrapping up the Class 5A, Region 1 title following a 49-3 victory over New Hope.
All without the team’s starting quarterback.
“It’s a big accomplishment,” Chambless said of winning the region. “Especially since it was senior night, everyone got to play tonight. It’s a special night for all of them.”
Senior quarterback Brandon Harris missed his second straight game with an injury, but Chambless is optimistic the speedy signal caller will be back for West Point’s (10-1, 6-0 district) regular season finale against Center Hill next week.
“We have some guys that can do some things and play really well,” Chambless said of the team’s effort without Harris. “But Brandon has handled this nicely. We’re hoping he can come back 100 percent and give us another weapon … He practiced some this week; we just didn’t feel he was quite ready yet. But he’s one of our best leaders; he was on the sidelines all night supporting his teammates.”
A blocked punt put the Green Wave in business early, and senior running back Dantariyus Cannon took West Point’s first offensive play 30 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 7-0 lead. Cannon finished with 82 rushing yards on four carries with two touchdowns and also caught a pass for a 50-yard gain.
“We just didn’t match their effort or their intensity,” New Hope coach Wade Tackett said. “We knew they’re a talented team. If you don’t have to horses to run with them, you better at least match their effort and intensity. We didn’t do that.”
After forcing a punt, West Point running back Tae Gibbs gave the Green Wave their second touchdown of the night with a 1-yard run. Gibbs finished with four carries for 38 yards and two touchdowns.
New Hope (3-8, 1-5) scored its lone points on the night on the next series after Ben Bradley converted a 24-yard field goal.
But West Point continued its offensive onslaught as Gibbs later scored for the second time Friday, taking a carry 10 yards and hitting pay dirt to put the Green Wave up 20-3. West Point took a 33-3 lead into halftime after touchdowns from running back Jimothy Mays and Cannon.
Mays added to West Point’s offensive effort with 12 carries for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
West Point went into cruise control in the second half, but not without backup defensive lineman Shelton Binder, a 5-foot-9, 290-pound wrecking crew, blocking a punt then later returning a shanked punt for a modest gain.
“He has a lot of fun when he plays,” Chambless said. “He deserves it, too. He’s one of our best practice players, and I was really proud he was able to do that.”
With the district locked up, the Green Wave turn their attention to their regular season finale before trying to win their fourth straight state championship.
“We’re focused right now,” Chambless said. “We’ll get ’em back Monday and get ready for game prep for Center Hill. We know they’ll be a good team.”
Meanwhile, New Hope will play for pride in its final contest of the year against Grenada in New Hope.
“We can’t show up and play like we did tonight and expect to win,” Tackett said. “We have to dig down deep and finish the season strong.”
West Point 49, New Hope 3
New Hope 0 3 0 0 — 3
West Point 13 20 9 7 — 49
First quarter
WP — Dantariyus Cannon 30 run (Alex Harper kick)
WP — Tae Gibbs 1 run (kick failed)
Second quarter
NH — Ben Bradley 24 FG
WP — Gibbs 10 run (Harper kick)
WP — Cannon 20 run (kick failed)
WP — Jimothy Mays 1 run (kick failed)
Third quarter
WP — Safety
WP — Mays 7 run (Harper kick)
Fourth quarter
WP — DJ Mosley 3 run (Harper kick)
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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