Joshua Pulphus is no longer an assistant coach at West Point, but his departure doesn’t mean the end of his friendship with Green Wave coach Chris Chambless.
“He’s just an all-around good guy,” Chambless said of Columbus High’s first-year head coach. “He’s a good friend.”
The two coaches give each other advice on life, school and family, but ahead of Friday’s matchup between their two programs, one thing isn’t on the agenda.
“We know when Friday at 7 o’clock comes, the friendship and the love will still be there,” Pulphus said. “But we’re not talking about football when we’re talking.”
His Falcons (3-5) are looking for a signature home win against a West Point program that Pulphus said “sets the standard” in high school football in the region.
“It would mean a lot to us to go out and compete and beat them,” said Pulphus, who coached tight ends at West Point in 2018. “Any time you get the opportunity to step up and beat the best, that’s all that matters.”
After a big road win in overtime against Lake Cormorant and a “great” week of practice that followed it, the Falcons feel good about their chances against the Green Wave (8-1), winners of seven straight.
In the inclement weather conditions forecasted for Friday night, Columbus’ defense will have the chance to shine, and Chambless knows it.
“You’ve gotta take advantage of your opportunities when the weather’s bad from a defensive standpoint,” Chambless said.
To counter the deluge, West Point again worked on overcoming the mental and physical roadblocks playing in the rain tends to present.
“You gotta be mentally prepared for that and take extra precautions to take care of the football,” Chambless said. “Both of us will have to get mentally prepared for that.”
West Point star senior Brandon Harris is a game-time decision for the contest, Chambless said, adding more intrigue to a local rivalry game.
But the Green Wave have typically dominated the matchup, winning 55-6 at Columbus to open the 2018 season and 42-14 in West Point to kick off 2017.
With the Falcons now part of Class 5A, Pulphus can only hope for a different result. But no matter how lopsided Friday’s final score is, no matter how many inches of rain accumulate on the field, both coaches know the rivalry will deliver an entertaining game — just as it always has.
“The teams know each other, and it’s good bragging rights for the Golden Triangle,” Chambless said. “It’s just a big game. It always is.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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 24 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 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
