By ROBBIE FAULK
East Webster coach Ron Price knew he was going to have a much different ball game against Kemper County than the first meeting.
When the two squads met back on October 3 in the first Class 2A, Region 2 matchup of the season, the Wolverines jumped out to a big lead early and got a running clock in a 49-20 victory. This time, EWHS was in a dogfight.
As has been the case all season long, the Wolverines just made the plays when needed, especially on the defensive end. Back-to-back forced turnovers late would be the difference as they booked a Class 2A state title trip with a 21-14 victory over Kemper.
“I’m so thankful for our football team and our coaches. We knew that it would be a 48-minute battle. It’s hard to beat anybody twice in one season,” Price said. “Give Kemper County’s coaches and players credit, they laid it all on the line. They played a very difficult schedule and played as hard as they could. Give it to the East Webster Wolverines, they found a way to make plays when we needed it the most.”
The first half looked much different for the two teams this time around as the game started as a defensive battle.
After the Wolverines jumped out to a lead and cruised in the first meeting last month, Kemper County brought its defense this time. The Wolverines were stopped inside the Kemper 15-yard line in the opening possession of the game, but got a touchdown on the next possession as Kross Avent found Daygan Crowley on a 66-yard flea flicker for the 7-0 lead.
The rest of the half, it was all defense as neither team bit. EWHS had a chance in the final 50 seconds after an interception from Brody Gerrish set up the Wolverines inside Kemper territory. However, the Wolverines couldn’t get the ball in the end zone and it was a 7-0 lead at the half.
That missed opportunity gave the Wildcats some life. After spending most of the first half stuck in mud offensively, Damarius Yates and the Wildcats came to life.
Yates and the offense took nearly 6 minutes off the clock in the third quarter before getting the team in the end zone to take an 8-7 lead. The Wolverines came back and struck immediately with a two-play drive that ended with Cooper Stidham finding Lakendrick Potts for a 53-yard touchdown, but Yates came right back to tie the game at 14-14 with over 4 minutes left in the quarter.
The Wolverines would retake the lead as they drove the ball to the Kemper 10 and found themselves in a 4th and 7 situation. Stidham scrambled out of the pocket, threw to the end zone and found Potts on a tip drill touchdown to get the 21-14 lead.
After Potts stripped Yates on a long run to get the Wolverines the ball back, the home team had a chance to put the game away but couldn’t finish the drive. EWHS got the ball down to the 24 of Kemper and turned it over on downs giving Kemper one last shot.
As the Wildcats drove the ball to midfield, they would take a shot down the field and defensive back Mahd Jones was waiting in the wings. The senior intercepted the pass and sent the Wolverine crowd into celebration mode as the team was able to run out the clock and book a date in the 2A state championship.
The Wildcats disrupted a lot of what the Wolverines did offensively in the running game holding EWHS to just 77 yards on 25 carries, but RT Moye had a solid game with 14 carries for 81 yards.
Stidham and Avent were also just 10-for-23, but they hit explosive plays in the passing game. Avent finished 5-for-11 for 119 yards and a touchdown and Stidham was 5-for-12 for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Crowley had three catches for 107 yards and a touchdown and Potts had four catches for 75 yards and two scores.
For a lifelong Wolverine like Stidham, he couldn’t be more thrilled to see his team head to the title game.
“This is what you dream for. This is what we played for all season and knew that we had the team to do it,” Stidham said. “This was our goal and anything less we would be disappointed. We’re here now.”
The Wolverines (13-1) have now won 13-straight ball games and need just one more to claim the school’s first ever state title in the sport. To get it, they will have to dethrone the champs.
Heidelberg (12-2) dominated every 2A team on the schedule this season and finished off Mize in the South State championship 46-14 on Saturday. The Wolverines will have something to say about it next Saturday afternoon at 3:30inside Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. Getting there has already been an accomplishment for Price, but he’s not satisfied.
“It’s been nine long years. We’re 48 minutes away from giving East Webster a state championship,” Price said. “We know what’s waiting on us – those guys have been crowned state champions since June. Everybody said that 2A was theirs and it may be, but they’ll have to battle the East Webster Wolverines. I just hope and pray that the Oilers will know they’re in a battle.”
Championship Weekend at MSU
Mississippi State University will host all seven MHSAA championship games Dec. 4–6 at Davis Wade Stadium. East Webster’s matchup will be the second of three games played on Saturday.
Saturday, Dec. 6 Schedule:
— Noon: Class 3A – Noxubee County vs. Raleigh
— 3:30 p.m.: Class 2A – East Webster vs. Heidelberg
— 7 p.m.: Class 7A – Tupelo vs. Gulfport
Fans planning to attend should be aware of road and parking closures around campus.
Road closures:
— Thursday & Friday at 2 p.m.: B.S. Hood Drive; Barr Avenue (College View to George Perry)
— Saturday at 9 a.m.: Same closures in effect
Parking closures:
— Thursday & Friday at 2 p.m.: Barnes & Noble Lot G1; Soccer Press Box Lot G2
— Saturday at 9 a.m.: Lot G1 and G2
MSU Transportation Services will also remove bollards on east Barr Avenue near the Old Main Academic Center to assist with game-day flow.
Community Ready to Rally
East Webster administrators, coaches and supporters are urging Wolverine fans to fill Davis Wade Stadium and create a postseason atmosphere worthy of a historic moment.
“Be there wearing white and be loud for our team,” school officials emphasized on social media.
With a locked-in defense, balanced offense, and a community ready to rally, East Webster now sits one win from bringing home the state football championship.
