Louisville has had its share of battles with Greenwood over the years on the football field, and the team knew it would have to take the Bulldogs seriously on Friday night.
So Greenwood got a business-like approach from the homestanding Wildcats, and it was yet another dominant showing for LHS. The Wildcats came out balanced on the offensive side of the ball and pitched another shutout performance on defense on the way to a 35-0 start to the Class 4A playoffs.
“Our guys came out and were really focused. It was how I expected them to come out in that first playoff game,” head coach Tyrone Shorter said. “We were really balanced on offense and were able to run and pass the ball. I think we adjusted to whatever Greenwood gave us, and coaches put our kids in a great position.”
It was a game in which the Wildcats were able to throw for nearly 200 yards and run for another 150 as they continued to show that they can be a threat on any level offensively. Keyarrion Jackson was 9-of-14 for 145 yards and a touchdown, and Xavier Hunt came off the bench and completed 3-of-5 passes for another 47 yards.
Eight difference players ran the football with no player getting more than six carries in the game. Jackson had six carries for 37 yards and two scores to lead the way. Jykevious Goss led the squad at wide receiver with five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Wildcats have now shut out three-straight opponents and six of the 11 that they’ve played this year. In the last three games alone, LHS has now outscored teams 103-0, and the last two teams have combined to notch single digit yards.
This year, the total points per game has now dropped below seven for teams.
“Defensively, we’re still playing really well,” Shorter said. “Greenwood probably had negative yards in the game. I have to give my defensive coaches credit for coaching these kids and putting them in good positions to excel.”
Corxavier Coleman finished with a team-high 14 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss with a sack. Laterrious Haynes had an interception. The group made 15.0 tackles for loss on the night and 2.0 sacks.
The level of competition stiffens this week for the Wildcats. The team will be hosting Ripley on Friday night after the Tigers have run up a 10-1 record and finished second in Region 2 with the only loss coming against Houston in a 28-21 ball game.
Shorter is well-aware of the program and its head coach, Perry Liles. The former Calhoun City and Charleston head man has been a winner his entire career, and he’s made Ripley a contender.
“They’re very talented and well-coached,” Shorter said of the Tigers. “They have a really good offensive line. They’re a football team that’s sound and disciplined so we have to be at our best on Friday night. To get that number one seed was very important and that means home field for most of the playoffs so we’re excited to be back at home and have a chance to keep moving.”
