Last Friday night wasn’t ideal for the Louisville Wildcats in many ways.
The defending Class 4A state champions had to go on the road to take on a Greenwood team that they had beaten four times in the last two years but were facing off with them for the first time during that span at Greenwood. Conditions weren’t exactly prime for either team as heavy rain made for a muddy evening that slowed down both teams with a trip to the North State championship on the line.
In the end, Greenwood’s defense rose above the Louisville offense and they made enough plays to satisfy what would be a 14-6 victory to end a great season from the Wildcats.
“This team had no quit in them. I’m proud of these seniors,” Shorter told PowerCatsTV following the game. “They did everything that we asked them to do. I hate that they went out like this, but I’m proud of these seniors and I’m proud of this team. These kids fought.”
A few lightning delays made for a long night at Greenwood and the field conditions kept Michael Foster and Drea Shumaker from making a big impact on the offensive side of the ball for Louisville. Greenwood was ultimately up 14-0 in the game with 5 minutes remaining before the Wildcats’ special teams blocked a punt inside the 5 and Shumaker was able to finally get them on the board at 14-6.
Louisville’s defense gave the offense two more chances to try to close that lead in the final few minutes but they weren’t able to get anything going and the season came to an end.
The Wildcats came a long way since the 2-0 defeat to rival Noxubee County in the first game of the season. They reeled off 11 wins in the final 13 ball games losing to Starkville in between and taking nine-straight victories before Greenwood finally ended the year.
The goal was a state championship as it is every year for a program that is among the winningest in the state of Mississippi’s rich history. Louisville came up just short of taking home trophy number 10 and becoming just the third team in state history to do so, but the journey towards double digit titles now continues into next season.
First year coach Tyrone Shorter couldn’t be upset at the work his first Wildcat team put in and he said that he will be doing everything he can to make sure the group of seniors can find a spot somewhere on the next level. But he’s now turning the page to next season as Louisville gets back to work.
“We were expected to win the state championship. We had a great football team but we fell short. This is a lesson that we teach these kids that sometimes we fall but we don’t quit. I wanted it so bad for these seniors.”
