Another dominant Class 4A, Region 3 slate finished up for the Louisville Wildcats last week. Coach Tyrone Shorter ended the regular season with an undefeated Region 3 schedule for the fifth time in six years and is now 27-1 during his time at LHS. This year, the four wins came by a combined score of 148- 28. The finale was a 30- 0 blowout on the road at Greenwood that has the Wildcats primed for another playoff push. This win didnít come without challenges for the Wildcats. Prior to kickoff, senior quarterback Xavier Hunt came down with an illness due to an allergic reaction and was rushed to the hospital. Shorter and his staff had to scramble to get backup Triston Edwards prepared to start and he came through for them. ìI was surprised the way that (Edwards) came in and played. To get thrown into that situation at the spur of the moment, the kid kept his composure,î Shorter said. ìHe told me that he was ready. We didnít change anything or deviate from our game plan. My offensive coaches do a great job of getting him ready in practice because you never know.î It was easy work for LHS in the final regular season game as the team pitched the shutout. Edwards was efficient as he finished 13- of-19 for 132 yards and a touchdown. Five of his completions went to Kellon Mann who hauled in 66 yards with a 27-yard touchdown. On the ground, the Wildcats averaged 6.8 yards per carry with 226 yards rushing by the team. Zaiden Jernigan had 20 rushes for 125 yards and Sammie Lee Haynes rushed four times for 63 yards and two touchdowns. The Wildcat defense had 13.0 tackles for loss with 3.0 sacks. ìWe put a complete game together against a good Greenwood team,î Shorter said. ìTo come out with a 30- 0 victory, I was really pleased, especially with the offense. We challenge our guys to play mistake-free football.î With the regular season now complete, itís now playoff time for LHS (9-1). The Wildcats enter the 4A playoffs looking for the schoolís first ever threepeat of state championships. Shorter is going for his fourth title in his six years with the program, but it wonít be easy. Game one will be at home against the North Pontotoc Vikings. At 5-5 this season, North Pontotoc has had some mixed results. ìCoach (Andy) Crotwell does a great job. Theyíre a wellcoached football team and a disciplined football. We canít take them lightly,î Shorter said. ìI reminded my team that a few years ago, several one seeds got beat. We have to come out and take care of our business and advance.î
