Emotions are sure to run high Friday when Louisville visits Greenwood with a spot in the North 4A finals on the line.
The implifications of this one will also be high as the undefeated Bulldogs (12-0) are seeking their first trip to a state championship game since 1988. Adding the fact that Louisville ended Greenwood’s season in this same position last year with a 17-14 win as the Wildcats went on to claim their eighth state title.
“This is the game we have been waiting on for a full year now,’” GHS coach Clinton Gatewood said. “We felt like we were the better team a year ago, but we had some key calls go against us.”
Louisville also eliminated Greenwood from the playoffs in 2017, with a 21-13 victory in the quarterfinals.
“Oh, yeah, we owe them a little payback,” Gatewood said. “Louisville is talking about grinding for a ninth state title. We don’t care about their gold ball trophies because we’re grinding for our first.”
Both teams enter the game off huge offensive outings. GHS put up 50 points against New Albany its fourth straight shutout. Lousville blanked Pontotoc 52-0 last week.
“We feel good about where our defense is going into this key stretch run toward a state champpionship,” Gatewood said.
Last week, senior Jamarion Addison paced the balanced Bulldog offense with 14 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns and also added a 26-yard TD reception in the second half.
Sophomore quarterback DeAndre Smith only put the ball in the air 15 times, completing 11 of them to six different receivers for 272 yards and three touchdowns.
New Albany simply had no answer for the suffocating Bulldog defense, which came in allowing the fewest points per game in all of Class 4A at 7.9.
That unit recorded its fourth straight shutout as Davin Anderson led the way with 14 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. Quontavious Lymon dominated the line of scrimmage, winding up with 12 tackles and two sacks. Sophomore linebacker William Stewart added 10 stops.
Those players have helped drive a defense that now has five shutouts on the season.
They will face a Wildcat offense that averages32.1 points per game.
Louisville enters Friday riding an nine-game win streak since losing 35-7 to 6A power Starkville on Sept. 13.
The Wildcats are balanced on offesene, averaging 189 on the ground and 173 through the air.
Quarterback Bryandrea Shumaker has completed 139 of 235 passes for 2,123 yards and 19 touchdowns. Michael Foster leads the ground game with 1,256 yards and 15 TDs.
Friday’s winner advances to the North 4A finals against the Corinth-Itawamba AHS winner.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
