The Gautier Gators go after their first high school football state championship Friday night at 7:30 when they take on the West Point Green Wave at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
Gautier (12-1) faces a daunting task to win the Class 5A title. West Point (10-3) has a case full of state championship trophies—12 to be exact—and it is the defending state champion.
The game will be a contrast in styles.
Gautier spreads its offense all over the field and wants the opposing defense to tire out trying to defend from sideline to sideline.
West Point, meanwhile, rarely uses a wide receiver, stacks the line with two tight ends and a wingback and dares the opposition to stop its running game.
Ground and pound, three yards and a cloud of dust (or should I say artificial turf) sums up the Green Wave’s offensive philosophy. A team with a similar game plan is Picayune from Class 6A, and a winner of several state titles.
Gautier opened its doors in 1997 and for years never sniffed at a state title.
The last two years, the Gators got one game away as they lost in the South State title contest. Those losses and a desire to be the first Gautier team to bring the gold home fueled the Gators this season.
It didn’t come easy as Gautier had to win three playoff games by close scores. One win came on a denied two-point conversion, another on a touchdown in the last minute, and last week, the Gators watched Brookhaven miss two short field goals—one with one second left in the game and the second with no seconds on the clock.
Gators coach Marc High and his assistant coaches share the goal of having the team focus on the game at hand and not think about being the first to capture the gold.
“We are trying to keep everything as normal as possible,” High said. “We’re looking at going 1-0. Gautier is playing West Point Friday night and that’s how we are going about it. Like we’ve done all year. We went 12-1 this year and we’re not taking a different mindset into it.’’
West Point’s three playoff wins were over Yazoo City (41-0), Holmes County Central (31-28) and Cleveland Central (14-7). The Green Wave lost their first two games of the season to bigger schools—Louisville (15-14) and Starkville (33-23). Their other defeat came at the hands of Tupelo (35-14).
Gautier defeated Natchez (36-30), Wayne County (28-27) and Brookhaven (37-35) in its playoff games.
The Gators defense will need to produce one of its best efforts or possibly its best effort to stop the West Point running game, which is led by Shamane Clark (222 attempts, 1,421 yards and 16 touchdowns) and Cam Randle (191 carries, 945 yards and 13 TDs). The Green Wave have only attempted 122 passes, completing 58 for 852 yards and seven scores.
“They are who they are,’’ High said. “They are going to try and outnumber you in the box. They are going to run the ball a lot out of two tight end sets, a lot of two H-back sets. Try to control the clock, control the pace of the game. Luckily, we’ve seen some of that this year. They are a big team so it’s going to be a challenge, and it’s going to be fun.’’
Gautier’s offense, led by quarterback Trey Irving, has been prolific all season and will need to score on as many possessions as possible.
Irving has completed 233 of 340 passes for 2,736 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions and he leads the Gators rushing attack with 1,006 yards on 154 carries and 22 TDs. Leaders in receiving are Devon Garrett (57 catches, 543 yards and four TDs) and Sebastian Gonzalex (50 receptions, 573 yards and five scores).
“We are going to do what we do,” High said. “Make them play 53-and-a-third yards, the width of the field. There is no secret what we are going to try to do. And there’s no secret what they are going to try to do.”
Defensive leaders for Gautier are Frederick Nicholson (142 total tackles), Denzel Larkin (106 tackles), Gabriel Millender (95) and Brayden Jackson (87). Nicholson is tops in interceptions (four) and blocked field goal attempts (four). Jackson has recovered six fumbles.
In this age of social media, coaches have their hands full getting their players to stay focused on the game and not what is posted online. It’s a tough task, High said.
“As far as what we can control, when they leave here, I don’t know what they are hearing,” he said. “We tell them not to get on social medias as much. Around here we are trying to keep it as routine as humanly possible.”
The outcome of many games is often determined by turnovers. A team that primarily runs the ball typically doesn’t turn it over much. A team like Gautier with its spread attack is more prone to interceptions and fumbles. The Gators have kept those to a minimum this year and will need to do so against the Green Wave.
Last week, Wick’s Picks went 3-1 to bring the year’s total to 90-32 for 73.7 percent. Satisfying to say the least for The Picker after decades away from forecasting games.
How will it go this weekend with only two title games to predict?
It’s time for the gold to come home to the Coast and reside in the Gators’ trophy case. Calling it for Gautier 28-27.
(Photo by Carlos Hurtado / 228 Sports)
Poplarville vs. Louisville: This is the matchup in the 4A championship game, which will be played on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium. The Wildcats of Louisville bring in an impressive 13-1 record with the lone setback being a 28-13 loss to Noxubee County back in September. The Hornets of Poplarville are 12-2. The Picker has gone against Poplarville a couple times, including last week. Not this time. Poplarville 21-17.
