By Laurence Hilliard
Star-Herald
The good for Kosciusko was an offense led by quarterback Caden Greer that totaled 374 yards and five touchdowns. The bad was a defense that could not stop the Houston running attack. The ugly was a 54-35 loss that means the Whippets will begin the 4A payoffs on the road.
‘Every time they ran the ball, we didn’t tackle,” said coach Casey Orr. “They have a really good line. They just outphysicaled us.”
Christopher Parker and Jalen Washington took turns scoring TDs for Hilltoppers, Parker on runs of 10, 16, 20 and 7 yards and Washington from 7, 23 and 42 yards.
It was 21-7 at the half on two TDs by Washington, one by Parker and a six-yard run by Greer for the Whippets.
Jaquavous Pace cut the deficit to 21-14 when he returned the second half kickoff 60 yards for a Kosciusko TD. Greer threw second half TD passes of 41 and 31 yards to Pace and 58 yards to Jaybree Pierce, but Houston scored five second half touchdowns, two each by Washington and Parker and a 55-yard interception return by Jacob Pratt in the final minute.
Missed tackles was just part of the problem. “We have to do a better job getting off blocks. At times, Washington was 10 yards, 12 yards down field before anybody touched him,” Orr said.
Greer was 19 of 29 passing for 264 yards and led the team in rushing with 10 carries for 70 yards. “He gets better every week,” Orr said.
Pace had a strong game on offense, defense and special teams with the kickoff return. He caught six passes for 117 yards and as a defensive back was credited with seven tackles and one pass defended.
Javen Mallet had 11 tackles, Reggie Carter eight, one for a loss.
The game was for second place in Region 3-4A and a home game to begin the playoffs. The loss dropped Kosciusko to 2-2 in the region 3-4A (5-3 overall) and the Whippets will hit the road when playoffs begin November 3. The opponent will be the second place team from 1-4A, probably Amory, although that is not set in stone at this time. “Unless something doesn’t go the way it’s supposed to, that’s the way it will shape up,” Orr said.
As a 3A school last year, the Panthers reached the North State final before losing to state runnerup Noxubee County 52-51. With the addition of a seventh classification this year, Amory moved up to 4A, but continued strong play with a 7-1 record, the only loss 14-10 against unbeaten Ripley.
“They’re a good football team and a team that’s used to winning. It will be a tough task,” Orr said.
Kosciusko will conclude the regular season Thursday with a home game against Murrah, a 6A team from Jackson. The Mustangs are 6-3, coming off a 28-6 victory over Lanier.
“They’re a team that likes to throw the ball,” Orr said. “They will not try to dink you. They will throw the ball down the field.”
Quarterback Justyce Williams has thrown for 1,300 yards and 16 TDs. The Mustangs have a balanced attack with 145 yards a game through the air and 143 on the ground.
