Mistakes were costly for Kosciusko in a 20-7 loss to Winona that leveled the Whippets' record at 1-1. Kosciusko was guilty of two lost fumbles, two interceptions and a blocked punt that set up a Winona touchdown.
“We turned the ball over too much,” said coach Casey Orr. That was not the case a week earlier when the Whippets had no turnovers in a 35-14 victory over Yazoo County. “We were glad to see that we protected the football in Week One, but we flipped the script in Week Two. We definitely did some things that hindered us from winning a football game.”
The Whippets managed 238 yards on offense, 133 through the air and 105 on the ground, but trailed 20-0 until a Lee Wade touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter.
Caden Greer completed 12 of 27 passes for 133 yards. Tyran Mosely had three receptions for 61 yards. Wade was the leading runner with seven carriers for 42 yards. Thomas Olive had five carriers for 36 yards.
Orr said the defense played well. “(Linebacker) Reggie Carter had a heck of a football game for us. As a group, I thought we played well defensively, considering the mistakes, the turnovers and the blocked punt, to only give up 20 points to that Winona offense.”
Carter was credited with 11 tackles, a sack and fumble recovery. Olive had 12 tackles with three for losses and Mosley five tackles and an interception.
Winona improved to 2-0, running for two TDs and passing for one. The Tigers opened the season with a 40-29 victory over Choctaw County, the team Kosciusko plays September 16.
Next up for the Whippets is a road game Friday with Lewisburg, a 6A school in Olive Branch. Kosciusko defeated Lewisburg 40-12 last year when the Patriots went 1-9.
Lewisburg appears to be much improved this year, beginning the season 2-0 with victories over Lake Cormorant 26-21 and Byhalia 43-12. The success has come mainly through the air, with 349 yards passing and 123 running in the two games.
“Lewisburg is as close to a air raid team that you will see in high school,” Orr said. “They throw it quick. Their receivers run good routes. It's not something you see a lot in high school football.”
The offense is led by junior quarterback Gunner Gilmore, who has completed 25 of 46 passes for 326 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception. He also carried 11 times for 86 yards and a TD against Lake Cormorant
Orr said there are a lot of things the team will work on in practice this week. “The biggest thing is just protecting the football and making good decisions offensively. I think last week our practice intensity was not where it needed to be.”
Kosciusko is scheduled to play its first home game on the new turf at Landrum Field against Choctaw County next week, but Orr said it's not definite that the field will be ready. “Right now we are just crossing our fingers and hoping it will be ready. Nothing is written in stone.”
