Kosciusko will open the 4A playoffs at Caledonia Friday after a second half comeback against Louisville came up short — four yards short. The Whippets were defeated 26-23 to finish third in Region 4-4A.
Kosciusko rallied from a 26-9 second half deficit with two touchdowns and a field goal to cut the deficit to 26-23. A 54-yard field goal attempt by Will Carter in the final seconds fell four yards short.
Kosciusko scoring came on a quarterback sneak by Ethan Wood, an interception return by Jerremy Whitcomb, a short run by Jatavious Noel and a 39-yard field goal by Carter.
“The second half was about as good a football as we have played,” said Coach Casey Orr. “We played well the whole game.”
The defense held Louisville without a first down in the fourth quarter.
Wood was 13 of 19 passing for 173 yards. Deondre Riley had five receptions for 57 yards and an interception, Whitcomb caught three passes for 69 yards and Davion Roby three for 50 yards.
Kosciusko netted only 20 yards on the ground which Orr attributed to a stout Louisville defense and the fact that the Whippets had to abandon the running game after falling behind. “It kind of tied our hands.”
Louisville also did most of its damage through the air. Jace Hudspeth passed for 281 yards and two TDs. Orr gave much of the credit to Wildcat wide receiver Jarvis Rush.
“No. 1 (Rush) is the best wide receiver we have seen all year. No 1 is what makes them go. He is the real deal.” Rush was chosen for the North-South All Star Game.
Kosciusko held Louisville to 77 yards on the ground.
“We have been doing a good job on that all year,” Orr said. “Our guys play with a lot of heart and a lot of effort. If you do that you can control the run game.”
The loss means the Whippets will be on the road to open the playoffs against a strong Caledonia team. The Confederates are 8-1 averaging 41-6 points per game. The only loss was against 1-4A champion Itawamba AHS.
Orr said Caledonia is a run-first team out of the flex bone with some triple option.
“It’s the old school flex bone attack that you see Army and Navy run. You have to be assignment sound,” said the coach. “If you don’t, they’re going to bust it.”
Kosciusko won’t prepare for the playoffs any differently than for a regular season game, according to the coach.
“You try to get your kids to lock in a little more. They have to understand that there is no more coming back on Monday to fix mistakes,” said Orr.
The Whippets finished 3-2 in 4-4A play (6-2 overall) behind West Lauderdale and Louisville, the defending state champion. Caledonia took second in 1-4A with a 35-8 victory over Shannon.
4-4A champion West Lauderdale and runner-up Louisville open the playoffs at home, West Lauderdale against Mooreville and Louisville against Shannon. Louisville is 8-2, the losses by six points to 6A power Starkville and in overtime against West Lauderdale.
The Kosciusko-Caledonia winner will play Pontotoc or Gentry November 12.
