Kosciusko defeated Leake Central 21-0, but coach Casey Orr said the Whippets could have, and should have, scored more.
Kosciusko led 21-0 at the half, but was shut out after intermission. The Whippets were inside the Leake Central twice, but turned the ball over on downs both times.
“When you're inside the 10 you need to finish drives,” Orr said. “While the game was never in doubt, it was a lot closer than it should have been.”
Caden Greer connected with Lee Wade for the first two touchdowns. The first one, from near midfield, was on a screen pass. “Lee made a nice move and it turned into a touchdown.”
On the second TD, Greer was able to extend the play before finding Wade. Javen Mallett ran for the third TD after a fumble recovery gave the Whippets a short field.
“We didn't do a good job of sustaining drives,” Orr said. “I think getting ahead early 21-0 we kind of relaxed and didn't execute the way we needed to.”
Penalties were problem. “We were a little sloppy. We have to play better on offense.”
The defense pitched its first shutout of the season, led by Reggie Carter with 10 tackles, three for losses and one sack. The key, Orr said, was not giving Jarkea Reed, Leake Central's top offensive threat, any running room.
Mallett had seven tackles, a forced rumble and defended two passes.
On offense, Greer was 13 of 22 passing for 149 yards, with no interceptions, and picked up 13 yards on the ground. Wade caught six passes for 107 yards.
Thomas Olive was the leading runner with 61 yards on 22 carries. Alexis Hernandez booted three PATs.
Kosciusko improved to 6-2 and 2-1 in Region 4-4A in their second, and final, home game of the season. The Whippets will be on the road Friday for a region game with Northeast Lauderdale in Meridian.
“They have a first year coach (Dillon Mitchell) who is trying to turn the program around. He's doing a good job,” Orr said. “They play hard and they get after you. They're capable of beating you, especially at their place.”
Northeast is a run first team. “We have to able to be able to stop their run game. Coach Mitchell throws a lot formations at you and tries to get you out of position. We have to be fundamentally sound and understand our roles.”
Northeast is 4-4 and 1-2 in region play, the victory 23-20 against Leake Central. The offense is led by junior running back Aaronyoun Johnson, who carried 31 times for 251 yards and two TDs in a 28-20 victory over Forest.
