Last year, fans of varsity football in Tallahatchie County missed out on seeing the Charleston High School Tigers and the West Tallahatchie High School Choctaws on the gridiron.
Due to COVID-19, both the East and West Tallahatchie school districts took learning virtual and, therefore, suspended all extracurricular activities, including sports. No basketball. No baseball. No track. No band. No cheerleading. No anything.
So, for the two high school football teams in the county to miss a full season of fall practices and games and all spring practices, and then to experience a COVID-related delay in the start of preparations and practices for the fall of 2021, the recently concluded campaigns were impressive.
Remember, too, that both CHS and WTHS had new head coaches — LaDon Taylor at Charleston and Shane Hargett at West Tallahatchie — as well as new faces on the respective coaching staffs and at some other positions.
Many of the players fielded by the Choctaws and Tigers this season were young and inexperienced, especially at the high school level.
The list of obstacles, hurdles and impediments to success could go on, but you get the general idea.
For all of that to befall our two high school football programs, and for both to rise above to have successful seasons anyway, should make all of us proud of these Tallahatchie County teams.
Charleston started the season 2-3 before reeling off seven straight wins, including in the first three rounds of the Class 2A state playoffs. The Tigers fell 24-22 to Leflore County in the 2A North Half championship game last week, but even being in that position was a great achievement. They finished the season 9-4. Along the way, they did sweep the competition in Region 3-2A to win the region — some still call it district — championship.
West Tallahatchie started the year 0-2 after the school district switched to virtual learning and they were forced to forfeit those games early in the season. The rest of the way, in games they actually played, the Choctaws posted a winning mark of 5-4, eventually finishing 5-6 overall. They won four of their seven Region 3-1A matches to wrap up a playoff spot. They lost in the first round when they went up against a buzz saw near Tupelo.
In the final analysis, the seasons of both of these teams came to an end earlier than they would have liked, but kudos to the players, coaches, managers and other supporters for helping to make the 2021 football season in Tallahatchie County a good one.
Best wishes to all other sports teams this year.
