ITTA BENA — After winning three games in a row, the West Tallahatchie High School Choctaws have now lost two, including a 28-0 decision Friday night during homecoming at Leflore County High School here.
West Tally fell to 3-4 and Leflore improved to 3-3.
“I don’t know what to think sometimes,” said West Tally head coach Lorenzo Pimpton, who lamented the fact that many of his players are missing too many game week practices.
“Discipline and a lack of participation at practice have caused us to lose these last two games,” he noted. “If you don’t practice, how do you expect to win?”
Pimpton said Tuesday that he and fellow coaches have been stressing to the student-athletes the importance of attending practices. The heightened emphasis appears to be working.
“We’ve had a good week of practices,” he added. “Overall, we’re working hard this week.”
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At Leflore Friday night, the Choctaws allowed one touchdown in each quarter of the game, starting with a scoring pass and two-point pass conversion with under one minute left in the first.
Early in the second period, Leflore scored a rushing TD and passed for the two-pointer that put them up 16-0 at the break.
A fumble return for a touchdown gave the Tigers another touchdown with about 10 minutes to go in the third period. The conversion was unsuccessful.
The last score of the night was a pass for a touchdown with less than one minute remaining in the game.
Game and individual statistics were unavailable prior to press time.
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This week, West Tally ends a grueling three-game road stretch that saw them go 1-2 during that span.
The Choctaws will host the 3-4 Shaw Hawks amidst homecoming festivities at Choctaw Stadium in Webb.
Shaw, fresh off a 6-0 double-overtime loss to McAdams, enters the contest with “a good defense,” Pimpton noted.
Homecoming celebrations aside, Pimpton said he believes his team will be more focused on football Friday night.
“Because it’s homecoming, we’re going to have a lot of activities going on,” he noted. “But I think we will handle the distractions.”
Pimpton said he hopes people of the community “will come out” and support the team at homecoming.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Halftime ceremonies will include presentation of the royal court and announcement and crowning of this year’s homecoming queen.
