WEBB — The West Tallahatchie Choctaws whitewashed the Leake County Gators 42-0 in a first-round playoff game Friday night, Nov. 3.
It was the Choctaws’ first state playoff win since 2017 and the program's fourth since 2004.
The Choctaws improved to 6-4 on the campaign while Leake’s season ended at 2-9.
This week, West Tally is on the road for a second-round trip to the Mississippi Coast, where they will face the 8-2 Resurrection Catholic Eagles for a 7 p.m. Friday kickoff at Pascagoula High School.
The Choctaws planned to head out about 10 Thursday morning to begin the roughly six-hour, 340-mile journey. After what they hope will be a restful Thursday night, the Choctaws plan a team walk-through Friday morning at Moss Point High School, said head coach Shane Hargett.
Of Resurrection Catholic, a 21-7 winner over French Camp last week, Hargett said “they take care of the football and they’re fundamentally sound.”
He noted that the Eagles have "a couple of studs," including dual-threat wide receiver/running back Daniel Pickens, a 6-2, 170-pound senior who has accounted for 24 touchdowns this season. Pickens has 23 receptions for 287 yards and five touchdowns, plus 165 carries for 1,180 rushing yards (a 7.2-yard average) and 19 touchdowns.
While saying the Choctaws have to try to keep Pickens in check, Hargett predicted that the outcome of the game will “come down to time of possession and turnovers. If we can do well with that, we ought to be good. ... We can win this ballgame if we play like we played last Friday.”
In West Tally's only prior postseason history with Resurrection Catholic, the Choctaws lost a 54-20 first-round playoff game at Pascagoula in 2019.
This week’s winner will advance to face the victor of Friday’s 6-5 South Delta at 10-0 Velma Jackson match.
A West Tally win on Friday night would mean that the Choctaws would host the third-round game in Webb, as Velma Jackson will have played two home games to the Choctaws' one, and West Tally is the No. 2 seed in Region 5-1A while South Delta is the No. 3 seed in the same region.
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Hargett said his team played well in their win over Leake County.
“It’s one of the few times we did everything like we practiced. We didn’t have that many miscues,” he noted. “It was the best defensive game we played all year.”
He added, “I’m proud of the kids’ performance.”
The Choctaws jumped out to a 36-0 halftime lead on the strength of three first-quarter and two second-quarter touchdowns.
Tristian Hill, who had nine carries for 147 yards to lead the team, scored on TD runs of 60, 26 and 16 yards.
Isaac Day, who ran eight times for 103 yards, had TD bursts of 58 and 29 yards and a two-point conversion catch.
Christian Lee carried for a pair of two-point conversions.
Roosevelt Phillips, a freshman defensive end, snared an interception and returned it 70 yards for a pick 6.
Phillips led the Choctaws in tackles with eight, including four sacks. Junior D-lineman Lester Westbrook had seven tackles, including two sacks. Roderick Thomas had two stops and two QB sacks.
The 42 points scored by West Tally in each of their last two games marks the first time since September 2019 that the Choctaws have scored at least 42 points in back-to-back outings. They did it back then in Sept. 13 and Sept. 20 games against Ray Brooks (42-8) and Ethel (52-0), respectively.
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Hargett said his team is gathering good postseason experience.
“There’s no substitute for experience. Experience pays off,” he noted. “Our juniors have experience from the last two years in the playoffs, and we’re just looking to build off each year. These guys are better than they were last year. Hopefully, we can keep going and get even more experience.”
