The Calhoun City Wildcats advanced to the 2A state championship game with a dominating 31-0 win at Baldwyn Friday night to earn the North title.
Chakel Gates passed for more than 200 yards and rushed for over 100 yards in the Wildcats' win.
From the opening kickoff to the final buzzer, the Wildcats dominated the game in virtually every facet.
“I thought our aggressiveness on defense and really taking it to them, not allowing them to get started, was key,” Calhoun City Coach Perry Liles said. “They have some incredible skill people. I told our team we’ve got to hit them and hit them some more and we did that.”
“They were big and strong,” Wildcat offensive lineman Jordan England said. “We had to play our hearts out tonight and we did.”
QB Chakel Gates made the big plays on offense passing for more than 200 yards and rushing for another 100.
“Our passing game was strong tonight,” Liles said. “We had a game plan to take what they gave us and our passing game really came through for us.”
Levarious Varnado rushed for two touchdowns and opened the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown reception midway through the second period. Following a Brieton Sykes interception, one of seven turnovers for the Bearcats in the game, Calhoun City drove to the end zone again scoring on a 3-yard run by Gates for a 12-0 halftime lead.
Sykes had a fumble recovery and four interceptions in the dominating performance by the Wildcat defense.
“We knew they were a great offense so we just played relentlessly,” Steele Liles said. “This is an indescribable feeling. I’m just so excited.”
Duke Upshaw and the Baldwyn offense could never get on track against the Wildcat defense.
Liles recovered a Bearcat fumble to set up ‘City’s first score in the second half. Varnado accounted for the touchdown with a 12-yard run for an 18-0 lead.
The Wildcats drove 89 yards for a score on their next possession. The big play on the drive was a 44 yard pass from Gates to Sykes. Cartin McBride scored the touchdown with an 18-yard run to the end zone for a 24-0 lead late in the third quarter.
“We played our hearts out tonight,” McBride said. “Coach told us before the game all it takes is all we got. That’s what we gave.”
Varnado scored the final touchdown on a 3-yard run in the final three minutes after another of Sykes’ interceptions.
The emotion of the big win took a hit in those final three minutes when Sykes responded to punches thrown by Baldwyn’s Martel Brown. Both were ejected from the game. That may prevent Sykes from being eligible to play in the state championship game.
The focus in the post game huddle at midfield, with the team surrounded by their fans, was of the Wildcats’ accomplishment of another trip to Jackson.
“I coached this group of seniors as seventh graders,” Coach Liles said. “I’m the only coach they’ve ever known. I’m really excited for them.”