Calhoun City, like the rest of Class 2A, had heard all season how unbeatable defending champion Bassfield was. Friday afternoon, the Wildcats saw it first hand.
The Yellow Jackets dominated the 2A state championship game in a 48-7 victory over the Wildcats at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson.
“You have to play a near perfect game to beat that team,” Calhoun City Coach Perry Liles said. “But I’m so proud of my team. I think we shocked a lot of people by being 0-0 at the end of the first quarter, but after that we just made some mistakes you can’t make in any football game and win.”
The mistakes included five turnovers. The first came on a Cornell Armstrong interception of a Chakel Gates’ pass. Bassfield took possession at the 50 and marched to the end zone in 13 plays, scoring on the first play of the second quarter for a 7-0 lead.
After a Calhoun City punt, Bassfield marched 71 yards for a touchdown scoring on a 38 yard pass from Calvin Moore to Curtis Mikell for a 14-0 lead.
The Wildcats’ next possession ended in another interception by Armstrong returned to the ‘City 17 yard line. Two plays later Bassfield led 20-0 after a 10-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Brandon Mancuso. Cartin McBride blocked the extra point.
The Yellow Jackets would add a 20-yard touchdown pass from Armstrong to Mikell in the final seconds of the first half for a 27-0 lead.
The Wildcats opened the game in white jerseys, but came out in the second half in orange jerseys due to the freezing and wet conditions. It didn’t impact the momentum of the game as on the opening possession of the second half Bassfield raced 57 yards in six plays to extend their lead to 34-0.
The Yellow Jackets recovered the ensuing kickoff when James Hearvey was hit as he was catching the short kick and fumbled. Five plays later, Bassfield led 41-0.
The Wildcats stopped Bassfield on their first possession of the game when Steele Liles recovered a Yellow Jacket fumble. ‘City stopped them again on their seventh possession when Cartin McBride recovered a Bassfield fumble, but the Yellow Jackets scored on all six possessions in between.
They added another late touchdown when Jamal Peters scooped up a Wildcat fumble and returned it 44 yards for a score and a 48-0 advantage.
The Wildcats’ score came in the final minute of the game when Steele Liles, who had taken over at quarterback, broke through the line and ran 32 yards down the middle of the field for a touchdown.
Bassfield’s defense stymied the Wildcat offense all day. ‘City’s dominant running attack struggled to get on track against the Jackets. Senior Levarious Varnado led the ground game with 45 yards on eight carries. McBride added five yards on four carries.
QB Chakel Gates rushed for 14 yards on 11 carries and was consistently under pressure when he tried to pass. He finished 1-6 passing for 16 yards and two interceptions.
“Bassfield is an outstanding team,” Liles said. “They’re coached very well. They’re a class group.”
Coach Liles took pride in the hard work and dedication of his team in earning a ninth trip to Jackson for the school’s football program.
“I appreciate the hard work of our kids,” Liles said. “We were 3-3 at one time and to win eight in a row to get here says a lot for them.”
“I’m proud of these seniors,” Liles said. “They’ve had a great run.”
Coach Perry Liles talks to his Calhoun City Wildcats after they were presented the Class 2A State Runners-Up trophy. The Wildcats were defeated 48-7 by Bassfield in Friday’s state championship game in rainy, freezing conditions. Photo by Joel McNeece