Photos by Chris Todd

By Robert Wilson

​There is a new champion in MHSAA Class 5A football for the first time since 2015.

​Senior quarterback Alan Follis completed 14 of 18 passes for 215 yards and ran for 63 yards and a touchdown to lead West Jones to a 33-27 victory over four-time defending 5A state champion West Point in the 5A state championship game Saturday night at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

​West Jones finished 13-2 and won its first state football championship in school history. The Mustangs had lost to West Point two years ago in the championship game. West Point finished 10-4and failed short of tying South Panola as the only MHSAA team to win five consecutive state football titles.

​West Point had a chance to take the lead late in the game. But on fourth-and-7 at the West Jones 42, junior quarterback Chris Ivy’s pass fell incomplete at West Jones 20 with 1 minute to play.

​West Jones senior running back Kentrell Pruitt gained 70 yards on 23 carries and scored three TDs on runs of 5, 4 and 1 yards. Tajrick Randolph caught five passes for 104 yards. 

​West Point junior running back Cameron Young gained 74 yards on 14 carries and scored three TDs on runs of 10, 2 and 1 yards. Young finished with 1,639 yards and 30 TDs.