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RECAP: Louisville wins 12th MHSAA state football championship with win over Columbia

Wynston Wilcox, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·5 min read

OXFORD - Louisville completed its undefeated season, defeating Columbia 19-6 in the MHSAA Class 4A title game on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at Ole Miss.

Louisville (15-0) won the school's 12th state championship, second straight and fourth since 2018.

Kameron Triplett had the game-sealing interception in the end zone with 1:29 left in the game. Columbia (14-1) was threatening to score and cut the deficit to one possession, but Collin Haney's pass sailed over his receivers head and into the hands of Triplett.

Louisville opened the game, outscoring Columbia 19-0. Columbia struggled to get any offensive momentum throughout he first three quarters.

It wasn't until a touchdown pass from Haney to Jermiah Foxworth with 6:04 left in the game on a 98-yard drive, that gave Columbia life. Following the failed two-point attempt, Columbia then recovered an onside kick. But Semaj Knowles intercepted Haney five plays later, ending the threat.

Xavier Hunter was named the game's most valuable player with two rushing touchdowns and 156 all-purpose yards.

Recap the MHSAA Class 4A championship game below:

Louisville gets second fourth quarter interception to seal 12th state championship

Kameron Triplett picked off Columbia's Collin Haney in the end zone with less than two minutes left in the game to help Louisville win the school's 12th state championship.

While the fourth quarter had excitement for Columbia, it ended with a 19-6 loss to Louisville in the 4A title game.

Columbia recovers onside kick after scoring touchdown

After scoring its first touchdown of the game, Columbia recovers the onside kick and is trying to score again on back-to-back drives to make it a one-possession game late in the fourth quarter.

WATCH: Collin Haney completes incredible touchdown pass to Jermiah Foxworth

Columbia may have a long way to go to cut into the deficit, but they're certainly going to make it interesting.

It went had a 98-yard drive that set up its first touchdown of the game.

On second and long Collin Haney scrambled to his left, attempting to avoid a sack. He kept his eyes down field and found Jermiah Foxworth in the end zone.

Foxworth jumped over two defenders to make the touchdown catch. Columbia's two-point try was unsuccessful.

Louisville leads 19-6 with 6:04 left in the game.

Louisville adds third quarter touchdown

Kendon Sanders wanted in on the touchdown fun.

Sanders rushed in from a yard out for his first touchdown of the game. Louisville put together a 13-play drive that ate up seven minutes to extend its lead over Columbia.

Columbia has yet to score in the game and have struggled to move the ball offensively with less than 100 total yards and only five first downs.

Louisville leads 19-0 at the end of the third quarter.

HALF: Louisville 12, Columbia 0

Louisville's offense had its way with Columbia in the first half.

Aside from several penalties that aided Louisville, the Wildcats rushed for 111 yards with 171 total yards in the first half. Xavier Hunt has both touchdowns for Louisville.

For Columbia, Louisville's defense has been all over it. Columbia has just 58 offensive yards and junior quarterback Collin Haney has completed just two passes for 29 yards.

Of note, there were 18 total penalties in the first half. Louisville had eight penalties against it for 60 yards and Columbia was penalized 10 times for 72 yards, including coach Chip Bilderbeck getting hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike flag after disagreeing with a facemask call that negated a Columbia fumble recovery inside the 20-yard line.

Xavier Hunt adds late second quarter touchdown for Louisville

After a flurry of penalties, including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Columbia coach Chip Bilderbeck, Louisville's Xavier Hunt sneaks into the endzone from a yard out to give Louisville a 12-0 lead with 22 seconds left in the half.

Louisville was aided by defensive pass interference calls as well as a facemask call, which negated a fumble, on the drive. Hunt did connect with Kameron Triplett on a 35-yard pass to get into the red zone.

Louisville leads after first quarter, threatening to score again

This game has been all Louisville through the first quarter. Xavier Hunt has the game's only touchdown. Offensively, Louisville has 97 yards compared to Columbia's five. Louisville has six first downs, compared to Columbia's zero.

Louisville will have the ball on the Columbia 15-yard line with second and seven yards to go, looking to extend its lead.

Xavier Hunt, Louisville strikes first in 4A title game

Xavier Hunt led the Louisville offense down the field and capped off the drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak up the middle. Columbia did block the extra point attempt so Louisville leads 6-0, 7:31 left in the first quarter.

Pregame reading for Columbia vs. Louisville Class 4A MHSAA state championship game

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: RECAP: Louisville wins 12th MHSAA state football championship with win over Columbia