Class 4A State Playoffs
Byhalia went up against one of the state’s best, in all classifications, to start the playoffs and was on the short end of a 41-0 score.
“We competed; we were just overmatched,” coach John Danley said about the loss to Louisville, the number one team in Class 4A.
“They have a very good football team. They’re loaded, from top to bottom.”
He said Louisville dressed out about 80 players and the roster included 26 seniors.
“And they have several D-1 guys (future major college players),” Danley said.
The Indians held their own in the early going. It was 0-0 after one quarter.
The host Wildcats then surged ahead 20-0 at halftime.
“We played pretty well in the first quarter; it was a scoreless game,” he said.
“Then mistakes hurt us. We had a bad snap over the punter’s head that set up their first score and then a fumble set up their second score.”
Louisville scored a pair of touchdowns in the third to go ahead 34-0 and added seven more points in the fourth.
The Wildcats advance to face Clarksdale in round two of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The Indians wrap up the season with a 6-6 overall record. They went 2-3 in Region 1-4A.
“It was sort of a roller-coaster season – up and down,” Danley said. “Making the playoffs (for the first time since 2013) is an accomplishment.”
Danley led the Indians to the post-season in 2013 but then went into administration. He went back to the sideline prior to the 2017 season.
“We have a lot of young guys,” he said. “We’re building for something better.”
In the new Mississippi High School Activities Association alignment (for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021), Byhalia will move down to Class 3A.
“There are good teams in 3A, too, but it should help us a lot,” Danley said. “We shouldn’t be overmatched.”
However, he said the Indians’ non-conference schedule will likely include bigger schools nearby.
Cross-county rival Holly Springs will be in the same district with Byhalia the next two seasons.