The West Lauderdale (Collinsville, MS) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Louisville (MS) on Friday, November 29, at 7:00 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Mississippi High School Football
Who: Louisville vs West Lauderdale
When: Friday, November 29, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m ET
Bracket: 2024 Football Championships – 4A
Live Stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Louisville vs. West Lauderdale

The 2024 Mississippi high school football playoffs are heating up, and one of the most anticipated matchups is between Louisville and West Lauderdale. Both teams have had strong seasons, but with contrasting strengths and styles of play, this game promises to be a thrilling contest. Louisville enters the game with a 12-1 record, while West Lauderdale has posted an 11-3 record. Let’s dive into their season performances, key players, and what to expect from this exciting playoff showdown.

Louisville (24-25) Season Overview

Louisville has had an impressive season with a 12-1 record, including an undefeated 4-0 district record. The team’s success has been built on a well-balanced offense and a tough defense that has consistently performed well throughout the season.

Scoring Averages

Louisville averages 34.7 points per game. Here’s a breakdown of their scoring by quarter:

• Q1: 11.7 points
• Q2: 8.0 points
• Q3: 7.0 points
• Q4: 8.0 points

While they start strong in the first quarter, Louisville has a balanced scoring attack, maintaining consistent points throughout the game, especially in the first and fourth quarters.

Key Wins

Louisville has dominated key matchups, such as a 32-14 win over Houston (10/4/24) and a 22-0 shutout against Neshoba Central (9/6/24). These victories highlight their ability to control the game on both sides of the ball.

West Lauderdale (24-25) Season Overview

West Lauderdale, with an 11-3 record, has also had a strong season, especially within their district, where they went 5-0. Though their overall record isn’t as perfect as Louisville’s, they’ve had some big wins and have shown resilience, especially in tough non-district games.

Scoring Averages

West Lauderdale averages 35.7 points per game, just slightly above Louisville’s. Their scoring per quarter looks like this:

• Q1: 15.6 points
• Q2: 9.4 points
• Q3: 5.9 points
• Q4: 6.6 points

West Lauderdale tends to start fast, scoring high in the first quarter, but their offensive output drops in the second half. They’ll need to maintain consistency throughout the game to keep up with Louisville’s well-rounded attack.

Key Wins

West Lauderdale’s notable wins include a 25-7 victory over Houston (11/15/24) and a strong performance against Northeast Lauderdale. These wins have helped solidify their position in the playoffs, and they’ll look to carry that momentum into their matchup with Louisville.

Team Stat Comparison

When comparing team statistics, the teams are relatively close, with both squads showing strong rushing attacks and solid offensive numbers:

• Rushing Yards Per Game: Louisville (256.1) vs. West Lauderdale (250.4)
• Passing Yards Per Game: Louisville (111.7) vs. West Lauderdale (59.5)
• Receiving Yards Per Game: Louisville (111.7) vs. West Lauderdale (59.5)
• Total Yards Per Game: Louisville (367.8) vs. West Lauderdale (309.9)
• Tackles Per Game: Louisville (69.7) vs. West Lauderdale (70.7)
• Sacks Per Game: Louisville (2.9) vs. West Lauderdale (1.0)
• Points Per Game: Louisville (32.9) vs. West Lauderdale (30.0)

Louisville’s offense is more balanced and explosive, especially through the air, while West Lauderdale has leaned more on their ground game. Defensively, both teams are close, but Louisville has a slight edge in pass rush with more sacks per game.

Key Players to Watch

• Louisville: The standout player for Louisville is Zaiden Jernigan, who leads the team with 115.5 rushing yards per game. He’s a key part of their offensive success, and his ability to break through West Lauderdale’s defense will be crucial. Xavier Hunt also plays a pivotal role in the passing game with 105.0 passing yards per game, which will be important in opening up the ground game for Jernigan.
• West Lauderdale: The key player for West Lauderdale is Travion Mosley, who leads the team with 142.9 rushing yards per game. His speed and power will be vital in establishing a run-heavy offense. Quarterback K.P. Peoples (68.6 passing yards per game) is another player to watch, as he will need to make key throws to keep the defense honest.

Head-to-Head

These two teams have not yet faced off this season, making this playoff meeting especially intriguing. With Louisville’s strong all-around game and West Lauderdale’s explosive start to games, the first half will be crucial. Both teams have been dominant in their respective districts and will be aiming to continue their playoff runs with a win here.

Common Opponents

• Neshoba Central: Louisville won 22-0 (9/6/24) while West Lauderdale lost 35-21 (9/13/24).
• Houston: Louisville won 32-14 (10/4/24), and West Lauderdale won 25-7 (11/15/24).

Both teams have faced similar opponents with some different results, but these games show that Louisville may have a slight edge in the overall consistency of their victories.

Record Breakdown

Here’s how both teams break down their overall and district records:

• Louisville: 12-1 overall, 4-0 district, 5-1 home, 5-0 away, 2-0 neutral
• West Lauderdale: 11-3 overall, 5-0 district, 5-1 home, 4-2 away, 2-0 neutral

Louisville has been strong at home and on the road, with a perfect record in neutral-site games. West Lauderdale has also been dominant at home and in district play but has struggled a bit on the road with a 4-2 record.

Conclusion: A Close Contest

The matchup between Louisville and West Lauderdale is shaping up to be an exciting, competitive playoff game. Louisville has been a high-powered team this season, with a more balanced offense and solid defensive play. West Lauderdale, while strong, will need to make adjustments, particularly on offense, to keep pace with Louisville’s overall depth and talent.

Look for Zaiden Jernigan to be a game-changer for Louisville, while Travion Mosley and K.P. Peoples will need to step up for West Lauderdale if they hope to pull off an upset. With both teams entering this game on a high note, this will be a thrilling playoff showdown!