The season started off a little rocky for the Tupelo Golden Wave football team. The team lost the first game of the season and then a few weeks later they were on a three-game losing streak, but then things changed. Led by coach Trent Hammond, the Golden Wave made it to the first round of the playoffs.

“This year we had too much of a young team,” Hammond said. “We had to teach them a lot of new stuff. This season they showed how to fight.”

Here are the highlights from this year’s season.

Tupelo vs. Corinth

On Aug. 28, Tupelo Football traveled to the home of the Corinth Warriors. Freshman Jordan Jernigan opened the game with a 78-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. With 4:09 left in the first quarter, quarterback Daniel Bristow ran for an 8-yard touchdown, bringing Tupelo’s lead to 14-7. In the third quarter, Kegan Huddleston scored on a 29-yard screen pass. Kicker Josh Smith then extended Tupelo’s lead to 24-14 with a field goal in the third. The Golden Wave continually led the game, ending with a winning score of 24-14.

Tupelo vs. Shannon

Tupelo hosted its first home football game of this year’s season Sept. 4 against Shannon. The first quarter ended with THS leading 15-0 after a touchdown from Daiqurrius Pounds. Kegan Huddleston raised the Golden Wave’s lead to 22-0 in the second with a 90-yard rush. With 5:12 left in the half, Donte Freeman caught a 10-yard pass from Bristow for another TD for the Wave. Soon after the start of the second half, Freeman gained his third touchdown of the night, pushing Tupelo’s lead over the Red Raiders to 35-16. Late into the third quarter,  Bristow found his way into the end zone from 23 yards out for a TD. The game ended with a Golden Wave victory of 55-16 over Shannon.

Tupelo vs. DeSoto Central

The Golden Wave ended its three-game losing streak by defeating DeSoto Central at Renasant Field Oct. 23.

Kegan Huddleston ran 23 yards for Tupelo’s first touchdown with 8:01 left in the first quarter. With a pitch from Daniel Bristow to Austin Watkins, Tupelo claimed its second touchdown with 2:49 remaining in the first. The first quarter ended with the score 14-7. Donte Freeman rushed 2 yards for a touchdown with 10:27 remaining in the second quarter. Huddleston ran 46 yards for another touchdown for the Golden Wave. Smith kicked a field goal to put Tupelo back in the lead with 23 seconds left. The final score was 34-32.

Tupelo vs. Olive Branch

The Golden Wave defeated Olive Branch Nov. 5. All the seniors were captains because it was senior night. Chris Shannon scored the first touchdown for Tupelo leaving the score 7-7 in the the first quarter. Kegan Huddleston got a 3-yard rushing touchdown giving Tupelo a lead with 13-7 with 10:49 remaining in the first half. Huddleston scored on a 1-yard run and Bristow added a 2-point conversion run. Daniel Bristow 56-yard run off a zone tied the score at 28-28. In the fourth, a 40-yard pass from Bristow to Austin Watkins set up a 39-yard touchdown from Watkins to Quien Salters with 10:17 left in the game. A 36-yard pass from Donte Freeman to Shannon then to Huddleston who scored on a 1-yard run with 17 seconds left. Huddleston scored three touchdowns, including the winning one. Rdarious Edwards intercepted two of Olive Branch passes, which caused them not to score and left the final score at 35-38. As a result, the Golden Wave advanced to the Class 6A state playoffs. Tupelo lost to Warren Central, 45-20

Sports Editor Meredith Beasley contributed to this story.