CAPSHAW — To say Bryant Farley is an important part of West Point’s team would be an understatement.

The senior quarterback proved just how valuable he is in 31-7 loss to East Limestone Friday.

Farley was injured just before halftime with East Limestone leading 14-7 and didn’t return to the game. Without the four-year starter, the Warriors failed to gain a first down the rest of the night.

“You lose a four-year starter and it’s going to affect the way you play,” West Point coach Don Farley said. “It made things hard on us. But I’m not going to take anything away from East Limestone. They are a good ball team. My guys fought hard, though. They gave everything they’ve got.”

The win gave East Limestone (8-0, 6-0) its first region championship since 2004 and first region title in the 5A classification.

Despite the lopsided score, West Point couldn’t have had a better start to the game. Kobe Smith scored on a 79-yard touchdown on the Warriors’ first play from scrimmage.

West Point held its own until midway through the second quarter when Austin Davis picked off Farley’s screen pass and raced untouched into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.

Farley was then injured on the ensuing possession.

“We’ve shut down a lot of people and got a lot better defensively,” East Limestone head coach Jeff Pugh said. “We knew we had to get better defensively after last season. These guys just listen to what we say, they play their technique. We don’t get complicated, and they get after people.”

East added a touchdown with 26 seconds left until halftime on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brick Pugh to Chase Long to make 21-7 at the break.

East Limestone put any hopes of a comeback away on its first drive of the second half. The Indians put together an eight-play, 40-yard drive that was capped by another 10-yard Pugh touchdown pass, this time to Sylvaughn Turner to make it 28-7.

West Point (5-3, 3-3) hosts Lawrence County (5-3, 3-3) next week with the winner claiming the final playoff spot in Class 5A, Region 8.

“It’s either playoffs or basketball season,” coach Farley said of the must-win showdown.