There is sweet and then there is sweet.
Central Academy football coach Ronnie Sciple knows any win against archrival Kemper Academy is a good one. But coming off two big losses to Kemper Academy last season, including one in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Eight-Man title game, Sciple and the Vikings were looking for any piece of satisfaction they could get to keep their season rolling.
True to form, Central Academy had just enough drama to make the game interesting before it earned a 28-26 victory to improve to 5-0.
“It was big for me and it was big for the kids, too,” Sciple said of the victory. “I just don’t hope the kids have a letdown this week.”
Central Academy will try to build one of its best victories of the season at 7 tonight when it plays host to Veritas.
Sciple joked that Kemper Academy “ran out of time” last week after his team gave it another chance with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Kidding aside, Sciple was pleased with the Vikings’ effort and a performance he said that “at times looked better than we have been.” He said the Vikings mixed the pass and the run effectively to keep Kemper Academy off balance. He hopes that trend will continue this week as Central Academy prepares for two more key district games against Russell Christian and North Sunflower Academy in the next two weeks.
“The victory helped us out in the division because we are 4-0 and nobody else has played four division games,” Sciple said. “I think they were a bit more focused and motivated for the game, and that always helps.”
Sciple isn’t sure if the Vikings will be able to muster similar levels. He has been disappointed with his team’s performance this week in practice.
Somehow, though, the Vikings have overcome all adversity this season and registered last-minute and last second victories that have challenged Sciple’s disposition.
Sciple hopes all of those close games will help his team later in the season even if more drama gives him indigestion.
“Somewhere down the line we’re going to play a team that has never played a close game and they’re going to panic and we’re not,” Sciple said. “I hope it pushed us right over the top I think it will make us more confident. I just hope it doesn’t make us overconfident.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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