TUPELO — Few envisioned a Starkville High School offensive explosion Friday night — not even head coach Jamie Mitchell.
In fact, Mitchell said Thursday his team would have to beat Tupelo with defense and special teams.
Turns out week three was when the Starkville High offense introduced itself to Mississippi High School Activities Association football.
The passing duo of sophomore quarterback Caleb Wilson and senior speedster Preston Baker was untouchable in a 28-0 rout of Tupelo High.
Wilson, who made his first varsity start last week in a loss at Madison Central, showed pinpoint accuracy on throws to Baker out of the backfield.
“Caleb Wilson is special, and is just going to get better every single time he steps on the field,” Mitchell said.
On the first touchdown pass of his varsity high school career, Wilson executed a beautiful play-action fake to hold the defense. He then threw a perfectly timed pass in the lap of Baker, who ran a wheel route down the middle of the field and went 71 yards for a touchdown.
Once Baker caught the football every one of the Tupelo’s 11 defenders
were behind him and the track standout sprinted for the game’s first score.
“I really thought we had a shot to score right then, and I actually thought I’d overthrown the ball but suddenly realized you can’t overthrow Preston Baker,” Wilson said. “For that to be my first high school touchdown pass was an incredible feeling. I was pumped.”
Wilson, the son of Mississippi State University defensive coordinator Chris Wilson, found Baker again on a designed screen pass, and Baker broke two tackles on his way to the end zone.
Wilson was 8 of 12 for 180 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-3 sophomore, who led the SHS freshman team to a league title last year, looked composed and calm after experiencing the nerves last week in his first start.
“I feel like I’ve gotten comfortable after last week’s game and still need to work every week to get better,” Wilson said.
With The Dispatch’s 2011 Player of the Year Gabe Myles inactive once again because of a severe ankle injury suffered in the season-opening loss to Noxubee County, a quarterback debate could surround Starkville as it prepares for a home game next week against West Point High School.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Mitchell said.
Myles, who has given a verbal commitment to a scholarship offer to MSU, was ineffective against Noxubee County before injuring his knee two weeks ago in a 29-8 loss.
Wilson showcased a dual-threat capability against a defense that had held its opponents to 12 points per game prior to the game.
“We blocked up front, and without the rain (at Madison Central) I feel like I can throw the ball and do what I do best,” Wilson said.
Wilson even showed an ability to escape pressure by dodging what appeared to be guaranteed sacks and converting the broken play into positive yardage.
Wilson, who had 182 total yards, would’ve had a third touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter off another perfectly executed play-action fake near the goal line, but the wide-open receiver dropped the touch pass in the end zone. He made up for the drop with a perfectly thrown ball in the corner of the end zone to sophomore Matt Fuller for a 16-yard touchdown to account for the scoring.
After arriving with six starters missing due to injury from the Class 5A state runner-up team that played in Jackson last season, Starkville (1-2) showcased a resurgent offense that was non-existent in the first two weeks.
“We just made some big plays early in the football game, and I thought Preston Baker and Darius Grayer were big for our confidence tonight,” Mitchell said.
Tupelo (1-2) had no answer for Baker, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound multi-versatile threat, who had 151 total yards.
“Starkville simply has big-play people and always have, probably always will,” Tupelo head coach David Bradberry said.
When Baker was double covered or spied by the safeties, SHS went up the middle with junior Darius Grayer. The junior, who just started to factor into the offense last week while still playing with a cast on his right hand, went untouched for a 56-yard touchdown scamper. Grayer, a cousin of MSU senior All-America candidate Johnthan Banks, had a career-high 76 rushing yards on six attempts.
“I’m so proud of Darius Grayer because here’s a kid that still playing with that cast but finding a way to make a difference for us,” Mitchell said.
Starkville manhandled Tupelo in the first 24 minutes on both sides of the line of scrimmage. The defense, which Mitchell was convinced would have to dominate, held Tupelo to 14 yards in the first half, and just 2 rushing yards.
Starkville took a 21-0 halftime lead after nearly doubling its season average of total yards (144) in the first two quarters (259).
It didn’t matter who was at quarterback for the Golden Wave, as neither senior Thomas Harris or sophomore Alex Norwood could mount any momentum.
“They’ve got some people hurt, but they played for a Class 5A state championship last year,” Bradberry said. “They are not void of players. They got plenty of them.”
Starkville’s defensive front, the unit that has maintained near perfect health in the first month of the season, harassed both passers for four sacks and held Tupelo to minus-4 rushing yards.
“We thought going in we could stop them, and felt like we had a big advantage on the defensive front,” Mitchell said. “We stopped the run but also harassed that quarterback all night and played great in the secondary. Boy did we need this win badly.”
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