JACKSON — Starkville High School coach Jamie Mitchell quickly felt sorry for his opponent standing on the opposite sideline Friday night.
The Yellow Jackets third-year coach realized early on Lanier High was going to be overmatched in every phase of the game, so he did the best he could to lessen the blow in a 48-0 victory at Newell Field.
“You just look at what they are working with and bless their heart, they’re just struggling to put it all together,” Mitchell said.
Lanier (0-5, 0-1 Class 5A, Region 2) had the punter get sacked on the 3-yard-line on its first possession, fumbled the ball on each of next two possessions, and crossed midfield only twice.
“What we were battling tonight was the amount we play our starters because we were coming off a bye week and couldn’t allow them to sit for two straight weeks and get rusty while we’re starting district play,” Mitchell said.
For the third time in the past three years, Starkville (2-3, 1-0) posted a defensive shutout while allowing the Bulldogs 11 total yards.
“I think the kids are getting to see on film what we’ve worked every day to get better at defensively,” SHS defensive coordinator Brooks Oakley said. “Nobody wants to see Starkville football give up the kind of points and yardage we’ve surrendered this season, and we’ve got a chance to still do something about the rest of the season.”
Starkville senior quarterback Gabe Myles was 6-for-7 for 121 yards in the first half, including a 54-yard touchdown strike to Kentrell Spencer that gave Starkville a 14-0 lead.
Myles and the rest of the first-team offense and defense didn’t play in the second half.
Without Preston Baker (ankle) in the backfield, sophomore Jaquez Horsley picked up the rushing slack by finding the end zone a career-high four times on short-yardage carries.
“If the offensive line blocks like that every time, I can walk into the end zone,” Horsley said. “The coaches just kept telling me that without Preston and some other guys I would have to step up.”
Horsley, who Mitchell has called “one of the more dynamic athletes on this team” even as an underclassman, had 22 yards, but that was mostly due to the fact the Yellow Jackets only had short drives.
“I hope four touchdowns is what my coaches were talking about when they told me to step up, and it is nice, but it wasn’t only me though,” Horsley said. “On those touchdowns, my line gave me big holes.”
Starkville also controlled Lanier’s Wing-T. On its only long drive, Lanier fumbled after gaining 32 yards and two first downs in the first
quarter. Lanier coach Willie Brown accepted the job nine days before the start of the season. His Bulldogs have been outscored 205-18 this season.
Just days after his mother’s funeral, numerous members of the Mitchell family in Jackson watched the victory, including Mitchell’s the father. Mitchell’s mother, Rose, died this week due to complications from a battle with cancer. Being back on the sidelines was just the therapy Mitchell needed.
“It was a difficult situation for all of us, and we wanted him to know this is his football family here in Starkville,” Oakley said. “Players and coaches never want to be without their head coach, and I know he wanted to get back as soon as possible.”
While Starkville savored its first region victory, Mitchell reminded his players how far they have to go. That message was even more important considering Memorial Stadium, the site of the Class 5A title game, was blocks away from Newell Field. Starkville reached Memorial Field last season and, despite a slow start this season, its mission is to get back there in December.
“You turn onto Woodrow Wilson Drive and you know you’re right there where you want to be at the end of the year,” Mitchell said. “I can stand right here at midfield and throw a stone to where I want this team to play in December. I want them to know what it felt like, smelled like, and tasted like on that night so we’ll get back there.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.