STARKVILLE — Tyler Anderson wasn’t going to lose to rival Starkville Academy again.
The cost didn’t matter. Anderson, a senior, was determined to change the script and end the Volunteers’ two-game winning streak in the series.
Anderson did more than his share on both sides of the ball Friday night, scoring three touchdowns to lead the Heritage Academy football team to a 26-17 victory in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA, District 2 opener for both teams at J.E. Logan Field.
Despite pulling one of his hamstrings in the first quarter, Anderson returned to help the Patriots establish a dominant running game and force four turnovers on the defense.
Heritage Academy coach Sean Harrison was pleased with the way Anderson battled back from injury, but he had to change the game plan to fit Anderson’s abilities.
“How about Tyler Anderson?” Harrison said. “Second drive, he pulls a hamstring and was a warrior and came back and plays and takes a pick 100 yards for a score. Once he pulled the hamstring, he could not really push off, so we kind of drifted away from the pass game and he ran the ball well.”
Anderson had a 13-yard touchdown run, a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown, and an 18-yard fumble recovery for a score. Teammates Dontae Gray and Dalton Ford gave him all the credit for the team’s performance.
“Tyler played great,” Gray said. “He left it all out on the field tonight. He really wanted this win for his senior year.”
Said Ford, “He is such a great player. He is a great teammate and he did all he could tonight. His effort helped us get a great team win.”
As excited as Anderson was to beat Starkville Academy for the first time since he was in junior high, he credited the Patriots’ defense and said he could not have played like he did without them.
“It feels great to beat them,” Anderson said. “The defensive line helped us out a lot. They were putting pressure on Noah Methvin, and whenever quarterbacks get rushed like that it makes it easier for us as defensive backs. Our linebackers and our front played amazing. We will work on flying to the ball when it gets to the outside, but they filled the inside well tonight.”
Starkville Academy struck first on a Dalton Dempsey run on its second drive. Heritage Academy tied the game less than a minute later on an Anderson run. Gray’s touchdown run gave the Patriots the lead.
Heritage Academy’s defense then took charge, as Anderson forced two turnovers and Ford had an interception to stop promising drives. Right before halftime, Anderson returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Volunteers fought back with 10 unanswered points, but Anderson and the Patriots’ defense struck again, stripping quarterback Methvin of the football. Anderson picked up the ball and returned it for the touchdown.
Anderson and Gray helped the Patriots hold the lead by driving a running game that piled up 229 yards.
“Our biggest advantage is our team knows we can win defensively,” Harrison said. “We fought fought fought on the defensive side. Being 1-0 in district is huge, but I told them after the game that we have to get better going forward. Losing Dylan Hughes to an injury last week was bad, so we have to find a guy who is going to step up and be that extra playmaker.”
Starkville Academy coach Chase Nicholson wasn’t upset about the interceptions. He was upset about the fumbles and said they really hurt the Volunteers. He took the blame for his team starting district play 0-1.
“Our guys kept fighting tonight, and that is all I want from them. I want them to keep fighting, I want them to keep throwing punches and I want them to keep believing in themselves, and that is what they did. They are still fighting. That is one game, one hiccup. This puts us behind the eight-ball, but that does not stop our season.”
Nicholson said Starkville Academy will continue to work on not beating itself with the turnovers.
“District play is going to show our true colors as a team and people,” Nicholson said. “Do we want to stand there and take the next one or are we going to fight back and respond? I believe we are going to fight back. I know my guys. … I know they are going to want to fight back. We will become men from this. We will have to work harder and continue to get better. Our formula does not change. It is just one game. We fight and get better.”
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 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.