MADISON — Inconsistency has been an issue all season for the Starkville High School football team.
On one hand, the Yellow Jackets’ defense often has provided stout, gritty play. Unfortunately, Starkville’s offense has clicked in the same way, which has left veteran coach Ricky Woods searching for ways to find a spark.
On Friday, mistakes cost Starkville a chance to win a key Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 2 game. As a result, the Yellow Jackets have work to do if they want to secure a playoff spot.
Ty White rushed for 68 yards and three touchdowns, and Braden Boykin scored a 79-yard punt return in the first quarter to help Madison Jaguars defeat Starkville 29-14 at Jaguar Stadium.
At 5-3 and 2-2 in the region, Starkville is fourth in the eight-team region behind Clinton, Madison Central, and Northwest Rankin. Starkville is tied with Northwest Rankin at 2-2 in the region, but the Cougars own the tiebreaker thanks to a 28-7 victory against the Yellow Jackets on Sept. 30.
Starkville has games remaining against Murrah (0-4), Warren Central (3-1), and Clinton (4-0). It holds tiebreakers against Callaway and Greenville (both 1-3) if those teams are tied at the end of the regular season. The top four teams in the region earn playoff spots.
“We made so many mistakes, we can’t win. It’s been our story all year,” Woods said. “It is amazing how many ways you can mess up. The way we play on defense, it would be great if we could help them on offense. We find ways to kill ourselves.”
Entering the fourth quarter with the game tied at 14, Madison (5-3-1, 3-1 region) chipped away at Starkville with a 15-play scoring drive. A third-down conversion on a Boykin reception at the Starkville 30-yard line kept the drive alive. A 15-yard run by White on fourth-down helped set up an 8-yard scoring run by White that gave Madison Central the lead for good.
“We had big plays that started with the offensive line,” Madison Central coach Anthony Hart said. “Ty White gave us a big running play, and Jack Walker completed a big play during that stretch.”
The hosts scored twice more in final eight minutes, including a safety on a bad punt snap, and a 1-yard run by White with a little more than a minute remaining.
“The 3-1 record is big for us,” Hart said. “(The team) entered this season with a bunch of question marks. We have gotten better and improved as a football team. Our guys work hard and did a great job tonight.”
In the first half, Boykin’s punt return came at the 5-minute, 8-second mark. Both offensive failed to move the ball until the Jaguars capitalized on a backward-pass fumble. Madison Central then used a six-play scoring drive to add to its lead.
Defensive consistency
After a scoreless first half, Starkville’s defense helped the team tie the game. Senior middle linebacker Willie Gay, who has committed to Ole Miss, led a unit that posted six three-and-outs, forced two turnovers, and added a score.
“This defensive unit is full of my brothers. I wouldn’t want to play with anybody else in the country,” Gay said. “All my seniors, juniors and sophomores, even the ones who don’t play that much, I love my team. Win or lose.”
Gay’s awareness helped tie the game. With the ball on the ground, Gay recognized a whistle hadn’t been blown to rule the running back down. He then scooped the ball up and sprinted 49 yards for a touchdown. Wes Albritton added his second extra point to tie the game at 14.
“I thought the play was dead, but I saw the ball pop out. You go until you hear the whistle blows,” Gay said. “I picked it up, saw the referee running with me, and realized it was a live play. I thought take it to the house.”
The senior had 12 solo tackles and pass breakup to lead the Yellow Jackets. Nelson Jordan and Jacob Williams had nine tackles. Jalil Clemons recovered a fumble in the first quarter.
Offense relies on run
Ben Owens made his second start as Starkville’s quarterback, but it was two workhorses — Andre Swanigan and K.J. Lawrence — who allowed the junior to settle his feet.
Swanigan and Lawrence rushed for 77 and 49 yards, respectively. The duo had 26 combined touches and converted seven of Starkville’s 14 first downs.
“I think we controlled the running game, but we have to be able to throw the ball, too,” Woods said. “We have to keep them off of us. We try to keep it mixed up. We got good offensive linemen that open up running for us.”
The pounding running attack allowed Owens to connect with Cameron Hines on a 76-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the second half on third-and-6. Owens was 14 of 34 for 156 yards and one interception.
Playoff hopes
Despite the loss, Starkville knows what it has to do to advance to the playoffs.
“Our backs are to the wall. We just have win out now,” Woods said.
Starkville is 8-1 in the past three seasons against Murrah, Warren Central, and Clinton.
“I think you look at last year, we were 4-0, and this season, we are 2-2,” Woods said. “I’ve told the guys one good team is going to be left at home. But this region will probably sweep the region it goes into (during the playoffs). If I could choose a different region, I would. The region is good, and you have to beat the big boys anyway to win a state championship. If you are not one through four, you don’t deserve out.”
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