STARKVILLE — The playoffs have started for Starkville High School football coach Ricky Woods.
Even though the postseason doesn’t officially begin until Nov. 11, Woods’ Yellow Jackets are in must-win territory with two games remaining. Starkville (6-3, 3-2 Class 6A, Region 2) will try to take the first step at 7 tonight when it plays host to No. 2 Warren Central (8-1, 4-1) at Yellow Jacket Stadium.
Starkville will travel to No. 4 Clinton next week in its regular-season finale.
“It’s like you’re in the first round. You’ve just got to keep winning or you don’t play,” Woods said.
Starkville is tied for fourth with Northwest Rankin in the region, but Northwest Rankin holds the tiebreaker because of a 28-7 victory on Sept. 30. Northwest Rankin will play tonight at Madison Central and play host to Murrah (2-8).
Starkville has defeated Callaway (30-6), Greenville (70-0), and Murrah (56-8) in region play. It also has lost to Madison Central (29-14) in the region.
With all the pressure on this week’s game, the reigning Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State champions are in good spirits.
“We’ve been on it,” junior running back Andreus Swanigan said. “Everybody has been doing their part and coming together as a team. We’ve been 100 percent and everybody has been focused. Even if they’re not playing, they’re focused. They’re focused on the game. They’ll be yelling stuff out to help different positions.”
After missing the game against West Point on Sept. 2 and the game against Meridian on Sept. 16, Swanigan had a breakout game with 107 yards on nine carries and three touchdowns last week against Murrah. He has 382 yards on 56 carries for the season.
Swanigan said practices have been intense and everybody has been on high alert to execute at a high level.
Woods has liked his team’s attitude.
“We’ve had three great days of practice,” Woods said. “They know. We talked about it Monday and they know. We’ve really worked hard and I think we’ve got a good plan. Now we’ve just got to go execute and everybody’s got to play hard.”
Warren Central beat then-No. 1 Clinton 50-32 last Friday. Woods praised the job Warren Central coach Josh Morgan has done and likes what he has seen from senior quarterback Jesse Wilson (67 of 129 for 996 yards, 10 touchdowns) and senior running back Joe’vonte Shorter (892 yards, 13 touchdowns).
Starkville senior linebacker Willie Gay said focus in practice wasn’t where it needed to be after a 20-10 loss at Meridian. Senior defensive lineman Nelson Jordan said the focus has been on point this week.
“You’ve got to get your mind right,” Jordan said. “Football is more of a mental game than it is physical, so you’ve got to get your mind right before you go out and play. As a team, as a whole, we’re focusing.
“It’s lead by example. Once you do right as a senior, everybody looks up to you as a leader on the team. You have to lead by example.”
Jordan has 52 tackles (13 for loss) and seven sacks and one fumble recovery.
Woods called this the “biggest game by far,” and is excited about how his players will respond to a playoff-like atmosphere.
“I feel good about it,” Woods said. “I think we’re going to play really, really hard. If we just don’t make mistakes, we have a good chance at winning.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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