STARKVILLE — After practice Tuesday, most of the Starkville High School football team went to the locker room to go home or stayed on the field for mandatory extra conditioning.
The outliers were five Yellow Jackets on the turf in between the south end zone and the locker room.
Starkville High defensive coordinator Kevie Thompson and two assistant coaches were with them. The coaches were using a JUGS machine to fire footballs to the right and to the left of the players. The players had to catch seven passes on each side before they were dismissed.
All parties involved are willing to do the extra work because it helps force turnovers.
Starkville (12-2), which has 16 interceptions, will face one of its toughest tests of the season at 7 p.m. Friday when it plays host to Madison Central (11-2) in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A North Half title game.
The game is a rematch of a regular-season game that Starkville won 14-6 at home.
The winner of the game Friday will advance to face the winner of the game between Pearl and Meridian at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Ole Miss’ Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford.
Starkville will make its 15th appearance in the North Half championship game in 30 playoff berths. Coach Chris Jones will be the fifth coach in school history to take the program this far in his first year with the school. The other four all won to reach the state championship game.
Jones has interceptions to thank for his appearance. Last week, Starkville had two of its three interceptions in the first half of a 35-7 victory against Horn Lake.
Thompson said Starkville started working with the JUGS machine twice a week about a month ago, but he said he got “lackadaisical,” with it recently. They reinstated the practice last week.
“I’m a firm believer, if you put in the work, life will reward you,” Thompson said.
He admits there might have been another inspiration.
“The turnover chain probably helped it, too,” Thompson said. “We’re looking for the edge however we can get it.”
The Miami Hurricanes have taken a growing fad — trophies awarded to players who generate turnovers — to a grander level. Coach Mark Richt’s team awards a big gold chain with a monstrous U logo at the bottom. Starkville High’s chain isn’t as flashy, but it’s equally coveted.
Junior defensive back Myles Stone said the team first saw the chain Tuesday at practice.
“I told them I’m going to be the first one to get the chain,” Stone said. He was. His interception ended Horn Lake’s first possession.
Stone likely didn’t need the extra motivation because he leads the team with six interceptions. Thompson believes that number could be as high as 10 for the transfer from Holly Springs.
“I saw him do a couple of drills and thought this kid can help us somewhere. I just didn’t know how,” Thompson said. “Just like (fellow newcomer, sophomore safety Corbin) Grantham. I didn’t know they were going to be starters. I just knew off the bat through drills those kids could help us somewhere.”
Said Stone, “I just wanted to offer my length and my size as often as possible. I tried to show my ball skills to help out anyway I can.”
If anything has been revealed in recent weeks, it’s that Stone isn’t alone.
“I think we’re top in the state,” Stone said. “We have ball hawks all over the field. (Our) linebackers can catch. (Our) defensive backs can catch. Everybody can catch because we work on it every day in practice.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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.