STARKVILLE — Jamie Mitchell took the job as football coach at Starkville High School two years ago because its brand of football used to mean something.
Starkville won state championships in 1994, 1995, and 2001 and became a program all others in the state of Mississippi hunted.
More recently, South Panola, first in Class 5A and now in Class 6A, has earned that distinction and routinely gets the best effort from every team in its region.
After Starkville moved from Class 6A to Class 5A this season, the
belief has returned that it will be an event when Starkville comes to town.
“We know the name Starkville is a major football power to these schools and we’re the biggest game on their schedule,” Mitchell said of the team’s in Starkville’s new home: Class 5A, Region 2. “That’s why every game is the most important game.”
Starkville (6-2, 4-0 Region 2) will take its 1-2 road mark to Yazoo City (6-2, 2-2) at 7 tonight looking to continue its hold on the region lead. The Yellow Jackets’ defense, which has given up 9.25 points in its past four games, will be focused on slowing down senior Dazmon Wright. The 6-foot-2 quarterback has 1,081 passing yards, 201 rushing yards, and touchdowns. Wright also has 764 kick return yards, 16 extra points, and four field goals.
“If it were a road game, I’d assume he paints and drives the bus as well because he does everything else,” Mitchell said.
Starkville is coming off a 45-8 victory against Canton last week. Tailback Preston Baker had 70 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns. Baker, a 5-5 speedster, has 131 yards on 21 carries in the past two games.
Starkville will try to overcome a recent string of injuries. Junior tight end Stanley Higgins, junior offensive tackle Jawon Johnson, and sophomore defensive back Ladorious Pittman all were limited this week in practice.
Higgins and Johnson participated in the team’s walkthrough Thursday, and all three players are expected to travel with the squad.
“It’s this time of the year in the season that if you’re not battling
some injuries, you’re not playing physical enough football,” Mitchell
said.
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