In the preseason, Starkville Academy football coach Jeff Terrill thought his young squad would be battle-tested and ready to play its best at the end of the season.
Terrill hopes that strong play continues this week.
In the thick of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, District 1, Division II race, Starkville Academy will face another huge district test at 7 p.m. Friday when it plays host to Madison-Ridgeland Academy at J.E. Logan Field.
“We have played really well at home,” Terrill said. “Hopefully that trend will continue. We knew there would be some ups and downs with so many sophomores on the roster. We are looking forward to the final month of the season and seeing what we can get accomplished.”
Starkville Academy (3-3, 1-2 district) is 1-1 in Division II play, which makes this game critical, especially with ones at Heritage Academy and Jackson Academy remaining.
Starkville Academy moved to 3-0 at home this season with a 14-0 victory against Winston Academy on Friday night on Homecoming.
“We played well on both sides of the ball,” Starkville Academy senior lineman Tripp Janssen said. “The biggest challenge is to do that in back-to-back games. We have been waiting to win two straight games. It is getting late in the year, so we need to find a way to put some wins together.”
The Volunteers have alternated wins and losses through six games. The game against MRA is even more significant because Starkville Academy will be on the road for the next three weeks.
“We have seen a lot of growth on the offensive line and defensive line,” Terrill said. “On the offensive line, we had a lot of new faces this year. It has taken a little while for that group to find a rhythm. Defensively, we have played well except for a couple of big plays.
“We just need to continue to make strides on offense. Now that these sophomores have six games under their belt, you can tell they are playing with a little more confidence. There is no substitute for experience.”
Against Winston Academy, Starkville Academy gained 251 yards and had 12 first downs. The Volunteers only attempted three passes and didn’t turn the ball over.
“We have done a really good job of taking care of the football of late,” Terrill said. “If you block well, run hard, and keep possession of the ball, you have a chance. We are having some long drives. We just have to make sure more of them end with points.”
Sophomore Grant Wolfe has emerged as one of the best threats out of the backfield. He had 22 carries for 141 yards against Winston Academy and his fifth touchdown of the season. Wolfe is better than halfway toward a 1,000-yard rushing season.
Terrill said sophomore quarterback Houston Clark’s leadership has helped the Volunteers round into shape for the stretch run. Clark has rushed for 217 yards, passed for 236, and has seven touchdowns. Drew Harrell leads the Volunteers with 40 tackles, followed by Josh Crittenden (28) and Janssen (20). Hunter Peeples leads the way with two interceptions.
MRA (4-2, 2-0) is in Division I, where it is 1-0. Madison-Ridgeland Academy beat Magnolia Heights Academy 23-20 last week in Senatobia.
“We are facing quite a challenge,” Terrill said. “Between their speed and size, we will have to play our best.”
The teams didn’t meet last season.
West Lowndes (2-3, 1-2) at West Oktibbeha (0-3, 0-3)
Even though the results might suggest otherwise, Timberwolves coach Danny Crawford feels his team is getting close to a victory.
West Oktibbeha will look for that victory at 7 p.m. Friday when it plays host to Mississippi High School Activities Association Region Class 1A, 3 West Lowndes.
“We see a little improvement each week, and that is what you want as a coach,” Crawford said. “The good news is the kids have a great attitude. They have not been discouraged. They have come out here read to work each week and ready to get better.”
Last week, French Camp Academy beat West Oktibbeha 49-6. The Timberwolves had two nice drives in the second half. While one drive ended at the French Camp 1-yard line, West Oktibbeha scored for the first time this season on the other on Ryan Hughes’ 44-yard pass to Kenyon Higgins.
“Hopefully, we gained some confidence by how well played in the second half,” Crawford said.
West Lowndes snapped a two-game losing streak in region play with a 41-2 home victory against Ethel on Friday night. Junior Eric Harris had 189 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Justin Stephenson threw for three touchdowns.
West Oktibbeha won last season’s meeting, 44-8 in Maben.
French Camp (2-4, 2-1) at East Oktibbeha (0-3, 0-3)
The Titans will play host to the Panthers at 7 p.m. Friday in a Class 1A, Region 3 game.
East Oktibbeha lost to Noxapater 43-0 last week.
“Even though it is slow, we are making progress,” East Oktibbeha coach John Davis said. “We have still only played three games, so we are slightly behind everybody else. We continue to make strides, and if the kids keep working hard, it will pay off in the end.”
Senior Justin Williams leads the team with 205 rushing yards. Junior John Kincaid and junior Destin Covington have the team’s lone touchdowns.
Williams leads the defense with 46 tackles. Freshman Marion Thomas has the lone fumble recovery.
After dropping its first four games, French Camp won its second straight game with a 49-6 home victory against West Oktibbeha. Senior Jesse Hosket has thrown for 890 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The teams didn’t meet last season.
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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