STARKVILLE — While the Starkville High School football team’s offensive numbers may been among the state’s best, the Yellow Jackets may have made the biggest strides on defense.
Starkville ushered in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 2 portion of its schedule with a 43-0 home victory against Columbus last Friday. It was Starkville’s first shutout of the season.
The Yellow Jackets have allowed only one touchdown and 10 points in their last three games.
Starkville (5-0, 1-0 region) will looks to continue that dominance when it plays its first region road game at Northwest Rankin (2-4, 0-1) at 7 tonight in Brandon.
“When you start region play, you take it up a notch,” Starkville senior linebacker Alonzo Flowers said. “These are the games that decide the playoffs, so you really have to be at your best. We studied a lot of film, and we really felt like we knew what (Columbus were) going to do. We just have to work hard and really pay attention to everything to keep winning.”
Starkville has won all five games it has played this season by an average of 31.8 points. Still, the defense allowed some big plays in victories against Noxubee County and Oxford. Things changed dramatically when Starkville beat West Point 34-3.
The following week the Yellow Jackets allowed one second-half touchdown in a 37-7 victory against Florence (Ala.). Against Columbus, Starkville allowed 125 yards. The Falcons didn’t a run a play inside the Yellow Jackets’ red zone.
“We have worked hard to become the best defense in the state,” Starkville senior defensive lineman Derion Ford said. “The offense really doesn’t need our help. But if they do, they know we will have their back.”
On offense, Starkville continues to hum. The Yellow Jackets have scored at least 34 points in every game. Senior quarterback Brady Davis found senior wide receiver Raphael Leonard for three touchdowns against Columbus. Against Florence (Ala.), junior receiver A.J. Brown had 11 catches.
“The thing is the depth,” Starkville coach Jamie Mitchell said. “We know how blessed we are. We can go about five or six deep at receiver and three or four deep in the backfield. That is unheard of, even in Class 6A. It is a great relief going into any game knowing it won’t have to be one player carrying you.”
The depth manifested itself against Columbus, when junior Avery Brown drew his first start and scored two touchdowns. Leading rushers Jacquez Horsley (hamstring) and Matt Fuller (bruised tailbone) were out and slowed respectively last week. Mitchell expects to have his entire group of running backs for tonight.
Northwest Rankin is under the direction of first-year coach Tyler Peterson. The Cougars are averaging 21 points per game. Northwest Rankin opened region play with a 21-13 loss at Warren Central.
“We just have to keep improving,” Mitchell said. “Things are going well, but the challenges will keep getting bigger.”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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