STARKVILLE — Quarterback Jaquez Akins scored two touchdowns off the bench, and the Starkville High School defense didn’t allow a point Friday night in a 30-6 victory against Callaway in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 2 opener for both teams at Yellow Jacket Stadium.
“As a senior, that’s what I expect out of myself,” Akins said. “I just want to thank the front line, they played a tremendous game.”
After starting quarterback Malik Brown threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and was shut down on a three-and-out in the first quarter, Starkville coach Ricky Woods decided to go with Akins.
Akins didn’t attempt a pass, but he had 100 yards rushing on 21 carries.
Akins began the season as the starter, but an injury in the opener against Noxubee County forced Woods to put in Brown. He performed too well and Woods kept Brown as the starter.
But Woods thought Akins could be effective against Callaway.
“Their defensive backs are really, really talented, so I felt like we needed to run the ball,” Woods said. “You put (Akins) in there, you’ve got two running backs. He did a really good job and we had worked that scheme this week.”
Starkville (4-1, 1-0 region) has won 18-straight regular-season home games and 16-straight region games dating back to 2013.
Starkville sophomore running back Rodrigues Clark had 124 yards on 21 carries. Brown had 18 yards on six carries and a touchdown. He was 1 of 6 for 9 yards.
The Yellow Jackets scored 30 unanswered points. The Jackets outscored the Chargers (5-1, 0-1) 21-0 in the second half. Akins had a 1-yard touchdown, while Brown capped the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown. Junior defensive back Jacob Williams had a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter.
Starkville scored twice in the second quarter to take a 9-6 halftime lead. Akins scored a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game at 6 with 6 minutes, 13 seconds left in the first half. Wesley Albritton made a 20-yard field goal as the first half ended.
It looked like Starkville was going to strike first. On its first drive, Starkville couldn’t be stopped as it entered the red zone. But Gabe Rogers intercepted Brown and he returned it for a 95-yard touchdown and a 6-0 Callaway lead with 4:39 left in the first quarter.
Starkville will play at Northwest Rankin (4-2, 0-1), which lost to Warren Central 28-21, at 7 p.m. Friday in another region game.
“It’s a good region. There are no weak sisters in this region,” Woods said. “It’s going to be a battle and you’re just going to have to work your way in.”
n Kemper County 26, Noxubee County 21: At Macon, Eric Clark Jr. hit D.J. Clayton with a 23-yard touchdown pass with 1:32 remaining to lift the Class 3A Wildcats (5-1) past the two-time reigning Class 4A State champion Tigers (2-4).
Last season, Kemper County beat Noxubee County 29-28 in overtime. Noxubee County responded by winning its final 10 games en route to its third state championship in four years.
This year, Kemper County scored the final 26 points thanks to an inspired second half effort that saw the Wildcats hold the Tigers to four first downs in the second half, including two by penalty.
Clark Jr. fueled the comeback by going 15 of 27 for 203 yards and four touchdowns.
Maliek Stallings threw two touchdown passes to Kyziah Pruitt (3 and 11 yards), but he was 5 of 12 in the second half after going 11 of 14 in the first half. He finished with 198 yards.
Rashad Eades added a 17-yard touchdown run, but the junior wide receiver didn’t play in the second half due to an injury.
Noxubee County will kick off Class 4A, Region play at 7 p.m. Friday when it travels Kosciusko. The Tigers have won 21-straight games in region action.
For more on these games and the rest of the results from Friday night, see Sunday’s print edition of The Dispatch, or go to www.cdispatch.com Sunday morning to read about all of the games.
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