STEENS — B.J. Shirley remembers how close the Columbus Christian football team was last season.
One more play. That’s all the Rams needed to secure the program’s first district title in 11-man football. Unfortunately, Deer Creek Academy prevented that play from happening and held on for a 28-26 victory.
Odds are Shirley and his teammates will think about that play on the three-hour bus ride to Arcola today prior to Columbus Christian’s game against Deer Creek Academy at 7 tonight. The play will be fresh on the minds of the Rams because a victory tonight will help them gain revenge and earn that first district title nearly one year to the day later.
“I know our team is way better than what we were last year,” said Shirley, who had a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in the game last season. “We have more heart than we did last year. I have faith in my team that we can pull it out.”
Last season, Columbus Christian Academy, which was known as Immanuel Christian School, was poised to win its first district championship in 11-man football. All it had to do was beat Deer Creek Academy at home. Unfortunately, Columbus Christian couldn’t realize its goal in a loss that featured five lead changes and two ties.
After the game, Columbus Christian coach Greg Watkins said that “was the most emotion and the most heart I’ve seen any team play with” since he had been at the school.
Columbus Christian (5-4, 2-0 Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A, District 2) will get a second chance to make history. Watkins hopes his team can shake off the effects of a long ride (the school is leasing a bus so the players can ride a little more comfortably than in a school bus) and a 35-8 loss to Newton County Academy last week.
“We didn’t have a real good defensive game against Newton,” Watkins said. “Offensively, the points didn’t show, but they had 388 yards and we had 385. That showed the guys that we moved the ball up and down the field but we have to finish. We didn’t finish the other night. We were inside the 10-yard line three times and didn’t score and once inside the 20 and didn’t score.
“I feel like we will be able to move the ball (tonight), but we have to finish. Playing that game gave some guys who hadn’t been playing some confidence that they can play and that we can move the ball against some of the upper teams. We just have to learn how to finish. Hopefully, we will learn from that.”
Columbus Christian put itself in position to win the district earlier this season with a 45-19 victory against Greenville Christian. Deer Creek Academy (2-6, 1-1) is coming off a 48-18 loss to Tunica Academy last week. Earlier this season, it lost to Greenville Christian 48-12.
Watkins said a victory would secure a first-round playoff game at home for the Rams. He said the district champions would be seeded and that Columbus Christian is projected to get a No. 5 seed, which would mean it would play a No. 12 seed.
Last season, the loss to Deer Creek Academy dropped Columbus Christian to the No. 16 seed in the playoffs. A loss to top-seeded Natchez Trinity Episcopal ended the season.
Tonight, Watkins hopes the Rams can write a better finish to their regular season and pave the way for another first: a home playoff game in Steens.
“Most of these guys were here last year and have that little taste in their mouth (from the loss to Deer Creek),” Watkins said. “Before the district games we played, I could tell there was that focus that was needed. This week during the film sessions, everybody was zeroed in. They know the urgency of the game. They know how important it is, and they know the history of how this could be the first team to win the district.
“As much as it hurt last year, they are excited with the opportunity to do it again this year.”
Watkins feels his team is focused and loose. The latter could be more important because it shows the Rams aren’t going to allow the fact they are the favorite, or that they are expected to win, slow them down.
“I feel like they know going in that we are the team to beat, and it feels good to them for it to be that way,” Watkins said. “They know Deer Creek is the underdog. They also know how important it is.”
The game is equally special for Watkins, who has coached at several schools in the MAIS and has had success. In his fourth season at the school, Watkins has seen his program struggle in a move up to Class AA in MAIS. In its second year back in Class A, Watkins feels the program has made significant strides and still has a long way to go. He knows tonight’s game could be a big step.
“I am real excited for them and for the school,” Watkins said. “These kids have worked hard since the summertime. That has been their goal. It is real exciting to win a championship. As a coach, as long as I have been doing it. I think I am more excited for them and for the school than I would be for myself.”
Shirley said the Rams can’t be “overexcited” for the game because that emotion will take their focus away from executing and will lead to even more mistakes. He feels the team’s loss last week provided and opportunity to re-focus and to gain confidence because the offense played so well. Tonight, he said the defense will have to play better if the team wants to cap an undefeated district season.
“Last year, we were just getting our name out there,” Shirley said. “This year, we have been working hard during the summer and working hard during practices trying to get as many wins as we can get. Coach Watkins told us to stay humble and that as long as we stay humble God will take care of everything.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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