STARKVILLE — Like many coaches, Starkville Academy football coach Chase Nicholson values defense.
“Defense wins championships, and we believe that,” Nicholson said Friday night after his Volunteers defeated Lamar 28-14. “We put a lot of emphasis on our defense everyday. They did a great job giving us an opportunity to do what we’re supposed to do on offense.”
The Volunteers bounced back from an opening loss to Jackson Prep to win a game largely controlled by their defense, but Nicholson also gave his defense credit for their effort in that loss after losing a handful of players to COVID-19 exposure.
Lamar quarterback Zagar Cooper was a problem for the Volunteers early, leading an opening drive and taking it in himself for a touchdown at the goal line. But the Volunteers allowed the Radiers offense little else.
A key stop on the next drive set up the Volunteers to tie the game, which they did when holder Hayes Davis ran for a score on a fake field goal early in the second quarter.
Lamar responded with a solid drive aided by a pass interference call, but the SA defense was able to hold on at the edge of the red zone, and a fumbled snap on Lamar’s field goal attempt became a huge momentum swing.
Volunteers quarterback Randall Futral led a quick drive into Raider territory with two big passes, a 42-yard gain and a 22-yard TD pass to take the lead.
Cooper started to feel the pressure on the next drive and left the field limping slightly after being hit as the Volunteers forced a three-and-out. The SA offense responded again with poise and control, putting together a methodical drive capped by a 1 yard touchdown run by Futral.
A 2-point pass from Futral to Brody Bennett gave the Vols a 21-7 lead at the half. The momentum had shifted, and the Volunteers quarterback was quick to give the defense credit for the turnaround.
“It started with the defense,” Futral said. “They got stops, got us the ball back fast, and then we fed off them. They made the plays, and we got the momentum.”
They kept that momentum, again with the defense playing the key role. The Raiders went for it on fourth down on the first drive of the second half, and when Cooper, under pressure, sailed a pass over an open receiver, the Volunteers had another big stop.
Starkville Academy immediately drove into the red zone only to have a field goal attempt blocked, but again the defense responded, as an interception on the very next play gave the Volunteers the ball back deep in Raiders territory.
Running back Cole Owens capped a short drive by plowing through a few defenders on an 11 yard touchdown run to make it 28-7, putting the game firmly in Starkville Academy’s control.
After that quick opening score, the Volunteers applied consistent pressure on Cooper, and though he had some reliable playmakers it became more and more difficult to get them the ball through a relentless Volunteers defense. A long fourth-quarter drive resulted in another touchdown, again via Cooper’s running, but there was no time for the Raiders to get back into the game.
Volunteers linebacker Bo Carter, who often found himself in the Raiders backfield breaking up plays, described their defensive approach as “play hard, play physical, play fast.” His unit did just that and had what he called “short term memory” in practice leading up to the game.
Starkville Academy (1-1) will host Leake Academy at 7 p.m. Friday.
Starkville Academy 28, Lamar School 14
Lamar School (0-2) 7 0 0 7 .— 14
Starkville Academy (1-1) 0 21 7 0 — 28
First quarter
L— Zagar Cooper 2 run (kick good), 9:33
Second quarter
SA — Hayes Davis 1 run (kick good), 9:15
SA — Justin Ming 22 pass from Randall Futral (kick failed), 6:17
SA — Randall Futral 1 run (run good), :49
Third quarter
SA — Cole Owens 11 run (kick good), 5:39
Fourth quarter
L — Zagar Cooper 1 run (kick good), 1:31
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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Starkville Academy sophomore Briggs Bennett looks for running room late in Friday's win over Lamar.
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