STARKVILLE — Luke Mckenzie has always been behind the scenes for Starkville Academy football.
Mckenzie, a junior, had served as starting quarterback Briggs Bennett’s backup the past two years. This offseason, however, Mckenzie moved to wide receiver. Now, he is helping the Volunteers win in other ways.
Like Friday night, where he and Bennett, once battling for playing time, connected for two touchdowns in Starkville Academy’s 30-3 win over Leake Academy to improve to 3-0 on the season.
“We’ve been playing together since we were in seventh grade,” Bennett said of Mckenzie. “Big target and I love throwing to him because he can just go up and get it.”
Mckenzie scored SA’s last two touchdowns of the game, the first a 36-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left in the first half to give the Vols a commanding 24-3 lead. Just for good measure, Mckenzie, who also had an interception on defense, added a seven-yard touchdown reception with 7:57 left in the game to give his team a 30-3 lead following a missed extra point.
“He has embraced the position change well,” Bennett said. “He loves just getting on the field and playing. He’s on defense making plays, too. A big game out of him.”
Bennett added an 11-yard rushing touchdown just three plays into the game to give SA a 7-0 lead, and also hit Creed Pierce for a 21-yard score, after the ball was tipped by a Leake defender.
“Our offense really stepped up this week,” Starkville Academy head coach Chase Nicholson said. “They made plays and did what they were supposed to do.”
Friday marked the lowest output allowed by SA’s defense this season and second straight game scoring 30-plus points after scoring 39 last week in a win over Escambia Academy (Atmore, Alabama).
“I am happy for these guys because I see the smiles on their faces, the excitement,” Nicholson said of his team’s strong start to the season. “But we know come Sunday it is on to next week.”
The Vols finish non-district play next week with its first road game of the season at Carroll Academy.
Justin Frommer is the Mississippi State sports reporter for The Dispatch.
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