The Starkville High football team bounced back last week from a loss to Louisville, taking control in the second quarter to defeat Oxford in the Little Egg Bowl. That win set the Yellowjackets up nicely for their final tune-up before the start of district play.

Head coach Chris Jones’ team concludes a three-game homestand Friday night as Starkville (4-1) hosts Greenwood (1-4).

“We’ve got a lot of work to get done moving forward,” Jones said. “We want to be a lot better going into district than we were in August and September. We’re just trying to make sure we’re starting to peak and continue to get better week to week.”

All season long, the Yellowjackets have been led by quarterback Trey Petty and wide receiver Braylon Burnside, a four-star recruit who is verbally committed to Mississippi State — where he will likely play safety. Petty, a three-star prospect, is verbally committed to Illinois over offers from both Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Jones praised Starkville’s offensive line for allowing Petty and Burnside to be so effective. The Yellowjackets’ win over Oxford lifted them to No. 3 in the MaxPreps Mississippi rankings.

“You have to be balanced, and they give us the chance to do that,” Jones said. “Defensively, I feel like we’ve grown week by week. Last year, we lost eight starters on defense. We’re trying to create as much depth as we can going into district play.”

Greenwood, which has lost three straight games following its lone win over Yazoo City, is led offensively by running back Landon Williams, who is averaging 8.3 yards per carry with three touchdowns. Receiver Ramone Tate is the Bulldogs’ top weapon in the passing game, with 15 catches for 231 yards.

Defensively, Trenton Smith and Rodarreon Cotton lead Greenwood in tackles, and Omarion Hemphill has been strong in the back end with an interception and six pass breakups.

“Definitely not a team to overlook,” Johnson said. “We just want to make sure we’re playing a good brand of football no matter who we’re competing against. I want to see the kids go out there and compete at a high level and play fast and be physical. It doesn’t really matter who we’re playing, because to me, the standard is the standard.”