STEENS — It took only a few hours for one of the worst nights of Glenn Misiak’s life to turn into one of the best.
Thanks to a 40-yard field goal by Misiak in the first quarter, the Columbus Christian Academy football team started quickly Friday night against Strider Academy. The regular-season finale for both teams had a bigger sense of finality to it because a loss likely meant the end to one squad’s season.
But thanks to Misiak and Jordan Meek, who had a touchdown and an interception, CCA came up with a 24-16 victory in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class A, District 2 game in Charleston. The win helped CCA clinch second place in the district and earn the No. 8 seed in the MAIS Class 1A playoffs, which begin Friday.
For their efforts, Meek and Misiak are The Dispatch’s Prep Players of the Week.
CCA coach Greg Watkins said temperatures were in the 80s when the team left Columbus for the two-and-a-half hour drive. When the team arrived, Watkins said the temperatures were in the 30s and it was windy and rainy. Those aren’t optimal conditions for kickers, who usually do a lot of standing on the sidelines while they wait for their opportunities. When Misiak finally received his call, he didn’t let the rain or the wind affect him.
“Thank goodness the rain ended up a little bit before the game started,” Misiak said. “The field was wet, but at least it wasn’t raining too bad. I slipped one time on a kickoff, but I tried my best to stay balanced.”
Watkins said the Rams were going to go for it on fourth down before Strider Academy jumped offside. Watkins then opted to kick a 40-yard field goal after the 5-yard penalty. He had confidence in Misiak because he knows the senior, who is a member of the school’s boys soccer team, has a powerful leg.
Meek, who also plays safety, feels Misiak’s field goal that opened the scoring “set the tone” for the rest of the night.
Watkins agreed.
“He drilled it,” Watkins said. “It boosted the team up when he hit the field goal in conditions like that. It was good for us to take advantage having the wind to our back.”
Misiak credited holder Dakota Shaw and snapper Tanner Dolan for helping him start the game in the right fashion on what he thought was the only dry patch of grass on the field.
“When I go out there to kick, I don’t even know how far it is,” Misiak said. “All I know is I have to kick a field goal. I didn’t know how far I kicked it until I watched it on film after the game.”
Meek added a 25-yard touchdown run in the first half to help the Rams (2-7, 2-1 district) take a 10-8 halftime lead.
Meek, a junior, said the conditions weren’t bad once everyone adjusted to the wind and the wet weather. He said the fact that the Rams’ season likely would have been over if they lost the game helped everyone focus more and contributed to a performance in which multiple players contributed.
Nate Parker’s first interception set up Meek’s score. Meek and Lawson Studdard also had interceptions. Studdard’s was in the end zone.
Jayden Henderson scored on a 4-yard run, while Isaiah Cooper added a 40-yard touchdown run.
“I just felt I needed to play a bigger role than I had,” Meek said. “Somebody had to step, so why not me? I definitely had a lot better statistics. We just came together better as a team.”
Parker, the team’s quarterback, said Misiak’s field goal “gave the team confidence.” He said he was “110 percent” certain Misiak was going to make the kick. Parker said Meek “carried the load” and fueled a running game that “got the offense going.”
Watkins said Meek ran the ball hard in a new set in which they used him as a speed option in an overload formation. He said Meek’s success created opportunities for Henderson and Cooper, too.
The contributions have CCA back in the playoffs for the third time in five seasons. This will be Parker’s first appearance in the postseason. Even though a game against top-seeded West Memphis Christian (Ark.) awaits, Parker is confident about his team’s chances. West Memphis (Ark.) beat CCA 50-0 on Sept. 1.
“Anything can happen,” Parker said. I believe in us. I think we can win.”
Watkins feels the same way because he said his team has made great strides since the start of the season.
“This is big for our program having only three seniors and making it to the playoffs,” Watkins said. “I think next year with this group coming back we are going to want to hit one of those top spots. I am not saying this year there is no possibility because we have a tough task ahead of us with West Memphis being the top seed, but I think we have a little more of a mental advantage because we’re a lot better team than the beginning of the year. We’re playing with confidence. We know we can go in and give them a run for their money.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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