For Starkville Academy and head coach Chase Nicholson, the potential reward far outweighed the risks.
The Volunteers led Magnolia Heights by one after recovering an onside kick with just more than a minute to play Friday night. If they had simply taken a knee and run out the clock, they would have been the No. 11 seed in the MAIS Class 5A playoffs. But if SA could score a quick touchdown and win by eight, the Vols would be district champions, earning the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye.
So from the Chiefs’ 47-yard line, SA quarterback Luke McKenzie threw a deep ball over the middle, but a Magnolia Heights player left his feet to haul in the interception with 59 seconds left. The Chiefs used a long pass to quickly move into field goal range, then booted through the game-winning kick with three seconds remaining to hand the Vols a 23-21 loss.
SA is still in the playoffs as the No. 12 seed and will play No. 5 seed Copiah Academy on the road in the first round Friday night. So while the Vols’ aggressiveness backfired, moving down by one seed line when they had a chance to jump up much higher is a small price to pay.
— Benjamin Rosenberg
Falcons falter again in fourth
Going into Friday night, Columbus head coach Barrin Simpson was calling on his team to finish games. His team had lost to New Hope and Neshoba Central by just one score, even leading in the fourth quarter against the Rockets, but struggled down the stretch with the game on the line.
The Falcons found themselves in a familiar position on Friday, cutting the Ridgeland Titans’ lead to 34-26 and getting the stop they needed on defense to potentially go and tie the game.
Quarterback Dkyren Henderson was moving the ball well on the ground, but when the time for another big drive came the offense capitulated under pressure. Mistakes pushed them behind the sticks and Simpson opted to punt on 4th and 14 rather than risk turning the ball over in their own territory.
Two plays later the Titans were in the end zone after a 65-yard run, putting the game away.
The Falcons fell to 2-6, losing their fourth straight game. Despite trailing for most of the contest there was a significant comeback effort in the second half, but the same inconsistencies, penalties, and drops came back to haunt the team again in a big spot. “Right now we just have to go through the learning process of finishing games,” Simpson said. “We have got to learn that process. We’ve seen some growth but that’s our Achilles’ heel right now, finishing games, staying disciplined and staying in the game, doing what we do.”
— Colin Damms
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You can help your community
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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
