STARKVILLE — There have been so many different X-factors for Starkville High School football this season, all of which have been talked about at length.
Every one of those key pieces was needed to put together an all-around, complete performance in the MHSAA Class 7A playoff semifinals against Madison Central on Friday.
The defense came up big, the run game proved effective in the second half, but above all, the Yellow Jackets’ one-two punch of Trey Petty and Braylon Burnside took center stage.
“They’ve been doing it since pee-wee,” head coach Chris Jones said. “When I got here, they told me to check out the youth leagues. They were connected then and I was always looking forward to them playing in these moments.”
Down a point with less than 10 minutes to play in the third quarter, Starkville (10-3) exploded for a pair of touchdowns that provided a two-score lead thanks to the senior connection.
First came a 56-yard pass off a slant over the middle just about two minutes after the Jaguars scored to take a one-point lead. Then, the cherry on top, a perfectly thrown ball down the sideline that Burnside caught in stride for a 64-yard score.
“When I know we need a big play, I know I got him,” Petty said. “I know I can trust that he’s going to make the play. We just kind of go to each other. We talk to each other. He tells me he’s got a guy and he’s going to win it, so I trust him and give him the ball.”
Those two plays, separated by the span of one minute and 16 seconds, gave the Jackets all the momentum they needed in an eventual 35-15 win, clinching a second-straight trip to the state championship game.
“Our guys enjoy competing,” Jones said. “We love the challenge and we were up for the challenge tonight. … I’m looking forward to going to Oxford.”
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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 46 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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