The Starkville High School football team has reached the difficult part of its schedule.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 2 race appears to be headed to the wire as a four-team race.

Starkville is tied with Clinton, Vicksburg, and Warren Central atop the region standings — each with 3-0 records.

Not in that group is traditional power Madison Central. The Jaguars may be 1-2 in region play, but they hold the fourth and final playoff berth.

Despite Madison Central’s record and lower standing, top-ranked Starkville promises not to take the tradition-rich Jaguars lightly in their game at 7 tonight at Madison Central.

“Madison Central has our full attention because we know they are a great team,” Starkville senior wide receiver Raphael Leonard said. “There are only four games left, and we want to get through this thing undefeated. Thus, Madison Central is next, and it is our biggest game.”

A year ago, Starkville won 45-42 when a controversial offensive pass interference call wiped out the Jaguars’ potential game-winning touchdown.

Madison Central regrouped to win the region. Both teams lost in the second round of the playoffs.

Starkville won the 2012 Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Class 5A state championship but dropped a 24-8 regular-season decision to Madison Central. Starkville won 16-14 in 2011.

“Madison Central is one of those programs,” Starkville coach Jamie Mitchell said. “They have an intimidating place to play. It is one of those games you are really up for because you know what beating them means. We will expect their best shot Friday night but also be ready to take that shot and respond.”

Starkville is 7-0 and 3-0 in region play. The Yellow Jackets have opened region play with shutouts of Columbus (43-0), Northwest Rankin (42-0), and Greenville (38-0). Those teams are a combined 5-17 and 1-8 in region play.

Still, the Yellow Jackets remain the state’s No. 1 team by beating everybody in their paths decisively. Starkville is winning by an average margin of 34.1 points per game.

After beating Columbus, junior lineman Lorenzo Dantzler joked Starkville’s goal was to shut out the entire region.

Starkville hasn’t allowed a point in its last 12 quarters, and has only allowed one touchdown in the last 20 quarters.

Last week against Greenville, the starters barely played a quarter. Starkville had three offensive touchdowns, a defensive touchdown, and a special teams score in less than eight minutes. The outburst helped the Yellow Jackets build a 35-0 first-quarter lead.

“When everybody is on the same page, we can be a big-play offense,” Starkville junior wide receiver A.J. Brown said. “You can tell the guys are really beginning to feel comfortable together. When we get things going, we are hard to stop.”

Madison Central is 4-3 and 1-2 in region play. It has lost region games to Clinton (47-35) and Warren Central (16-14). Still, Madison Central finishes with the regular season against Columbus, Greenville, and Northwest Rankin and should be in position make the playoffs.

For Starkville, the challenges only grow from here. The final three region opponents are Murrah, Warren Central, and Clinton. Warren Central is 7-0, while Clinton is 6-1.

“This team is really excited about playing the rest of the games,” said Starkville senior quarterback Brady Davis, who was 5 of 5 for 118 yards in less than a quarter of work last week. “We know we have some challenges ahead. You expect challenges at the end of the season.”

Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.