A quick glance at a map would tell you that Columbus High School and Starkville High School should be rivals.
“It’s big because of the community ties,” Yellow Jackets coach Chris Jones said. “You’ve got a lot of people who live in Columbus and work in Starkville, and a lot of people who live in Starkville and work in Columbus. You’ve got a lot of relatives. There’s a lot of bragging rights.”
“The kids know each other,” Falcons coach Joshua Pulphus said. “They’re friends on social media, they hang out at the same places, they talk to the same people. Any time you’re playing someone that close it’s always a rivalry game.”
But the rivalry has been less than competitive in recent years; in fact, not one player who will suit up Friday night in Starkville had started school the last time the Falcons defeated the Yellow Jackets.
You have to go back to Nov. 9, 2007 to see Columbus posting a 20-19 victory in the final game of the regular season, a common spot on the schedule for the two to play in those days. And competitive games followed the next two years before the Yellow Jackets turned the rivalry into a rout.
The teams have played four times since 2013, with Starkville winning 35-13, 43-0, 44-7 and, during Columbus’ winless season in 2018, 72-6.
That was the year before Pulphus arrived in Columbus, and the difference can be shown in one statistic: The Falcons surrendered 456 points during that 0-11 campaign in 2018. The following season, Pulphus’ first, they cut that to 265, and they further trimmed it to 186 last season.
If the Falcons hope to end their six-game losing streak in the series, the defense will need to step up.
“Starkville does a lot that concerns us, on offense, defense and special teams,” Pulphus said Wednesday after practice. “They do a great job. Coach Jones will have those guys prepared to play four quarters.
“One thing about Starkville, they don’t rebuild. People talk about this is a down year, but Starkville doesn’t rebuild, they reload.”
One example is at quarterback, where two-time all-state selection Luke Altmyer left for Ole Miss and the two-headed monster of senior Jaquez Harris and sophomore Trey Petty will step in.
“We’re going to play both quarterbacks,” Jones said. “I don’t know who starts; we might even flip a coin. It doesn’t matter who starts. I think both of them will do well Friday night.
“They’re both athletic. Trey may be more of a dual-threat kind of guy, but Quez can also run.”
Pulphus got a look at the Yellow Jackets last weekend when the Louisville Jamboree was postponed and moved to Starkville, and he was impressed by what he saw.
“They are talented,” Pulphus said. “Offensively, they are going to provide some challenges for us with regard to their height and their speed and their quarterbacks. Defensively, they’re going to be aggressive.”
Jones had a more measured assessment of his team’s play against Noxubee County.
“I thought we did OK,” the fifth-year coach said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff in my opinion that we need to get better at. To me, it’s all about making corrections. I’m OK with making mistakes, but it’s all about fixing them.”
Meanwhile, Jones had some compliments for the Falcons’ efforts at the Jamboree. Columbus played Gentry earlier in the day.
“At Saturday’s jamboree I thought they looked really organized, really disciplined,” Jones said. “I thought they looked good. He did some good stuff offensively. I expect them to come out and play well.”
The coaches agree on that.
“It’s a great environment, a great football environment,” Pulphus said. “The kids are excited, we’re excited and I know Starkville is excited as well.”
The start of a new season will do that.
“We’re just excited to hear the band, see the cheerleaders and see the fans in the stands,” Pulphus said. “We’re still learning how to handle the moment, how to handle these so-called big-time games, but I’m proud of our effort and win, lose or draw I’m going to be proud of our boys.”
And the fact that it’s Columbus vs. Starkville, for the first time during the regular season since Pulphus began coaching the Falcons?
“Coach Jones and I are very good friends, really that whole coaching staff,” Pulphus said. “I once worked over there. We’re all very close friends. Once 7 o’clock comes, it’s going to be time to play. Both teams are going to play the right away, but after 9:30, 10 o’clock we’re going to be friends again.”
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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 33 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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Linemen go through drills during football practice Wednesday at the Columbus High School Sports Complex. The Falcons open the season Friday night at Starkville. Tom Rysinski/Dispatch Staff
Football players take a break in between their turns on the field during practice Tuesday afternoon at Starkville High School. The Yellow Jackets host Columbus on Friday night to open the season. Tom Rysinski/Dispatch Staff
Columbus High School football coach Joshua Pulphus talks to his team at the close of practice Wednesday at the school's sports complex. Tom Rysinski/Dispatch Staff
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