Heritage Academy has a new weapon at its disposal for the 2021 season.
Senior Eli Dement didn’t take long to make his presence known for the Patriots in Friday’s 42-16 win over Lamar School in Meridian. Dement racked up the tackles on defense, smothering a reverse play by the Raiders for a loss. Starting at running back with junior Braden Davidson (broken hand) out a few weeks, Dement picked up a key first down later in the contest by keeping his legs moving after contact.
Patriots coach Sean Harrison said he was pleased to add Dement, a transfer from South Lamar High School in Alabama.
“Any time you can get a kid in who loves football, is a wonderful kid, great character, great leadership … he’s just one of those dream kids,” Harrison said. “I could go on about him for an hour.”
— Theo DeRosa
Latest Shaw QB shows his mettle for Rams
Drake Shaw does not look like a quarterback. In fact, the youthful Shaw barely looks like a high school student, much less a junior starting at QB for the second season.
When told he looked like somebody’s little brother, Shaw didn’t skip a beat. “I am somebody’s little brother,” he said after leading Columbus Christian Academy to a 34-30 win over Collegiate Christian Academy on Friday night in Steens..
Indeed he is, as Shaw is little brother to not one but two former Rams quarterbacks.
The first D. Shaw to line up under center was Dawson, who started for three seasons and graduated in 2017. Brother Dakota was a freshman during Dawson’s senior year, and after one Shaw-less season he stepped in to start as a junior and senior before graduating in 2020.
Enter Drake, who was a freshman when Dakota was a senior and has started the past two seasons. Add it up, and there has been a D.Shaw starting at quarterback for CCA for seven of the past eight seasons.
The youngest of the trio led the Rams’ game-winning drive against the Bulldogs, scrambling for a first down on fourth-and-10 and then completing two passes for 22 yards to set up Jonah Harrison’s game-winning TD run. Shaw, who finished 10 of 16 for 158 yards and a touchdown, is optimistic about the direction of the team under first-year coach Rusty Mason.
“I’m proud of our players and how they did. We definitely had a good game and I’m proud of them,” Shaw said. “I feel like we’ve got a good coach in coach Mason. I feel like he’s put a lot of time in us, and we’ve been working really hard. We’re really happy with what we’ve got, and I like where it’s going right now.”
The Rams face Marvell Academy at 7 p.m. Friday at home.
— Tom Rysinski
A rare occurrence for the Volunteers
Starkville Academy had only eight first downs on offense during its 37-0 loss to Jackson Academy on Friday night. None of the current Volunteers had been on the losing end of a shutout before that game.
In fact, you have to go back five years to find the last time somebody shut out Starkville Academy. That was a 40-0 loss to Lamar School on Sept. 9, 2016 at home. Since that defeat, the Vols have won 11 games by shutout, including three in a row during the 2018 playoffs.
The Volunteers were short-handed Friday night, playing without six starters on offense including quarterback Colby Allen, who suffered a broken wrist in practice. Allen is expected to be back next Friday against Lamar School. .
— Brandon Shields
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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 30 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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