JACKSON — Stacy Robinson caught two touchdown passes and scored on a punt return, Starkville (8-2) kept Murrah (1-8) to -17 total yards, and the top-ranked Yellow Jackets turned in an all-around dominant performance on Thursday in Jackson with a 52-0 shutout win.
Robinson caught a 6-yard scoring pass from Luke Altmyer in the first quarter and a 11-yard score from NyJal Johnson in the third quarter. He took a punt 49 yards to the house later in the third quarter.
Both Altmyer and Johnson threw two touchdown passes without an interception. Altmyer finished 17 of 22 for 151 yards, and Johnson was 7 of 12 for 83 yards. Altmyer also had a 9-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
Josh Aka led Starkville in receiving with six catches for 84 yards. Robinson totaled five catches for 61 yards. Orien Thompson had three catches for 30 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown catch, and Leroy Hollingshed caught an 11-yard score from Johnson.
Jordan Mitchell led the Yellow Jackets on the ground with three carries for 30 yards.
Amariyon Howard had eight carries for 23 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Starkville’s Ashton Wilson had an interception, and the Yellow Jackets forced three fumbles.
Starkville, which took over the No. 1 ranking in the state on Tuesday, will face Warren Central (5-3) on the road next Friday. The Jackets can clinch the top seed in Class 6A, Region 2, with a victory in Vicksburg.
No. 1 Heritage Academy 51, Washington 0
Carter Putt threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter, and Heritage Academy improved to 11-0 with a blowout of Washington (2-8) at home Thursday.
Putt found Jared Long and Sam Hannon for passing scores within the first nine minutes of the first quarter. Banks Hyde scored on a punt return, KJ Smith ran in a touchdown and Austin Dotson had a rushing score to put Heritage Academy up 39-0 less than four minutes into the second quarter.
Reid Huskison scored a rushing touchdown, and backup quarterback Mack Howard found Trey Naugher for another score to put the Patriots ahead 51-0.
Heritage Academy’s dominance this season earned the Patriots a bye in the first round of the playoffs. They’ll host a second-round game on Nov. 8.
Caledonia 62, South Pontotoc 21
PONTOTOC — Kewon Wyatt ran for 99 yards and three touchdowns, and Caledonia (5-4) ran all over South Pontotoc (1-9) on Thursday night in Pontotoc to clinch a playoff spot.
The Confederates ran for 505 yards on 30 carries and scored eight times on the ground in the 62-21 win.
Wyatt had a remarkably efficient game with three scores on just four carries. The sophomore ran for 41-yard and 8-yard touchdowns in the first quarter and a 42-yard score in the third.
Quarterback Brandon Edmondson had a pair of touchdown runs in the second quarter. Edmondson ran for 39-yard and 23-yard scores during the period, giving Caledonia a 41-14 halftime lead. He finished with 12 carries for 183 yards.
In the first quarter, Darrius Triplett scored a 4-yard rushing touchdown, one of his four carries for 122 yards, and Anthony Triplett returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Freshman backup quarterback Daniel Wilburn scored his first career touchdown, a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Isaiah Brackett rushed 55 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Caledonia’s final game of the regular season is next Friday at home against No. 5 Itawamba Agricultural (10-0).
Choctaw County 28, Noxubee County 18
ACKERMAN — Noxubee County (5-5) lost to Choctaw County (7-3) by a score of 28-18 on Thursday, allowing the Chargers to capture the Class 3A, Region 4 title.
Tigers quarterback Marlon Windham was intercepted on each of Noxubee County’s first two drives, getting Thursday’s critical regional contest in Ackerman off to a poor start. Ques McNeal had a 53-yard pick-six, and Tyson Coleman had the other pick.
Choctaw County doubled its lead with a 2-yard touchdown run from quarterback Tylan Carter, but Noxubee County answered with a 69-yard touchdown pass from Windham to Coby Lockett and a 26-yard scoring pass from Windham to Jeffery Malone.
The Chargers picked up a fumble for a scoop-and-score touchdown in the second quarter to take a 21-12 halftime lead.
Carter had another 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and Windham answered with a 3-yard touchdown run a few seconds into the fourth to cut the lead to 10.
The Tigers failed to convert on any of their three two-point conversion attempts, while Choctaw County made all four of its extra points.
Noxubee County has already been guaranteed a playoff spot with one game remaining in its regular season. The Tigers will travel to face Aberdeen (1-9) next Friday.
West Lowndes 28, Okolona 13
OKOLONA — West Lowndes pulled away from Okolona in the fourth quarter Thursday to notch a 28-13 road win and improve to 8-2.
The Panthers led 14-13 in the fourth quarter before scoring two touchdowns that gave them the breathing room they needed.
No stats were available despite attempts to reach coaches.
The Panthers’ final regular-season game is next Friday at Tupelo Christian Prep (6-2) in Belden in a game that will be critical in determining playoff seeding.
Columbus Christian Academy 37, Calhoun Academy 8
STEENS — Columbus Christian Academy improved to 8-2 with a 37-8 home rout of Calhoun Academy on Thursday.
The Rams jumped out to a big lead with 30 unanswered points in the first half. Calhoun’s only score came in the fourth quarter.
No stats were available from Thursday’s contest, the final game of the regular season for Columbus Christian.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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