MERIDIAN — The Starkville Academy football team lost Friday’s road game at Lamar School 33-30 in overtime in Meridian.
The Raiders scored the tying touchdown on a 3-yard rush by Will Morris with 23.3 seconds to go in regulation after the Volunteers pulled ahead 27-21 with a minute and 12 seconds left.
Starkville Academy settled for a field goal on its overtime possession, and Lamar quarterback Zagar Cooper found Miller Hodge for the winning 10-yard touchdown.
Midway through the third quarter, Starkville Academy had a 21-7 lead over the team it eliminated in the state quarterfinals last season. But Cooper found Hodge for a long score late in the third quarter, and Hodge caught a touchdown pass from Morris with 4:20 to go.
CJ Jackson had two rushing touchdowns for the Volunteers, and Randall Futral and Colby Allen each threw for passing scores.
Starkville Academy (0-1) will host French Camp Academy for a two-quarter scrimmage next Friday. French Camp, a Mississippi High School Activities Association member, had the start of its regular season delayed until Sept. 4.
Benton Academy 42, Oak Hill Academy 34
BENTON — Oak Hill Academy came up two yards short of a chance to tie Friday’s game at Benton Academy.
The Raiders got the ball back with 1:20 to go trailing by eight points and began to drive. After a penalty, Oak Hill quarterback Cameron Dill connected with wide receiver Manning Huffman, who was tackled on the 2-yard line as time expired.
It left the Raiders (0-1) with a 42-34 loss despite a great offensive performance by both Huffman and Dill.
Huffman caught 13 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns, while Dill finished 23 of 38 for 420 yards and five scores. Garrett Edwards hauled in a touchdown reception as one of his five catches for 72 yards.
“I thought we played with good effort and never quit,” Oak Hill coach Bill Rosenthal said.
Oak Hill has an open date for next Friday after MHSAA school Tupelo Christian Prep had to delay its season.
Humphreys Academy 50, Columbus Christian Academy 22
BELZONI — Beau Kemp scored all three touchdowns for Columbus Christian Academy in a 50-22 road loss to Humphreys Academy on Friday in Belzoni.
Kemp, who finished with 73 rushing yards to lead the Rams (0-1), scored twice in the second quarter and once in the third.
But the 16-0 lead that Humphreys built after the first quarter proved to be enough of a cushion for the Rebels. Humphreys led 28-14 at halftime and 42-22 after the third quarter.
Quarterback Drake Shaw had 36 passing yards and made seven tackles on defense. Lahndon Townley led with eight tackles and scored the two-point conversion on Kemp’s third touchdown.
Columbus Christian will host Delta Streets Academy (1-0) next Friday in Steens.
Marvell Academy (Ark.) 32, Hebron Christian 6
MARVELL, Ark. — Hebron Christian School dropped its season opener 32-6 to Marvell Academy (Arkansas) on Friday in Marvell, Arkansas.
Hebron will play at Calhoun Academy (0-1) next Friday.
Pickens Academy (Ala.) 41, Banks Academy 40
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Pickens Academy (Alabama) was the only area team to win its season opener Friday.
The Pirates (1-0) edged Banks Academy 41-40 at Briarwood Christian Academy in Birmingham, Alabama.
Quarterback Aidan Johnson threw for three touchdowns, finishing 5 for 7 for 108 yards.
Caleb Robbins had two catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, Bodhi Parham had two catches for 28 yards and a score, and Rafe Brown’s lone catch was a 20-yard touchdown.
Lane Goodman ran for 80 yards and two scores on 12 carries. Chandler Box had 94 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts.
Box led the team with seven tackles, while Goodman had five. Parham, Landon Collins and Grayson Phillips each had a fumble recovery.
Pickens will host Coosa Valley Academy (1-0) next Friday.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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