STARKVILLE — Senior running back CJ Jackson led a dynamic Starkville Academy rushing attack as the Volunteers lulled the Pillow Academy defense to sleep in Friday night’s 42-7 win.
“He just continues to do what he’s supposed to do,” Starkville Academy coach Chase Nicholson said postgame. “That’s that they’re all doing. They’re doing what they’re supposed to do. CJ is supposed to be that guy.”
“The offensive line, we were all just on the same page,” Jackson added. “(We were) connected and (they were) moving people out of there so I could have space and an open field.”
Jackson, who eclipsed the 300-yard mark two weeks ago in a shootout against Leake Academy, looked the part of the bell-cow back he’s been throughout the year for the Volunteers.
Cutting between the tackles, sidestepping a defender and racing down the sideline, Jackson burst into the open field, past Nicholson and into the end zone for a 43-yard score — the first of his two first half rushing touchdowns.
“It’s fun for me,” Jackson said of shouldering the rushing load in recent weeks. “I just love running people over, contact. It’s been great that they can depend on me when times get hard or I need to get a first down or a fourth-down conversion and stuff like that.”
Following a sluggish first quarter, Jackson’s 43-yard scamper was sandwiched by rushing touchdowns of 25 and 7 yards by quarterback Randall Futral to give the Volunteers a 28-7 lead with 39 seconds remaining in the half.
Pillow Academy briefly arose from its offensive slumber as quarterback Nelson Hodges connected with receiver Matthew Jefcoat on a 62-yard gain before being pushed out of bounds at the Starkville Academy 2-yard line by senior Brody Pierce as the clock struck zero, maintaining a 21-point Volunteer lead.
“Huge momentum shift,” Nicholson said of Pierce’s tackle. “If they score there, it would’ve been a lot of momentum coming out. Brody made a great play. He knew exactly where he was trying to get to, so he was able to cut him off. He made a great play. That’s a senior making a big play right before half.”
Jackson’s prolific night continued into the second half as the Pickens Academy defense dropped five men into coverage to account for Futral’s arm. With just six players in the box, Jackson sliced and diced the Mustang defensive front en route to touchdown runs of 16 and 17 yards to push the Volunteers’ final margin to 35 points.
Reaching the 20-touchdown plateau with three games remaining, Jackson said postgame he and running backs coach Tate Fisher have an ongoing bet that if he reaches the 30-touchdown mark, Fisher will owe him a steak dinner.
Now heading into an Oct. 9 contest against Bayou Academy before capping the season against Heritage Academy and Jackson Academy, Jackson quipped he can already taste a T-bone coming his way. If he gets to 40? There’s an assumed prize for that, too.
“I assume we’ll win a (state championship) ring if I get 40,” Jackson said through an ear-to-ear grin. “Shoot, I mean, 40 touchdowns?”
Starkville Academy 42, Pillow Academy 7
PA 0 7 0 0 — 7
SA 7 21 7 7 — 42
First quarter
SA — CJ Jackson 36 run (John Dylan Miller kick)
Second quarter
SA — Randall Futral 25 run (Miller kick)
PA — Christian Belk 80 run (Juan Hernandez kick)
SA — Jackson 43 run (Miller kick)
SA — Futral 7 run (Miller kick)
Third quarter
SA — Jackson 16 run (Miller kick)
Fourth quarter
SA — Jackson 17 run (Miller kick)
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
