STARKVILLE — Every coach likes to see the heart and soul of his football team get a shot to play at the next level.

An emotional leader and example of sacrifice and intensity, Starkville Academy”s Matt Ward was rewarded for a breakout season with an offer to play at Mississippi College.

On Thursday, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound fullback turned down the chance to play at Millsaps and Itawamba Community College to sign to play for the Division III school.

“Mississippi College has a lot to offer and a great football program,” Ward said. “The coach is real nice and seems like he knows what he”s talking about. The environment seemed a lot higher up than any of the other campuses I went to. I felt more at home there.”

Ward finished his senior season with 507 yards on 91 carries and a team-high seven touchdowns. He added 38 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles on defense.

Ward was instrumental in leading the Volunteers to three wins in their final six games, snapping a 20-plus game losing streak and helping the program go into the offseason with momentum.

In his eyes, it was the perfect way to ride out.

“Coming from a non-winning season with seniors that didn”t care, we really just had to show out,” Ward said. “There really could have been a lot more games we should have won if we would have played the way we did toward the end of the season.

“I”d like to have won a lot more, but the games we won are really key to me. Winning homecoming and senior night was big. It meant a lot to win those games.”

The day was bittersweet for Ward, who was excited about joining Mississippi College and melancholy about leaving Starkville Academy. Ward”s classmates added to the atmosphere Thursday, as dozens watched him sign and numerous teammates shook his hand after he signed.

Ward praised his classmates for their support, especially in a winless junior campaign, when team unity was fractured and the best source of encouragement came from the fans.

“They were always had paint on them, supporting every member of the team, hollering and cheering. It didn”t matter,” Ward said. “I”m gonna hate leaving this school.”

Ward gave back to those fans by playing both ways with a slightly separated shoulder late in the season. He upped the ante when quarterback Kyle Henson broke his hand in the first half of the win against Clarksdale Lee by accounting for the final 70 yards on the last drive of the game — all dive plays.

“(Clarksdale Lee) had figured out he can”t function at quarterback, so all we could do is ride that thing up there and hand it to Mr. Ward,” Starkville Academy coach Jeff Terrill said. “He really just put the game away. The last 70 something yards, he probably toted it 12 times in a row. Ain”t much flash to what we were doing. Everybody knew it. He was broke down, wore out, and would not go down. It was a great tribute to what kind of player he is.”

The example Ward set on the field was evident when Terrill stepped in the door. Ward went through spring practice and then to Army basic training in the summer. That stint set him behind the curve as fall camp began, but it didn”t take him long to get up to speed.

Though Terrill had known Ward for just seven months, his fullback”s non-stop motor and command of the team were impressive considering its lack of confidence following a winless season.

“They needed somebody to lead the charge, just like in a military battle, and Matt was willing to step up and be that leader and assure them we can do it,” Terrill said. “There”s no doubt that rubbed off on everyone.”

Ward joins a MC team that went 4-6 last season and returns just one fullback, a senior. Though he could get a look at linebacker, Ward most likely will play fullback in a spread rushing attack. His duties will differ from his role as a senior at Starkville Academy, when he was the up-back in an option offense. At MC, he likely will do more lead blocking.

“Coach (Norman) Joseph was real excited when he found him because that was one position on offense they”ve been depleted,” Terrill said. “It”s a great opportunity for Matt to go in as a freshman and maybe play some.”

Ward will go through his artillery training at Ft. Sill in Lawton, Okla., this summer before going to Mississippi College.