STARKVILLE — Starkville High School junior wide receiver A.J. Brown stood in the end zone of Yellow Jacket Stadium and tried to catch his breath and collect his thoughts.

Brown has spent a majority of the season for the top-ranked Yellow Jackets in the end zone making spectacular catches and scoring a lot of points.

On Friday night, his trips were still plentiful (two), but nothing came easily for Brown and Starkville.

“That was hard,” Brown said. “That was a struggle. That was intense. Man that was some game. We knew we would do it sooner or late. All it takes sometimes is one big play.”

The Yellow Jackets scored 27 points in the final 14 minutes, 25 seconds to ease past Warren Central 27-17 in a marquee Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 2 matchup.

Starkville improved to 10-0 and 6-0 in region play. It will play Friday at Clinton (9-1, 6-0) in a winner-take-all battle for the region crown. Starkville and Clinton will host first-round Class 6A playoff games on Nov. 14.

“This was an emotional game because it was Senior Night,” Starkville senior running back Matt Fuller said. “(This win) shows we can overcome adversity. Coaches told us all week we were in for a four-quarter fight. Tonight, we showed we can overcome adversity. It was a tight game and an emotional game, but at least were able to score enough points to come out on top.”

Warren Central (8-2, 4-2) entered the game allowing seven points per game, so the odds were stacked against the home team when the Vikings built a 17-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

Not only had Starkville not had a scoring threat, the Yellow Jackets were trying to get their sea legs by playing offense into about a 30-mph wind. The normal passes thrown by Brady Davis were being swatted down by the gusts. Normal weapon Michael Godley (punter and place-kicker) was rendered helpless. A punt of 30 yards was considered a major achievement.

Still, Starkville coach Jamie Mitchell was at peace when he addressed his troops down 9-0 at halftime. It was the first time this season Starkville trailed in a game.

“I still felt (good) at the half,” Mitchell said. “There was no panic. There was no finger-pointing. I was really impressed by our kids. There was a peace in there at halftime. I wasn’t sure how we were going to turn it around. However, I knew if any group was going to be able to turn it around, it was going to be this one.”

Starkville turned the game on defense.

Lorenzo Dantzler had a huge fumble recovery with Warren Central driving 9-0 early in the third quarter. The Vikings regrouped on their next possession and scored again to take a 17-0 lead.

Starkville answered with an eight-play, 75-yard drive. Davis hit Brown on a 13-yard pass play to put the team on the edge of the red zone. The duo hooked up again three plays later for a 20-yard touchdown on third-and-5.

“All it takes with our offense is one big play,” Brown said. “We were working so hard and it just wasn’t happening. We kept knocking on the door and it finally got answered. Leaders have to step up and make plays. We knew by then we were in a fight. It was time to get something done.”

On the next possession, Jacorey Douglas and Abdural Lee were in on a forced fumble and Lee recovered on the Warren Central 6-yard line. Lee was also in on the force before Dantzler’s recovery.

Starkville fumbled back, but the two turnovers had shaken Warren Central’s psyche.

Starkville got the ball right back when the wind helped force Warren Central into a 25-yard punt. The Yellow Jackets struck quickly, as Davis hit Raphael Leonard on a 33-yard touchdown.

Terrance Grayer followed with an interception that aided Starkville’s comeback.

“We feed off the defensive momentum,” Fuller said. “I am really glad those guys are on my side. We did so bad in the first half. The seniors kept telling the younger players it was time to step up because this was a big game.”

After the interception, Starkville needed two plays to cover 13 yards and grab its first lead. Davis hit Brown in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown.

Another wind-plagued 28-yard punt allowed Starkville to move 56 yards to put the game away. This time, Davis hit Leonard on a 19-yard touchdown.

Starkville finished with 242 yards, including 164 in the final half. Davis was 11 of 23 for 129 yards. Fuller ran 17 times for 87 yards, while Brown had seven catches for 73 yards and Leonard had two catches for 52 yards.

“In the second half, playmakers made plays,” Mitchell said. “It came down to Brady, A.J. and Ralph making plays. That is why we won the game.”

Brown looked like a man who had made plays as he stood in the end zone and talked to family and friends. He also looked relieved.

“This is a great team,” Brown said. “We showed that tonight. We don’t even look at the scoreboard. No matter what the score is we are going to keep fighting hard. This win gives us a big boost for the playoffs. We can’t wait to get those started because we feel like we are just getting started.”

Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.