Back in the long steamy nights of August, a promising football season started for both Starkville High School and Noxubee County High School.

There was a lot of intense buildup as the team’s met in the signature meeting of opening week. While Starkville cruised to a 51-19 victory, one could tell the seeds were being sewn for a promising season for both teams.

Starkville had a talented receiving corps, led by senior Raphael Leonard and junior A.J. Brown. Coach Jamie Mitchell admits the Yellow Jackets can go about six deep with talented receivers. Senior Keyon Higgins is the third option but yet his speed and length make him an equally threatening playmaker.

Most of the preseason hype centered on the Starkville defensive unit, including the best “Front Four” Mitchell said he has ever coached.

For Starkville, the main questions centered around the growth of the offensive line and how well New Hope High School transfer Brady Davis would mesh at quarterback with his new teammates.

Through the course of any season, teams will find new concerns. For Starkville, the concern has centered on the health of its talented trio of running backs. Seniors Matt Fuller and Jacquez Horsley, as well as junior Avery Brown combined to give the Yellow Jackets a very under-rated backfield.

However, Horsley has been hurt and missed two different sets of games. Fuller has also missed some time, yet rushed for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Those offensive numbers have provided the perfect complement to Davis and the air attack. Davis has thrown for 3,127 yards and 39 touchdowns. Leonard has 60 catches for 1,147 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Brown has 52 catches for 1,019 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Quite honestly, it appears that Starkville was worn down by its pursuit of perfection. The Yellow Jackets started Class 6A, Region 2 play with four straight shutouts before struggling down the stretch in wins over Warren Central and Clinton.

Starkville also had the misfortune of its regular season region title being decided on the final week. Thus, the Yellow Jackets had to go all out to the wire.

Now with the undefeated regular season secure, Starkville can return to the basics and simply play football for fun. That is when the Yellow Jackets are at their best.

Starkville has had no trouble ripping through Tupelo and Southaven in the playoffs. South Panola is next for the North State Class 6A championship and the buzz word around campus is revenge since South Panola ended Starkville’s season a year ago.

Noxubee County found itself in a similar position to Starkville. Both the Yellow Jackets and Tigers won state championships in 2012 but took a step backward the following season due to a lack of offensive productivity. Both teams had to reinvent themselves on the offensive side.

The desired result has taken place and now each stands two wins from a second state championship in three seasons.

While Starkville is undefeated at 13-0, Noxubee County enters its North State Class 4A championship game with Greenwood at 12-2. The Tigers have won nine straight games.

Noxubee County junior quarterback TImorrius Conner has thrown for 2,468 yards and 30 touchdowns. Coach Tyrone Shorter has seen Conner grow as both a quarterback and as a leader.

Last season, Noxubee County averaged 20.7 points per game. This season, the number is at 35.6. The offensive growth started in the season opener when Noxubee County fared better than most expected against that rugged Front Four for Starkville.

Coach Tyrone Shorter has never believed in a soft schedule. Shorter feels like this team needs to be tested early and often in region play.

The six Noxubee County non-region opponents (Starkville, Columbus, Louisville, Aberdeen, West Point and Charleston) have combined for 56 wins. To achieve success in these games, the Tigers had to learn how to move the football.

Noxubee County will always until the end of time play a rugged, hard-nosed defense that will rank among the state’s best on any classification.

This season, the Tigers have enjoyed offensive success and allowed the defense more time off the field.

Junior Shunessy Sherrod has rushed for 903 yards and 13 touchdowns.

While Shorter spent the off-season making sure Conner grew and developed a passer, he also knew balance would be badly needed for the team to still be playing in December.

Senior Tamarcus Silvers has emerged as the team’s top receiving threat with 30 receptions for 569 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Ladaveon Smith has 47 catches for 532 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

Junior defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons anchors the Noxubee County defense with 78 total tackles.

Yes, the Tigers are full of juniors who are continuing to grow and learn in front of our very own eyes.

The parallels are there for both teams. They were both there that Friday night in Yellow Jacket Stadium.

Mitchell knew what he had and he saw it coming to fruition. Even in defeat, Shorter had to feel the same way.

Both teams have come a mighty long way since opening day. The finish line for each team is well within sight. We saw a glimmer of that 12 weeks ago. Back then, it was only a matter of time.

Scott Walters is a sports reporter for the Commercial Dispatch. He may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatch Scott.

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.