Greg Watkins hopes Homecoming can provide a little momentum.
One week after a heartbreaking loss to Carroll Academy, Immanuel Christian (1-5) will play host to Potts Camp (3-3) at 7 p.m. Friday looking to get back on track for a pivotal three-game stretch to end the regular season.
Immanuel Christian rallied for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter last week only to give up a touchdown in the final five minutes in a 27-26 loss to Carroll Academy in a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AA, District 2 game. The loss dropped the Rams to 0-2 in the district race.
Despite being winless in district play, Immanuel Christian has games remaining at Manchester Academy, at home against Winston Academy, and at Oak Hill Academy. Watkins said his team remains alive for a playoff position, and even could earn a wild-card spot into the playoffs. That’s why he hopes his team will use its game Friday night against Potts Camp, a Class 2A school in the Mississippi High School Activities Association, as a bounce-back affair.
“The kids played really hard (last week). It was one they deserved to win,” Watkins said. “We just let it slip away right there at the end.”
Norris Harris (96 yards) scored on a 23-yard run and Jason Davis (186) added an 83-yard run in the fourth quarter to help the Rams take a 26-21 lead. Unfortunately, they failed on the two-point conversion. Carroll Academy broke a pass to the flat on third-and-8 to score a 30-yard touchdown to win the game.
Watkins said his team couldn’t overcome a slow start that featured a safety on a snap that went over the head of the punter. He also said a blown coverage in the secondary allowed Carroll Academy to score another touchdown.
Still, he was impressed his players battled back, and said the team needs to do a better job on crucial two-point conversions.
“It seemed like we were playing with a lot more heart and desire on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball,” Watkins said. “We made a lot of plays when we had to, but we’re still not there defensively.”
Watkins said the Rams need better focus and need to execute better at the beginning of games and then they have to make sure they finish strong. If they can do that against Potts Camp and the rest of the way, there is no telling how things could work out. Watkins said Immanuel Christian still has a chance to finish second in its district if it wins its final three games and Leake Academy wins out. Manchester Academy (2-0) and Winston Academy (2-1) lead the district, while Oak Hill Academy is 0-4.
Watkins said Immanuel Christian could be in the running for a tiebreaker if it wins its final three district games even if Leake Academy doesn’t win out.
“If we can get in the playoffs I think we can be a fairly dangerous team,” Watkins said.
Watkins said the players responded Tuesday in practice. He said the Rams played up to the challenge of being in a big district game on the road. He hopes the excitement surrounding the school’s Homecoming this week serves as added motivation that helps get things back on track.
“We have a lot of young kids and I see the progress and each game we’re getting better,” Watkins said. “If we improve as much this week into next week and if we improve next week going into the game against Manchester Academy I feel pretty good about our odds.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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