By DAVID MILLER
Special to The Dispatch
Starkville Academy’s defense knew of Heritage Academy quarterback Dylan Barker’s arm strength and ability to stretch the field heading into Friday’s MAIS Class AAA, District 2 clash in Columbus.
The Volunteers didn’t prepare much for the pass because they hadn’t seen much of it through the first five games of the season. And though they expected a heavy dose of running back Dontae Gray in the zone-read game, when Barker started to air it out in the first half Friday, he didn’t catch anyone by surprise.
A secondary full of seniors, and a daily dose of defending Houston Clark and Colt Chrestman in practice made the adjustment routine.
“Our guys’ ability to make those adjustments, and the work they normally get throughout the week against that type of stuff paid off,” said Chase Nicholson, SA head coach. “They made the big plays for us and kept things from happening.”
The Volunteers defense held the Heritage senior quarterback to 74 yards and Dalton Dempsey and Colt Chrestman each picked off passes in a 35-14 route.
“We’d talked about [Barker] having a strong arm, but we thought his accuracy was the issue,” Nicholson said. “But he really threw the ball well tonight. He’s been settling in. But being able to go against our own skill guys, it really pushes us. No one wants to get beat in practice, and the competitive drive carries over into games when you’re challenged like that.”
SA (5-1, 1-0 district) was buoyed by a 14-0 lead out of the gates on touchdown runs by Clark on both sides of a fumbled kickoff by Heritage. Once Drake Gordman made it a 21-7 game after a 7-yard scoring run, Heritage abandoned Gray and the run game and went to the air. Barker was picked off on a brilliant diving interception by Dempsey before rebounding with a strong drive before the half, driving Heritage from its own 29 to the SA 25. He had completed 4 of 5 passes for 45 yards before misfiring on three straight passes and getting nailed by Noah Methvin and Carter Wood to end the half.
“I saw they had really fast, quick outside receivers that I knew I’d have to defend,” said Gordman, who broke up three first-half passes. “I knew I had to step up and make plays and keep them out of the end zone.
“They like to run the fade with the short corner underneath, and they killed us with that last year. We knew they’d try it again this year, so we really had to execute on that route and force four verticals.”
The Volunteers defended the deep ball particularly well, surrendering zero passes that traveled more than 15 yards.
“We always work on that — never let it get behind you,” said Pierce Fondren, SA defensive back.
SA rotates as many as six seniors in its defensive backfield, led by Gordman, Parker Guest and Chrestman. Nicholson said that experience makes for quick adjustments and a variety of coverages for the Volunteers to use.
“It’s hard to do deep crossers and a lot of other stuff, so they did the quick out routes, stretch you with verticals,” Nicholson said. “While they’re not totally like us — we have combo routes, trips packages — there’s only but so much you can do in high school ball, so they know it.
“Basically, we’re cover four most of the time. I mix a little (cover) two in there, and a combo of three and man. But our secondary, we have guys who’ve been starting and playing for three years. When we say ‘two, three, man’ … whatever, they’re fine. They lock in and go.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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