STEENS — The sight of another football player limping around the hallways at Columbus Christian Academy isn’t a good sign.
But there RJ DeLoach was Wednesday, wearing a Tennessee Volunteers warmup jacket/top and moving slowly to class.
With starting quarterback Dawson Shaw already out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, the thought of playing without DeLoach, an experienced two-way contributor, was a sobering thought for coach Greg Watkins, especially with the team’s Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class A-AA, District 2 opener against Winona Christian set for 7 p.m. Friday in Steens.
“It will be tough this week because the junior varsity game (against Winona Christian) is Thursday, so we might have to limit the quarters for the varsity game,” Watkins said. “We will just have to wait and see.
“We have just put (DeLoach’s injury) behind us and moved on. The guys are doing a good job at practice of making adjustments and having to move kids around. It hurts not to have those two athletes (Shaw and DeLoach) on the field, but we’re going to make it. The kids are resilient, and they are going to adjust and work hard. We will take it as it comes.”
Junior varsity players can play six quarters combined in the JV and varsity games.
Columbus Christian (1-3) is coming off a 34-14 loss last week at Tupelo Christian Prep. Watkins said DeLoach rolled an ankle and likely will miss this week’s game. He said his status is uncertain for CCA’s game against Newton County Academy next week.
Losing DeLoach for a longer period of time would be a big blow because CCA is set to take on District 2 rival Oak Hill Academy in two weeks in a game that could go a long way toward deciding a second playoff team from the district. Last season, Winona Christian beat Oak Hill Academy in its District 2 opener and went on to win the district. The Raiders overcame a plethora of injuries to take second and secure a playoff berth.
Watkins hopes CCA can get off to a fast start Friday in district play so it can control its destiny. He knows it will be tough against an opponent that has a tradition of success. CCA, which used to be called Immanuel Christian School, changed its name in 2014. It is 0-9 against Winona Christian since 2007. The Rams have been shut out in six of those games. Prior to that, the school’s football team played in the Christian Football Association (CFA).
Last season, Columbus Christian lost to Winona Christian 34-27, so Watkins believes his players have confidence they can play with the Stars.
“It seemed like when I first got here when you mentioned Winona you were intimidated, and we kind of played that way,” Watkins said. “I think the last couple of years we haven’t played that way. They have played with more urgency and more determined. I don’t think that will come into the picture as far as who it is. They are one of the teams to beat in our district, so we will be up for the challenge and have confidence of what we can do based on last year.”
Watkins said another player, a freshman, broke his collar bone at practice, so the Rams are fighting to keep the injury bug away. With small numbers in 10th through 12th grades entering the season, Watkins said he hasn’t talked to his players about persevering through the setbacks because everyone is accustomed to having positions shuffled and playing in new spots.
That’s what junior Nate Parker had to do after Shaw went down in the season opener against Heritage Academy. Watkins said Parker has continued to mature as a quarterback and a team leader since being forced into a new role.
Watkins said senior Kimarri Whitfield will be counted on to shoulder a big load. But he feels the Rams still have enough versatility to ask other players to step up to take some of the load off Whitfield.
“We’re fixing to turn the reins completely over to Nate,” Watkins said. “We have moved some guys in and out in different sets. His maturity has come along real well. I see him getting more comfortable right now and stepping things up, and next year he will step right in thanks to the experience he is getting this year.”
Watkins said Parker has more confidence in his ability to throw the ball. He also said he is trusting that his receivers will be in position to make plays when they are supposed to. He said that was a welcome sign against Tupelo Christian Prep, as was the fact he didn’t throw any interceptions.
Watkins hopes Parker will continue to develop because the Rams will need him if they are going to realize their hopes of getting back to the playoffs after a year absence.
“We know going in Friday could be for district,” Watkins said. “Looking at power points (for the MAIS playoffs), we are still 11th or 12th, so we are still in the playoff picture. Every win builds on that. That is our goal, to get into the playoffs. It starts with trying to win district, and trying to win district starts with Winona.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.