STARKVILLE — The ability to finish a game is a trait learned through time.
On Friday, the Starkville High School football team gave up two scores to Noxubee County in the final minute of each half in a disappointing 14-7 loss to open the 2010 season.
And when the Jackets had their chance late in the fourth quarter, their efforts turned south with back-to-back busted plays that squandered a first down at the Noxubee County 26.
Instead, Noxubee County”s youth-laden squad found a way to the end zone in the waning minute of the game. Sophomore quarterback Deangelo Ballard scrambled left of the pocket before hitting wideout Laddarrel Hunt for a 37-yard touchdown pass to go ahead 14-7.
For Starkville High first-year coach Jamie Mitchell and his team, the loss had a high level of sting as it came in front of a sellout crowd. And with the Yellow Jackets set to play four consecutive road games, earning the win could have provided a strong base for the next five weeks.
“We”re not here for moral victories or to say things are a lot better than they used to be,” Mitchell said. “We had every opportunity to win the ballgame. You talk about how ironic things were in that game with them scoring in the last minute of each half.
“We played hard, but not smart at all times. But, at the same time, you do take some refuge in the fact that kids are getting better.”
The Yellow Jackets took a 7-0 lead through Jakarta Agnew, who plunged in from 8 yards out midway through the first quarter. The senior fullback was the team”s only consistent source of offense, running for 47 yards on 12 carries. The lack of success in the passing game, where senior Jaquez Johnson was 6 of 16 for 37 yards and an interception, put even more emphasis on the ground attack.
The Jackets gained 107 rushing yards, but much like the Tigers struggled to consistently pick up first downs on the ground.
“We don”t have a home run hitter,” Mitchell said. “We”re going to have to earn everything we get.”
While Mitchell lauded his team”s ability to match up physically with Noxubee County, he might have left the game ruing a pair of trick plays that backfired.
First, following a David Fair forced fumble of Jarred Johnson, Starkville High opted for a wide receiver pass from Gabe Myles, who underthrew Martavius Foster and was intercepted at the Noxubee County 7-yard line.
Then, after another recovered fumble in Noxubee County territory, a cheeky move backfired when Myles was stopped a yard short of a first down on a fake field goal attempt. Kicker Daniel Fumo would have had a 29-yard attempt.
With those two busted trick plays and fumbles by the Tigers, Noxubee County first-year head coach Tyrone Shorter said his team was fortunate to get the win against team he said was “very improved.”
The victory, at least defensively, mirrored what the team accomplished in its jamboree rout of West Lauderdale last week at Mississippi State”s Davis Wade Stadium. The Tigers were stout against the run and generated a solid pass rush, but it was their burgeoning passing combo of Ballard and Jarred Johnson that provided a necessary element.
Jarred Johnson started the game and rotated with Ballard, combining for 163 passing yards on 12-of-19 completions. Shorter credited his staff with managing the rotation and going with the hot hand at the right times.
“When we left the jamboree we wanted to see more in the passing game, and tonight we saw some improvement,” Shorter said. “Quarterbacks made the right reads, but again, we”re dealing with two young quarterbacks. We knew we”d have to get a big play in the passing game to beat these guys because we weren”t able to run the ball like we did last week.”
Noxubee County was held to 77 rushing yards on 38 carries, even as senior linebacker D.J. Jordan spent most of the fourth quarter battling cramps on the sideline.
Following up on last week”s stellar defensive effort against Jackson Callaway, Mitchell is pleased to at least have one side of the ball operating at a game-winning level.
Still, he stressed that the entire team”s winning mentality must improve ahead of next week”s road match against M.C. Miller and the Louisville Wildcats.
“For us to be in that game says volumes about where we are,” Mitchell said, “but I don”t think we have the mind-set yet to will ourselves to win ballgames. Some people don”t understand that. The physical part was there with everything they had. It gets down to close ballgames where you”ve just got to find a way to win. Our mental toughness is not where we need to be.
“In the future, hopefully we”ll take this example and learn from it.”
Noxubee County hits the road next Friday when they play Columbus High.
n NOTES: Martavius Foster had two of Starkville High”s four sacks. … Wesley Montgomery had two punts inside the 20-yard line. … Jordan and quarterback Jaquez Johnson each left the game with cramps, but Mitchell said both were fine to return to practice. … Noxubee County wideout Terrence Barron had a game-high five catches for 77 yards.
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