Starkville Academy senior fullback Ryan Mann admits neither he nor his teammates have played in a state championship football game.
However, the Volunteers have been dreaming about and preparing for this moment most of their lives.
Those dreams will become reality at 2 p.m. Friday when Starkville Academy (10-2) will take on Greenville Washington School (10-1) for the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class 3A, Division II state championship at Robinson-Hale Stadium on the Mississippi College campus in Clinton. Gates open at noon. Admission is $10 for adults and students. WLZA-FM (96.1) will broadcast the game live.
“Four of the last five years, Washington has been in the championship game,” Mann said. “This is nothing new to them. They are coming down there expecting to win, but we are going to give it our best shot.”
Winners of three games last season, Starkville Academy won the District 2 championship. It has struggled to score against some of the state’s elite, managing three points in losses to Jackson Academy (23-0) and Presbyterian Christian (21-3). However, that hasn’t kept the Volunteers from reaching the championship stage.
“At the beginning of the year, we put a set of goals up on the board,” Starkville Academy senior lineman Angus Catchot said. “As we slowly but surely achieved each goal, it moved us closer to the state championship game. The goal list allowed us to set standards we were able to meet. After that, we set higher standards. It is a big reason why we have come this far.”
Goal 1: Defeat arch-rival Heritage Academy … check
Goal 2: Have a winning season (first since 2005) … check
Goal 3: Earn a playoff berth (first since 2005) … check
The goal list also included play hard, play smart, and play physical.
The original list didn’t include playing for the state championship.
“This has really come as a complete surprise to everyone,” Starkville Academy coach Jeff Terrill said. “That has what made the season so much more satisfying. Washington was the preseason pick to win the state championship. They have lived up to their expectations. We are that other team who will be playing in the state championship game.”
Said Mann, “After we clinched the playoff berth, to be quite honest with you, anything else was simply icing on the cake.”
Starkville Academy’s cake has grown quite big, as has the team’s band wagon. By winning the district title, Starkville Academy earned the right to play host to a first-round playoff game, a 28-0 victory against Clarksdale Lee Academy before a standing-room only crowd at J.E. Logan Field.
“It was crazy,” Catchot said. “We had more fans than Starkville Academy has seen in a long time. The student body, the fan base, the band, the cheerleaders, everybody played a part in the big win. They were the ones who helped push us over the edge.”
The victory also came with a new quarterback, senior Ryan McKell, who took over after junior Drew Pellum broke his collarbone in the regular-season finale against Presbyterian Christian.
“Ryan is a young man we were working at quarterback in the spring,” Terrill said. “Then he got hurt in the second game of the season, so we had to quit that. Ryan was our No. 3 option when he got healthy again. We have joked around here we have a one-armed quarterback.
“Ryan did a fine job in his first game last week. We were very proud of him.”
The teamwork mentality is something all of the Volunteers have embraced.
“Teamwork is the key to our success,” Catchot said. “We always have each other’s back. When one person falls down, we give the motivation to get them back up. We have a brotherhood that holds us together. We either help that person get back up or we fill that spot. We have had players who are not superstars step up and make superstar plays. That has gone on the entire season.”
McKell will be joined in the backfield by Mann, junior Colby Runnels, junior Zack Slaughter, and senior James Mapp. Receivers include junior Hunter Bolin and senior Michael Temple. The line includes senior Collin Stokes at left tackle, sophomore Tripp Janessen at left guard, senior Cody Smith at center, Catchot at right guard, and junior Cole Phelps at right tackle.
Probable defensive starters include sophomore Bailey Newell and junior Jordan Bright at ends, Catchot at tackle, Janessen at nose guard, junior Stephen Robinson, senior Zack Thomas, and Mann at linebackers, junior Hunter Bolin and junior Taylor Hunt at cornerbacks, Mapp at rover, and sophomore Kirby Cox at free safety.
Sophomore Jonathon Barton is the kicker, while Runnels is the punter. Thomas is the deep snapper, and sophomore Jake Goodwin is the holder. Cox and Runnels are the primary kick returners.
“Clarksdale Lee was a very good team,” Catchot said. “That was a good game to help us get motivated for the championship game. We have been practicing hard and are definitely looking forward to Friday.”
Washington won the District 1 championship. Its lone loss was a 36-0 setback at Jackson Academy on Oct. 14. Common opponents reveal several close scores for both teams. Results also show defense may be the name of the game. The Generals are allowing 9.5 points per game, while the Volunteers are allowing 10.5.
“They are a very balanced team,” Mann said. “They pass it and run it well. They run the ball well and have a real good running back. Defensively, they have not allowed a lot of points. We will have to capitalize on any mistakes they make and we will have to win the turnover battle.”
Washington had appeared in three straight state championship games before missing the game a year ago. In 2009, Washington defeated Pillow Academy 34-7 in the title match. Starkville Academy is in the state championship game for the first time since beating Heritage Academy to win the 2005 crown.
“They are the seasoned veterans,” Terrill said. “They were the favorites to win it all and have played true to form. Traditionally, they are known for great defense. I think that may be where the game is decided. Two really good defenses will be on the field.”
Mann leads the way for the Volunteers with 206 rushes for 1,152 yards and 16 touchdowns. Pellum and Runnels have rushed for more than 700 yards. Pellum has 10 touchdowns, while Runnels has eight.
Pellum has thrown for 382 yards and five touchdowns. In his debut, McKell threw a 14-yard touchdown pass against Clarksdale Lee. Top receivers include Mapp (six catches, 141 yards, two touchdowns) and Bolin (six, 100, three)
Mann leads the squad with 52 tackles (33 solo) and five and a half tackles for loss. Catchot has 51 tackles (37 solo) and 13 and a half for loss. Bright has 48 tackles, including a team-best 15 for loss. Robertson has 46 tackles. Sharp and Hunt have a team-best three interceptions. Pellum has eight fumble recoveries, while McKell has four.
Burton is 38 of 43 on extra points and 4 of 5 on field goals. Runnels averages 36.4 yards per punt. The Volunteers haven’t returned a kick for a score this year.
“Most people have us a pretty good underdog,” said Terrill, who is 13-10 in two seasons at the school. “One thing we have going for us is that we scrimmaged Washington back in the spring. There was no winner or loser. However, we held our own. That is what has given us the confidence we need to do well on Friday.”
That scrimmage will be a distant memory at kickoff Friday, so will be a 20-game losing streak Terrill inherited when he set out to rebuild the program.
“Classmates are always asking you in August if you are going to be any good this year,” Mann said. “This year we said, ‘Yes, we have a chance to be a pretty good bunch.’ Fortunately, we were then able to go out and back that up.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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