Starkville High looks for a piece of history today when the Yellow Jackets face off with Pascagoula for the Class 5A high school soccer state championship.
Match time is 3:30 p.m. at Clinton High School.
“This is the biggest moment in our program’s history and I think the kids are really excited,” Starkville coach Brian Bennett said. “We are playing our best soccer at exactly the right time.”
Starkville (13-3) has reached the title match, thanks to victories over Center Hill (4-0), Oxford (4-2) and Hernando (3-1).
Tuesday’s victory saw the Yellow Jackets sparkle on the defensive end, while getting two goals from Price Day on the offensive end.
Hernando had entered the contest with only five goals allowed for the entire season.
“Our confidence is high right now,” Day said. “We know defensively we will always have a shot.
“Our possession has been much better in the playoffs. We have a balanced offensive attack. The key for our team is we are not counting on one player to carry the load.”
Pascagoula (20-4-1) reached the title match with a 4-2 victory over West Harrison in the south state title match.
Landry Lofton scored two goals for the Panthers. Lofton had scored three goals the entire season before that match.
“It’s just fantastic,” Pascagoula coach William Denton told the Mississippi Press. “These guys are part of something special right now. We persevered through a tough game but were able to get the win.”
Starkville is playing in its first state title match. The Jackets lost their only other north state title match to Tupelo in 2001.
Pascagoula is back in the state finals for the first time since losing to Tupelo in the 2004 state championship match.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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