STARKVILLE — It was the perfect Homecoming night for the Starkville Academy football team.
After a rough start, Starkville Academy relied on its defense to lead the way to a 32-10 victory against Pillow Academy in a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) non-district game at J.E. Logan Field.
The win, which was the Volunteers’ third against a MAIS Class AAAA opponent this season, helped them improve to 6-1 and extend their winning streak to four.
After shutting out Magnolia Heights and Winston Academy in the last two weeks, Starkville Academy fell behind 10-0. Running back Floyd Melton scored on a 9-yard run with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Mustangs then added a field before the Volunteers’ defense started to click and the offense scored 32 unanswered points.
Senior quarterback Noah Methvin started the rally with a 7-yard touchdown run. The defense did its part by forcing four turnovers.
The Volunteers recovered three of the Mustangs’ five fumbles. Howell Archer recovered one in the end zone for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Starkville Academy’s defense has allowed it to control the tempo in games and has given the offense plenty of scoring chances.
“We believe in our defense.” Nicholson said.
Junior Walker Tranum and senior Kyle Favor shined in the win. Favor and Tranum combined for three sacks in the second half. While Favor alternates between stuffing running backs and sacking the quarterback sack, Tranum fights in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
“When one of us draws two blocks, the other is there to clean it up,” Tranum said. “It’s really us working as a team for big sacks and tackles for losses.”
The family bond helps the defense execute. The defensive players have used that trust, communication, and chemistry to allow only 10 points in the last three games.
“We rally behind it,” Favor said of the team chemistry. “We find a way to come back together and make the plays work out. One of us gets the sack, we all get it. It’s all of us together, not just one.”
Tranum said defensive coordinator Brad Butler is the mastermind behind it all.
“Coach Butler is the main part of this,” Tranum said. “He calls the blitz (and) sets us up perfectly for plays. He makes us look good.”
Butler is the big voice behind every drive, finding ways to improve and giving the Volunteers their credit.
“Coach Butler does a great job in pacing them and making sure they’re in the right place,” Nicholson said. “He figures out whatever they need to do to find the answers and the guys, and I trust that.”
Butler said pace, passion, and grit continue to be pillars for the Volunteers.
“You’ve got to love defense making turnovers and flying to the ball,” Butler said.
Still, Nicholson and Butler know Starkville Academy has to start faster. Fortunately, the Volunteers were able to rally after the Mustangs scored the first 10 points.
“We’ve got to get better coming out of the gate,” Nicholson said. “They have to meet me halfway and help me figure out what it is. Big games coming up and we can’t risk coming out dead.”
Butler said the defense can improve. With a Class AAA, District 2 title still on the line, Butler knows the defense needs to fine tune things.
“It’s still too early,” Butler said. “We’ve got three big district games coming up. What we’ve done besides one conference win is all still in front of us. We have to continue to get better to ensure we’re in a position to make the playoffs and keep this thing rolling.”
Starkville Academy will travel to Canton next week to take on district rival Canton Academy.
“We can’t be complacent in these wins,” Nicholson said. “Our leaders can never been satisfied.”
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