Prep Roundup: Ridgeland wins big again

Zy McDonald had another big game and Markell Young paced the Titans on the ground as Ridgeland rolled to a 49-15 win over an overmatched Cleveland Central team Friday night.

McDonald ran Ridgeland's gameplay to near perfection, completing five of his eight passes for 145 yards with a touchdown pass to Yamarus Banks and just one interception. He also rushed six times for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

Markell Young finally had that big break out game he was looking for with 184 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries, adding two catches for 34 yards.

The Titans (5-1, 2-0 in Region 2-5A) and Wolves (1-5, 0-2) played to a 7-7 tie in the first half, but Ridgeland scored 20 unanswered points in the second quarter and never looked back.

With the win, Ridgeland remains in a three-way tie with Neshoba Central (3-3) and Provine (7-0).

Up next for the Titans is huge home game against the Callaway Chargers (4-2, 1-1 in Region 2-5A), who are coming off a heartbreaking 26-23 loss to Provine.



Tri-County 34, Central Hinds Academy 14

Tri-County continued it's march through District 2-4A play with a decisive twenty-point victory over hapless Central Hinds 34-14 in Flora. The game leaves the Cougars (0-7) winless with just three games left.

The Rebels (6-1) moved into sole possession of first place in the district, a half a game ahead of their next opponent, Clinton Christian (5-2, 1-0 in 2-4A). The Warriors are coming off a 57-36 loss to Natchez Cathedral that snapped their three-game winning streak.



Holmes Central 49,

Canton 20

Canton's hot start has officially cooled off following the Tigers' second loss in as many weeks. After falling to Ridgeland last week, Canton got blown out on the road in Lexington Friday night.

The Tigers (4-2, 0-2 in Region 2-5A) fell behind early and struggled to a 22-13 halftime deficit. They were out-scored 27-7 in the second half.

After holding its first four opponents to a combined 61 points, the Canton defense has now given up 77 over the past two weeks in region play.

Holmes County Central (4-3, 1-1 in Region 2-5A) was the benefactor of quarterback Justin Smith's cleanest game of the season. The senior completed 12 of his 16 pass attempts for 198 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over. He also rushed seven times for 92 yards and two scores.

Next up for the Tigers is another region game with massive implications against Neshoba Central (3-3, 2-0 in Region 2-5A).



Starkville 27,

Germantown 0

The Mavericks lost ground early and couldn't ever catch up, falling to 0-2 in Region 2-6A with the loss at No. 5 Starkville.

The Yellow Jackets (5-2, 2-0 in 2-6A) scored on all four of their first-quarter possessions. Quarterback Luke Altmeyer threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns and the Jackets out-gained the Mavs 451-188 and forced three turnovers.

The road doesn't get any easier for Germantown (3-3, 0-2 in 2-6A), which hosts No. 6 South Panola (6-1, 1-1 in 2-6A) this week. The Tigers will be coming off a 21-14 win over Clinton.



St. Andrew's 29,

McLaurin 22

The Saints rallied from behind Friday to capture their second win of the season and move to 1-0 in region play.

McLaurin (2-5, 0-1 in 6-3A) took the early lead on the first of Kenny Bacon's two touchdowns and led 16-7 at the half.

St. Andrew's (2-5, 1-0 in 6-3A) stormed back and out-scored the Tigers 22-6 in the second half.

Quarterback Trey Hebert completed 6 of 9 pass attempts for 55 yards and two touchdowns - one to Jamon Harkless and one to Jack Sewell - and added one score on the ground.

Harkless paced the Saints on the ground with 113 yards and one rushing TD.

Lleyton Carr chipped in 81 yards on 16 carries.

Next up for St. Andrew's is a trip to Camden for a shot at cross-county region rival Velma Jackson. The Falcons (3-3, 1-0 in 6-3A) are coming off a 15-8 win over Yazoo County.

Jackson Prep 28, Jackson Academy 17

Jackson Academy found new and more creative ways to lose against their arch-rivals Friday night in Jackson.

The Raiders (3-4, 1-2 in District 1-6A) lost their seventh-straight game to Jackson Prep despite averaging 8.3 yards per rushing attempt.

JA tailback Marcus Harris ran like a man possessed, amassing 213 yards on 23 carries with a pair of touchdowns. But Prep's Matt Jones

To say the Prep defense gave the JA offense problems early would be an understatement - the Raiders gained just 18 yards on their first two possessions. Prep lineman Holmes Maley sacked quarterback Andrew Holmes on the first play from scrimmage and defensive back Riley Maddox picked him off on the third.

Prep led 7-0 after the first quarter of play thanks to the first of Matt Jones' three touchdown runs.

Jackson Academy responded in the second quarter with Land Gebhart's 34-yard field goal, and briefly took the lead, 10-7, on Harris' 76-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left in the second quarter.

But the Patriots (6-1, 2-0 in 1-6A) went 80 yards in four plays on the ensuing possession and carried their 14-10 lead into the half.

Harris kept the Raiders in the game in the second half, scoring again on a 56-yard run in the third quarter, but that came after Jones had scored his third touchdown and before Prep put the game away on a 16-yard scoring pass from Maddox to Reed Kellum.

Jones finished with 117 yards on 29 carries.

Maddox wasn't wildly productive at quarterback, completing 4 of 9 passes for 107 yards with one touchdown, but he was credited with two pass breakups and intercepted two passes on defense and averaged 42.4 yards on five punts, downing two kicks inside the JA 20-yard line.



Velma Jackson 15, Yazoo County 8

It wasn't pretty, but Velma Jackson (3-3, 1-0) picked up a win in its Region 6-3A opener by outlasting Yazoo County (5-2, 0-1) in a defensive struggle.

The Falcon defense did its job, limiting the production from Yazoo County's playmakers and containing its most explosive playmaker Kobe Fisher. The Panthers' dual-threat quarterback, threw for just 85 yards and ran for 136 and his team's lone touchdown.

Velma Jackson did most of its damage on the ground, with five rusher combining for 202 yards.

Quarterback Diallo Thompson scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with six minutes left in the third quarter, then converted the 2-point play with a pass to Carsyn Day to put the Falcons ahead, and the defense did the rest.

The win was Velma Jackson's third in three weeks after opening the season 0-3.

Next up is a home date against region foe St. Andrew's (2-5, 1-0 in 6-3A).



South Delta 34,

St. Joseph 24

It was the Kejuan Davis show in Rolling Fork as the South Delta Bulldogs got off to a fast start and hung on to beat the Bruins.

Davis was effective with both his arm and his feet for South Delta (7-0, 1-0 in 4-2A). The junior only completed 11 of his 24 passes, but racked up 208 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed 10 times for 80 yards to pace the Bulldog offense.

Bulldog receiver Jeremiah Johnson caught five passes for 123 yards and a score and Jaylon Calvin and Jakahyl Parker added touchdown catches.

It was the second disappointing defensive game in a row for St. Joe (2-5, 0-1 in 4-2A), which played inspired football in September wins over St. Andrew's and West Lincoln but has now relented 75 points in two losses since.

The Bruins host Pisgah (6-1) this Friday night. The Dragons will be coming off their first loss of the season - a 27-7 setback against Lake.



Greenville Christian 49, Canton Academy 7

Canton Academy fans hoping their team would be able to build on last week's big win over East Rankin were disappointed Friday night as the Panthers (1-6) never could get anything going against Greenville Christian (3-4).

The Panthers have three games left to make some noise this season.

This Friday, they will head to Louisville to face Winston Academy. The Patriots are coming off their second-straight lop-sided loss following a 47-21 whipping from Simpson Academy (4-3) in Louisville.

A win over Winston would certainly give the Panthers some momentum headed into next weeks' showdown with currently undefeated Riverfield Academy (7-0).