Rebels, Patriots competing for state championships
Tri-County Academy and Jackson Prep will both be playing for Midsouth Association of Independent Schools championships this weekend, with both looking to secure an undefeated season and a state title.
Tri-County will face off against Bowling Green out of Louisiana on Friday night in a rematch of last year’s MAIS 4A title game that the Rebels won 26-13.
This will be the fourth championship game in a row for the Rebels and will be the program’s 11th state title game appearance in the last 15 seasons. If Tri-County is able to pull off the win on Friday night, it will also be the program’s third championship win in the last four years.
The Rebels have been almost as dominant as a team can be this season, sitting at 12-0 on the season, winning every game by two touchdowns or more this year, with an average margin of victory of 30.25 points per game.
Tri-County has been led by a high-powered offense and stingy defense all season long, with a dynamic duo at running back in Hayden Hunt and Rhett Gray and a star senior quarterback in Bryce Warriner.
For Bowling Green, the Buccaneers come into Friday’s matchup sitting at 8-3 on the season and looking for revenge from last year’s championship game loss against Tri-County.
Tri-County and Bowling Green have two common opponents on the season, Columbia Academy and Central Hinds Academy. Tri-County defeated Columbia Academy 27-14 and Central Hinds Academy 33-6, while Bowling Green defeated Columbia Academy and Central Hinds Academy 52-21.
Friday’s MAIS 4A title game between Tri-County Academy and Bowling Green will be at Jackson Academy, with kickoff set for 7 PM.
In the MAIS 6A championship game, it will be a rematch of an earlier season matchup this year and last year’s title game, as Jackson Prep will take on Hartfield Academy.
While Jackson Prep beat Hartfield Academy in a 51-45 thriller earlier this year, the Patriots will still be looking for a measure of revenge, as Hartfield Academy shutout Jackson Prep in last year’s MAIS 6A championship game for a 21-0 victory.
The defense has been dominant all season long for Jackson Prep outside of the matchup against Hartfield Academy earlier in the season, and the Patriots will need a stellar defensive performance in this one, but have also proven to be comfortable and able to win in a shootout if the game comes to that.
The player to watch in this one for Jackson Prep will be senior quarterback Parker Puckett. Puckett has totaled 2,203 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 596 rushing yards, and 12 rushing touchdowns on the season so far.
As for Hartfield Academy, the Hawks have a plethora of dynamic athletes that the Patriots will need to contain in order to win. Key wide receivers, four-star recruit Bralan Womack and Houston commitment Kenzy West, will pose a threat to this Jackson Prep defense. Womack has 1,291 total yards and 13 total touchdowns on the season, while West has 993 total yards and 18 total touchdowns on the year.
This game is on track to be another thriller between the two teams, with Jackson Prep going for their 23rd state title in school history and second in the last three years. The matchup will be this Saturday, November 23rd, at Mississippi College, with kickoff set for 6 PM.