Carroll Academy coach Steve Flemming understands exactly what his team is up against.
His Rebels close out the season Friday at Pillow Academy in what is a total mismatch on paper.
The Class AA member Rebels are 1-8 and will have just 17 varsity players dressed out against the red-hot Mustangs, winners of six straight to get to 7-2 and who are ranked No. 3 in the statewide academy AAA poll.
"There is not an oddsmaker out there who would say that we could stay within five or six touchdowns of them, and we may not can. But we hope we can make them play hard to beat us," Flemming said. "Realistically, it could be over in the first quarter, but we played a fine Leake team into the third quarter. I would like to think we can make Pillow do that."
Pillow coach Herbert Davis knows his team is a heavy favorite, but he still expects Carroll to play hard.
"I hope it's a good game for both schools," Davis said.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Pillow's Bill Davis Field.
This will be the 10th meeting in the series between the two teams and the first since 2003. Pillow holds a a 7-2 advantage.
Both of Carroll's wins came in 1995, beating Pillow 23-7 in the regular season and 14-3 in the state AAA playoffs.
Carroll is led offensively by senior quarterback Walt Montgomery and senior wide receiver Allen Cheek. Cheek has 52 catches for 892 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Montgomery has passed for more than 1,000 yards.
They will be facing a stingy Mustang defense that leads the North AAA conference in points allowed, giving up a little more than 10 points per contest.
"I have been watching the JA and Starkville tapes. Their defense was simply dominating," Flemming said.
The Pillow first-team defense has given up just 24 points during the team's six-game win streak. One of those touchdowns came on a 15-yard drive set up by a turnover against Lee.
JA managed just five first downs last week against the Mustangs, with one of those coming via a penalty.
"We don't run the ball much, but Pillow has been just as tough against the pass as they have the run. I know we'll get press coverage on Cheek, but I also expect them to have fresh legs on him the whole game," Flemming said.
The Mustangs wrapped up the North AAA Division I championship last week with a 7-3 win over JA. They will host Madison-Ridgeland Academy, the No. 2 seed from the South, at 7 p.m. next Friday in the first round of the state AAA playoffs.
No. 5 MRA, 7-2, closes out the regular season Friday against No. 4 Lamar, 8-2.
The PA-MRA winner will advance to the state AAA championship game Nov. 17 at Mississippi College in Clinton, where they will likely face top-ranked Jackson Prep. Prep hosts Washington School next week in the other first round game.
