Pillow Academy’s matchup with Starkville Academy on Friday night became even more critical for the Mustangs’ playoff chase after they suffered their first District 1-5A setback, 41-21, at Bayou Academy last week.
The defeat marked the Mustangs’ first loss to the Colts since 2018 and just their sixth setback ever in 20 total games played against each other.
“We weren’t ready to play, and that’s on me,” first-year PA head coach Jim Crowder said. “That’s my job to make sure that we have a plan ready to go and that our kids ready to play. We’ll try to evaluate reasons we weren’t successful and try to work on those things this week for a big game against Starkville on Friday.”
The Volunteers (4-3) visit Bill Davis Field on the heels of a 35-15 victory over Magnolia Heights, a common opponent of the Mustangs (4-3). PA beat the Chiefs, 28-14, in comparison. The district foes also both faced Jackson Academy, with the Mustangs losing 49-20 compared to 37-0 for Starkville.
On paper, PA stacks up relatively evenly with the Volunteers.
“It’s a typical Starkville team that is very physical, that wants to run the ball, wants to control the clock,” Crowder said. “They certainly take their shots throwing the ball. They have some really good athletes at their skill spots, so you can’t just focus on the run. You have to be ready to stop a pretty balanced attack.
“Defensively, they run a 4-3,” he added. “They’re really good at what they do. It’ll be a challenge for us.”
Crowder said he believes this clash will be a physical matchup likely won or lost at the line of scrimmage.
“Whoever wins the physical matchup, whoever claims an advantage there is going to have a big leg up in the game,” he said.
The Mustangs hold a 16-12 advantage against Starkville in their all-time series, but the Volunteers have had the recent edge winning six of their last eight meetings with Pillow.
- Contact Riley Overend at 662-581-7237 or roverend@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow @OverendOut on Twitter.
