Pillow Academy coach Michael Fair hopes his young team is developing a tough mentality.
He says the Mustangs took the first step in that direction in last week's 31-7 season-opening victory over Clarksdale Lee. Pillow overcame a sluggish start for 31 unanswered points.
"We had some opportunities to quit, and we didn't. We were down 7-0 quickly, and Lee was flirting with a 14-0 lead," Fair said. "Our guys kept their composure, fought hard and never quit. The scoreboard showed just that when it was all over.
"A lot of our guys played in pain, fighting cramps. This team is getting an identity, and I am excited about that."
The Mustangs will get a chance to build on that identity Friday night in their home opener against Hillcrest Christian School. The Cougars have just 19 players on their roster and were dominated last week in a 33-2 loss to Starkville.
Hillcrest, which has struggled in recent years, lost 42-0 to the Mustangs last year. Even though Hillcrest is down again this year, Fair says his team won't overlook the Cougars.
"We're not good enough to overlook anybody," said the first-year PA head coach. "And I tell our guys that everyday."
The Cougars like to work from a spread offense, but Fair isn't overly concerned with scouting Hillcrest.
"In concern to our young team's development, we've got to worry about Pillow Academy and what we've got to do to get better. We can't worry too much about Hillcrest," Fair said.
Last week, Pillow outgained Lee 280-258 in total yardage and forced four turnovers, scoring on one of them, while turning the ball over two less times than the Colts.
Of the 16 players who started against Lee, 11 of them saw their first varsity action. That group was led by senior Murry Adams, who sustained a head injury in baseball and didn't play football as a sophomore and was limited to kicking duties last season.
Adams, a starter at tailback and safety, ran for a team-high 76 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He also had a 6-yard TD reception as he scored 19 of his team's 31 points (2 TDs, 4 PAT kicks and a 23-yard field goal). Adams punted four times for a 38-yard average and put one of his six kickoffs into the end zone.
Junior quarterback Will Andrews, who played sparingly as a sophomore, was solid in his first start as he completed 5-of-8 passes for 68 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 44 yards and a TD on eight carries.
"Will didn't make a bad throw. His throwing hand was hit on the interception. He threw one pass away, and the (other incompletion) I thought was a catch at the time," Fair said. "As long as he keeps that up, we'll have a good chance to win."
Defensively, senior Tyler Hill had a big showing in his varsity debut - recording a team-high eight solo tackles. He also forced one fumble and finished with nine total stops.
