Tripp McCarty finally got the fast start he’s been looking for.
Pillow Academy got two quick turnovers from its defense and scored on its first two offensive plays and never looked back en route to a 37-14 thrashing of Jackson Academy Friday night at Bill Davis Field.
“This is a special win for our guys,” PA head coach Tripp McCarty said. “Everything we had been bad at we all of a sudden had go our way. We got the fast start, won the turnover battle and communicated well on the field.”
Pillow (6-3) wrapped up the North AAAA, Division II title and locked down the No. 3 seed in the state playoffs, which means the Mustangs will be at home in the first round on Nov. 4.
“That’s all great. That’s part of what we set out to do, but we’ve got bigger hopes than just hosting,” said McCarty, whose team was ousted in the first round last season with a 14-13 loss to East Rankin.
The PA defense forced eight turnovers and scored off one and had another touchdown wiped out on a questionable roughing the passer penalty. That unit also had a couple of second-half goal-line stands.
“Those defensive guys dug deep and gave great effort. That’s why we do all those hard summer workouts, the valley days, so we have what it takes to make big plays in the second half of big games,” said McCarty, who is 2-1 vs. the Raiders.
Junior defensive end Hunter Upchurch had two interceptions. The first set up a 13-yard touchdown run by John Madison Brooks that made it 7-0. Then a fumble recovery by senior Swayze Pillow set up a 44-yard touchdown reception for junior wideout Eli Burton, who was back in action after missing the last five games due to injury. Burton caught a short pass from sophomore quarterback Lake Giachelli and turned it into a score.
Burton finished with a team-high eight receptions — the most by a Mustang all season — for 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“It has killed that young man to not be able to play all this time. You could tell just how much it meant for him to be back out there,” McCarty said of Burton.
Upchurch’s second pick again gave PA a short field, and Brooks capped off the 29-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run that put PA up 21-7 early in the second quarter.
Brooks finished with 97 yards on 23 carries and a pair of TDs — giving him 14 in the last five games.
Giachelli’s second TD hookup with Burton went for 34 yards and put PA up 28-7 late in the second quarter. The sophomore signal caller 11 of 17 passes for 149 yards and ran for 41 yards.
Junior linebacker Luke Fondren had the Mustangs’ final touchdown when he returned an interception 70 yards. He finished with two picks and fumble recovery.
Bailey Vaughan closed out the PA scoring with a 33-yard field goal.
Mustang senior cornerback Walker Coleman had six tackles and an interception while doing a solid job covering JA’s most explosive player, wide receiver Anderson Langston.
Pillow closes out the regular season this week at Magnolia Heights, which is 2-7 after Friday’s 42-6 loss to Jackson Prep.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
