It was the kind of loss Pillow Academy wants to forget.
Jackson Prep blasted the Mustangs 38-0 last week in what PA head coach Tripp McCarty calls an embarrassment for all involved.
“It hurt. The kids were embarrassed; we all were,” McCarty said. “The kids have responded well and are working hard to prevent that from happening again.
“We’ve licked our wounds, and we are over it. Everything we want to accomplish is still in front of us.”
Winless Manchester may provide the perfect remedy for what’s ailing the Mustangs (2-2). They look to rebound Friday night in Yazoo City against the 0-4 Mavericks, who have been outscored 134-49 so far this season.
Kickoff is set for 7.
“Record wise, Manchester is on the losing end, but they have some good skill guys and they play pretty good defense,” said the second-year Pillow head coach. “We can’t afford to look past anybody. It’s the same old story for us — we can’t play bad and expect to win.”
McCarty is concerned that some of his players are still making mistakes that they shouldn’t be at nearly the halfway point of the high school football season. One area that jumped out in the Prep loss was tackling, he said.
“We’ve got to loosen up and go play hard and have fun. We need some guys to step up and make some plays,” McCarty said. “We need some kids to want the weight on their shoulders. We need them to want the ball in their hands or wanting the other team to run their way.”
The Mustangs need to use Friday’s game against a smaller school as a springboard into next week’s North AAAA, Division II opener against archrival Washington School.
In Pillow’s run-first offense, senior Will Jennings leads the way in rushing with 365 yards and four touchdowns on 54 carries. Junior John Madison Brooks has 244 yards and three touchdowns on 43 attempts.
For those who can’t make it to Yazoo City Friday, Pillow has started live streaming its games via the Web at www.PAMustangs.com.
