Pillow Academy played some salty defense and made just enough plays on offense to open the season with a huge win.
The Mustangs held off Jackson Academy to notch a 26-21 victory over the Raiders Friday night at PA’s Bill Davis Field. And in the process served notice — Pillow will be a contender in Class 5A this season.
“This is a big one, no doubt,” Pillow coach Tripp McCarty said. “We had a couple of injuries and some cramps, but we just kept battling.
“I am so, so proud of the way our coaches and players came through. We hope this sets the tone for what we believe can be a good season.”
The Mustang defense held JA to just 61 yards rushing and 179 total yards while forcing four turnovers.
Senior linebacker Sam Harris led the defensive charge with a team-high 14 tackles, followed by junior rover Christian Belk with 10 stops. Josh Moor and Seth Hollis, both also seniors, chipped in with six tackles each.
Belk also came up big on the offensive end, stepping in at tailback after Alex Tanksley and Bryce Miller both went down. He ripped off a 31-yard touchdown run 3:41 left in the game to put PA up 26-21, but JA’s Ja’Ree Myers returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown.
The Mustangs regrouped and made the five-point lead stand.
“Our defense played lights out. I thought we were fast and physical,” McCarty said. “On offense, I thought we had a good rhythm going early and just got gased.
“At the end of the game, when we needed it most, we had Lawes McCool at fullback and Christian Belk at tailback, and both of those guys have had limited reps there, but you saw what happened. We ran it down their throat when we had to.”
Belk finished with a team-high 78 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Senior quarterback Shane Houston Stephens added 54 yards on 16 attempts while completing 19 of 34 passes for 138 yards, two TDs and three interceptions.
Senior wide receiver Jaden Simcox had a team-high four catches for 28 yards.
JA, which competes in 6A — the largest classification in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, led 7-0 early, but Tanksely’s 1-yard scoring plunge tied things up in the first quarter.
Senior Hagan Wilson caught an 8-yard TD pass from Stephens, and senior Jack Reichle had an 11-yard scoring reception.
Pillow returns to action next week on the road at Indianola Academy.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
