Pillow Academy has moved past, the best it can, a frustrating loss to Starkville Academy.
The Mustangs saw the Volunteers score 17 unanswered points in the second half, including a 40-yard field goal as time expired, for a 17-14 heartbreaking loss for the Mustangs.
While the Vols notched their 18th straight win, the Mustangs were left to pick up the pieces and try to focus on a strong finish to what has been a disappointing regular season.
PA needs to win its last four games to make a playoff push, and that starts Friday night against Kirk Academy. Expect the Mustangs (2-5) to take out their frustrations on a struggling Kirk team that is 1-6 and has been shutout in back-to-back losses to North Delta and Bayou.
“Depth has kind of caught up with Kirk a bit, but they are better than their record might indicate. Our kids have to be focused and ready to play,” PA coach Tripp McCarty said. “I am proud to see our kids still working hard and battling because it has been a rough season so far. But we have played the absolute toughest schedule in the state in the first half of the season.”
Pillow pummeled the Raiders 64-0 last season. It was the second-highest point total in Pillow’s 50 years of football.
The last five meetings between the two schools have all been blowouts in favor of the Mustangs. They have outscored the Raiders 196-24 during that stretch.
So this game should be just what the doctor ordered for the Mustangs as they try to build momentum for what they hope is another playoff run. The Mustangs qualified for the postseason the last three seasons.
After Kirk, Pillow faces the only two teams in its conference — Washington at home on Oct. 12 and at Magnolia Heights on Oct. 19 — before closing out the regular season at home against East Rankin.
“I feel like we are a playoff team, and we will certainly have a chance to prove that in the next few weeks,” McCarty said.
The Mustangs have lost in the state AAAA Division II semifinals the last two seasons — 36-15 to Simpson last season and 55-34 the year before.
