Pillow Academy has a chance to separate itself just a bit from the pack in the North AAA Division II standings.
The Mustangs, 4-0 and ranked No. 3 in the statewide academy AAA ranks, can move to 3-0 in league play with a road victory Friday night at Magnolia Heights. Kickoff is set for 7:30 in Senatobia.
Mustang coach Michael Fair says beating a tough, physical Magnolia Heights team is easier said than done.
"All of our conference games from here on out are big games. They will just get bigger and bigger as the season goes on," said the third-year PA coach. "We have an opportunity to get to 3-0 in the conference, but we will certainly have our hands full with a big, physical team. You always know that's how Magnolia Heights will be."
The Mustangs figure to get the Chiefs' best shot since they're coming off their first loss of the season (35-21 to Washington) and the team can't afford to slip to 0-2 and still have a strong chance to make the playoffs.
Heritage is 1-0 in Division II and faces MRA Friday. Washington is 1-1 and plays Friday in a non-conference contest against Indianola.
The top two out of the five Division II teams advance to the playoffs.
"Some good teams will be left at home this November when the playoffs roll around. You better bring your A-game anytime you play in this conference," Fair said.
The Chiefs are led by senior quarterback/free safety Mac McDonald - one of the best players Pillow will see the entire season. McDonald, a dual threat running and throwing, will face a Mustang defense that has been stifling so far — allowing less than six points a contest.
"(McDonald) is an absolute game changer," Fair said, "so we certainly have to contain him. He ripped a 75-yard touchdown run against Washington, and I certainly remember him throwing for about 250 yards out of the wishbone two years ago on us up there."
The PA first-team defense — led by linebackers Luke Kimmel and Michael Huoni, end Andersen Lucic and cornerback Charles Nause — shut out an explosive Washington team two weeks ago and has given up just three points this season.
Kimmel leads the Mustangs in solo tackles with 22, and linebacker Cody Beam is first in total stops with 27.
The defense will be without starting free safety Gaston Lyon, who suffered a broken collarbone in last week's 34-7 win over Lee Academy. Lyon is tied for third in tackles at 16 with Huoni.
Leflore County High School transfer Ja'Quez Taylor, a senior, is expected to start in place of Lyon.
"We are working several guys (Taylor, Jackson Pannell and Cayson Cox) back there this week in practice," Fair said.
Taylor, the first African-American varsity football player at the private school, sparked the Mustang offense last week in his first action with his new team, gaining 134 yards on seven carries, including a 58-yard touchdown run.
Offensively, Pillow is led by junior tailback Myers Falls, fullback Kimmel and junior quarterback Landon Taylor.
Falls has rushed for a team-high 440 yards and five touchdowns on 65 carries, and Kimmel has added 260 yards and four TDs on 28 attempts.
Landon Taylor has completed 26 of 46 passes for 390 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
• Contact Bill Burrus at bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
