Pillow Academy has looked down right awesome at times in blowout wins in its first four games.
The Mustangs have outscored their opponents 154-9, but that has been against lesser opponents such as Starvkille, Hillcrest and Oak Hill. Hillcrest and Oak Hill are a combined 1-9 on the season.
The first test of the season comes Friday against Jackson Academy. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in a game that will likely determine the North AAA Conference Division I champion.
Coming off an open date, Pillow, ranked No. 2 in the statewide academy AAA poll, is 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the Division I standings. No. 3-ranked JA is 4-1, 3-0 after whipping winless Heritage 40-0.
“This isn't the championship game, but whoever wins it will be in total control in the league standings,” PA coach Herbert Davis said.
JA coach Joey Hawkins echoes Davis' thoughts.
“This is obviously a huge game for both teams. There will be a lot of excitement building for a game that will go a long way toward determining our conference champion,” Hawkins explained.
Last year, Davis guided the Mustangs to their first North AAA title since the 2000 season. It was just the fourth league crown in the school's 39-year football history.
Winning back-to-back league titles for the second time in school history would make for a memorable season.
“As much tradition as we have at Pillow, it's hard to believe we've only won four conference championships. To do it in back-to-back seasons would be very special and give us an edge in the playoffs with the top seed from the North not having to play a tough Jackson Prep team in the first round,” Davis said.
Pillow defeated JA 7-3 last season to wrap up the North AAA championship, snapping the Raiders' dominant reign in the league. JA had won the league title every year since joining it in 2002.
Pillow has had two weeks to prepare for JA, which is good and bad, according to Davis.
“Overall, it was a plus. We worked hard offensively trying not to lose our rhythm and timing,” Davis said.
JA's lone loss came during the second week of the season to juggernaut Jackson Prep. The top-ranked Patriots won 24-6 and since then have thrashed two public schools, beating Newton County 24-0 and Pearl 50-0.
Davis is concerned how his team will react in a tough game after having such an easy time of it in the first four contests.
“In every big game I've ever been in you face some kind of adversity. We haven't had any of that yet, so I am a little concerned about how we will handle it when it comes. We've got to stick together,” Davis explained.
JA is averaging 32 points and more than 350 yards a contest.
Like Pillow, JA is using a two-quarterback system, alternating junior Franklin Keyes and senior Andrew Bussey. The Raiders have a good one-two punch at running back with speedy seniors Landon Thompson and Phillip Jelliffe.
Davis said JA's offensive speed is a big concern.
“We've got some weapons back that we were missing last year because of injuries, and that's been a big boost for our offense,” Hawkins said. “We'll need every weapon we've got against a defense that has allowed just nine points.”
Sorry, coach. Those points were allowed by the Mustang offense on an interception return and a safety.
“That's even worse news,” Hawkins said with a laugh.
Jelliffe leads JA with 446 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 39 carries - a whopping average of 11.4 yards per carry. Thompson has 256 yards and one TD on 39 rushes and is the team's leading receiver with eight grabs for 201 yards and three TDs.
Keyes has completed 24-of-38 passes for 377 yards and six TDs. Bussey, whose playing time under center has increased as of lately, has completed 10-of-12 passes for 209 yards and three scores.
The PA defense has put up some gaudy numbers through the first four games, holding opponents to just 80 yards a contest. The defense has scored a touchdown in each game, too.
Offensively, Pillow is averaging 358 yards a contest, with 220 of those yards coming on the ground.
The Mustang ground attack is led by senior tailback Chris Rutherford, who has 471 yards and seven touchdowns on 42 carries.
PA senior quarterback Pate Shackelford has completed 18-of-29 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns, while senior quarterback Jacob Land has connected on 12-of-20 attempts for 231 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior speedster Elliot Thornburg leads the team in receiving with 15 catches for 308 yards and three TDs.
