This is one Carroll Academy has had circled on the schedule for several months now.
The Class AA Rebels (5-0) host Class AAAA Pillow Academy (1-4) Friday night in Carrollton in a game that is drawing much hype.
“Even though we take it one game at a time, it’s definitely been in the back of our kids’ minds, and now it’s finally here,” CA head coach Bo Milton said. “We know what this week is, and our kids are excited about this opportunity.
“It will be one of the biggest crowds at Carroll in quite some time. It should be an amazing atmosphere Friday night.”
PA coach Tripp McCarty knows his team is traveling into enemy territory and expects a great high school football atmosphere.
“It’s similar to our rivalry with Indianola. The two schools are so close, and there is a lot of familiarity between the players and families on both sides,” he said. “It’s a game that will be talked about all week. People get fired up, and that’s what makes high school football so special in the south.”
It’s the first meeting between the two schools, separated by just a 15-mile mile stretch of U.S. 82 East, since 2006.
Talks about renewing the once-bitter rivalry began after Manchester Academy downgraded to eight-man football, leaving the Rebels with an open date. Pillow also had an opening at the same time.
Pillow and Carroll played regularly during the 1990s, then suspended the series after the 1997 season when both schools thought the rivalry had gotten out of control and was marred by practical jokes and acts of vandalism.
They resumed playing in 2002, but by then the competition had become one-sided.
In the last three contests between the schools — played in 2002, 2003 and 2006 — Pillow outscored its smaller counterpart 92-6.
Pillow leads the series 8-2, with both of Carroll’s victories coming in the 1995 season, when the schools played in the same classification and the Rebels beat Pillow in the regular season and in the playoffs.
Carroll brings a much-heralded running attack into Friday’s contest. The Rebels have a three-headed monster in quarterback Morgan Mims and tailbacks Jeb Beck and Hunter Brackin.
Beck, a power back, has a team-high 566 yards and six touchdowns on 95 carries, while Brackin, a smaller but quicker back, has 455 yards and seven touchdowns on 52 attempts.
Mims has chipped in with 393 yards and four TDs on 34 rushes.
“We need to control the clock with our running game and keep the ball away from Pillow’s dangerous passing attack. We don’t see passing teams like that in AA,” Milton said. “Pillow will have a depth advantage since we only have 21 kids, but our guys are ready for the challenge.”
McCarty knows his defense will have to slow the run — something Carroll’s first five opponents have failed to do.
“Their backs run hard behind a big ol’ front. It’s all about stopping the run, but we’ll have to be ready for a little bit of everything because Bo does a really good job over there,” said the PA coach, who has matched wits against Milton in previous stops at Canton, Madison-Ridgeland Academy and Brookhaven.
“The good thing is that our defense has really been rallying to the ball as of late. That’s something we will surely have to do against Carroll.”
The Pillow defense is led by senior rover Lake Giachelli, senior lineman Deandre Hoover and junior linebacker Sam Harris, who has a team-high 41 tackles. Giachelli leads the team in tackles for loss with seven.
The Mustangs have had more success passing than throwing through the first give games, something McCarty hopes will change sooner rather than later.
PA is averaging 157 yards per game through the air and 95.6 on the ground.
Junior quarterback Shane Houston Stephens tied a school-record for completions in last week’s 28-20 victory over Heritage — completing 18 of 26 passes for 239 yards and one 2-point conversion pass. For the season, he has completed 59 of 125 attempts for 804 yards, two touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Jaden Simcox has a team-high 229 yards receiving on 14 grabs, followed by Alex Lindsey with 172 yards on 10 catches.
Milton has warned his team not to be misled by Pillow’s record since its first five opponents have a combined 20-5 record.
“We are treating Pillow like they are 4-1. That’s what kind of team we consider them to be,” said the CA coach.
On the other, the Rebels’ five wins have come against teams with a combined 6-19 record.
Whether or not any of that matters, both sides will find out Friday night.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow on Twitter:@Bill_Burrus.
