GREENVILLE — Pillow Academy entered the game with its playoff hopes on life support.
In a gritty performance, the short-handed Mustangs battled hard but just couldn't get enough offense as Washington School pulled the plug on Pillow with a 16-12 victory here Friday night.
The Mustangs fall to 2-5 overall, 1-3 in the North AAA Division I standings and appear to have no chance of passing Jackson Academy and Madison-Ridgeland Academy in the Division I playoff race.
"If the playoffs are out of the picture, then we're still playing for something big - pride. I think you will see a lot of fight from our guys next week," said PA coach Michael Fair, who had six players ineligible due to grades.
"We will play hard for this community and our school."
Washington, which has won four of its last five meetings against archrival Pillow, improves to 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the North AAA Division II standings.
The Mustang defense turned in a strong performance, holding the Generals to just 139 yards rushing on 35 carries, but the PA offense had no answer for the salty Washington defense, which came in allowing less than seven points a contest.
The Mustangs, who finished with 242 total yards and 10 points, were never able to sustain a long drive. Both of their scoring drives started in Washington territory.
"We were able to take advantage of a short field twice, but we have to do a better job of moving the ball and not shooting ourselves in the foot," Fair said. "Defensively, we played well but got hurt with three big plays in the passing game."
The game was tied at 10 in the fourth quarter before the Generals went up 16-10 with eight minutes to go on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Lewis to Dylan Elkins. The two-play, 57-yard scoring drive was set up by the General defense, which sacked PA quarterback Landon Taylor on a fourth-and-4 play.
After going three and out on its ensuing possession, the Mustang offense found a little life on its next possession. Pillow drove from its own 7 to near midfield before being forced to punt with three minutes to play.
"We had a little something going there. We picked up three quick first downs, but things just fizzled out for us," Fair said.
From there, Washington ran out the clock before taking a safety on the final play of the contest.
Taking advantage of a diving interception by Myers Falls three plays into the contest, Pillow took over at the Washington 46.
Seven plays later, junior Kevin Phillips booted a 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead midway through the first period.
Washington tied the game at 3 on a 45-yard field goal by Nathan Noble with 8:52 to play in the second quarter.
Thanks to a sack by linebacker Michael Huoni, the Mustangs held Washington to three downs and a punt early in the third quarter.
A shanked punt of just 3 yards set the Mustangs up at the Washington 44. Seven plays later, Falls scored from one yard out, giving PA a 10-3 lead with 4:52 remaining in the third.
The Generals answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 10 with 59 seconds left in the third. Lewis capped it with a 1-yard sneak.
Gage Long led the PA ground game with 69 yards on 17 carries, while Falls added 68 yards on 16 attempts.
Taylor completed 6 of 12 passes for 82 yards.
Washington finished with 287 total yards.
Pillow plays at Marshall Academy this week.
