Pillow Academy will play host to archrival Washington School Friday night for homecoming at Bill Davis Field as the Mustangs look to capture a MAIS District 1-5A win.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Starkville Academy’s late game resurgence kept Pillow Academy at bay last Friday as the Volunteers beat the Mustangs 25-12.
“It was a tough loss,” Pillow head coach Jim Crowder said. “I thought we played hard, but we had to kick field goals instead of getting touchdowns. There were three or four plays that we didn’t execute on and it cost us. Whether it was a bad call coaching wise or flag on us, we just have to be better.”
Pillow, now 4-4 overall and 1-2 in district play, faces one of its oldest rivalries in Washington. The Mustangs have kept the Generals in check in recent years, winning seven straight. The two teams have been squaring off since 1972 and Washington holds the series lead over the Mustangs with 31 wins to Pillow’s 21. It’s a rivalry that Crowder’s team knows very well, and he said they are looking forward to it.
“It’s Washington School. You don’t need to say much to get kids from Pillow excited to play them,” Crowder said.
The Generals haven’t had much success on the field this year. Washington comes into Friday 2-6 overall and 0-3 in district games. Their two wins are over Delta Streets Academy (40-6) and Kirk Academy (34-7).
No matter the record, Crowder isn’t looking at them as a pushover.
“They are a good team. The teams that beat them are really good teams, so their record doesn’t really reflect how good they are,” Crowder said. “They present a good challenge.”
With the playoffs looming ahead, every win helps the Mustangs chances of getting that elusive state title they seek. A win over Washington would help those chances, and Crowder laid out the frame work of their game plan for the Generals.
“Their quarterback is good. They have a receiver who is a good athlete. I wouldn’t be surprised if they put him under center in the wildcat formation,” Crowder said. “They have some guys that are talented, and we’ve got to make sure we limit their presence.”
For Pillow, Dayne Sanford has been the star offensively. The senior running back has picked up 1,010 yards on 144 carries so far this season. Crowder realizes what Sanford brings, and plans on keeping the ball in his hands.
“Sanford did a good job,” Crowder said of Sanford’s performance last week. “He ran really hard and picked up big chunks of yardage. Moving forward, we are going to feature him more in what we do.”
-Contact Jared Conerly at 662-581-7237 or jconerly@gwcommonwealth.com.
