By Robert Wilson
Jackson Prep quarterback Billy Puckett had a tough night in last year’s MAIS Class 6A state championship game as he was sacked seven times and Prep was shutout by Hartfield Academy 21-0, the first time the Patriots had been shut out since 2004.
The 6-foot, 185-pound senior has his sights set to getting back to the state title game and winning this year and along the way hopes to pick up some Division I offers.
Puckett got his senior year off to an outstanding start Friday night when he completed 22 of 30 passes (73.3 percent) for 231 yards and one touchdown and ran nine times for 34 yards and two TDs to lead Prep to a 30-14 victory over Copiah Academy in the season opener for both teams at Copiah in Gallman.
For his outstanding performance, Puckett has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
Puckett ran for a 7-yard TD to give Prep a 7-0 lead with 4 minutes, 18 seconds to play in the first quarter and completed a 59-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Gardner Young for a 14-7 lead with 36 seconds to go in the first quarter. Puckett completed a 24-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver and Air Force Academy commitment Major Quin with 3:24 to play in the second quarter. Puckett ran for a 12-yard TD with 11:18 to play in the game.
“Billy had a great night,” said Prep coach Doug Goodwin, who led Prep to the 6A state title two years ago in his first year at Prep after winning 234 games in his 27-year head coaching career in Alabama. “He ran the ball well when he kept it. Billy made good decisions and was sharp throwing the ball. He is very smart and understands our offense very well. I expect him to continue to get better as we go. Billy knows the offense better than last year, so his decision making is better. His arm is stronger and he’s bigger physically. If some four-year school doesn’t offer Billy, they’re going to be missing out on a good note.”
Puckett has offers from Division II Mississippi College, Division III Millsaps, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, East Central CC, Itawamba CC, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, Northwest Mississippi CC, and a preferred walk-on offer from Division I Mississippi State. There are several Division I schools interested in Puckett, but no official offer yet.
Puckett completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,484 yards and 22 TDs with 5 interceptions and had 451 rushing yards and 10 TDs last season as a junior.
Puckett is the son of Amanda and Hastings Puckett. Amanda and Hastings both graduated from JA in 1995. Amanda ran track and cross country and was on the dance team. Hastings played basketball. Hastings played one season at Division I UNC Wilmington then transferred to MSU and didn’t play basketball. Puckett has one brother, Peyton, who played football and baseball at Prep and made the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson football and baseball teams last season as a senior and is now a freshman at MSU. Puckett’s uncle, Rob Puckett, played basketball at JA and graduated in 2006.
Prep plays defending MAIS Class 5A state champion Adams County Christian School, 2-0, Friday at 7 p.m. at Prep in Flowood.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a football player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
Week One: Samuel Stockett, MRA
