By Robert Wilson
Joey Hawkins won three straight state football championships at Jackson Academy and took Presbyterian Christian School to its best season in school history.
So no one is surprised that Hawkins, after seven years of retirement, is winning again in his first year at Columbia Academy, a football program had won only eight games in the past four seasons.
Hawkins and his team – 29 players strong – won their seventh game this season in dramatic fashion Friday night when Columbia Academy defeated Central Hinds Academy 27-21 in overtime in the quarterfinals of the MAIS Class 4A state playoffs at Raymond.
Hawkins, an Indianola Academy alumnus, is best known for his three straight state championships at Jackson Academy from 2003-2005, is one of four coaches in MAIS history to have a three-peat at the highest classification. He has a 158-68 record, a 69.9 winning percentage, in 28 seasons, with stops at Woodland Hills Baptist Academy, JA and PCS before coming to Columbia Academy. Hawkins had a 75-19 record (a 79.7 percent winning percentage) and four state titles, and two state runner-up finishes in eight seasons (2001-2008) at JA. He led PCS to a school record 11 wins and defeated Jackson Prep, Jackson Academy, and Madison-Ridgeland Academy in 2016, the first time since 1999 a team had accomplished those wins in the same season. Hawkins retired from coaching in 2017 at PCS.
His latest win came in exciting fashion. Columbia Academy led 21-7 at halftime, but Central Hinds scored 14 points in the final quarter to tie the game at 21-21. Columbia Academy won the toss and chose defense first and held Central Hinds from scoring. On Columbia Academy’s possession in overtime, Central Hinds was offsides on first down, giving Columbia Academy first and goal at the 5. Junior quarterback Reed Duncan ran a sweep on the next play for a winning touchdown, his ninth TD in the last five games.
“Reed has had a good season and also starts in the secondary. He’s a tough competitor and we wanted to give it to him in the clutch,” Hawkins said. “It was wonderful win for our team, fans, and school. Columbia Academy last won a playoff game in 2017 and hasn’t won a second-round game in more than a decade.”
Hawkins has been pleased with his team’s improvement despite a tough schedule.
“We have played one 6A school (Hawkins’ former school PCS) and three 5A schools (Natchez Cathedral, Bowling Green (La.), and Parklane,” Hawkins said. “Our kids have gotten better every week and have fought through a lot of things. Our first win was big because it gave the kids a lot of confidence and it has continued to build as the season has gone along. Now, we will be playing our 14th game this week (at defending state champion Tri-County Academy). I’ve never played 14 games in my career in a season. Our players, school, fans, parents, and alumni are fired up. I see the excitement. It was a credit to our kids and my coaching staff. I have some incredible coaches helping me. We got here January 15 and these kids have put 100 percent into our program and it’s been a wonderful and exciting time.”
Mark McHale, a college coaching veteran of 40 years, former Columbia Academy head coach Jimmy Lowery, former Columbia Academy and West Marion head coach Brad Duncan, co-defensive coordinator Dillion Rhodes, and special teams coach Jaden Bracey, are Hawkins’ assistant coaches.
Columbia Academy’s top players are senior offensive lineman Ethan King, sophomore tight end-wide-receiver-running back-defensive end Trent Buckley (who has scored a team-high 16 TDs), junior running quarterback Reed Duncan, senior passing quarterback Noah Fortenberry, senior running back-linebacker Jackson Spier, junior linebacker Carson Daniels and junior linebacker Logan Buckley. Spier had three interceptions and Trent Buckley had 15 tackles and four sacks against Central Hinds.
Now comes the toughest test of the season with a trip to Flora to face traditional power Tri-County. The Rebels have a 17-game winning streak, the longest in Mississippi. Tri-County has won 23 straight games against MAIS opponents, the last loss was to Greenville St. Joseph in the 2022 state championship game. Tri-County’s only loss last season was a 40-35 decision to MHSAA Class 1A power Taylorsville, the first time Tri-County had played a public school in football in school history.
Tri-County won its sixth state championship in school history and second one in three seasons last year and have been to the state title game three straight seasons. The Rebels won 12 games for the third straight season last year and has a 48-4 record – an amazing 92.3 winning percentage – over the last four years.
Tri-County hasn’t lost a MAIS home game since a 19-18 decision to Adams County Christian during the 2021 regular season and has won 16 consecutive home games against MAIS opponents.
Tri-County coach Philip Wasson has won four state titles, two at Tri-County and two at Washington School and has been in six state championships in 19 career seasons.
“Philip and I are close friends. He is one of greatest minds in coaching,” Hawkins said. “I have a lot of respect for him and his coaching. They have been one of the top teams in their class for decades. We are going to put together the best game plan we can. It will take a miracle for us to win this game. But I believe in miracles.”
