By Robert Wilson
FLOWOOD – Jackson Prep had gained the momentum back and was itching to get the ball back with a chance to finish a come-from-behind victory against Madison-Ridgeland Academy.
But MRA head coach Herbert Davis and first-year MRA offensive coordinator Jacob Land and their Patriot offense didn’t let that happen.
MRA kept the drive alive with a successful fourth down play, then converted a long pass for another first down to run out the clock and secure the 28-25 victory Friday night in a key MAIS Class 4A, District 2 game and a hard-fought battle between two of the Top 13 teams in Mississippi before an estimated 2.500 at Prep’s Patriot Field.
MRA – ranked No. 3 in MAIS Class 4A and No. 13 in Mississippi by MaxPreps – won its fourth straight game and improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in district play. The Patriots haven’t lost since a
Prep – ranked No. 2 in MAIS Class 4A and No. 10 in Mississippi by MaxPreps – dropped to 4-1 overall and 0-1 in district play and ended a four-game winning streak. The Patriots had not lost since 48-21 decision to Hartfield Academy in the MAIS Class 4A, Division I semifinals last season.
MRA took a commanding, 28-10 lead on senior quarterback Austin Banks’ third touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jack Dalton of the game, a 17-yard strike with 8 minutes, 7 seconds to play in the third quarter. The Patriots played without starting running back Colson O’Cain in the second half. He had got hit in the head late in the second quarter and was kept out of the second half for precautionary measures after having 115 yards and one TD in the first half.
Prep came roaring back and closed to 28-25 on a 3-yard TD run by senior quarterback Luke Essary, a 26-yard TD run by junior running back Herrin Goodman and a two-point conversion pass from Essary to sophomore Hayes Grenfell.
Davis, who has been MRA’s offensive coordinator since he arrived there 13 years ago, but switched to defensive coordinator this season when defensive coordinator Danny White left for Christ Covenant and Land, son of MRA head of school Termie Land, joined the staff after being head coach at Lamar School. Davis was always on the defensive side of the ball during his first 17 seasons as a head coach at Pillow Academy, Brookhaven Academy, Heritage Academy, Winston Academy and Lawrence County.
Davis made the decision to go for it on fourth down and 4 at the MRA 46 with about 3 minutes to play. Banks found junior wide receiver Caden Ward for a 12-yard gain and first down at the Prep 34.
“Prep had scored 15 points in less than six minutes and I felt like at the time we couldn’t stop them and we needed to keep the ball,” said Davis, who won his 259th game in his 30th season as a head coach, 125th win at MRA. “We needed to get the first down and keep the ball so we decided to go for it on fourth down. We wanted to throw it to Jack, but he was doubled covered, so Austin bought some time with his feet and found Caden wide open. Austin played a great game and really stepped it up last night. Then we had a third down and we wanted to get one more first down so we could run the clock out. We liked our match up with Jack and Jacob made the call. I loved it and said let’s do it.”
On third down and 12 from the Prep 44, Banks connected with Dalton for 22 yards to the Prep 22 for the first down with 1:39 to play and MRA ran out the clock to secure the victory.
Banks has had an outstanding season. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 201 yards and three TDs Friday night and has now completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 1,292 yards and 14 TDs this season. Banks entered Friday night’s game tied for second in Mississippi in passing yards and second in Mississippi in TD passes, according to MaxPreps.
Banks transferred from MRA to Copiah Academy and started his freshman season, then transferred back to MRA as a sophomore and played behind John White (Mississippi’s career passing leader, now playing at Southern Miss) then behind Samuel Stockett as a junior before becoming the starter this season.
“The fourth down pass to Caden was a huge play and the third down completion to Jack kept the drive alive when we really needed,” Banks said. “Those two plays showed a lot of toughness and trust in each other. Overall, it was a big team win and we’re proud of how we finished. Each week we need to focus on just us and get one percent better every day.”
Dalton – whose brother Davis Dalton is a wide receiver for Southern Miss and has the Mississippi record for most receiving yards in a game (388) – caught six passes for 87 yards and three TDs Friday night. He has now caught 40 passes for 645 yards and eight TDs. Davis – the 2021 Mississippi Metro Jackson Player of the Year – caught 89 passes for 1,586 yards and 15 TDs in 15 games a senior.
“Getting that big lead at the start of the third quarter was huge for us,” Jack Dalton said. “Staying together through the end of the game helped us a ton, especially on the last drive when we had no momentum but we stuck together through it. I’m thankful for the last catch that everyone could protect Austin and him getting the ball to me.”
Prep senior running back Wade Smith had 172 yards on 19 carries, Goodman had 74 yards on five carries and two TDs and Essary completed 9 of 16 passes for 73 yards. Smith has now ran for 779 yards and eight TDs this season.
“MRA played well,” said Prep coach Doug Goodwin, who has 279 games in his 32 years as a head coach, including 45 wins in five seasons at Prep following a Hall of Fame career in Alabama. “They did a good job. We made way too many mental mistakes to beat a good team. Offensively, we cost ourselves points because of avoidable penalties. Defensively, we just gave up too many big plays, especially on third down.”
“When we were down the offense wasn’t really clicking,” Smith said. “Luke and I both looked at everyone and really just reminded them who we are as a team and told them to relax. MRA is a great team and I really hope we get the chance to see them again in the playoffs.”
“We knew we had to fight in the second half to come back,” Essary said. “We had a lot of team camaraderie in the locker room at halftime. We weren’t happy with how we played in the first half and knew it we wanted any chance to come back we needed a different approach going into the second half.
Prep played the majority of the game without one of its best defensive players. Senior linebacker Gaines Reeves – the nephew of Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves – suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter, treid to continue playing in the first half, then sat out the second half. He came into the game second in Mississippi in tackles for loss, according to MaxPreps.
