By Robert Wilson
Madison-Ridgeland Academy coach Herbert Davis knows replacing his former star quarterback, John White, who passed for more yards in a career than any high school player in Mississippi history, is an impossible task.
But White’s backup for the past two seasons, Samuel Stockett, did his best to remind MRA football fans of the accuracy and outstanding performances that White displayed during his three-year career at MRA.
Stockett, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior, completed 12 of 14 passes (85.7 percent) for 238 yards and five touchdowns – all in the first half – in his first career start and led MRA to a 42-20 victory over Parklane Academy Friday night before an estimated 3,000 at Patriot Field in Madison in the season opener for both teams.
For his outstanding performance, Stockett has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
The 6-1, 205-pound White, now a freshman at Southern Miss, set the Mississippi career passing record with 15,529 yards in his five-year high school career (the first two at Winona Christian). He also threw for 177 career TDs, second all-time in Mississippi history.
As White’s backup last year, Stockett completed 22 of 36 passes for 442 yards and four TDs in seven games to help MRA to an 8-4 record and the MAIS Class 6A state semifinals.
After two seasons of playing backup, Friday night was Stockett’s time to shine. And boy, did he ever. On the second play of the game and his first pass, Stockett connected with junior wide receiver Case Thomas for a 26-yard TD pass, one minute into the game. His second TD pass came at the 4:12 mark of the first quarter, a 19-yard strike to junior Jack Polles. Stockett threw three TD passes in the first six minutes of the second quarter, Thomas (20 yards), junior Michael McCrory (11 yards) and senior and Jackson Academy transfer and senior AJ Parker (58 yards).
Stockett left the game midway through the second quarter with MRA leading 42-0.
White completed 18 of 27 passes for 303 yards and three TDs and led MRA to a 48-25 victory over Parklane in last year’s season opener in McComb.
Stockett’s junior year got off to a great start and if he continues to improve, he could have a tremendous season, much like White did for the past three years. White ranked No. 1 in Mississippi and No. 11 in the country, according to MaxPreps, with 3,557 yards last season as a senior. He passed for 42 TDs.
“Samuel knows our system,” MRA coach Herbert Davis said. “He had a tremendous summer, and it carries over into our scrimmage and into our game Thursday. Samuel was accurate and made great decisions with our offense. He did a great job. Three of his TD passes were on RPOs (run or pass option). He has the freedom to make decision on his own and he’s good at it. Samuel is good at recognizing what coverage a defense is in and knows where to throw it. He passed for about 1,500 yards in eight games as a ninth grader so we know what he can do. He’s like John because they both understood the game mentally and understood our schemes. John is the most accurate I’ve ever seen throwing the underneath ball. Samuel can throw the deep ball a little better. He’s learning to step and be a leader for us. When college coaches were here watching John at our practices, they were asking questions about Samuel. Now, those same coaches will be getting on how good he looks in a game.”
Stockett is the son of Jonathan and Anne Stockett. Jonathan played wide receiver and won two state championships for Jackson Prep and played baseball and won two state titles and graduated in 1991. Jonathan graduated from Ole Miss. Anne went to high school in Jackson, Tenn., and college at Wheaton in Chicago. Stockett’s twin sisters, were cheerleaders and national merit finalists at Madison Central and are attending Ole Miss. Cousin Ann Cabot Stockett played tennis and a state team championship at Madison Central and plays tennis at Mississippi College. Cousin Lawson Stockett played football and baseball at Madison Central and played football at Ole Miss.
MRA plays at Class 5A Magnolia Heights Friday night in Senatobia.
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.
