By Robert Wilson
PELAHATCHIE – Jonathan Worrell was celebrating after watching his team have an outstanding performance Friday night here at East Rankin Academy’s Moody Davis Field.
But this time Worrell was congratulating players on his Starkville Academy team from the visitor’s locker room.
Worrell spent four seasons at East Rankin’s head coach but this is his first season as defensive coordinator for Starkville Academy.
Worrell’s defensive unit was impressive Friday as they intercepted two passes for touchdowns and held East Rankin to two scores in a 28-13 victory in a MAIS Class 4A, District 2 game in a battle of undefeated teams before an estimated crowd of 1,500, one of the biggest crowds and one of the most anticipated games at East Rankin in many years.
Starkville Academy improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in district play. East Rankin, off to its best start since 1999, dropped to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in district play.
It was a very emotional night for Worrell, who made a family decision that he needed a change and step away from the busy life of being an athletic director and head football coach and concentrate more on his family (his wife Cheryl is due any day now with their fourth child).
“There were a lot of emotions throughout last weekend while game planning and then tonight after the game, but during the game it was really just ball as usual,” said Worrell, who is in his 17th season coaching football (offensive coordinator at Pearl High, defensive coordinator at Northwest Rankin High, and head coach at Forest High, and East Rankin and now defensive coordinator at Starkville Academy). “The atmosphere was electric tonight, so it made it a lot of fun for both sides. ERA’s fan support is truly special. My family loves the boys on that team and so many of the people associated with ERA. Surreal is maybe the best way to say it, because it was so good to watch them playing the way they did while doing everything we could to get the win for the Volunteers.”
“Worrell is one of the best coaches I’ve been around and I’ve been around some really great ones,” said Starkville Academy head coach Chase Nicholson, who has won one state championship, has one state runner-up finish and had only losing season (last year) in 11 seasons at Starkville Academy. “His approach to calling defense is fun to be able to watch. His energy and passion for football and kids is truly amazing. Worrell is a great football coach who really knows the game but he’s one of the best guys I’ve ever met. He’s been a great puzzle piece to this staff. We’re lucky to have him.”
East Rankin led 7-0 at halftime thanks a 1-yard touchdown run by senior running back Brandon Loper with 8 seconds to play before halftime. East Rankin’s backup quarterback, junior Aiden Carlisle, kept the drive alive with a 24-yard run to the Starkville Academy 6 on fourth and 11.
Starkville Academy freshman running back Lawson Mullins scored on an 8-yard run to close the East Rankin lead to 7-6 with 6:33 to play in the third quarter. Sophomore defensive back Thomas Graves recovered a fumble at the East Rankin 31 to set up the scoring drive.
Starkville junior defensive back Nate Fratesi intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards for a TD and junior quarterback Sam Wall added the two-point conversion for a 14-7 Starkville Academy lead with 3:36 to play in the third quarter.
Loper – who bulldozed his way for 112 yards on 32 carries and two TDs, many of his carries either breaking tackles or running over would-be tacklers – scored on a 1-yard run to cut the lead to 14-13 with 10:25 to play in the fourth quarter. Starkville Academy senior Brody Burkley blocked the extra point attempt. Loper now has 578 yards and 11 TDs this season.
Starkville Academy scored 14 points in the final 2 minutes of the game when Mullins ran for a 27-yard TD and Starkville Academy junior defensive back Brantley Berkery intercepted a pass and returned it for a 40-yard TD. Mullins finished with 78 yards on 13 carries and two TDs.
“Defense had a task,” Nicholson said. “ERA had a great scheme and our defense had to maintain their gaps and gang tackle. Our players did a great ob of executing the plan. Lots of players made plays. (Junior) Brennan Templeton and Brody Burkley were great at linebacker. (Senior) John Scott Lesley and (senior) Bristo Santucci were great at defensive line. (Junior) Nate Fratesi and (junior) Brantley Berkery both had pick sixes. Overall, it was a great team effort.”
“Our biggest point of emphasis this week was to make as many gang tackles as possible because their backs are so good, and we’re always harping on creating takeaways and scoring the football from the defensive side of the ball,” Worrell said. “I’m proud of all the guys, but especially our defensive backs. Thomas Graves with the fumble recovery and Nate Fratesi and Brantley Berkery for their pick sixes. Any time you can score more on defense than you give, it’s a special night.”
This was the first loss this season for first-year East Rankin coach Teddy Dyess, one of the winningest coaches in Mississippi history. He has a 234-60 record, a 79.6 winning percentage, the third highest winning percentage of any coach in Mississippi history with more than 200 wins. Only former National Coach of the Year and Mississippi Hall of Fame member Ricky Black (who won 401 games and had an 83.3 winning percentage in 40 seasons and retired in 2020) and former New Hope and Hamilton coach Jimmie Moore (who won 205 games and had a 79.9 winning percentage) is better.
Dyess ranks sixth in wins among active coaches in Mississippi and has won six state championships, two as a player at Bassfield, one as an assistant coach at Madison Central, two as a head coach at Lumberton and one as a head coach at Magee in 2020 when he went 12-0. He has never had a losing season.
East Rankin hasn’t had a winning season since 2012. Dyess has his team halfway there, but couldn’t quite get win number four Friday night.
“We played our guts out,” Dyess said. “Our guys played for the name on the front of their jerseys and each other. We just got wore out in the second half. Numbers got us. We were playing without about 15 kids. They were playing with about 25. Starkville is a great program and Coach Nicholson does a great job. I think they’ll make a deep playoff run. I truly appreciate our fans and the student section for giving our kids a great atmosphere to play in.”
