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Saturday, 07 November 2009 |
 David Miller/SDN Starkville High defensive lineman Addonis Scales reacts following the Yellowjackets’ come-from-behind win over Columbus Friday night. With the 29-28 win, the Jackets clinched a berth in the Class 6A playoffs. By DAVID MILLER
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COLUMBUS — Clutch moments had eluded the Starkville High Yellowjackets for much of the 2009 season, but when their backs were against the wall with no turning back Friday night the Jackets made sure to deliver.
Down 28-14 in the fourth quarter with a monster Columbus High team pounding the ball against its defense, SHS took advantage of a pair of Falcon fumbles and rallied to 29-28 win to clinch a spot in the Class 6A playoffs.
That’s just part of the comeback.
After Jaquez Johnson hit wide receiver Chuck Tillery with a 36-yard touchdown pass deep in the fourth, head coach Bill Lee and offensive coordinator Rob Morgan had a tough decision to make. Down 28-27, the Jackets could tie the game with an extra point or go ahead with a two-point conversion. There was still a chance for the playoff spot if the Jackets lost, but they couldn’t go down by any more than five. Instead of chancing possible overtime, the Jackets went for two with their playoff hopes and the fourth region win on the line. No sweat: Johnson found Martavius Foster in the middle of the end zone for the final score.
From there, Starkville High’s defense came through with a sack by Tevin Hodges and a batted pass by Adonis Scales on fourth down to end CHS’ bid to answer Starkville’s score.
“It took pride, a lot of pride,” Johnson said. “We said we were Yellowjackets and we weren’t going to lose to Columbus. It’s a tradition to go to the playoffs, and last year we missed it. We weren’t going to miss it this year.”
The win sets up a Starkville High-Madison Central match next Friday.
Johnson had his best outing of the year, completing 22-of-36 passes for 322 yards and two passing touchdowns. He ran for 10-yard score that brought the Jackets to within a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
His ability to bounce back from three interceptions in the game gave the Jackets a rock under center, as the junior quarterback was Starkville High’s main threat on the ground and through the air. But at halftime, with the Jackets down 14-7 and SHS’ offense coming up empty on two trips deep in the CHS territory, there was no panic.
“Never panic and keep doing what you do,” Lee said. “We had some good practices this week even though we missed some good opportunities in the first half. That’s part of it, you miss some and hit some, but a team with good character and hard work can overcome it.
“We did that tonight.”
Tillery’s night was his best game of the season as the senior closed the regular season with 9 catches for 133 yards and his first score of the season. The road back from a broken ankle saw Tillery miss the first five games of the season before finding his way back to full fitness. Finally, the playoff light at the end of the tunnel had been reached when Johnson dropped in the perfect throw for the go-ahead score.
“[Johnson] looked one way and the safety bit, so he just threw it behind him and made a heck of a throw,” Tillery said. “I’ve been waiting all season for it (first touchdown) — it feels like a blessing from God. He sent a blessing down to Starkville.”
Columbus struck first and sent a message on its first play from scrimmage when Damian Baker broke untouched up the middle of the SHS defense before finishing off his 65-yard touchdown down the left sideline.
SHS’ much-maligned offense from recent weeks saw a pair of fourth-down situations deep inside Columbus territory in the first quarter.
Tillery’s open drop on the first drive gave CHS the ball at their own 23, but a fourth-and-inches setup at the CHS 10 was converted on a 6-yard run from Billy Shed, who later finished off the 59-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run to tie the game, 7-7.
That drive marked the second of three fourth down situations inside the CHS 30-yard line. However, only one would result in points.
The Jackets controlled the clock in the first half, running 13 more plays then Columbus, which kept it on the ground for 19 of its 23 plays in the half.
The Falcons rushing attack was powered by Baker, who finished with 20 carries for 214 yards on the night.
SHS, which had tinkered with a few trick plays throughout the season, hit for pay dirt when Billy Shed took a hook-and-ladder from Tillery and went for a 52-yard touchdown up the Starkville sideline. The crisply executed play tied the game at 14, but Columbus’ powerful ground game needed just five plays to score from 67 yards out. Randy Brown walked into the end zone from 17 yards out and scored his second touchdown of the game on the Falcons’ ensuing drive with a 26-yard, untouched run. That drive went for 68 yards and put SHS in a 28-14 hole early in the fourth quarter.
“We were taking to deep of angles to try and stop their runs,” Lee said. “We had to adjust; sometimes we walked the linebackers up in there and really just kept with it. We are a little bit lighter than them in the middle, but the guys forced those two fumbles and hung in there.”
SHS recovered an onside kick after the Johnson’s 10-yarder cut the deficit to a touchdown, and the junior led the Jackets to the CHS 22 before he was picked off by Martin Sherrod in the end zone for hais third interception of the game.
The pick went for naught though, as Johnson made good on his second chance to put the nail in the coffin and bury the Falcons.
“I’m getting ready for my first playoff game,” he said. “To start 0-4, win three district games, then win this one to make the playoffs feels real good.”
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 November 2009 )
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