SA, Magnolia Heights both 1-1

DANNY P. SMITH, BEN WAIT

The Starkville Academy Volunteers and Magnolia Heights School Chiefs come into Friday night's 7 p.m. game with similar resumes.

Both teams are 1-1, but the Chiefs are coming off a 49-20 victory over Kirk Academy, while the Volunteers suffered a 19-6 loss to Heritage.

SA took last year's game 22-0 in Starkville, but this year the Vols travel to Senatobia.

"We will be able to play with them," SA head coach Jeff Terrill said. "We have played them the last couple of years, so both teams know each other well."

In last week's game, the Chiefs built a 42-6 halftime lead over Kirk Academy. In week one, Magnolia Heights dropped a 28-10 decision to Marshall Academy.

The Chiefs will be led by quarterback Luke Young.

– Ben Wait

Tupelo showcases tough defense

Friday night's football matchup between the Starkville Yellowjackets and Tupelo Golden Wave has a chance to be an extremely low-scoring game.

Tupelo showcases a defense that has given up eight points to Lafayette and 17 points against Center Hill.

Starkville coach Jamie Mitchell has seen his offense manage eight points in each of the last two games and knows generating any more production against the Golden Wave will be tough.

"They are extremely good defensively," Mitchell said. "They don't give up very much and are able to get points off turnovers. It's a defense that doesn't allow very much."

Tupelo improved its record to 1-1 with its 20-17 victory over Center Hill. Quinn Tiggs rushed 10 times for 123 yards in the game.

David Bradberry, a Sturgis native, is the head coach of the Golden Wave and likes the direction his team is headed.

"I was proud of our team as a whole (against Center Hill)," Bradberry said. "It's not just defense or one or two people, but as a whole, we stayed together and that's important."

After consideration to move the SHS-Tupelo game because of potential inclement weather, the two teams are still set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday.

– Danny P. Smith