On Location: Starkville shuts down Jaguars offense, defeats Madison Central
STARKVILLE | Coming into Friday night's game, both Madison Central and Starkville each had one loss. Madison Central lost to a Pearl team that is ranked nationally, while Starkville lost to a West Point team that will be ranked nationally soon enough.
When I chose this game early on in the week, I had all the hopes that my streak of blowouts would finally end. I was not disappointed, as this one came down to the final possession, in which Starkville got the stop needed to win the game, 14-6.
TWO THINGS THAT STOOD OUT
Starkville's defense was the best I have seen all year
The Jackets' defense, led by 2018 CB Natrone Brooks, 2019 LB Zach Edwards, (see above) and 2019 DE Jalil Clemons, among several others was on the field the majority of the game on Friday night. Madison Central runs a zone-read offense in which they primarily give the ball to whoever is in at RB. Clemons and Edwards had the trenches locked up, and Brooks did his part in the secondary, as they held the Jaguars to two field goals. Brooks is an explosive athlete, and one of the more under-rated players in the state.
The streak is dead
I moved to Oxford on August 17th. Until last night, October 13th, I had yet to see a game come down to the last possession, or even a game that was remotely close. The drive to Starkville was long, and slow, and the drive home was worse (I got lost and literally ended up wherever the parties are at on campus there) but to see a close game was well worth it.
Both teams were well-coached, and Starkville Athletic Director Milton Smith was one of the nicest people I have met all season.
FIVE PLAYERS WHO STOOD OUT
Zach Edwards (2019 Starkville LB)
Edwards lined up all over the field defensively on Friday night, and the fact that his offer list isn't double digits yet is shocking. Ole Miss was the first to offer, and he also holds offers from Mississippi State, South Alabama, and Marshall among others. He doesn't plan on taking any visits until after the season.
Cam White (2018 Madison Central S/CB)
White holds an Ole Miss offer, among several others, and is seen as a safety at the next level. He lined up at corner on Friday night, and was given the assignment of lining up man-to-man with Starkville wide receiver Cameron Gardner. White will be in Oxford next weekend for the LSU game, and is considered a top target for the Rebels.
Kobe Cole (2018 Madison Central LB)
Cole is someone who I had on my list to watch, but I really wasn't sure what to expect. Cole made it clear quickly, that he was a key playmaker on the Jaguars' defense. He made several plays in space, and was a big reason Starkville had a tough time getting anything going offensively.
Rufus Harvey (2020 Starkville WR)
Harvey might not be the biggest weapon offensively, but he was the difference on Friday night. I debated and debated between putting him here and Starkville's talented offensive tackle, Cameron Jones. Harvey has a bright future ahead of him, and he's obviously not done growing yet either. Jones should end up at a Power 5 school, but none have offered yet.
Jalil Clemons (2019 Starkville DE)
Clemons and Edwards would line up on the outside defensively, and were extremely deceptive in terms of the reads Madison Central needed to make for their offense. Clemons was in the backfield regularly, and has a bright future ahead of him. With early interest from Colorado State, Kentucky, and Mississippi State among others, it seems like his recruitment has yet to pickup.