Sa vs. winston: Week 2

Photos by Mike Brown Sports Photography

What A Knight!

Jackson Knight feared his football season was over before it even started. The first full week of practice in pads Starkville Academy’s sophomore wide receiver took a direct hit, a blow that dislocated his left shoulder.

“It wasn’t looking good, I was afraid I was going to have surgery and have to sit out the entire year,” Knight said. “Fortunately, they were able to pop it back into place at the emergency room, and no surgery was needed. That’s always a good thing.”

It certainly is a good thing for Knight, and Starkville Academy for that matter. Making his debut in a Vols’ uniform after sitting out the season-opener two weeks ago, Knight matched his jersey number by catching not one, not two, but three touchdown passes Friday night in a 33-7 home opening win over Winston Academy at J.E. Logan Field.

“It felt good being back out there on the field with my team,” said Knight, who had to wear a sling for a couple of weeks. “I’ve been working really hard and recovering the best I could so that I could play again. I’m just glad I was able to contribute and help my team win.”

Talk about making a good first impression. Knight did just that - along with making a name for himself - and more importantly, providing a much-needed spark to SA’s offense. He reeled in a 17-yard scoring strike from freshman Jack Northcutt with four minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the first quarter to give the Vols an early 7-0 lead. He followed that up with another 17-yard touchdown from Northcutt, this one coming with just eight minutes left in the third quarter. Then, late in the third quarter, he pulled off the trifecta, hauling in a 24-yard scoring strike from Northcutt to make it 33-0.

Good morning. Good afternoon. Good Knight.

Knight finished with five catches for 80 yards. On the second touchdown, he took the pass from Northcutt in the flat, broke an open field tackle and waltzed into the end zone. The other two came on similar fade routes in which he high-pointed the ball and snagged it over a would-be defender.

Perhaps knighthood is in the offing next? No need for a horse or lance on this particular early September evening, only a helmet and pads serving as body armor.

“Who?,” joked SA coach Chase Nicholson when asked about Knight’s performance afterwards. “Oh yeah, that guy. He’s pretty good right. He was chomping at the bit to get out here and play after getting dinged up and having to sit out the first game. He’s been working hard for this opportunity, and he made the most of it. That’s what you’re supposed to do. We knew he was a good player, we knew he could catch. And he showed that tonight. Obviously, it was a big plus having him back with us.”

Knight is a newcomer to SA after transferring from Eupora High along with his younger brother, Cameron, and sister, Ella. Their father, Michael, formerly a coach at Eupora, is in his first season as SA’s new junior high football coach. Both brothers plan on playing multiple sports at SA, including golf, a sport in which the entire family excels and loves. Those other sports will have to wait for now, at least during the week, as the Knight’s are focused solely on football for the time being.

“It was good having him back with us,” said Northcutt, who once again rotated series with Sam Wall at quarterback. “I saw him open, threw it up and he made some plays. We’ve got some really good receivers. I love throwing to all of them.”

SA improved to 2-0 entering next week’s Class 4A, District 2 opener against upstart East Rankin (3-0) at Pelahatchie. It will mark the first meeting between the two programs since the 2014-’15 season, and a homecoming of sorts for first-year SA defensive coordinator Jonathan Worrell, who spent five of the last six seasons at ERA before arriving in Starkville.

Winston dropped to 0-3. The winless Patriots hung tough in the first half, trailing only 12-0 at the intermission. SA, however, scored touchdowns on all three of its third quarter possessions to pull away for a comfortable, albeit not so pretty at times, victory.

While Knight stole the show on offense, Worrell’s defense dominated the line of scrimmage on the other side of the ball. Winston managed only 69 total net yards – minus 14 yards rushing on 15 carries and 83 yards passing. The majority of that came on a 79-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter when SA had mostly backups in the game.

The Vols’ defense forced a three-and-out on nearly every possession, recorded a safety, picked off two passes which led to 10 more points, and also forced a fumble on the last play of the game thanks to a jarring tackle. It was an emphatic exclamation point to what was a dominant performance outside of the long scoring play.

SA’s defense hadn’t allowed a point prior to that in the previous five-plus quarters dating back to early in the second quarter of a season-opening 14-13 win at Chambers Academy. The Vols are allowing only 10 points per game through their first two games.

“The defense did a great job tonight,” Nicholson said. “They found the football, they flew around to it, they played to technique and did what they’re coached to do. They made a lot of plays and helped the offense get going. They put us in some good situations tonight.”

The same thing can be said for Northcutt, who this time a year ago was helping lead the junior high team to an undefeated season and yet another district title. The talented frosh was 7 of 8 through the air for 109 yards, including the three TD tosses. He would’ve had two rushing touchdowns to add to his totals, however both were called back during an ill-fated, penalty-marred drive in the first quarter that fittingly ended in an incomplete pass following a botched snap by the holder on what would’ve been a 44-yard field goal attempt.

“Jack had a good night,” Nicholson said. “It always helps when you have all your weapons back. It’s a big confidence boost for a quarterback, especially a young quarterback, to know that if you throw it up there you’ve got guys who are capable of going up and getting it.”

SA had six penalties in the first half, four coming on that one aforementioned drive – two on one play. Going back to the season-opener, the Vols jumped offsides on defense three times on one drive helping pave the way for one of Chambers’ two first-half touchdowns.

“We have to clean that up, no doubt,” Nicholson said. “We were playing sloppy (in first half), we were playing sluggish. It’s one of those things, one of those speed bumps, we have to work through and grow through as a team. It’s nice to get the win, but we can’t keep having penalties like that to stall and kill drives.”

Penalties were not an issue the rest of the way. In fact, SA’s offense, like it did in the Chambers’ win, came to life in the second half, tallying 21 straight unanswered points to put the game on ice. The Vols finished with 280 total yards – 159 rushing, 121 passing. Miller Shy led the way on the ground, rushing for 68 yards on 10 carries, including an 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Nathan Miller added a 25-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the first half to account for SA’s other points.