Yellowjackets can clinch district crown on the road

Things will be much different for the Starkville Yellowjackets and Warren Central Vikings when they meet later tonight in Vicksburg for a key Class 6A, Division 2 battle.

For starters, neither of these teams are much of the same than they were a year ago.

Warren Central is replacing over 3,000 rushing yards from a squad that beat eventual state champion Clinton in the regular season and came up just short from beating them again in the playoffs. The Vikings won 10 games for the second-straight year. This season has seen some similar success as they've started 6-3 and 4-2 in region play, but they've had to break in young players.

The Jackets beat Warren Central last season at home 35-28, but it took an astronomical effort from an offensive player to do it. That was starting linebacker Willie Gay Jr., who SHS turned to for the first time late in the season with injuries high and stakes even higher.

Gay rushed 40 times as the quarterback and racked up an incredible 319 yards and five touchdowns. Warren Central coach Josh Morgan never saw the All-State linebacker's performance coming, but it was the only thing that could keep the Jackets' chances at the playoffs alive.

This season, he sees an offense that's much more difficult to defend.

“They had a great offensive line and a great player like Willie Gay toting the rock in last 7 p.m., WKBB-FM 100.9

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(Photo by Jason Cleveland, SDN) Starkville Academy coach Chase Nicholson, right, confers with assistant coach Tony Stanford during last week's 21-13 win over Leake Academy.

(Photo by Logan Kirkland, SDN) Starkville High School running back Rodrigues Clark (3) tries to slip a tackle against Madison Central earlier this season.