Vols look to keep connection going against visiting Tigers
Quarterback Randall Futral and his wide receivers have connected well so far this season at Starkville Academy.
In six quarters of play, Futral has completed 22 of 46 pass attempts for 323 yards and three touchdowns.
Wilkes Stubbs, who has been the most productive receiver with eight catches for 182 yards and a pair of scores, has emerged as an offensive weapon for Futral and the Volunteers.
“This is really my first year getting to play and I’m just really confident having Randall
back there,” Stubbs said. “He’s really good. I know I can trust him to put them in the right spots and I just make the catches. It’s a lot of fun going out there and playing for this team.”
Stubbs and Starkville Academy look to keep clicking on offense tonight at home against the Noxapater Tigers. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at J.E. Logan Field.
The Vols have developed a bond on the offensive side of the football and that’s the reason head coach Chase Nicholson gives as to why they are experiencing a little success right now.
“It’s a combination of a group of guys that like each other mixed in with a little bit of talent and a great work ethic,” Nicholson said. “You mix all that together and you have 100 passing yards (in two quarters against French Camp). There is no doubt the offense is clicking right now. We’ve got to do it for four quarters again.
“They are a fun group and like each other a lot. It’s a lot of fun being in the locker room listening to them. On the field, you can see the relationships that are there.”
It hasn’t taken Noxapater head coach Roy Rigsby long to notice on film that Starkville Academy possesses
a potent offense.
He is impressed with how fundamentally sound the Vols seem to be and believes it all starts up front.
“The offensive line is doing a great job of moving the ball down the field and are very efficient,” Rigsby said. “I have a lot of respect for what the coaches are doing there. They do a lot of great things.”
Starkville Academy put up some numbers in the opener, but still lost a 33-30 decision in overtime. The Vols played much better in outscoring French Camp 29-7 in two quarters last week.
Nicholson wants to see progress with his team and so far, it has delivered.
“They do what they do so well and continue to get better which is all we’ve ever asked from them,” Nicholson said. “It’s that constant pushing them to be better. You are never satisfied with where you are. That’s who we are as coaches and who we are as a team. We are going to continue to push each other to get better.”
For the second-straight week, Starkville Academy is facing a Mississippi
High School Activities Association team. The Vols got in two quarters against the Panthers last week and get ready for more cats with the Tigers.
Nicholson likes the matchups with the MHSAA teams and is glad to see Noxapater kick off the season following a two-week delay.
“The fact that we are both playing in this particular year is even better because we know where we started and where we came from,” Nicholson said. “So many positives can come out of this. It’s great we are playing football with two associations on the same night.”