Open dates are rare in high school football – particularly in Week 3 of the season.
That is just what awaits the Kirk Academy Raiders Friday night. After a 1-1 start to the season, first-year head coach Justin Purvis and his staff have used the week to clean up some issues, along with some early preparation for next week’s home game against Rossville (Tenn.) Christian Academy on Sept. 12.
Last week, Kirk won a 47-20 decision at Greenville Christian. Purvis hopes to take that contest and build on it as the Raiders head toward more regular-season contests.
“We showed tremendous improvement from the scrimmage to Week 1 and got better against Greenville Christian,” he said. “Hopefully, we can continue to get better.”
Kirk continues to get good play from senior and first-year starting quarterback Linton Carson. Last week, he was 6-of-10 for 134 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 48 yards and three touchdowns.
“I thought Linton threw the football well with an interception, which was probably a bad play call on my part,” Purvis said. “It was on a hitch into the boundary, which is where you want it. The way that their defense was playing there was no rhyme or reason. He just happened to be in the throwing lane. Linton is tough as nails and has taken some hard hits in each of the games. The other night, he wouldn’t come out of the game with a full leg cramp and stayed in there handing off the football on the next play. He is a competitor and everything you want in that position.”
Heading into the open date, senior Gage Vance has rushed for 215 yards, scoring a pair of touchdowns.
Kirk entered the season with an inexperienced defensive unit that has gotten better, according to Purvis.
“We started the season on defense with a group that hadn’t seen many snaps,” Purvis concluded. “Coach (Stephen) Edwards and Coach (Zach) Whitfield have done a good job with that group. I can see them getting better as we have simplified things to be better at a few things. We have some guys playing better, but we have some guys that we need to get some more from. They need to get there and get there quickly. As a unit, we have played pretty well.”
Rossville will travel to Clarksdale to face Lee Academy Friday.
