On paper, most people think Grenada High School’s opening round game of the Class 6A playoffs against Callaway High School of Jackson should not pose much of a challenge for the Region 1 champs.
You have a 10-1 team pitted against a 4-7 team. Based on this season’s results, it shouldn’t be much of a game, but don’t tell GHS coach Michael Fair that. It’s a new season and the wins and losses have been wiped clean.
“I told our guys this week that everything is elevated now – both the good and the bad,” Fair said. “There is a magnifying glass on everything you do. There are consequences for not playing well now. Last week, we knew there was a game next week – we don’t have that luxury this week. If you don’t play well and things don’t go well, there is no next week. The same thing can be said about the good. You make a big play and its carries a lot of weight.”
Fair also went back to his T.E.A.M. concept from last season.
“Our core values as a team are magnified this time of year,” he said. “You have to be ‘tougher’ than anyone else. You have to play with more ‘effort’ than you have all year. You have to have the best ‘attitude’ you have ever had and act more ‘mature’ than you ever have to make a run at this thing. We carry who we are through this. It just means more this time of year.”
Fair, like any coach, would like to get off to a good start early and put some distance between them and Callaway. The second-year Grenada coach hopes his team can do that, but has a bigger goal in mind.
“Sure, we would like to come out and create some distance in the game,” he said. “More than that, we would play clean in all three phases of the game. We want to efficient on offense – no wasted snaps, being able to execute the game plan at a high level. Defensively, we are going to have to tackle. They have running backs and receivers that are elusive making people miss all year.”
The playoff run in 2023, is something that should prepare the Chargers for the postseason this year.
“Experience goes a long way,” Fair said. “Last year’s team won three playoff games and put us into position to play for a championship. It doesn’t mean it is going to happen automatically – each team has an identity and this year’s team has not done that yet. We have to go out there and play with our hair on fire and advance to next week. We are not sneaking up on anyone and will get Callaway’s best effort.”
The Chargers from Jackson are led by senior running back Marvin Moore (5-foot-6, 185 pounds). Defensively, they have gotten solid play from junior linebacker Rodney Hawthorne (5-foot-9, 220 pounds) and classmate Waylan King (5-foot-10, 195 pounds). Senior Deion Taylor (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) anchors the secondary at safety. Classmate Tyler Smith (6-foot, 170 pounds) plays defensive back and has taken snaps at quarterback.
“Moore is an outstanding back that runs with power,” Fair concluded. “Hawthorne and King are solid linebackers, who can play for anybody we play. Taylor is long, moves around well and covers a lot of ground. They have athletes all over the field.”
GHS senior Macaleb Taylor has been the workhorse in the backfield for the hometown Chargers with 282 carries for 1,928 yards and 30 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Brayden Trusty is 100-of-179 for 1,455 yards and 14 touchdowns. His top receiver is junior Zayion Cotton, who has 39 receptions for 597 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Chance Jenkins has 14 receptions for 208 yards and six touchdowns.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Charger Stadium. The winner advances to the second round to face the winner of Lake Cormorant vs. Neshoba Central contest.
