For the second time in as many years, the Kirk Academy Raiders have an opportunity to play for a Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Class AAA state championship.
Second-year head football coach Colin Boone’s team will meet District 1 rival Marshall Academy (10-3) at Jackson Academy tonight, Thursday, Nov. 21. It will be the second meeting between the two schools this season. Back on Sept. 27, Kirk (11-0) survived six turnovers and won 17-14 as junior Ryder Kendall hit a 26-yard field goal as the horn sounded.
Boone said that he expects much of the same game, hopefully excluding the turnovers.
“Marshall is a really good football team,” he said. “They are physical and have players everywhere. It was such a good game earlier this season. We made some mistakes, but a lot of that had to do with how they played. They are going to be hungry, thinking they let one slip away. It should be a very good game. Hopefully, we will be ready to play.”
The game will be the final high school game for 14 Raiders. Kirk is one of five returning teams to the state championships. It’s an experience Boone says that will stay with the players for the rest of their lives.
“It’s special to be back here again,” he said. “It’s hard to get here in the first place, but to make it back-to-back is an accomplishment for our players and program. You don’t know how many times you will get an opportunity to get there, and we praise God for the chance we have again. No matter the outcome, it has been a really good ride. I just hope it ends the right way.”
Marshall advanced to the title game with a 22-12 win over top-seeded Riverfield (La.) Academy. The Patriots were 3-3 following the loss to Kirk in September. They have rattled off seven straight wins and are playing the best football of the season, according to third-year Marshall Academy head football coach Ben Durham.
“Neither team is in the same place they were in September,” Durham said. “The first game probably isn’t going to be an indication of how this game is going to be. Kirk has dominated throughout the season and I think we have sputtered through some, but I think we are playing good football right now. We have gotten better, but are working to stay focused. Getting the fourth seed was good because we felt like we played a tough schedule and it has made us better.”
The Patriots are led on defense by senior linebacker/running back Eli Gurley (6-foot-2, 230 pounds), who has 114 total tackles. He is joined by freshman Brennan Smith (6-foot, 205 pounds), who has 109 tackles.
Junior Lewisburg High School transfer Southern Moore (230 pounds) is an offensive lineman for the Patriots. He is joined by seniors Zachary Bogard (260 pounds), Joseph McDonial (190 pounds) and Rhyder Rippee (240 pounds) upfront.
Junior Carson Ormon returns at quarterback and is joined in the backfield by junior Olive Branch transfer Tyler Wright (180 pounds) and sophomore Olive Branch transfer Ashton Curtis (160 pounds). Ormon is 58-of-111 for 975 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air with just two interceptions. As a runner, he has rushed 67 times for 352 yards and six touchdowns. Curtis has eight receptions for 225 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Devin Snow (180 pounds) is the top wide receiver for the Patriots with 20 receptions for 335 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Paxton Austin (282 pounds) has been solid on the defensive line.
The Raiders are led by senior running back Noah Jackson, who has 872 yards on 101 carries and 12 touchdowns. Junior running back Gage Vance has 661 yards on 61 carries and 11 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Holt Gober is 36-of-68 for 779 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing for 489 yards and 10 touchdowns on 79 attempts. Classmates Devon Hennis and Anthony Carollo are the top receivers. No receiving stats were available.
Defensively, senior defensive end Blake Mattox leads the way with 60 tackles this season. Senior linebacker Aden Noah has 35 tackles, while Hennis has 40 tackles.
Boone knows the key to the game will be taking care of the football and limiting penalties.
“We can’t play behind the chains if we want to be successful,” he concluded. “Like any game, we need to not turn the ball over.”
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Jackson Academy.
