As we head down the final three weeks of the regular season for Kirk Academy, the Raiders have a chance to achieve what no other team in school history has by finishing with back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.
Coach Colin Boone’s Raiders came up short last season, losing in the Class AAA finals to Greenville St. Joseph finishing 12-1. This season, the Raiders are 6-0 heading into this week’s Homecoming contest with Indianola Academy.
“When we came in two years ago, we were just trying to get a program started,” Boone said. “This year, we have some players with some experience, who were part of a good team and know what it takes to be. We haven’t hit our stride yet or gotten to our end goal. A team that has expectations and a lot of experience helps.”
The second-year head coach credits a lot of his team’s success to their play upfront on both side of the football.
“Our offensive line has been solid all season opening holes for our backs to run,” Boone said. “The defensive line has done their job and disrupted the opposing offense.”
Like all coaches, Boone knows his team needs to continue to improve as the regular season nears its conclusion.
“I want us to continue to get better as a team,” he said. “It sounds like a cliche, but you want to play your best football at the end of the season. I thought we took a step forward last week after six turnovers against Marshall. We also cut down on our penalties last week and stayed crisp up front, blocking who we were supposed to block.”
Individually, senior Noah Jackson leads Kirk with 489 yards on 62 carries and nine touchdowns. As a receiver, he has two receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown. Junior Gage Vance had 45 carries for 343 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Holt Gober is 23-of-37 passing for 477 yards and four touchdowns, while only throwing two interceptions. As a runner, he has 42 carries for 304 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior Devon Hennis is the top receiver with 12 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Classmate Anthony Carollo had four receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, senior Blake Mattox leads the way with 35 tackles and two sacks followed by Jackson with 33 tackles and one interception. Senior Aiden Noah has 23 tackles.
Kirk faces the Indianola Academy Colonels and Midsouth Association of Independent Schools veteran Tommy Nester. In his 19th year at the Sunflower County private school, Nester has 231 career wins in 30 seasons of coaching, which included stops at Carroll Academy and Oak Hill Academy.
“He is a legend in the MAIS,” Boone said. “His teams are prepared to play and we will get their best shot.”
IA is 2-4 on the season with wins over Benton Academy (20-0) and Central Holmes (28-14). With the Raiders in the middle of a power point battle for the top seed in the Class AAA Playoffs, every win matters.
“Well, our players know that every game is important because of the power point system and how it works,” Boone concluded. “If you’re a competitor, it doesn’t matter what the opponent’s record is.”
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. with Homecoming festivities slated for 6:30 p.m.
