Kirk Academy’s Mike Beagle and Marshall Academy’s Tony Banks didn’t expect to see their teams playing again — at least not this quickly.
The Patriots, 6-4, and Raiders, 5-5, met two weeks ago in Grenada with Marshall escaping with a 21-18 victory thanks to a late touchdown. Now, the teams will open the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Class AAAA playoffs Friday night at Holly Springs.
The teams are both coming off losses last week as Marshall lost a 20-14 at West Point to Oak Hill. Kirk, meanwhile, dropped a 40-13 decision at home to Greenville St. Joseph. Following the outcome of the games, Marshall grabbed the sixth-seed in the playoff bracket, while Kirk holds down the 11th-seed.
Kirk would like to start this contest better than they did two weeks ago. The Raiders trailed 14-0 at halftime and took an 18-14 lead with three third quarter touchdowns. Marshall scored in the game’s final four minutes after getting field position away from the Raiders.
In the third period, senior tailback A.J. Wren got things started with an 87-yard return of the second half kickoff for the first touchdown. Wren gave the Raiders the lead with a 52-yard scamper. Sandwiched between those scores was a 31-yard scoring pass from senior quarterback Colbert Hathcock to senior receiver Richard Flautt.
“Whoever gets off to the quickest start and makes the fewest mistakes will win the game,” Beagle said. “Field position will be important and whoever can flip the field and gains the best field position has the best chance.”
The game-winning score came after a punt and penalties pinned the Raiders with their backs to their end zone. Marshall’s defense held and forced a punt that allowed the Patriots a 15-yard drive to score what proved to be the winning points.
Beagle expects both teams will have some offensive tricks in store for the other.
“Both teams might have an extra wrinkle planned hoping to gain an advantage,” Beagle concluded. “We had an upbeat practice Wednesday and hopefully we can take that to the field. I expect it to be a battle.”
Banks expects Kirk will be ready for a second opportunity against his club.
“Kirk is a good team,” Banks concluded. “We know we will have to play better than we did last week against Oak Hill.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to Round 2 next Friday and travels to third-seeded Brookhaven, which had a first-round bye.
