As you drive on Interstate 55 around Exit 114 in Madison County, don’t be alarmed if you hear and feel a rumble coming from the west side of the road. There’s a group of Mavericks stirring up a stampede. Germantown High School is wrangling something special this season as they will travel to play Oxford in a critical region showdown for first place in our C Spire Game of the Week.
The Mavericks are fresh off a 45-28 region opening win over Starkville last week, while the Chargers won a nailbiter against Madison Central 16-14. Germantown is on a three-game winning streak and comes into the game with a 4-2 overall record with dominating wins over Pearl (55-0), Neshoba Central (49-28) and Oak Grove (37-12). Their only blemishes are a season opening loss at Northwest Rankin (24-17) and a slugfest at Warren Central (52-41).
“We knocked them (Oxford) out in first round of the playoffs last year up there so they will be out for revenge. Our kids are focused and locked in; it is special to them. Even though we were on fall break last week, they were here, ready to prepare,” said Germantown Head Coach Russell Mitchell.
This Mavericks team is heavy on experience with 29 seniors with quarterback King White leading the offense that is averaging 40 points per game. White is one of the strongest, most physical signal callers in the state and has an imposing presence standing 6’0 and carrying a 210-pound frame. He is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and averaging 245 yards a game. Drilling down to specifics, he’s thrown for 1,468 yards, 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s also run the ball 62 times for 300 yards and eight touchdowns. White is coming off his best game of the season last week against Starkville where he was 21-28 for 395 yards and four touchdowns. He is incredibly smart with the football, as he has not turned the ball over once through the first six games.
“King has come a long way. He’s a big strong athlete and most impressively has not accounted for a turnover,” said Mitchell. “He runs and throws 30 times a game without getting tired. King has blossomed into an intense leader. He’s a fireball and pushes his teammates. I coached John Rhys Plumlee (Oak Grove and Ole Miss quarterback), who also had that ‘it’ factor. I’ve actually had to pull them back a bit at times because they are so intense.”
White does a good job of spreading the wealth among his receivers. Senior Keyshaun Coleman leads the way with 36 catches for 498 yards and four touchdowns. Not far behind is senior Lawson Brandon who is averaging 19 yards per catch, with 23 grabs for 435 yards and six scores. Sophomore Bryce Johnson has chipped in 206 yards and a score to round out the top three.
The running game is extremely balanced as well with White, and seniors Nyrikus Johnson and Lawson Branson. Johnson has 52 carries for 258 yards and four touchdowns while Branson has added 125 yards on 32 carries and three scores. It’s a very selfless group of skill position players.
“I am proud at the way our kids have shared the ball, being unselfish to make explosive plays. They don’t have the 25 touches a game they may be used to in the past, but they have kept the team mindset and kept the team goals,” said Mitchell.
While the Chargers offense can be explosive, they are coming off a 16-14 defensive battle against Madison Central in their region opener last week. The Jaguars led 14-13 at the half and only Oxford was able to put points on the board in the second with a lone field goal. The Chargers were balanced with 166 yards passing and 165 yards rushing on 59 total plays.
Everything flows through junior dual threat quarterback Drew Dean who has thrown for 1,314 yards with 11 touchdowns to just two interceptions. The junior has completed 78 of 130 passes for 1,148 yards and 11 touchdowns to just one interception. Dean is also third on the team in rushing with 43 carries for 200 yards and two more scores. The Mavericks will be tested by three very solid receivers in senior Kingston Gregory (33 catches for 486 yards and four touchdowns), sophomore Kevin Smith (20 catches for 347 yards and two touchdowns) and senior Christian Fields (18 catches for 286 yards and a touchdown).
“Their stats, their run/pass percentage are very similar to what we do. We can’t focus on any one guy as Dean distributes the ball well and will attack you sideline to sideline and the length of the field,” said Coach Mitchell. “We’re going to have to be ready for trick plays, reverses, the swinging gate on extra points where they love to go for two. It’s a lot to get ready for.”
The defensive line is the strength of the Mavericks defense and will be a great match-up to watch as Oxford spreads carries between Dean and two other backs. Sophomore Demar Jamerson leads the team with 277 yards and five touchdowns, and senior Jamarion Pegues is next with 227 yards and three touchdowns.
Coach Mitchell points to senior linemen Jayden Gross (6’4, 265 lbs.), Dillon Travis (6’0, 230 lbs.) and RJ Arnold (6’3, 273 lbs.) as being the key to stopping the run. Mitchell is also looking forward to continued solid play from senior defensive backs Michael Johnson at safety and senior Aaron Farrell at corner. The linebackers will have to be stout with seniors Parker McGehee, Zac Cauthen and Weston Wertz.
“Our defense had a fun night (against Starkville) with two big goal line stops.
This whole team is fun to coach, they are there for each other. We’ve got a good group and when we are clicking, we are really good,” said Mitchell.
There are no easy games in this region and this is a huge sandwich game in between playing Starkville last week and county rival Madison Central next week for Germantown. The Mavericks have a chance to grab a firm hold of first place as they hit the road to Oxford. Just be careful if you’re traveling north on I-55 Friday afternoon as that cloud of dust and rumbling you hear are the Mavericks.
OXFORD AT A GLANCE
Class/Division: 7A Region 2
Record: 5-1 overall, 1-0 in Region
Head Coach: Chris Cutcliffe
Assistant Coaches: Logan Dodson, Isaac Boose, Jeffrey Bullock, Benjamin Logan, Christopher Moore, Colton Skidmore, Bruce Taylor, Ian Willis
GERMANTOWN AT A GLANCE
Class/Division: 7A Region 2 (MHSAA)
Record: 4-2 overall, 1-0 in Region
Head Coach: Russell Mitchell
Assistant Coaches: Chris Lee, Dustin Barrick, Bruce Brady, David D’Angelo, Damain Davis, Jordan England, Charles Houghton, Bubba Nettles, Charlie Shearer, Brad Smothermon, Michael Washington, Sharone Wright
The Series: Oxford leads 3-2.
Last Match-Up: Germantown won 43-34 in the 2024 playoffs.
GERMANTOWN'S KEYS TO VICTORY
On Offense: On offense, let King be the king. The threat of King White passing or pulling the ball down to run will keep the Chargers guessing in the secondary.
On Defense: Don’t lose sight of quarterback Drew Dean. He’s a mirror image of White so the defense has been practicing against his dual threat all week. Staying disciplined will pay great dividends for the Mavericks.
