Rivalries. They can often bring out the best in both teams and the “better” team doesn’t always win. Our C Spire Game of the Week brings us to one of the best-known rivalries in the state as the Jackson Academy Raiders (5-1) play host to their cross-town rival Jackson Prep Patriots (4-3) on Friday night at “The Brickyard.” The Patriots have dominated the all-time series 45-15, including winning 17 of the last 18 contests, but this could be the Raiders year to reverse the trend.
It's been a tale of two very different roads so far this season. Jackson Prep is in full rebuild mode after graduating nearly every starter off last year’s runner-up finish in the state championship game. It’s been a roller coaster ride thus far for the Patriots as they come in with a 4-3 overall record. They opened the season with two losses vs Battleground Academy (48-13) and at Parklane Academy (18-7). Prep bounced back with back-to-back wins over Lamar (55-19) and Tri-County Academy (45-6). Madison Ridgeland Academy beat them pretty soundly (49-21), but the Patriots looked stellar in a win against Hartfield (40-14) and most recently a shutout of Cathedral (49-0). Head Coach Doug Goodwin says he’s excited to see where the team started and how far they’ve come to this point.
“We’re getting better, we’ve gotten better each week. Even the game we lost to MRA we learned a lot,” said Coach Goodwin. “There is no replacement for experience and I’m so proud of the entire team. Most of these guys came into the year never being in the fight with games on the line. It’s much different from clean-up duty in games that were well in hand last year. Now they are out there from the start. A lot of it is learning what to do, what you are coached to do. The more success you have, the more confidence you have. It allows you to play fast when you are not thinking about it. It becomes second nature which is what we are starting to see.
Jackson Academy, on the other hand, is built to win now with a plethora of four- and five-star players with major college commitments. The Raiders are seeking their first state title since 2011 and have looked dominant in five of their six games. They’ve picked up wins over Oak Forest Academy (42-6), Leake Academy (48-21), Greenville St. Joseph (45-7), Hartfield Academy (41-22) and Magnolia Heights (52-0). Their only loss came against MRA (35-24).
Unfortunately, Jackson Academy said once again this week that Head Coach David Duggan would not be available for pre-game media interviews, which has become the norm since the season started.
For the Prep offense, junior quarterback Luke Essary is settling in as the field general. Essary is completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,236 yards, 11 touchdowns and just one interception. Essary has seen two receivers emerge as his go-to guys that JA will have to contend with in sophomore Josh Parker and senior Aiden Rowe. Parker leads the team in receptions and yards with 22 catches for 492 yards and two touchdowns. Rowe is averaging 30 yards a catch with 13 receptions for 400 yards and four touchdowns. The offense is averaging 42 points in its last five games, something Coach Goodwin is excited about.
“It has really come down to the growth of our offensive line. The better the protection is, the more comfortable he feels in the pocket. He’s got time to make the right decision and get the ball out on time when he’s not feeling pressure,” said Goodwin. “Our offensive line is gaining experience and knowledge. We meet with them every day and watch film the next day after games and practice going over correct technique. It’s one thing to tell them as a coach and another that they can see it on tape and play that out.”
The success on the line has paid dividends for the running game as well in junior Wade Smith and senior Thomas Hewitt Oswalt. Smith has 73 carries for 654 yards and eight touchdowns, while Oswalt has run for 277 yards and six scores. It’ll be a tough test for both as they face a stout Raider defensive line.
“Defensively they are big up front with Division I prospects, they’ve got lots of guys that can make plays, “said Goodwin. “But nothing will change our game plan and approach. We will try to take what they give us and do what we can. We are going to try to run the ball. Really it’s going to be what they are giving you.”
The JA defense is led by pair of future SEC stars in Tennessee Volunteer commits senior linebacker TJ White and senior defensive lineman Dereon Albert, as well as senior defensive back/receiver O’Mari Johnson, who is committed to play at North Carolina. White leads the team with 46, 10 tackles for loss and six sacks. Albert has 35 total tackles with four for loss. Junior defensive lineman Jaiden Hulbert is another force on the line with 37 tackles with five being for a loss, while senior safety Carter Mathison seems to fly around from everywhere in pass defense and run stopping. The defense is extremely stingy as they are only giving up an average of 15 points per game.
The Raiders offense is just downright efficient as they are averaging 42 points a game. Senior quarterback Josef Walker has completed 76 percent of his passes, going 52 of 68 for 980 yards, with nine touchdowns and no interceptions. Walker has also run for 176 yards and two scores. Senior wide receiver Jaydann Hollins is super-fast and a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Hollins has 21 receptions for 420 yards and four touchdowns. The running game is a threat with junior Aaric Beasley and junior Kingston Mays. Beasley leads the way with 405 yards and 10 touchdowns while Mays has added nearly 300 yards and seven scores.
You never really know what you’re going to get in a rivalry game. Sometimes the team that is “supposed” to win doesn’t. Coach Goodwin put it best when he said, “We’ve got four games left. Our guys are going to play their rear ends off.”
One thing we do know, this chapter of Prep and JA will be a physical, hard-earned victory for whoever gets it.
JACKSON ACADEMY'S KEYS TO VICTORY
On Offense: Quarterback Josef Walker has the ability to break out of the pocket and run if the Prep rush gets there. The decision making of Walker will be key.
On Defense: Send the House. The Prep offense is still a work in progress and they will want to force quarterback Luke Essary into quick decisions.
JACKSON PREP'S KEYS TO VICTORY
On Offense: Coach Doug Goodwin loves to use multiple formation looks which can confuse the defense. It will be important to get the ball in the hands of the receivers quickly and rack up yards after the catch.
On Defense: Just like the offense, look for multiple formations to keep quarterback Walker guessing about where the pressure is coming from.
JA AT A GLANCE
Class/Division: Class 4A, District 4 (MAIS)
Record: 5-1 overall, 1-0 in district
Head Coach: David Duggan
Assistant Coaches: Michael Brinson (Strength and Conditioning), Case Cook, Shay Hodge, Thomas Martin, Rob Triplett, Malcolm Rollins, Michael Turner
The Series: Jackson Prep leads 45-15.
Last Meeting: Jackson Prep won 37-0 in the 2024 playoffs.
PREP AT A GLANCE
Class/Division: Class 4A, District 4 (MAIS)
Record: 4-3 overall, 1-0 in district
Head Coach: Doug Goodwin
Assistant Coaches: Rusty Burke, Nick Brewer, Jake Pickett, Keith Giordano, Chris Hector, Brent Heavener, Matt Butts
