Halloween is still a couple of weeks away, but there is a monster mash match-up this Friday night between Hartfield Academy (9-0 overall, 2-0 in district) and Jackson Prep (7-1 overall, 2-0 in district). The schools are only four miles apart on Lakeland Drive and the winner will not only have bragging rights but the inside track on nabbing the top seed in the MAIS 6A playoff bracket.
The Hawks are coming off a mentally and physically draining game against Madison Ridgeland Academy. It was a wild, three-hour, instant classic win over MRA 63-56. The victory moved the Hawks to a perfect 9-0 and 2-0 in district play.
“This is a very mature football team. People try to make excuses for why we are winning,” said Hartfield Head Coach Craig Bowman. “Our guys are playing with a chip on their shoulder to prove they are the best team. We’ve been good at turning the page. We’re just getting them back healed physically not so much mentally. It was emotionally taxing. We certainly don’t need to tell them to get excited for Prep.”
Jackson Prep is coming in fresh off a 49-0 shutout win on the road at Presbyterian Christian. The Patriots’ only loss this season was in a crossover public-private school contest against West Jones 21-6. The Patriots, at 7-1 overall and 2-0 in district play, have made it to this point with more injuries than you can shake a stick at, often leading Head Coach Doug Goodwin to feel like he’s piecing his lineups together with duct tape.
“We’ve got 12 guys out with injuries, nine of those for the year,” said Coach Goodwin. “It’s been everything, back problems, shoulder surgery, concussions. It’s just been crazy. While we’ve had to piece it together, it’s been good enough to win most of the time, except for the West Jones game which I think was a great learning experience.”
The good news for Prep this week is that Goodwin expects to have running back Lake Womack back after missing the last three with an injury. In the first five games of the season, the senior rolled up 270 yards on 50 carries and scored seven touchdowns. Junior Cole Gideon has filled the starting role nicely with 58 carries for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Will Gideon and sophomore Thomas Hewitt Oswalt have combined for 432 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Add in quarterback Parker Puckett’s 270 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, the Patriots have amassed 1,249 yards on the ground with 24 scores.
The Prep passing game has been no slouch. Parker Puckett has completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,555 yards with 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He’s got two huge tight end targets in seniors Owen McCraney, 19 catches for 384 yards and two touchdowns, and Peyton Puckett, 24 catches for 344 yards and four touchdowns. Another major weapon is junior receiver Major Quin who’s caught 20 passes for 350 yards and two scores. It’s almost pick your poison with talent spread throughout the offense.
“Prep is so multiple offensively, so many formations with so much movement. They really challenge how you line-up. We’ve got to be in the right spot at the snap to not give up leverage,” said Coach Craig Bowman. “(Parker) Puckett has done a great job and really manages that offense. Lake (Womack) is a big physical running back if he’s back. Our guys up front will pose a challenge to him. We are going to take the run away, and see what happens. We are coming off playing John White and MRA that had a very high level passing package. Prep is a much different offense that uses the big tight ends and RPOs (run-pass options).
Southern Miss commit Chris Jones leads the Hawks defense. Jones is a 6’1, 220-pound senior linebacker that has an astounding 76 tackles on the season, 17 for losses.
“We watch the film and Jones looks like he ought to be in college right now,” said Coach Goodwin
He’s joined by junior Reginald Vaughn, 52 tackles with 16 for loss, and junior London Simmons, 51 tackles with 16 for loss. The Hartfield secondary is hawkish against the pass with 22 interceptions. Sophomore Bralan Womack leads the way with five picks followed by senior Bralen Steele with three and junior Kenzy West with three.
The Hartfield offense begins and ends with Reed Jesiolowski, who will be playing at Southern Miss next year. Jesiolowski is in the midst of a record breaking senior season. The 6’4, 215-pound running back broke the school rushing record after just nine games last week with three more regular season games to go. Reed has 126 carries for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns.
“All I can say is he is a special player to coach. To set the school record in just nine games and only playing in the 4th quarter one time this year is just incredible,” said Coach Bowman.
Junior quarterback Cayman Tapper is having a solid first season at the helm of the Hawks offense. Cayman has thrown for 1,272 yards with 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions. Tapper’s go to guy is Kenzy West who has 31 catches for 631 yards and nine touchdowns.
Prep’s already stingy defense should get a boost this week with the return of senior linebacker Andy Brown who missed last week due to injury. Brown would be an important cog to slowing down Jesiolowski. Despite missing a game, Brown still leads the team in tackles with 46 and tackles for loss with 16. Fellow senior Thomas Cross is another key run-stopper with 43 tackles and seven for loss. Coach Doug Goodwin is very confident in his secondary to handle things if the Hawks go to the air. Seniors Matthew Mehrle and Micah Stallworth will be lurking looking to declaw the Hawks receivers.
The last meeting between these two schools was a defensive battle with the Patriots wining 10-7 in the playoff semifinal last year. The Hawks were held to just 159 total yards of offense.
“They flat out embarrassed us offensively in that game,” said Hartfield Head Coach Craig Bowman. “Prep’s defense is always good and they look as good as ever this season. They run great schemes, really hide what they do until the last moment and it’s hard to catch them off guard.”
This could be the first of two games this year as the top two teams in the district may very well meet again in the playoffs. Expect this one to be a smash mouth monster match-up with plenty of bad blood to go around. Jackson Prep will be the place to be this Friday night.
HARTFIELD KEYS TO VICTORY
On Offense: While the “Feed Reed” movement has been ultra-successful, you know Prep is going to sell out on stopping the run. Quarterback Cayman Tapper is going to have to keep the Patriots honest with the passing game.
On Defense: Coach Bowman says he is going to stop the run and make Prep beat him with the pass. Careful what you wish for. The Hawks will have to get pressure on Parker Puckett to take away the big weapons he has running the routes.
Limit mistakes/penalties: If history repeats itself, this will be a one-possession game. Too many penalties or turnovers could be the deciding factor.
PREP KEYS TO VICTORY
On Offense: Keep the Hawks off-balance with the continued run-pass balance. The tight ends should have success in the middle of the field.
On Defense: Find a way to neutralize Reed Jesiolowski. The Patriots contained him a year ago but he’s bigger and faster this year.
Limit mistakes/penalties: If history repeats itself, this will be a one-possession game. Too many penalties or turnovers could be the deciding factor.
PREP AT A GLANCE:
Class/Division: Class: 6A. District 1 (MAIS)
Record: 7-1 overall, 2-0 in district
Head Coach: Doug Goodwin
Assistant Coaches: Nick Brewer, Graham Eklund, Matt Butts, Brent Heavener, Keith Giordano, Rusty Burke
The Series: Jackson Prep leads the recent series 22-10.
Last Meeting: Jackson Prep won 35-7 in the 2022 regular season.
HARTFIELD AT A GLANCE
Class/Division: Class: 6A. District 1 (MAIS)
Record: 9-0 overall, 2-0 in district
Head Coach: Craig Bowman
Assistant Coaches: Cody Saxton, Jeff McFerran, Pack Toler, Rip Lindsey, Shane Schurb, Stuardt Saxton
The Series: The series is tied 2-2
Last Meeting: Jackson Prep won 10-7 in the 2022 MAIS 6A Semi-Finals.
