Ridgeland will take, what it hopes, is the first step to a “Remember the Titans” type run to a championship this Friday night. The Titans hit the road to open the 5A Region 2 schedule in Jackson against the Jim Hill Tigers. Ridgeland Head Coach Teddy Dyess is entering his second season at the school and says he has worked hard through the summer and first two games to change the culture of the program.
“We are trying to change the narrative of the style of football. For many years, people viewed Ridgeland as only wanting to play offense and score a lot of points in shootouts,” said Coach Dyess. “We want our players to know they can be physical, we can hit hard and get down and dirty with the best of them.”
Dyess says being more physical is what propels teams to deep playoff runs and titles. Last year Ridgeland’s season came to an end with a first round playoff loss to West Point 40-7.
The Titans first two games this year were against non-region, physical opponents in Northwest Rankin and Pearl, both Class 6A. Coach Dyess says he likes the tough early season tests. “Playing Northwest and Pearl should get us ready for anybody in 5A,” said Dyess. “To win a state title we have to be tough. Our players are as good as anybody. We have to have the mentality that we are going to make the stops.”
Offensively, Ridgeland is just fun to watch. The Titans truly have two mythical receivers, arguably the best in the state in Ayden Williams and Jabraxton Boone. Williams is a senior that recently committed to play college football at Ole Miss. Williams is coming off a junior season where he rolled up 1,156 yards on 63 catches and scored 14 touchdowns. Boone, also a senior was a dual threat last year with 33 catches for 601 yards and five touchdowns, as well as 496 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
“Jabraxton and Ayden are special. We are always going to put the game in their hands,” said Dyess. “Boone is so versatile. He doesn’t know what half speed is, he is 100 miles an hour at all times.
At quarterback, Garrison Davis is playing his first season of varsity ball as a sophomore. Davis showed nerves in the opener against Northwest Rankin to lead the team to a 29-27 comeback win. He is a very mobile quarterback with good instincts. Of course the transition is made much easier when you have targets like Williams and Boone running the routes.
“They sure take pressure off Garrison. All he has to do is get it in the areas and they will make a play,” said Dyess. “We don’t feel like they are ever covered, they can beat man to man or double coverage. It’s amazing.”
The running game is led by senior Ka’mari Payne. He is a bull of a back and runs with great vision. In the game against Northwest, Payne ran into a wall at the line, bounced left and rumbled 30 yards. The coaches say junior running back Marquavion Cuff is really coming along and should see plenty of action against Jim Hill as well.
The only question mark for this high octane offense is along the line. The Titans are very inexperienced with only one full-time returner in senior Ethan Robinson. Coach Dyess was very impressed with the growth of his line in the closing minutes against the Cougars. The offense was able to keep the ball moving on the ground for the final four minutes to preserve the win.
Defensively, the Titans have a new coordinator in Jamario Winters who has helped preach physicality. Winters was an defensive assistant coach at Pearl last season and served as the head coach for the eighth grade team that won the “Little Six” championship.
Dyess says Jvaris Walden is the glue to the defense. Walden can lay a lick standing six foot and160 pounds our defense, but in street clothes Dyess says you’d never know he plays football.
Ridgeland is bigger and more physical on the defensive line. Senior Deon’drey Williams wears #99 and anchors the fron at 5’10, 300 lbs. Dyess says he’s so effective because he draws double teams which opens things up for linebackers to make plays.
“I am looking forward to watching our defense grow. We are hitting harder than ever and have tons of speed, said Dyess. “The one thing we have to instill in our team is take care of business no matter who we play, whether it’s Northwest Rankin, Pearl or Jim Hill. We’ve got to be focused and play.”
The Titans first goal is to run the region to set up, what looks to be a tremendous opportunity to finally break through and make a championship run. That quest begins Friday night in the Capital City as they take aim at the Jim Hill Tigers.
Ridgeland’s keys to victory
On Offense: Look for Ayden Williams and Jabraxton Boone to put up big numbers this week. The change of pace with Ka’mari Payne out the backfield both running the ball and catching passes will be a key as well. Quarterback Garrison Davis doesn’t need to force things as the plays will be there.
On Defense: Don’t let Jim Hill hang around and gain confidence. Let the offense do its thing and then knock the Tigers out.
RHS at a glance
Class/Division: Class: 5A Region 2 (MHSAA)
Head Coach: Teddy Dyess
Assistant Coaches: Caleb Shufelt, Stuart Shaw, Scott Minchew, Elvin Crisp, Cody Upton, Josh Crowder, Tanner Moulder, Terron McIntyre, Jamario Winters
The Series: Ridgeland leads 1-0
Last Match-Up: Titans won 54-0 in 2021
