Thanksgiving Week is always a special time with planning for family and friends, cooking the turkey and all the fixins’. For Madison Central (10-2) this week, they have something to be thankful for as they are one of only a handful of teams that have the honor of preparing for a football game. Before they partake of the big bird on Thursday, there will be a practice and a Thanksgiving brunch as they prepare for a road trip to Tupelo (12-0).
“It’s just awesome,” said Madison Central Head Coach Toby Collums. “We’re making memories that will last a lifetime. Everybody is out of school for the week, but we are gladly practicing. We are going to have a holiday brunch together where the moms are cooking up a load of breakfast casseroles. You don’t get here by chance, it’s been hard work. I want them to enjoy it but to not lose sight of the bigger prize of advancing to next week.”
The only thing standing between the Jaguars and a trip to Southern Miss next week is an undefeated Golden Wave team. Tupelo came within a 2-point conversion of not being here this week. Starkville scored in the waning moments of last week’s playoff game and rather than tie it up with an extra point, the Yellow Jackets went for two and the win but fell short. The Wave survived 35-34.
Madison Central had a much easier time in its quarterfinal game against rival Germantown in a 45-14 win. Senior quarterback Jaiden Johnson played his best game of the year. Johnson was a perfect 11 for 11 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions or turnovers. He also ran the ball five times for 137 yards, a 27-yard average, and a touchdown. Add it all up and he posted 350 total yards and four scores.
“I am so proud for him and he’s just fun to watch,” said Coach Collums. “Believe it or not he’s still learning the position too as we moved him to QB right before last season. If you would have asked him last year if he wanted to play quarterback, he probably would have said no. That’s what makes him such a great player, he does whatever the team needs him to do and finds a way.”
The Jags will again need him to be the cog in the machine this week as senior star running back Glen Singleton is questionable to play this week. Singleton did not play against Germantown as a precaution due to injury he picked up in practice. Singleton is in the midst of a spectacular season as he has rushed for 1,449 yards on 197 carries and scored 21 touchdowns.
Madison and the Golden Wave met in the regular season back on the October 11 on the blue turf in Tupelo. The Wave won a physical battle 28-23. In that game, Singleton ran for 172 yards and a score.
“Glen was phenomenal in that first game. Just two weeks ago he ran for 225 yards against Clinton and scored five times. He is tough as nails and I know if he can go, he will,” said Collums.
Should Singleton not be able to play, Coach Collums will lean on a three headed approach with Johnson, junior Mykel Hogue and sophomore Mikel Stephen. The Jaguars offensive line is really the key to how the offense rolls. The line is made up of Terry Hardin, Josiah Clemons, Greg Brown, Parker Montgomery and Marcus Johnson.
“Our offensive line has been our mainstay and we’ve leaned on them all year. Our plan this week is to establish the run, take a few things in the passing game and simply find a way to win,” said Collums.
The Madison receivers are also a dangerous threat starting with senior Zay Hart who leads the team with 637 yards and seven touchdowns. Not far behind is senior tight end Micah Jones with 515 yards and six scores along with senior Ryan Delaney who has 362 yards and four touchdowns. If Tupelo tries to stack the line of scrimmage to stop the run, this trio of seniors should have great opportunities to make the big plays downfield.
The Golden Wave offense begins and ends with junior running back JJ Hill. In the first meeting, Hill, who wears number zero, was nearly unstoppable as he rushed for 265 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. He also caught a pass and streaked 80 yards for a touchdown. So far this year Hill has amassed 1,792 yards on 180 carries and scored an eye popping 29 touchdowns.
“If we are going to win, we’ve got to slow him down. We know were not going to shut him down, just slow him down,” said Collums. “We have to make them punt a few times and cash in ourselves. JJ is a special talent. You don’t see many backs in a lifetime like him. We are going to have as many eyes on him as we can and force somebody else to beat us.”
The Jaguars boast two of the best defensive players in the state in senior defensive lineman Myles Miller and senior linebacker Avery Jackson. Jackson leads the team in tackles with 107, six being for loss and three sacks. Miller is a wall on the front with 102 tackles, 17 for loss and 12 sacks. Also look for senior defensive back Marquis Williams to provide run support in addition to roaming the secondary.
Tupelo also has a more than adequate passing game behind senior quarterback Noah Gillon. In the regular season game, Gillon threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns, but also two interceptions. For the year, Gillon has thrown for 1,667 yards and 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions. His top targets are senior Braylon Matthews and senior Tyreke Darden. These two have combined for 738 yards and nine touchdowns. So the same holds true for the Jaguars defense that if you stack the line to stop Hill, the Wave can go to the air.
Jaguar nation will head to the blue turf in Tupelo Friday night with championship aspirations after their Thanksgiving feast on Thursday. Coach Toby Collums says he will enjoy a fried turkey before leading his team to, what he hopes, is a third appearance in the state title game. The Jaguars won it all in 1999 and 2021. Madison Central already has much to be thankful for in 2024 and a shot at the gold ball would be the ultimate topping.
Keys to Victory:
For Madison Central: On offense, let’s hope Glen Singleton will be able to play. He is a true difference maker. If not, Jaiden Johnson will need to play his best game of the year. Look for the Jags to work in plenty of QB runs depending on what the defense is showing him. Quick throws and yards after catch will be the key to keeping the ball moving and out of Tupelo’s hands.
On defense, bend but don’t break. JJ Hill is going to get yards but keeping him from the big chunk plays and out of the endzone is possible. The Jaguar defenders will have to stay disciplined in staying with and taking down Hill on first contact.
The Series: This series is tied 6-6.
Last Match-Up: Tupelo won 28-23 in the 2024 regular season.
AT A GLANCE:
Madison Central Jaguars
Class/Division: 7A Region 2
Record: 10-2 overall
Head Coach: Toby Collums
Assistant Coaches: Jonathan Brooks, Dusty Finley, Jay Livingston, Mike Hendershot, Terrance Robinson, Tate Rogers, Britt Rowell, Ben Shelton, Cody Upton, Brady Hoda.
Tupelo Golden Wave
Class/Division: 7A Region 2
Record: 12-0 overall
Head Coach: Ty Hardin
Assistant Coaches: Reed Hill, Jordan Graham, Tereif Osborne, Brian Kilgore, Aubrey Bell. Trey Ward. Brandon Jackson, Jayme McIntosh, Brian Jones, Matt Haygood and Daniel Young.
