End of The Year: MAIS 6A Championship Week

<p>The matchup we had projected last week, Madison Ridgeland Academy meets Jackson Prep in the 2022 6A MAIS title game. In the semifinal games, Madison Ridgeland had no trouble getting by Jackson Academy, winning 21-6. In a hard fought defensive battle, Jackson Prep defeated Hartfield Academy 10-7, avenging their post season loss to the Hawks in 2021. Now, all eyes are turned to this big time rematch this week.</p>   <h2><strong>Madison Ridgeland Academy</strong></h2>   <p>Madison Ridgeland Academy enters with a red hot offense led by junior stand out quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='344088' first='John' last='White']. The passing attack flows through White, who has thrown for 2,931 yards and 27 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions this season. Pass catchers Rivers Godwin and Ben Horner lead a talented wide receiving corps that can stretch the field and make tough grabs on crucial downs. While the Patriots offense is more focused around the pass, running backs Charles Simpson (969 yards and 14 TDs) and Jonathan Latham (617 yards and 12 TDs) have done a great job on the ground this season. With the amount of playmakers on this offense, Jackson Prep will have to play some of their best defense in order to slow the Patriots down.</p>   <p>Defensively, MRA has been just as talented this year. A stout front seven makes life a lot easier for the Patriots, eating up running lanes and getting after the quarterback on passing downs. Senior Alex Hillhouse and junior Ford Clark are two of the stand out members of the defensive line that has been producing at a high level this season. Hilhouse has totaled 11 sacks and 26 tackles for loss, while Clark has added 9 tackles for loss and 5 sacks to the rooms total production this season. Linebackers Brady Biggers and Bennett Cloud have been able to make plays of their own vs the run and in coverage and on the blitz vs the pass. Topping things off, the Patriots boast an impressive secondary consisting of talented players such as sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='353438' first='Matthew' last='Perkins'], senior [player_tooltip player_id='340872' first='Noah' last='Short'], and senior Breck McCalop among others. </p>   <h2><strong>Jackson Prep</strong></h2>   <p>On the other sideline, Jackson Prep comes into this game with a ton of momentum from both the regular season and their win over Hartfield Academy. On the offensive side of the football, senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='340775' first='Paxton' last='Thompson'] has thrown for 2,330 yards and 29 touchdowns to just 9 INTs. On the receiving end, senior Will Upton has caught the lion's share of targets from Thompson, totaling 1,071 yards and 16 touchdowns, and senior William Laird has been able to move the chains as well, catching 30 balls for 546 yards and 10 touchdowns. In the run game, Prep has spread the ball around significantly, however, senior Owen Ishee has taken the most carries out of the backfield, rushing for 463 yards and 8 touchdowns. While Prep struggled to be explosive on offense last week against a talented Hartfield Academy, their prior 4 wins averaged over 45 points per game. This is one of the top offenses in the MAIS ready to take down anybody.</p>   <p>Jackson Prep has been known for their talented and disciplined defenses over the years, and this 2022 squad is no different. Led by senior linebacker Duncan Matthews, Prep has allowed an average of 12 points per game in their last 4 games. Matthews, a hard hitting backer, has totaled some video game like production this season, gathering 101 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Prep will look towards the talented senior to make more game changing plays in their state championship title game. Defensive linemen Luke Harrigill and Andy Brown among others make life significantly easier for this talented linebacking corps. In the secondary, the Patriots are loaded with young and talented defensive backs such as [player_tooltip player_id='287553' first='Micah' last='Stallworth'] and Major Quin. Seniors William Walker, Ford McDaniel and junior Matthew Mehrle have all been significant contributors as well. This secondary just plays really well together and has for a while now. </p>   <h2><strong>The Championship</strong></h2>   <p>These two teams played earlier this season in September, with Madison Ridgeland Academy winning 26-14. Prep turned the ball over too many times for their liking in the pass game and totaled only 42 rushing yards that night. MRA's [player_tooltip player_id='344088' first='John' last='White'] was held to one of his lowest statistical games of the season, throwing for only 143 yards, a TD, and an INT. In MRA's favor, they were able to run the football for over 167 yards and 3 touchdowns on the night. Both these defenses came to play that night, and I do not expect that to change this go around.</p>   <p>How will this game shape out? If last time's play is any indication, I expect both quarterbacks to be able to do what they have done all year, but there will be a much stronger emphasis on the run game due to the dropping temperatures over the last few weeks. Defensively, the Jackson Prep secondary matches up well with the MRA receiving corps. With a player like White though, it is hard to ever discount the ability for this passing attack to make big time plays in key situations. Both of these teams have stout front sevens and it is going to be a tough night for both squads to move the football. All in all, we are predicting this game to be a defensive slugfest. These teams know each other well by now and we have the two best teams in MAIS 6A duking it out in one last game. Either team can win and nobody would be surprised - this is what high school football is all about!</p>   <p><strong>Final Score:</strong> Madison Ridgeland Academy 17 - Jackson Prep 10</p>

The matchup we had projected last week, Madison Ridgeland Academy meets Jackson Prep in the 2022 6A MAIS title game. In the semifinal games, Madison Ridgeland had no trouble getting by Jackson Academy, winning 21-6. In a hard fought defensive battle, Jackson Prep defeated Hartfield Academy 10-7, avenging their post season loss to the Hawks in 2021. Now, all eyes are turned to this big time rematch this week.