MHSAA Class 7A Semifinals Preview: Who will win the North/South Championships?
The 2023 MHSAA Football Playoffs have reached the semifinal round, and it's time to take a look at the two marquee matchups in Class 7A.
Here's a look at the two matchups, which are both set for 7 p.m. Friday night.
MORE: Complete MHSAA Class 7A Football Playoff Bracket
North
Madison Central (7-4) at Starkville (9-3)
Madison Central Jaguars at a glance
- Head coach: Toby Collums, (3rd year, 29-9)
- Scoring average: 26.5
- Defense average: 15.1
- Opponents record: 104-55
What to know about the Jaguars: Anyone who says they had Madison Central pegged for a berth in the North State title game is a liar. The 2021 state champs have been streaky — they opened the season 3-0 with wins over Ocean Springs, Brandon and Gulfport, then went 0-3 in their next three games against Northwest Rankin, Warren Central and Tupelo. But the Jaguars found a way to flip the script on Tupelo in the rematch last week, beating the Golden Wave 14-12 thanks to an effective ball-control offense and a defense that has not allowed more than 12 points in a game in more than a month. Interestingly enough, the Jags have played the toughest schedule of of the four semifinalists.
How Madison Central can win: Time of possession, avoiding turnovers and finishing drives are the three keys to victory. If the Jaguars follow a similar blue print from their second-round win over Tupelo, they might be able to shorten the game and keep that potent Starkville offense off the field. Even in a dream scenario, Starkville is going to score at some point, so it’s crucial for Madison Central to finish its own drives that reach the red zone.
Starkville Yellowjackets at a glance
- Head coach: Chris Jones (7th year, 76-19)
- Scoring average: 36.3
- Defense average: 17.5
- Opponents record: 89-74
What to know about the Jackets: The bad news for Yellowjacket fans is that this is not the same Starkville team that rolled through the playoffs and romped over Brandon in the 2022 State Championship. The good news is that this is also not the same Starkville team that gave up 34 points to Germantown and 36 points to Tupelo earlier in this year. Head coach Chris Jones has made some crucial adjustments and started playing some of his best athletes — like Stonka Burnside and Jay Stevenson — on defense and shuffling the defensive line around. The difference those changes have made is stark, with the Jackets shutting out Southaven and Oxford in blowout wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
How Starkville can win: Just follow the game plan from the first meeting with the Jaguars (a 39-7 win) and the first two playoff victories. If they can stack the box on defense and make the Jags beat them through the air, they might be able to create some short-field opportunities. And if 7A Mr. Football Trey Petty has another big North State Championship performance, the Jackets should be fine.
South
Oak Grove (11-1) at Brandon (10-2)
Oak Grove Warriors at a glance
- Head coach: Drew Causey (9th year, 88-29)
- Scoring average: 40.4
- Defense average: 19.0
- Opponents record: 90-75
What to know about the Warriors: The Warriors are loaded with FBS-type talent on both sides of the football, and some of those guys, like star wideout and corner P.J. Woodland, play both ways. Oak Grove is led by its Texas A&M-committed quarterback Anthony Maddox, who highlights an impressive group of skill position players behind a big offensive line that has averaged better than 40 points a game. The defense has been torched three times this season — by the Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Meridian and in the first meeting with Brandon — but has been otherwise solid.
How Oak Grove can win: The Warriors played the Bulldogs fairly even after a disastrous start in the first meeting between the two teams (a 38-20 win for Brandon). Brandon coach Sam Williams is notorious for being aggressive early in the game and trying to get that early lead. The Warriors need come out ready and avoid mistakes until the game settles down. They are more than talented enough to win, but as always, it’s going to come down to who executes.
Brandon Bulldogs at a glance
- Head coach: Sam Williams (3rd year, 33-7)
- Scoring average: 34.8
- Defense average: 20.4
- Opponents record: 99-61
What to know about the Bulldogs: These Bulldogs are no stranger to the heat of a big-time football game like the one before them Friday night. Brandon has reached the state finals in each of the past two seasons, and this could be the year they capture the golden ball that has long eluded one of the state’s best programs. Quarterback Landon Varnes, who will be starting his 11th career playoff game, has several weapons at his disposal. Senior tailback Nate Blount has amassed 1,345 yards and 19 touchdowns, and wideout Quincy Phillips, Jr. has a school-record 77 catches for 761 yards and six touchdowns.
How Brandon can win: The most important thing the Bulldogs can do in this game is keep Varnes upright. The senior Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College commit has great command of the offense and can make all the throws, and with all the weapons Brandon has, someone is going to get open. If they keep the pocket clean, Varnes will find them. The first quarter is key — when the Bulldogs start fast, they are hard to beat.
