Running back Marquis Crosby and the Bobcats continue to be an unstoppable juggernaut.
PCS, which has now won seven straight games, rides behind Crosby, who last week set the school single-game rushing record after running for 502 yards and six touchdowns. Crosby’s record is third all-time in Mississippi history, and he has now rushed for 2,295 yards and 26 touchdowns on the year.
However, the celebration will have to momentary as PCS (7-1) will begin to face the toughest part of its schedule in its final three regular season games. The Bobcats will face Jackson Academy this week, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, and then Jackson Prep to close this year.
Jackson Academy’s three losses come from undefeated Leake Academy, MRA and Jackson Prep. Last week, the Raiders defeated East Rankin Academy 42-7.
“They are a very talented football team,” PCS coach Derek White said. “They are talented all over the place. They are a very physical football team and the best football team we will have played this year.”
While Jackson Academy has averaged 288 yards per game and put up 33 points a game, the Raider offense is filled with talent. At quarterback Jackson Academy will switch between Jackson Conn and Clayton White who have combined for 647 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.
The peak of the talent is with the Raiders’ skill players. At wide receiver is the No. 1 ranked recruit in Mississippi, Deion Smith. Smith, who is verbally committed to LSU, hauled in 16 catches for 291 yards and four touchdowns. His brother, Dan Smith, who also has an offer from LSU, is the team’s other top receiver as he has recorded seven catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns.
“They are brothers,” White said. “Deion is supposed to be the No.1 player in the state of Mississippi, and he is committed to LSU. There is a reason for it. His younger brother has just picked up an LSU offer also.”
In addition to the Smith brothers, the Raiders also rely on running back Marcus Harris, who is committed to Nebraska. On the season, Harris has rushed for 545 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“It all starts with (Harris) in the backfield,” White said. “He runs very well. He runs power. That’s his best play. He ran it last year and torched us last year. He is a very good player and gets better as the game goes on and is very physical. He’s a good runner that will run over you but also has breakaway speed.
“That offense has at least three Division I football players on it also at the skill position, which is pretty strong. There is not a whole lot of weakness on the football team at all. They play hard. They get after you and are very talented. We will have to play almost perfect to have a shot.”
Defensively, Jackson Academy, which runs a 4-3 defense, has held teams to 15.6 points per game, and notably recorded two shutouts. As a defense, the Raiders have accumulated 49.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and have forced 14 total turnovers.
“Their linebackers come downhill,” White said. “The defensive linemen can cause a lot of problems. Their secondary is as good as we have seen. They are physical but also run very well in the secondary. They just string you out, and then they’ll run through a hole and make a play and tackle you for a loss. We definitely have to block well if we want to have the opportunities to run the football well on Friday night. They don’t have a whole lot of weaknesses.
“The big key is that we cannot turnover. We have to score points. They can run the football at will and then throw it up to one of their receivers and make you miss a big play. It’s a big test for us on Friday night.”
