It’s not a 100 percent fact, but when Presbyterian Christian visits Madison-Ridgeland Academy Thursday night, it could be the first of two matchups in back-to-back weeks.
If Jackson Academy beats Oak Forest Friday, then whichever teams wins between PCS and MRA will host the first-round, No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup the following week. If MRA wins, it’ll host PCS for two straight and vice versa if the Bobcats win.
Entering last week’s game with East Rankin Academy, a non-conference contest, PCS coach Joey Hawkins wanted to see his team improve as the postseason neared. Well, the Bobcats looked sharp early, then cruised to the 42-13 win.
“We got off to a good start,” Hawkins said. “We scored 35 points in the first quarter and it was a great senior night for us. We were able to make some explosive plays, I thought our defense played more physical and everybody got to play a lot, so it was a great night for us all the way around.”
Junior quarterback Brandon Thornton had one of his more efficient games of the season with a 4-for-6 night, 112 yards and two touchdowns. Also, the Bobcats had 15 different players carry the ball for 325 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries. Senior Sheldon James led the deep group with 100 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.
“Yeah, and I had three or four more (running backs) I wanted to run,” Hawkins said. “Everybody had a great time and it was a good night for us. The thing about us, when we execute and are running on all cylinders, we can make explosive plays.”
Hawkins has been impressive with junior Tyson Keys lately, too. On offense, Keys lines up at tight end, out wide and in the backfield, and he carried the ball twice for 55 yards and a score. Hawkins said it’s harder for defenses to corral the Bobcats’ offense when players like Keys are playing well on top of the normal offensive players like James, Thornton and sophomore Eric Robinson.
Since this week’s game is a Thursday, PCS (6-4, 1-3) had to adjust its schedule for the week slightly, but Hawkins added since this is Week 11 of the season, playing a day early shouldn’t affect his team.
“We brought the kids in (Sunday) and watched film then had a short walkthrough,” Hawkins said. “We’re actually sitting in pretty good shape even with the short week.”
MRA (6-4, 1-3) has typically liked to spread teams out on offense, but here lately it’s moved to an I-formation to run it downhill. Senior running back Jake Reeves has impressed Hawkins, too.
“In year’s past, they liked to spread it and throw it, but they have a really powerful line with two big tight ends,” Hawkins said. “They have a couple of guys up there with college offers, so they’re getting more in the I-(formation) and running down hill. (Reeves) is a great performer. They have some weapons outside, but right now it looks like they’re going to a two-tight, pro-set, downhill running.”
Defensively, MRA plays a four-man from, likes to blitz from different areas and play man-to-man in coverage. Hawkins believes the defense will make some plays, but as long as the Bobcats do their jobs so the skill players can get loose.
“We’re going to really have to do a good job of making the right play and making the key blocks,” he said. “We feel like right now if you bring too many people and we get loose, we can take it the distance. We’re going to have to make some explosive plays Thursday night to win the game.”
