Entering the final week of the regular season, Purvis could find itself anywhere from the third seed in the 4A playoffs or miss out entirely. Depending on what goes on in the Sumrall-Greene County, and how Purvis’ matchup with FCAHS plays out, a lot is still undecided in Region 7-4A.
According to Brandon Shields of MississippiGridiron.com, there are at least five different scenarios that could happen from the two games going on, but one thing is for sure, the loser of FCAHS and Purvis will miss out on the playoffs.
It’s pretty simple, though. Win and you’re in, and the rest will sort itself out.
“We’re just going to go play and play as well as we can,” Purvis coach Perry Wheat said. “We can’t control what happens in other games, and we’re just going to go play. There are several scenarios where we could end up third, fourth or out, so we’re just going to worry about the part we can control.”
Purvis (4-5, 2-2) hosts the Aggies (5-5, 1-3) Friday in what has turned into a fun rivalry matchup to close the regular season the past couple of years. From 2011 to 2014, the two weren’t in the same region so they played non-region contests every season. Once FCAHS moved into Region 7, the teams have played the final game.
“It’s been played for a long time, and we’re 12, 15 miles apart, so that kind of makes it interesting for a lot of people,” Wheat said. “But more importantly, it’s a region game and it’s a game we need to win to advance to the playoffs. I thought that’s where the importance is.”
FCAHS is coming off a 27-13 loss to Sumrall, which clinched a playoff berth in the process. Purvis played the first-place Poplarville Hornets close to start the game, but the district title winners showed why they’re one of the best 4A teams in the state by the time the game was over.
Senior quarterback Ty Howell had a season-high 222 passing yards and three touchdowns on 7-of-15 passing, but he did throw an interception – his sixth of the season – in the contest. Senior receiver C.J. Bolar had 121 yards and a touchdown on two grabs, which was highlighted by a 97-yard touchdown reception, and sophomore Jesse Johnson caught four passes for 99 yards and two scores.
Wheat thought his team played hard, but his team’s three turnovers were the biggest difference in the ballgame.
“We had three turnovers in a game, and it’s hard to win against a team of that caliber with those turnovers, so the game kind of got away from us at one point and put us in a tough position,” Wheat said. “It kind of took us out of our plan. I have to give them credit; they have a really fine football team offensively, defensively and the kicking game. They’re pretty sound all the way around.”
The Aggies run a wing-T offense with more than 1,800 yards gained on the ground. Seniors Nathan Whitley and Cornelius Smith and sophomore Davonte Dixon are the three major ball carriers for the FCAHS offense.
The offense has struggled to put up points in the last few weeks, though. Poplarville shut the Aggies out, Greene County only allowed seven points and Sumrall held them to 13 points, which were first-half points.
On defense, FCAHS is similar to Poplarville with its scheme.
“They’re going to play a 50 front like Poplarville and a lot of man coverage,” Wheat said. “They’re just going to get after it and pressure you. They depend on quarterback pressure. It’s one of those things offensively where you run a play and it’s a really good play or it’s a zero gain. It’s kind of feast or famine against those type of defenses. If you don’t execute well, they’ll make you look bad.”
