Raiders, Pats to Play It Again

By Bill Spencer
bspencer@clarionledger.com

Vickie D. King/The Clarion-Ledger Helped by the likes of Ryan Geary, No. 18, and Miller McNamara, No. 41, Jackson Academy beat Jackson Prep and running back Harper Solop (with football) 28-23 in their regular-season matchup Sept. 23 at Raider Field. JA has won four straight games in the series. Title bouts History of Jackson Prep against Jackson Academy in MPSA football championship games: Year — Winner, score 1984 — Prep, 21-6 1996 — JA, 14-7 1998 — Prep, 28-12 2001 — JA, 12-7 2002 — Prep, 21-3 2003 — JA, 27-24 (OT) 2004 — JA, 21-0 2005 — ?

Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep renew the Mississippi Private School Association's most intense football rivalry Friday night, meeting for a 29th time overall and fifth consecutive year to decide the MPSA's big-class champion.If you think Mark McVey is growing weary of a season-ending matchup that has almost become inevitable, guess again.

For the Prep senior running back/linebacker, this Academy AAA, Division I showdown is never dull.

"Playing JA in the championship game is what I want," McVey said. "To beat them in the championship game would cap off my senior year the best way possible."

Like McVey, JA senior fullback/defensive end Benji Maher wouldn't want to finish his high school career any other way.

"Prep always brings something different to the table every year, so it never gets boring," said Maher, who's aiming for a third straight crown as the Raiders try to trim Prep's 20-8 series lead.

"It's always a great game. It's fun playing your rival, and when you get to play them for a state championship, it just adds to it."

When you examine the MPSA's enrollment figures, it's no mystery why JA and Prep keep making this annual date at Mississippi College in Clinton.

MPSA Football Championships A Lee (Ark.) vs. River Oaks (La.), Thursday, 1:30 p.m. AA Copiah vs. Simpson, Thursday, 7 p.m. AAA-Division II Heritage vs. Starkville, Friday, 1:30 p.m. AAA-Division I Jackson Academy vs. Jackson Prep, Friday, 7 p.m. All games at Robinson-Hale Stadium, Mississippi College, Clinton

Prep, which has approximately 900 students in grades 9 through 12, and JA, with about 800 students, are the organization's two largest schools by far. Enrollments for other MPSA high schools plunge to about 300 or less, a significant gap.

"There are two schools in the MPSA head and shoulders above the other schools size-wise," MPSA director of activities Les Triplett said.

While Prep suits up 59 varsity players and JA dresses out 55, numbers alone aren't the reason for the two programs' dominance. Coaches Joey Hawkins of JA and Ricky Black of Prep cite an array of factors, including quality coaching staffs, off-season conditioning and, of course, talent.

"We've been really blessed to have some great athletes in our program," Hawkins said. "They work extremely hard year-round to be the best they can be.

"Numbers are definitely a big part of being successful. We have great junior high programs and great coaching staffs. That enables us to be successful year in and year out."

At Prep, there are no short cuts to being in tiptop shape.

"I've been at Jackson Prep for nine seasons, and this is eight years in a row we've been in a state championship game," Black said. "The biggest thing I see is our players work extremely hard. They understand the importance of the off-season. Even if they're involved in other sports, they're going through our off-season program."

JA and Prep have drawn an estimated 19,000 fans to the past four title games at MC's Robinson-Hale Stadium. That's an average of 4,750, one that Triplett has no complaints about. However, he did acknowledge there's a downside to the same pairing season after season.

"The good thing about it is pretty obvious. They're the two biggest schools we have, so it translates into big crowds," Triplett said. "The bad thing is there's a certain level of discouragement that settles in with the other schools. But people need to go back and look. It hasn't always been Prep and JA. Pillow, Parklane and MRA have won championships. They're not that far removed."

In fact, neither JA nor Prep was Mississippi's top AAA team last year. Division II champion Madison-Ridgeland Academy — with about 300 students — beat both during the regular season. Other AAA programs should take heart from that example, Triplett said.

"I don't want to say it shouldn't be Prep and JA every year, but it doesn't have to be," Triplett said. "I think this is cyclical. You just don't want to have the same teams year in and year out because you don't want to discourage teams into thinking they don't have a chance. I think they do have a chance."

Hawkins doesn't deny that numbers provide JA and Prep with a considerable boost.

"Parklane was great back in the '80s," Hawkins said. "When I played at Indianola, we were great in the '70s. But being one of the larger schools, you definitely have an advantage."

With about 240 students and 30 players this year, AAA rival Hillcrest Christian faced uphill battles against JA and Prep. Hillcrest's season ended with a 21-10 loss to JA in the AAA, D-I semifinals.

In regular season play, Hillcrest fell to Prep 9-7 and JA 37-13.

"We're less than half the size of either one of those schools," Hillcrest coach Doug Hoehn said. "Any type of injuries kill us. This school has less numbers than I've ever been around. We have to spend half our practice on offense and half on defense.

"Both of their teams play real hard. Their kids compete. I see where our program has come a long way in being able to compete with those schools. But with numbers like that, I don't see how they can't have an advantage."

If you believe Hawkins and Black, they could meet for a championship 15 years in a row and never tire of the matchup.

"It never gets old," Hawkins said. "It's just like the first time. My excitement for this game is probably increasing. To play a championship game against your crosstown rival does add more pressure, but it's a rivalry. That is great to experience."

"It really doesn't get monotonous," Black said. "It's such a rivalry right now. You anticipate it being twice a year. That's the way it has been."

That's not to say that Prep and JA don't seek out new challenges. Prep annually plays Memphis University School, and JA added Briarcrest Christian of Memphis to its schedule this year.

Still, Prep's flirtation earlier this decade with joining the Mississippi High School Activities Association — which oversees more than 250 public and private schools — has waned, and JA has no plans to abandon the MPSA.

"The MPSA is a good organization," Black said. "There are some quality programs, quality athletes and very good coaches in the MPSA.

"People think it's a big separation (between the MHSAA and MPSA), but I've coached in both leagues. It's not that big of a separation. The principles of football and competition all remain the same. We're satisfied with the MPSA."