Region 8-3A is competitive. That statement could be the understatement of the year. While other regions have been a bit down in 2019, this six-team district could be described as the SEC West in 3A football. It is fitting since Seminary sent Nathan Pickering to the SEC West, and currently, Austin Keys is committed to the Rebels. Add to that list is Columbia running back Kentrel Bullock who is also committed to Ole Miss.
Even after sending Pickering to Starkville Seminary head coach Brian Rials feels like his team has been competitive through 2019 despite some growing pains.
“We had a tough non-district schedule which I think helped get us ready for this tough district. We didn’t perform as we wanted to against Magee. We got behind early and had to play catch-up all night, but I was proud of how we came out last Friday and we got ourselves right back in the hunt. We are 1-1 now, so it is still wide open in my eyes where anyone can still win the region. That’s what we’ve been preaching to our guys. Just one game at a time. If we win this one [Jefferson Davis County] we are right back in this thing.”
Seminary has searched for a new quarterback throughout the season as they had to replace Jeff Miller who started last season and threw for 702 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. Junior Jabori Potts has started at quarterback a bit, but recently, senior Poun'darius Youngblood has taken the reigns as the starter.
“We’ve had a couple of different quarterbacks we were trying to figure out this year, and because of injury to one of them, it helped make that decision a little easier. “PD” [Youngblood] has done a good job in that role. He’s mature and makes good decisions. We don’t ask him to throw the ball a lot, but when he does he makes the right reads. He is just doing a good job running our offense right now. We feel confident with him back there for us,” explained Rials.
Rials talked about how his team has dealt with injuries and that his team seems to be getting healthy.
“This year we’ve had guys just kind of banged up. We haven’t really lost anyone for the season, but it has been ankles and shoulders where we have had guys miss here and there. We feel like we are pretty healthy this week and have everyone pretty much back so, it is just the grind of football season and playing in District 8-3A.”
Defensively the Bulldogs have been opportunistic, recording 10 interceptions and totaling 18 sacks as a team. They have held four teams under 20 points total and recorded one shutout versus Sumrall. Rials believes despite the loss of Pickering, his unit has the potential to be special.
“We obviously lost Pickering and a couple of guys on defense, but we are starting to gel a little bit. Other than giving up the first score against Tylertown we shut them out the rest of the night. They are a very talented football team, so I felt like we did a good job last Friday night. Again, it has just been moving some guys around in different spots, but I think we have them in the right place now to move forward and grow.”
Seminary faces Jefferson Davis County this Friday night, and they currently hold a two-game win streak over the Jaguars as they defeated them 20-14 in the regular season and 15-9 in the South State Championship.
“JDC is wanting a little revenge since we beat them twice last season. I know they’ll come over here and be ready to play,” said Rials.
Seminary will look to move to 2-1 in district play Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
