After a loss to Brandon three weeks ago, Petal fell to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in one of the state’s toughest regions, and their playoff chances were seemingly put on life support. Backs against the wall, the Panthers were tasked with winning their final four games in order to ensure they make the playoffs for an 11th consecutive year.
Flash forward to today and Marcus Boyles’ Panthers (3-6, 2-3) are halfway there after wins over Region 3-6A foes Jim Hill and Meridian. The latter came last Friday on the road, 24-6.
“When our kids’ backs got against the wall, I think we really buckled down, and our kids got focused,” Boyles said. “Practices got a lot better, and intensity got a lot better. We’ve came out and played well.”
Their response feels almost like deja vu to Boyles. Going back as far as 2015 and their run to the Class 6A championship game, his Panthers have constantly fought and battled through adverse situations.
“I wish it didn’t take that, it takes years off your life,” joked Boyles. “But there’s a lot of pride with these kids and a lot of character. I think when they’re backed up against the wall, they come out fighting.”
With that fight came improvement for a previously one-dimensional Panther offense. Junior running backs Micah McGowan and Rashad Handford have been steady, but first-year starting quarterback DeCarlos Nicholson appears to be finding his groove and building chemistry with Petal’s wide receivers.
“It’s everybody doing their job and not doing too much,” Nicholson said. “We’ve just come together as a team better the last few weeks.”
The constant for Petal has been its defense under first-year coordinator Cody Upton, who previously coached at Brandon. Upton’s unit helped keep the Panthers squarely in contention with teams like Hattiesburg, Oak Grove and Brandon in games earlier this season.
“Coach Upton has come in here with a different mindset,” Boyles said. “It’s more of a ‘warrior’ mentality I think. They play with a lot of emotion right now and feed off of him. He’s a fiery and emotional guy.
“I think our defense has been solid all year, but I tell you what, they have turned it up a little bit the last couple of weeks.”
This week, the Panthers will look to keep rolling at home against George County. The Red Rebels (3-7) have struggled on offense this year, but their defense has played well at times and is led by star defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson, who holds scholarship offers from nearly two dozen Division I programs.
“This is the one. We’ve set ourself up to get here,” Boyles said. “When you watch film, I think it’s an improved George County team. Obviously defensively they play really hard, and they got a heckuva defensive lineman down there in McKinnley Jackson. You gotta know where he’s at at all times.”
If Petal beats George County and Terry loses to Meridian this Friday, the Panthers will clinch a playoff berth. If Petal wins and Terry does as well, the winner of next week’s head-to-head matchup will clinch the fourth and final playoff seed in Region 3-6A.
“I think were just getting better, and the kids are playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Boyles added. “I like where we’re at.”
