Maybe it’s as simple as beating North Pike Friday night and as complicated as staying on track for the reminder of its Region 3-5A schedule.
West Jones hasn’t made the playoffs since 2014; the two-year streak is out of sorts when compared to the program’s success in a decade.
Maybe it’s an over-analyzation of the Region 3-5A landscape this year, but there is some truth in the following statement: beat North Pike Friday night and if things go as they should, West Jones is at the very least a fourth seed in 3-5A at the end of the regular season.
We know what that means. The West Jones Mustangs earn a playoff berth after two seasons marred by key injuries and offensive woes.
Head coach Scott Pierson, though, isn’t concerned about the analytics, he’s just focused on Friday night and a third straight win in region play.
“From coaches and players stand point, we are just focused on Friday night,” said Pierson. “As a coach, and as players, we are focused on just winning another ball game.”
West Jones knocked off then 4-1 Natchez last Friday night, 46-15. The win improved the Mustangs to 4-2 on the season and most importantly 2-0 in Region 3-5A.
“I think we are a work in progress, and I also think every week we’re getting better,” said Pierson. “And every week that we are getting better, our kids are starting to compete more. Natchez is a good team. They just got behind early, and that made it easier on us than how it should have been.”
Little doubt remains – though stranger things have occurred – on who will lock down the No. 1 and 2 spot in the region.
Four-time defending Region 3-5A title winner Laurel was stunned last Friday night by Brookhaven, 42-35. Though the loss was a bit unusual, it wasn’t that big of a surprise. Brookhaven had returned almost its entire roster from its 8-4 finish last year.
Barring any unknown, and unforeseen change, Brookhaven and Laurel will likely hold the No. 1 and 2 spot. That leaves the No. 3 and 4 spots up for grabs.
West Jones, South Jones, Natchez and North Pike is the most viable contenders.
Wingfield and Forest Hill, also in the region are 0-2 and hold slim-to-none chances to change their current positions at the bottom.
Why was the Mustangs win over Natchez so important in Week 7? The win doubled the Mustangs chances of a playoff berth. A win over North Pike (5-1 on the season, and 1-1 in Region 3-5A) would mean only one more win is needed to secure its spot in this year’s playoff picture.
Remaining on West Jones’ region schedule after Friday night: Laurel, South Jones, Wingfield and Brookhaven.
All of this is just speculation, but yet educated speculation when taking in account how things have played out in the past, and how teams are ranked via Maxpreps.com.
Before Friday night, West Jones averaged 15 points a good. The defense has been a huge factor in its above .500 record. But Friday night the offense exploded.
If it continues to improve, West Jones can only move up the chain of command.
“Our offensive line at the beginning of the year wasn’t that good,” Pierson said. “We had some people that were hurt. Now they are back. I think for doing things over and over and over, they are getting better. And our running back Austin Land had a hard time in the beginning, but from more reps, he is getting better and better. Same thing goes at quarterback. We started with a four-man competition, but once we narrowed it down and they begin getting more reps, they too are getting better.
“The bottom line is our players are playing better on Friday night.”
Kickoff, this week on the road at North Pike, is scheduled for 7 p.m.
