Second chances don’t come often.
Or do they?
Taylorsville, whose only blemish of the season was to Perry Central in Week 6, will get a second chance this Friday night. The Tartars host Perry Central in round two of the MHSAA Class 2A playoffs, seven weeks after their 26-7 loss to the Bulldogs on Sept. 22.
“When they beat us the first time, we had hoped to get an opportunity to play them [Perry Central] again,” said Taylorsville head football coach Chuck Robertson. “But we didn’t know it would be in the second round [of the playoffs]. They’re a top-tier 2A team in the South. They beat us pretty good the first time.
“You know we look forward to the opportunity to right your wrongs, as they say. The lost to Perry Central made us correct some things we were doing wrong. Our kids are looking forward to the opportunity, and so am I.”
In Week 6, Perry Central, as Robertson says, “hit us in the mouth early.”
“The first two series Perry Central came out and hammered our tail,” Robertson said. “We didn’t respond well.”
Taylorsville had its chances in the first half, including an opportunity to score from Perry Central’s 2-yard line, and in two plays were held without a score.
“They just physically wimped us and outcoached us,” said Robertson. “They had a better game plan than us, and they beat us in every aspect of the game.”
Perry Central continued to outscore Taylorsville in the second half and handed the visiting team its first loss of the season.
Six straight wins for Taylorsville followed. After winning Region 5-2A for the first time since it moved into the region last season, the Tartars were given an easy task in the first round. Last Friday night, Taylorsville easily downed Bogue Chitto, 47-7.
Now the task grows tougher, Perry Central, now 10-1 on the season, visits Taylorsville with hopes of a second win against the Tartars and a chance play for a title in its first year as a 2A program.
“They beat us the first time, and it’s one of those games you had to tip your hat to them,” said Robertson. “There’s nothing negative I can say about them in what they did to us. Now, we hope we can tweak some things and come out a little different this time.”
The necessary adjustments needed to avoid another loss to Perry Central? Robertson had a few things quickly come to mind.
“We have to hang on to the football,” said Robertson. “We had a couple of turnovers that hurt us last time. We had an 8-yard punt, a chance to retrieve an onside kick and didn’t, a chance to block a punt and we didn’t lay out of it, so a lot of little things we need to make sure we do or don’t do this time around.”
And of course, it goes without saying, freshman quarterback Ty Keyes must continue his impressive season Friday night for Taylorsville to survive and advance. The freshman leads the state in passing with 3,346 yards and 32 touchdowns. He’s currently ranked No. 22 in the nation in yards thrown.
“They did some things last time that made him uncomfortable,” Robertson said. “My offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator are two of the best coaches I’ve been around. They’ve done some great things to put him in a better position to do great things. Last time we didn’t have one of our best offensive lineman and wide receiver. That is not an excuse, but I think that [is worth noting].”
Kickoff in Taylorsville Friday night is scheduled for 7 p.m.
