Video: Starkville Academy Prepares For Showdown in MAIS AAA State Championship Game

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville Academy looks for revenge against Indianola Academy.

As football season comes to a close, Starkville Academy has had three straight shutouts in the post season and are one game from finishing it off with a state championship on Saturday. The team says this year has been fun being able to continue on throughout the playoffs.

“We are still practicing our here right now,” said head coach Chase Nicholson. “That means we are still getting better. That’s what is fun about this. This opportunity to be in the playoffs for four weeks. That’s four weeks we got to get better because we are still playing the game, and they’ve took it on their shoulders to win each game.”

“Our defense has been lights out,” said senior quarterback Ben Owens. “They help and they make us better. They make the offense look better, and just knowing you have that kind of support when you are not on the field. You know they are going to pick you up. It helps a ton.”

Starkville Academy has reeled off nine straight wins in a row since their last loss, and now this team gets to play for a state championship on Saturday down in Jackson, and the team that’s standing in their way is the team that gave them their only loss back in week three of the season in Indianola Academy.

“We were really upset with how we played that game because we didn’t show our best stuff,” said senior defensive end Kyle Faver.  “We are just ready to get another chance to play them again.”

“We feel like we didn’t play our best game nine weeks ago,” Nicholson adds. “We also know that was the game that kicked us off, and said we are better than this, and we have to be better than this, and it starts right now.”

Starkville Academy last played for a state championship in 2011 and 2014, but came up short in both games. The last time they won the state title was in 2005. It would be a big day to be a Volunteer to hold up the gold ball come Saturday night.

“It wouldn’t be a better feeling because I’ve always wanted this,” Faver said. “And this team’s always wanted this, and this school’s wanted for a long time, so it would be amazing.”

“We are due we feel like,” Nicholson adds. “But for these guys I think it caps off everything we’ve done. We’ve set goals and we’ve obtain all but one at this point.”

Starkville Academy and Indianola Academy will kick off at 2:30 p.m on Saturday at Jackson Academy.