Why Peyton, Billy Puckett especially savor Jackson Prep football's victory against rival Jackson Academy
Peyton Puckett and Billy Puckett, Jackson Prep's quarterback and tight end, used to attend Jackson Academy. That made the Patriots' 17-10 victory over their rival at The Brickyard Stadium on Friday night feel especially good for the brothers.
“We trained all summer to beat JA, the school across the river,” Peyton Puckett said.
Billy Puckett said the brothers attended Jackson Academy in the fifth and sixth grades.
“We know pretty much everyone here and we’re buds with everyone,” Billy Puckett said. “But when it’s game week you don’t want to be buds with anyone.”
Jackson Academy (4-1) has not beaten Jackson Prep (4-0) since 2020.
In this hard-hitting rivalry game, the only points scored in the first half came on a 20-yard field goal by Jackson Prep kicker Eli Adams in the first quarter.
“I didn’t say a whole lot at halftime,” Jackson Prep coach Doug Goodwin said. “We discussed what they were doing and what we needed to do and what we needed to do better.”
Jackson Prep responded. On its first possession of the second half, it moved 76 yards in four plays and Billy Puckett ran a quarterback keeper for a 3-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 10-0.
Jackson Prep shut down running back Omarean Ellis, holding him to 36 yards on 12 carries, while leading receiver Kiandre Terry was held to four catches for only seven yards. Jackson Academy was held to 229 yards total offense and quarterback Carter Mathison was 15-of-36 passing for 169 yards and was sacked one time.
RESULTS ARE IN: Mississippi high school football scores for 2023 MHSAA Week 3
Peyton Puckett made the switch from linebacker to tight end in his junior season and said he has drawn offers from Memphis, Northwest Community College and East Central Community College and interest from Jacksonville State.
“I played linebacker all of my life,” Peyton Puckett said. “After the third game of my junior year, I was a tight end. I had to learn how to run routes and work on my technique.”
Billy Puckett passed to a wide-open Major Quin, who got behind the defense to make the score 17-0 with six minutes remaining.
On the next possession, Jackson Academy’s AJ Parker scored on a 3-yard run and Jacob Scarbrough added the extra point making the score 17-7 with 3:11 to play. The Raiders recovered the onside kick, but the drive stalled and Scarbrough kicked a 29-yard field goal for the final score.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MAIS football: Jackson Prep wins third in row vs rival Jackson Academy
