Hartfield Academy and Jackson Academy are an even 4-4 against one another since September of 2017, but not for long. The Hawks will challenge the Raiders at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Hartfield Academy is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They claimed a resounding 48-21 win over Jackson Prep. The victory was nothing new for the Hawks as they're now sitting on five straight.
Ethan Elliott
| 10/24/25 @ East Rankin Academy | 163.2 |
| 09/12/25 @ Pillow Academy | 152.7 |
| 10/31/25 vs Starkville Academy | 145.1 |
| 11/14/25 vs Jackson Prep | 132.6 |
| 10/17/25 @ Heritage Academy | 121 |
| + 6 more games |
Ethan Elliott produced another solid performance rushing for 142 yards and two TDs on only nine carries, while also throwing for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His passing game has become a key predictor of Hartfield Academy's success: the team is 5-1 when his passer rating is 110 or higher, but only 1-4 otherwise. Collin McIntyre was another key player, rushing for 97 yards and one score.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Hartfield Academy was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 417 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Hartfield Academy's defense stepped up as well, laying out the QB three times. In fact, those sacks all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Peyton Trigg.
Meanwhile, Jackson Academy faced Madison-Ridgeland Academy in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Raiders simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Patriots 35-0. That's two games straight that the Raiders have won by exactly 35 points.
Hartfield Academy better keep an eye on Josef Walker. He was instrumental in Jackson Academy's win, throwing for 266 yards and three TDs while picking up 11.6 yards per attempt, and also rushing for 60 yards and one touchdown. Those 266 passing yards gave Walker a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Aaric Beasley, who gained 136 total yards and a touchdown.
Jackson Academy didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Ashton Blackmon, Jack Seward, Carter Mathison, and Baird Kennedy picked up one apiece. Jackson Academy got some further help from Adam Alexander: he picked up a sack, forced one fumble, and made ten total tackles.
Jackson Academy's win bumped their record up to 10-1. As for Hartfield Academy, they now have a winning record of 6-5.
Saturday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Hartfield Academy has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 210.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Jackson Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 197.3 rushing yards. There's a good chance Saturday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Hartfield Academy ended up a good deal behind Jackson Academy when the teams last played back in September, losing 41-22. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of Walker, who threw for 197 yards and a pair of TDs on only 11 passes, and also rushed for 35 yards and one score. Now that the Hawks know the damage he can cause, will they be able to stop him this time? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
