Football Game Preview: Hartfield Academy Hawks vs. Starkville Academy Volunteers

The Hartfield Academy Hawks will face off against the Starkville Academy Volunteers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Hartfield Academy will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more points each contest than the last.

Hartfield Academy is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They put the hurt on East Rankin Academy with a sharp 56-30 victory on Friday. The Hawks haven't had any issues with the Patriots recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.

Kingsley Gibbs

Rushing Touchdowns

10/24/25 @ East Rankin Academy	2
11/08/24 vs St. Joseph Catholic	1
09/20/24 vs Starkville Academy	1
09/13/24 @ Presbyterian Christian	1
09/06/24 @ Cathedral	1
+ 2 more games

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Hartfield Academy to victory, but perhaps none more so than Kingsley Gibbs, who rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns. That's the most rushing touchdowns Gibbs has posted since back in August of 2024. Ethan Elliott was another key passer, throwing for 182 yards and a pair of TDs while completing 83.3% of his passes.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Hartfield Academy was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 369 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.

Special teams also deserves some recognition, posting 14 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Deanthony Hicks, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Starkville Academy and Heritage Academy meet (three straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Friday. The Volunteers lost 34-14 to the Patriots.

Hartfield Academy's victory bumped their record up to 4-5. As for Starkville Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-3.

Everything came up roses for Hartfield Academy against Starkville Academy in their previous meeting back in September of 2024, as the team secured a 58-7 win. Will the Hawks repeat their success, or do the Volunteers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.