JACKSON — The Greenville Christian School football team has completed the MAIS trifecta.
The Saints, ranked as the No. 1 overall team in the state, defeated the Jackson Academy Raiders 30-9 on Friday night in Jackson.
The victory was the third win for the Saints this season over a traditional private school powerhouse. Earlier this season, GCS, a small Class 3A school, defeated Jackson Prep and Madison-Ridgeland Academy. All three of these wins for the Saints were convincing, and all three of these wins were on the road.
“That was one of the things we wanted to do. We wanted to finish off the Big 3 in the MAIS, and we were able to do that. Coming from a small school like Greenville Christian that is pretty cool,” Greenville Christian School coach Jon Reed McLendon said. “I think we definitely feel like we belong now. We don’t feel like the underdog anymore.”
The Saints (7-1) scored all 30 of their points on Friday night in the first half. Greenville Christian standout quarterback DJ Smith threw three touchdowns in the game. He threw two of them to wide receiver Chris Bell, and one touchdown to running back Marlon Palmer. Palmer also rushed in a touchdown.
“I thought we played well in the first half, but we did not play well in the second half,” Coach McLendon said. “It was frustrating, but I am proud of the win.”
Jackson Academy’s record falls to 5-2.
