try to prolong or further any type of argument on the whole Public/Private thing etc. However, in terms of the offenses and complexities and so forth, I want to chime in. I guess you would say I am more than pretty close to the MRA athletic program. In 2009, we hosted Kaleb Eulls and 4A Yazoo County. It got embarrassing fast and MRA won the game 41 -0. Anytime we went to more than 2 WR's, they were baffled. If we sent 2 wide to each side, send one short and the other long, they bit every time and it was a matter of throw and catch. Eulls by the way, was blocked all night on the blitz by a 160 pound RB that would pick him up coming from the same spot, same technique, same angle, all night long. He was a complete non-factor.As a State fan, I see his athleticism but obviously I was concerned about the rest of the package in terms of coaching and technique. But that's another story for another time. YC fundamentals and technique were terrible. I think they burnt 2 TO's getting kicking teams on the field. This is just an example of things. What surprised me was that in the following weeks, I would pick up a Saturday paper and see that this team had defeated other 4A teams such as Kosciusko enroute to a 5-7 record.
In 2010, we traveled TO Yazoo County and I wondered if the year before was somewhat of a fluke. It wasn't, MRA won 47-6. YC ran the most simplistic wing T offense I had ever seen. MRA had it diagnosed all night long. However, what was funny, was that the lack of fundamentals from the year before were once again evident. The number of fumbled snaps was laughable.
MRA also took 2 of 2 in a 2 year series with St. Andrews previously. I know some of us private schools are having a hard time finding games against public. But, I think we found an opponent in Scott Central this year. I am not sure how that came about or anything about them to be honest. All of this to say, and I know Yazoo County is just one school, but what I witness in terms of fundamentals and coaching with them vs what we saw every other Friday night in the MAIS, was worlds apart. Athleticism could be argued, but the rest couldn't be.
I won't get into the whole basketball thing as MRA has played many public school games both in state and out of state over the years. However, the one that just made me shake my head was I think 2 years ago when MRA beat Harrison Central, a school with well over 2000 students in high school by around 15 points. I just can't fathom a HS with 2000 students not being able to find 5 basketball players! Anyway, just my two cents on the subject.
