Tupelo moves to 7-0 with 24-17 win over Starkville (Photos)

Qua Middlebrooks' fourth-quarter touchdown catch proved to be enough for the Golden Wave

STARKVILLE — Tupelo quarterback Jeremiah Harrel passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns as the Golden Wave kept their undefeated season intact with a 24-17 road win over Starkville Friday night.

The fifth-ranked Golden Wave (7-0, 3-0 in Region 2-6A) took advantage of two costly fumbles and broke a 17-17 tie with a 59-yard touchdown passes from Harrell to Qua Middlebrooks with 9:20 left in the fourth quarter.

“We’re more mature this year,” Harrell said. “We know what we have to do to win… We’ve got to prove everyone wrong.”

Yellowjacket tailback Curtis Willis had a big night for Starkville (3-3, 0-3 in Region 2-6A), rushing for 210 yards on 23 carries with a pair of touchdowns.

But it wasn’t enough, as the Tupelo defense held Starkville quarterback Jaylen Ruffin, who started in place of injured star Trey Petty, to 107 yards on 21 total pass attempts.

“We just wanted to stop their passing game,” Tupelo linebacker Tristen Jernigan said. “We know they are dangerous on the outside. They have a lot of athletic players. They switched it up on us, so we had to come out in the second and half and match that running game. We just gave it our all.”

The Golden Wave will host Madison Central (4-2, 2-1 in Region 2-6A) next week. The Yellow jackets will host Murrah (0-7, 0-3 in 2-6A).

Photos by Austin Frayser

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Austin Frayser, SBLive Sports

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022

Tupelo at Starkville, Oct. 7, 2022