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Hobson, a senior, played for the first time last week in the Golden Wave’s 42-24 loss to top-ranked Division 1-6A foe Olive Branch. He had been sidelined five weeks – since Sept. 23 – with a fractured bone in his lower leg.
“I’m running about half-speed,” he said Wednesday. “It doesn’t affect my throwing.”
Hobson connected on 11 of 27 passes for 119 yards and a TD against Olive Branch. For the season, he’s completed 48 of 104 attempts for 715 yards, five TDs and two interceptions.
His TD pass against Olive Branch was a 36-yarder to wide receiver Josh Hamilton in the third quarter.
Tupelo (6-5) plays a Madison Central (9-2) team that has a nine-game winning streak since dropping back-to-back games to heavyweights Olive Branch (28-24) and Starkville (16-14).
The host Jaguars, coached by Northeast Mississippi native Bobby Hall, defeated the Golden Wave 48-10 at Madison last season in the first round of the postseason.
“I think we’re a better team than we were last year,” Hobson said. “I think we’ve got more speed offensively. Madison Central has a bunch of athletes on defense. They’re really quick and they’re all around the ball.”
ON THE RUN
Madison Central’s option attack has piled up 3,806 rushing yards this season. The Jaguars have passed for just 420 yards.
They’ll be facing a Tupelo defense that gave up 303 yards rushing to Olive Branch in the first half last week.
Madison Central quarterback Drew Rowell leads the way. He’s rushed for 983 yards and 20 touchdowns while throwing for 364 yards and four scores.
In last week’s 43-36 win against Greenville-Weston, Rowell handed the ball to 220-pound fullback Hugh Warren 33 times. The big back responded with a 234-yard, four-TD effort.
He’s joined in the backfield by Brandon Moore, who has rushed for 864 yards and six TD.
gene.phelps@journalinc.com