High school football 2022 sits in the rearview mirror and a championship has been brought into Sunflower County. Fans of local teams would quickly point out that despite successful seasons at North Sunflower Academy, Gentry, and Indianola Academy that all of the area’s local teams fell short in their quest for the ultimate prize. But, Indianola resident and St. Joe High School junior Landon Brown is basking in the glow of his team’s MAIS 4A state title and is anticipating being fitted for his size 10 championship ring. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Brown explained. “There is a lot of energy around campus.”
Brown came into a program with a tradition of excellence having captured multiple championships. This is St. Joe’s fourth football championship in the last seven years. His senior teammates were the last to capture the state title back in 2019. “That’s what is expected around here,” Brown said. “Coach (Jon) Baker sets a high standard and expects us to execute at a high level.”
Brown’s father, Dr. Adrian Brown doted on his son’s accomplishments. The two found time to share an embrace and experience a rare moment shortly after the St. Joe Fighting Irish knocked off defending state champ Tri County Academy on November 18. “Of all of the athletes who play sports at various levels, not many are fortunate enough to win a championship,” the elder Brown said. “I told my son how extremely proud of him I am and that he should enjoy this moment and start thinking about what’s next.”
The younger Brown is just a junior and has another full season ahead of him. In a couple of weeks, he will start an offseason regime with BUC (Bodies Under Construction) Athletics to build his strengths and endurance. Landon will go into the offseason in considerably better physical condition to which he credits the regular season plus the additional games played to reach a state championship. At age 16, the 6-foot-2 interior lineman may still have some physical growing left to do. If so, his father said that trying his son out at other positions like defensive end could be a possibility. Landon has participated in camps at several major colleges and plans to keep pursuing football at Mississippi State University. “I admire the dedication and sacrifice that he seems to be willing to make in pursuing his dreams,” Adrian Brown said. “But I also instill in my son about taking steps in his life to become a man like getting his driver’s license, doing well on the ACT, and keeping his grade-point average up. And I’m proud to say that my son is a student-athlete already eligible with a high grade-point average and ACT score to do well at anyone’s college.”
