Photo by Chris Todd
By Robert Wilson
Langston Branson made the most of the first start of his high school career.
The Germantown junior quarterback ran eight times for 118 yards and three touchdowns and completed 6 of 11 passes for 100 yards for two TDs to lead the Mavericks to a 60-27 victory over Northwest Rankin in non-region matchup between MHSAA Class 7A teams Friday night in the season opener for both teams at Germantown in Gluckstadt.
For his outstanding performance, Branson has been named the Taste Restaurant/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Branson played behind senior starter King White last season. White was named the Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Player of the Year after setting school records with 2,345 yards and 26 TDs with only one interception and ran for 623 yards and 14 TDs and led Germantown to an 8-4 record and the 7A quarterfinals – the best record and deepest playoff run since the Mavericks moved up to MHSAA’s largest classification in 2019. He is playing at East Central Community College this season.
Branson – whose brother Lawson was a senior at Germantown last season and set a school record with 11 receiving TDs and is now playing at Northwest Mississippi CC – played sparingly last season behind King as a sophomore. He completed 17 of 19 passes, an amazing 89.5 percent, for 136 yards and two TDs and ran 19 times for 135 yards.
But Friday night, in his first start, Branson played like a veteran. He scored on runs of 4 and 42 yards in the first half and 42 yards and completed TD passes of 41 yards to senior running back Sy McBeath and 37 yards to junior wide receiver Johnson in the second half.
Germantown – which lost 90 precent of its offense production to graduation from last year – produced 389 total yards, thanks in large part to Branson’s running and passing ability and leadership.
“Our coaching staff has watched Langston thrive through middle school and the ninth grade,” Germantown coach and athletic director Russell Mitchell said. “He’s a fast twitch athlete and a natural leader. Langston led our teams to Little 6 championships in the eighth and ninth grade. He’s also our point guard in basketball. I think distributing the ball in 7A hoops has helped him adjust to the speed of the football game. He had a really impressive first start for us and I think the sky’s the limit for him.”
“Langston is a phenomenal athlete and more importantly, an outstanding young man,” Germantown offensive coordinator Chris Lee said. “He is an instinctive player with a tremendous feel for the game and understands it at a very high level. Langston also comes from a great family and is the third Branson to come through our program. Langston is a talented dual-sport athlete who has also played a major role in the success of our basketball program. I’ve been extremely pleased with the growth he has shown at quarterback since the beginning of the summer. His development, both physically and mentally, has been impressive, and I’m excited to see him continue to improve as the season progresses. His best football is still ahead of him.”
Branson averaged five points and three assists and was the starting point guard as a sophomore and helped Germantown to a 23-9 record and the MHSAA Class 7A state runner-up finish in basketball last season.
“Langston is a kid that everyone gravitates to,” Germantown boys basketball coach Chris Love said. “He is a quick and explosive guard with a high IQ and also is a good defender and a very good passer. We are looking for him to take a big step for us and will be one of the main guys this year.”
Branson is the son of Lamarkis and Jenelia Branson. Lamarkis played football at Madison Central and Samford University. Jenelia played fast-pitch softball and volleyball at Murrah and got her bachelor’s degree from Tougaloo College and master’s degree from Tennessee-Martin. Branson’s two older brothers, Lamarkis II and Lawson, both played football at Germantown. Lamarkis threw the shot put and discus at Belhaven University. Lawson is now playing at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Branson’s uncle, Larry Hart, Jr., played football at Madison Central, Holmes Community College and Central Arkansas and was a fifth round draft pick in the NFL and played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is now coaching at the Air Force Academy.
Germantown, 1-0 and ranked No. 5 in MHSAA Class 7A and No. 5 in Mississippi by MaxPreps, plays at Oak Grove, 0-1 and ranked No. 4 in Class 7A and No. 4 in Mississippi, Friday in Hattiesburg.
Robert Wilson selects a football player of the week each week from teams from Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties. To contact Robert, text him at 601.506.2276.
