While Issac is currently making everything in the state inconvenient, there's currently no way of telling what games will go on as planned. Games have already been cancelled, postponed, or had a time change so as this is submitted we are just speculatin' what's going to be another fun week of high school football, more importantly what is to come in college football this weekend.
(WinstonCountysFinest) Top 5 games of the week in Central/Northern Miss.
Lafayette at Oxford: This game was played on regional television Thursday night via the Cspire wireless Bright Lights football series that features teams around Mississippi during the season. Lafayette came into the ball game with one of the nation's longest winning streaks and back-to-back 4A state championships facing their cross town rival, Oxford who jumped into the state's top 25 this past week. Oxford came out and controlled the tempo and the ball and shocked Lafayette, 19-0. This should really boost Oxford for the rest of the season and put them in the drivers seat.
French Camp at Ackerman: The battle of Choctaw county has seemed to shift from Ackerman/Weir to Ackerman/French Camp. French Camp is beginning to really make some headway the past few seasons after pulling off wins over Weir and Eupora all in one season last year. That was the first time in history that that had been pulled off from the Panthers and now respect is being earned. After a 52-0 win over Weir last week, they seem to be poised to take on the defending Region 2 2A champs in Ackerman this week. But Ackerman is coming off a 2-0 start this year and looks the part of serious contenders in the 2A classification. This should be a good game early but Ackerman wins by 10. Ackerman
Hoover at South Panola: For years the people of Mississippi and most importantly Batesville, have called Hoover "overrated" or said they don't know what real football is. Well last season Hoover made the University of South Panola look silly. Nobody had seen the Tigers that human probably for the past 10-15 years. This year, however, Hoover has to come to Mississippi and I personally think it could be a different story. South Panola didn't look as impressive as some believed they would be when West Point went toe-to-toe with them two weeks ago but I think Lance Pogue will have his players ready Friday. South Panola
West Point at Columbus: Both of these teams were off last week after solid showings in week one. Columbus shut out Aberdeen with West Point forcing South Panola to kick a game winning field goal as time expired. By the end of the year you might be looking at these two teams being close to their respective division crowns. This should be physical from start to finish and the winner of the line of scrimmage should be the winner of the ball game. West Point
New Hope at Noxubee County: This week we'll find out just how good the New Hope Trojans are. They came out in week one and got one of the bigger upsets of that opening week by stunning Louisville. But Noxubee has destroyed two storied schools in the first two weeks and don't look to be letting up. This will be a tremendous test for New Hope and should give everyone a good idea of where they stand this early in the season. Noxubee
Sadly in South Mississippi, many of the games have gone the way of the dodo this week. I really looked forward to Picayune/Forrest County AHS, but that game has been scrapped. So here we go with the remaining schedule.
(justinrsutton) Wayne County at Mendenhall: The Todd Mangum Era has started with two losses for Wayne County, as the War Eagles (ugh) dropped decisions to Petal and Meridian to start the year. Tonight, the perennial 5A power travels to Mendenhall to take on the Tigers, a team that has also started 0-2. As hard as it is to believe, one of these teams will start off 0-3. Predicted Winner: Wayne County
Jackson Prep at Forest: I love it when an MAIS powerhouse meets up with a team from the MHSAA. Everyone knows the trash talking between private and public schools, and (sorry, Robbie), I believe that some Academy fans really view themselves in a different light than they should. Jackson Prep could not hang with Biloxi, as some Academy fans think, but I do think they can hang with Forest. The Bearcats, who compete at the 3A level, enter this game 1-1 and come off a lost to Tylertown. As much as this pains me, I'll take Jackson Prep in this one.
Madison Central at Petal: The Panthers hung with Picayune for a half before getting away from their game plan and running the football. Madison Central is an old school team with a loss to defending 6A champion Olive Branch and a win over Starkville. Petal also comes in at 1-1 with a victory to open the season over Wayne County. This may be the game of the week when all is said and done, and I think Petal picks up their second win of the season.
Check out this week's edition of the Friday Night Focus on Bulldog Sports Radio featuring guest Steve Robertson...
Players and games of the week on the other side of the bump.
(WinstonCountysFinest) Last Week's game of the week (North): Booneville at Baldwin
Baldwin was well on their way to a blowout win over the Booneville Blue Devils with a 27-7 shellacking in the first half. But Booneville began to get defensive stops and was able to put a couple of td's on the board going into the fourth quarter. Suddenly a skunk scampered on to the Baldwin sideline scaring the players, cheerleaders, and crowd. Following their return to the field, Booneville intercepted a Baldwin pass inside the 10 yard line and ran it back all the way for the game winning td. Truly a bizarre ball game and the skunk incident even made sportscenter. Crazy stuff.
(justinrsutton) Last Week's Game of the Week (South): Ocean Springs at Pascagoula
Two solid squads went head-to-head at War Memorial Stadium in Pascagoula Friday, and the Panthers kicked a last second field goal to down the Greyhounds 17-14. With the win, Pascagoula snapped a five-game losing streak against Ocean Springs. Even though their team lost, Wes Windham and Shaka Brown look to be one of the best quarterback-receiver combos in the southern part of the state.
Players of the Week: (North)
Offense: Jamoral Graham WR. Newton County: There were some great numbers out there by players but one really stood out for me as a player all over the field and that was Graham. A rising junior athlete seems to be making his name known after a 313 all-purpose performance vs. Southeast Lauderdale with 3 total tds. Look out for this player in the future.
Defense: Dakota Harvey, Presbyterian Christian: Just like last week I'm dipping into Justin's section of the coverage but this kid was all over the place against one of the top MAIS programs in the state, Simpson. Harvey totaled 20 tackles with 3 for a loss in their loss.
Players of the Week: (South)
Offense: I had three names that kicked around in this spot: Preston Dedeaux (again), Jaylen Woullard, and Christian Williams. In the end, I decided to go with the Gulfport fullback, Williams, who had 189 yards on the night and two touchdowns. He had 169 of those yards in the first half before he found the bench for most of the second half in their 50-13 thumping of Moss Point. Honorable Mention to Keldrick Sullivan (Pelahatchie)
Defense: Nick Chapman (Clinton) finished with eleven tackles, two of those in the backfield, and a sack in the Arrow's victory over Ridgeland.
Top 25 for week 3 (WinstonCountysFinest)
1. South Panola (1-0)
2. Olive Branch (2-0)
3. Picayune (2-0)
4. Meridian (2-0)
5. Noxubee County (2-0)
6. Brandon (2-0)
7. Pascagoula (2-0)
8. Lafayette (2-1)
9. West Point (0-1)
10. Madison Central (1-1)
11. Tylertown (2-0)
12. Biloxi (1-1)
13. Petal (1-1)
14. Oak Grove (2-0)
15. Oxford (3-0)
16. Hattiesburg (2-0)
17. Ocean Springs (1-1)
18. Hazelhurst (2-0)
19. Jackson Prep (2-0)
20. West Bolivar (2-0)
21. Charleston (1-1)
22. Jackson Academy (2-0)
23. Bassfield (2-0)
24. Columbus (1-0)
25. Louisville (1-1)
justinrsutton MPB Top 25 Ballot
1. Picayune
2. Meridian
3. Olive Branch
4. Brandon
5. Biloxi
6. South Panola
7. Noxubee
8. Pascagoula
9. Mad Central
10. Petal
11. Oak Grove
12. West Point
13. Ocean Springs
14. PRC
15. Hattiesburg
16. New Hope
17. Forrest AHS
18. Clinton
19. Wayne Co
20. Columbus
21. Itawamba AHS
22. Pearl
23. D'Iberville
24. Louisville
25. Jackson Academy