Week Five – Mississippi High School Football “Elite” Top Ten
We are to the last two weeks of September, which means district play is around the corner. We’ve seen some great out of region play around the state and a little more to come, but now it’s about building your playoff resume.
A couple top ten teams lost last week, which created a shake-up, so to speak in this week’s top ten.
Several teams are off this week, but there are still some quality ball games to check out this weekend, so let’s check it out, along with the top ten this week.
This week’s Elite – 10 poll:
1 – Starkville
2 – South Panola
3 – Brandon
4 – Oxford
5 – Warren Central
6 – Picayune
7 – Oak Grove
8 – Madison Central
9 – Tupelo
10 – Meridian
Just Missed the Cut: Harrison Central, Petal, Germantown
Last week’s predictions: 5-2
Yearly predictions: 24-8
This week’s games:
No. 10 Meridian at Jim Hill
The Wildcats of Meridian were upset last week at Clinton and all of a sudden, Larry Weem’s squad is on a two game skid. This week the Cats travel to Jackson and take on Jim Hill to open Region-3 and correct some issues the last few weeks.
Meridian 41 Jim Hill 14
No. 9 Tupelo – OFF – Next Game 9/26 versus Hernando
No. 8 Madison Central – OFF – Next Game 9/26 versus Clinton
No. 7 Oak Grove versus Hattiesburg
It’s a Hub City showdown as cross town rivals Hattiesburg and Oak Grove tie it on once again. Hattiesburg has shown they can score points and in bunches – however, they give up a lot of points too.
Oak Grove is out to prove last year’s title run and championship was no fluke. The Warriors are playing good in all three phases of the game at this point and time. Look for that to carry the Warriors Friday.
Oak Grove 37 Hattiesburg 27
No. 6 Picayune – OFF – Next Game 9/26 at Gautier
No. 5 Warren Central – OFF – Next Game 9/26 versus Northwest Rankin
No. 4 Oxford – OFF – Next Game 9/26 at West Point
No. 3 Brandon – OFF – Next Game 9/26 versus Terry
No. 1 Starkville at Florence, AL
The YellowJacket train rolls on in week four, this time heading to Florence, Alabama to take on the Falcons. Florence traditionally has a very nice program, but Starkville seems to be on a mission in 2014 and a level above the Falcons or anyone they have played up to this point.
Starkville 40 Florence, AL 24
GAME OF THE WEEK:
No. 2 South Panola versus Memphis University
After a week off, the South Panola Tigers entertain the Memphis University Owls and head man Bobby Alston.
The Owls took it to the Tigers last year, beating USP 26-9. Both teams are off to a great start in 2014 and this should again be a whale of a ballgame.
Should be a capacity crowd on hand and this time, Lance Pogue’s Tigers will get the best of their neighbors from the north.
South Panola 27 Memphis University 24