Week Six – Mississippi High School Football “Elite” Top Ten
It’s the last Friday in September which means cooler weather and the opening week for Region play around the state of Mississippi. After week five provided a break for most the top ten, it’s time to get back at it, as teams start jockeying for playoff positioning. There are some great games on tap so let’s get right to our updated poll and those big games 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 – Tupelo
9 – Clinton
10 – Madison Central
Just Missed the Cut: Meridian, Petal, Germantown, Harrison Central
Last Week: 3-0
Yearly Predictions: 27-8
Hernando at No. 8 Tupelo
The Tigers and Will Wolfe of Hernando head to Tupelo to take on Trent Hammond and the defending north 6A-champs. The Golden Wave hasn’t given up more than nine points in any ball game this year and only 24-points for the entire year. Expect that dominance to continue Friday night.
Tupelo 28 Hernando 7
No. 7 Oak Grove at Forest Hill
The defending 6A-State Champions open region play on the road at Forest Hill this week and while the Patriots are 3-2 and improving, they still have a long way to go to match up with the Warriors and Nevill Barr.
Oak Grove 40 Forest Hill 20
No. 6 Picayune at Gautier
The defending 5A-champs open region play on the road this year as they take on the Gators of Gautier. The Maroon Tide has been in some tight ball games the previous two weeks, but look for them to get off the bus ready to go this week.
Picayune 37 Gautier 14
No. 5 Warren Central versus Northwest Rankin
Tyler Peterson and the Cougars of Northwest travel to Warren County Friday to take on Josh Morgan’s Warren Central Vikings. Peterson has done a great job thus far at Northwest in year one and has an opportunity this year to vie for that fourth playoff spot in Region 2-6A.
Warren Central is 4-0 and rolling and like Tupelo, playing great defense. The Vikings have only given up 12-points all season, TWELVE. Look for that trend to continue as region play begins.
Warren Central 35 Northwest 7
No. 4 Oxford at West Point
This was almost our game of the week, but we will call it our second best game of the week. This game has the makings of a great one in 5A. Both of these programs have serious talent and serious coaching.
This was a ten-point game last season, with the Chargers claiming the victory. Expect the same type of game this year with the Chargers edging out the Green Wave once again to open region play.
Oxford 31 West Point 28
Terry at No. 3 Brandon
It’s the battle of the Bulldogs over in Rankin County as Terry travels to Brandon in the Region 3-6A opener for both teams. Brandon is 6-1 against Terry since the Bulldogs of Hinds County moved into the 5/6A ranks.
Brandon is looking to defend its Region 3-crown and gets started on the right foot on Friday night.
Brandon 31 Terry 10
No. 2 South Panola versus Horn Lake
The Eagles of Horn Lake and head coach Brad Boyette could be the surprise of the 2014 season thus far. At 4-0, the Eagles have already surpassed last year’s win total and look to vie for a playoff spot this year.
Unfortunately for Horn Lake, they are catching the Tigers of South Panola at the wrong time. The Tigers have been rolling lately and look for Lance Pogue’s bunch to continue rolling on Friday night.
South Panola 40 Horn Lake 14
No. 1 Starkville versus Columbus
First year head coach Randal Montgomery and the Falcons of Columbus got their first win of the 2014 season last week by upsetting Louisville. It was a monumental win for the program and Montgomery is going to win in Lowndes County.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, this week they must travel down the road to Starkville and play the red hot Yellow Jackets.
The Jackets seem to be on a crash course this year and there seems to be no slowing them down this week.
Starkville 48 Columbus 28
Game of the Week: No. 9 Clinton at No. 10 Madison Central
Sparks will fly this week in Madison County as Judd Boswell’s Arrows take on Bobby Halls Jaguars. This is a key game right out the gate in Region 2-6A and for Madison Central, they get to play this game with their starting quarterback, Trey Smith on the bench due to an injury.
The Jags have big wins over Brandon, Gulfport and West Monroe – while their only defeat is a 3-point loss to Petal.
Clinton is much improved at 3-1 with big wins over Meridian and Pearl. Their only loss was a 14-point defeat over at Brandon earlier this year.
This game offers big time playmakers and great defense. Clinton has the best young talent arguably in the state and while Madison will be starting a sophomore quarterback, I like the Jags just a little better at home with their defense in 2014.
Madison Central 24 Clinton 21