Local football action heats up Friday Night

Published 12:00 pm Thursday, September 11, 2014

Six local schools are hosting football games for Week 4 of Friday Night Lights as area fans anticipate some cooler temperatures this weekend.

Brookhaven Academy and Bogue Chitto will be enjoying their homecoming festivities this Friday as former and past alumni return to their alma maters for their class reunions. BA entertains the Bowling Green Buccaneers, and BC hosts the Mt. Olive Pirates.

Loyd Star is home this week, after a two-week road tour, and Hornets will welcome the Lake Hornets to William E. “Sambo” Smith Field. Enterprise hosts Leake County, Lawrence County entertains Prentiss and Franklin County welcomes Tylertown to Meadville.

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On the road, Brookhaven travels south down Interstate 55 to McComb to battle the McComb Tigers. West Lincoln invades Biloxi to take on the St. Patrick Fighting Irish. Wesson visits Seminary.

In other games of local interest, Copiah Academy host Silliman Institute. Hazlehurst invades East Marion, North Pike visits Germantown and Centreville entertains Parklane.

All games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

In last week prognostications, I finished with a 6-3 record on my predictions. Not bad again, but I am not satisfied. Hopefully, I can guess them all right this week, but don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy it when teams come out to prove the prediction wrong.

Brookhaven (2-1), coached by Tommy Clopton, suffered a heartbreaking 28-27 defeat last Friday to the North Pike Jaguars in Pricedale.

This week, the Panthers will be looking for some redemption as they prepare to invade McComb to take on the Tigers for the 96th time, which in the record book stands as the longest Mississippi rivalry ever, dating back to 1920s.

The Tigers (3-0), coached by Malcolm Jones, experienced a big win last week after blanking the Franklin County Bulldogs 18-0 at home.

BHS’s top performers last week on offense was senior running back Tre McDaniel with 31 carries for 238 yards rushing. Ken Boyd had 18 rushes for 104 yards.

Defensively, Alex Benson led the Panthers with seven tackles. Leo Lewis provided five tackles. Willie Bates had four stops and a interception.

Last year: The Panthers beat the Tigers 26-19 at King Field.

My pick for this year: With great anticipations on this heated rivalry, Brookhaven will escape with a 35-21 victory.

West Lincoln (2-1), coached by Willie Brumfield, is riding a two-game winning streak after defending their home turf last week against the Cedar Ridge Timberwolves 20-6.

This week, the Bears will experience their first road test this season as they prepare to travel to Biloxi to battle the St. Patrick Fighting Irish.

The Irish (1-2), coached by Tom Thompson, captured their first win of the season with a 21-6 victory over Pope John Paul II last Friday.

West Lincoln’s top offensive performer from last week was senior Ty Foreman completing three-of-seven passes for 108 yards and rushed for 82 yards on 11 carries. Bryce Temple contributed to the Bears’ ground attack with seven carries for 70 yards.

Defensively, Lofton Sills led the Bears defense with 16 tackles, which include 12 solo tackles, two tackles for loss yardage and a sack. Liam Rutland provided 12 solo tackles.

Last year: St. Patrick nip West Lincoln 10-0 at Perry Miller Field.

My prediction for this year: West Lincoln will extend their winning streak to three games after beating the Irish 21-14.

Bogue Chitto (1-2), coached by Gareth Sartin, were no match for Natchez Cathedral’s high octane offense last Friday falling to the Green Wave 52-17.

This week, the Bobcats will have to overcome their homecoming festivities to get ready for another big Region 4-1A test against the Mt. Olive Pirates.

The Pirates (0-2), coached by Perry Murphy, were hammered by the Clarkdale Bulldogs 28-6 last week.

BC’s top offensive performers last week was: Tucker Lambert completing only seven of his 20 passes for 83 yards and throwing three interceptions. Lambert also had 14 carries for 38 yards.

Kobe Roberts was the top rusher with 10 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown. Dee Dillon was the leading receiver with four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Kobe Roberts, Devin McEwen and Devaris Bullock paced the Bobcats with five tackles each.

Last year: The Bobcats drilled the Pirates 44-8.

My pick for this year: Bogue Chitto will give their fans some excitement with a 42-14 victory over Mt. Olive.

Loyd Star (1-2), coached by first year coach Adam Cook, were bitten 33-12 by another set of Bulldogs from Springfield, Louisiana, last Friday.

This week, the Lincoln County-based Hornets are excited to be home as they prepare to tangle with the Lake Hornets.

Lake (1-2), coached by Jeff Breland, took a hard shot to the chin falling to the Nanih Waiya Warriors 28-22 last week.

Loyd Star’s top offensive performer last week was Brett Calcote with 12 rushes for 70 yards. Parker Flowers led the aerial attack completing five-of-14 passes for 62 yards. Peyton Flowers was the top receiver with three catches for 51 yards.

Defensively, Peyton Flowers had another great night for the Hornets by leading the team with 28 tackles. Calcote provided eight stops and Parker Flowers had seven tackles.

Last year: Lake steam rolled Loyd Star 48-8.

My pick for this year: After two tough losses, Loyd Star will squeeze out a slim 21-20 victory over Lake.

Brookhaven Academy (0-3), under the direction of first-year coach Blake Purvis, experience a bad taste in their mouths last Friday as Prentiss Christian surprisingly escape with a 21-20 win in opening district action.

This week, the Cougars will have to fight through all the homecoming festivities to get ready for a hungry bunch of Bowling Green Buccaneers.

The Bucs (1-2), coached by David Currier, eked out close 13-12 victory last week over Wilkinson County Christian School.

BA’s top offensive performers last week was senior quarterback Heath Hickman completing 23-of-37 passes for 325 yards. Junior William King exploded on the scene for the Cougars catching 15 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Senior Garrett Pace led Cougars again in tackles collecting a season high 13 tackles, two for a loss and one sack.

Last year: Bowling Green clipped the Cougars 22-20 in Franklinton, Louisiana.

My prediction for this year: BA is hungry for their first of the season, and it will come homecoming night 35-20.

Enterprise (0-3), coached by Brook Burns, put up good fight last Friday but could not snap their 32-game losing steak failing to the Puckett Wolves 33-8.

This week, the Jackets are glad to be home to enjoy some good ole home cooking as they prepare to welcome the Leake County Gators to Harry Cole Field.

The Gators (1-2), coached by Gerry Anderson, captured the first win of the season with a 26-13 triumph over Durant.

Enterprise’s top offensive performers last week were Tanner Waldrop with nine rushes for 100 yards and Chance Lacking with nine rushes for 75 yards.

Defensively, Jeffrey Daniels paced the Jackets with 11 tackles. Waldrop contributed nine tackles.

Last year: Leake County blanked Enterprise 52-0.

My prediction for this year: The Gators will overcome the sting of the Jackets to win 33-8.

Lawrence County (2-1),  under the direction of first-year head coach Jaymie Palmer, climbed back into the win column Friday night after feasting on Crystal Springs 34-18.

This week, the Cougars are expecting to extend their winning streak to two-games as they prepare to welcome the Prentiss Bulldogs to town.

The Bulldogs (2-1) coached by Tim McNair, were clobbered the Bassfield Yellowjackets 44-16 last week.

Lawrence County’s top offensive performance last week was T-Tex Cole with 14 rushes for 86 yards, while back up quarterback Jerod Barnes gained 87 yards on 14 attempts.

Defensively, T-Tez Cole led the Lawrence County defense with 10 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Last year: Lawrence County crushed Prentiss 34-0 at A.E. Gray Field.

My pick for this year: The LCHS Cougars will be victorious 42-6 over the Bulldogs.

Wesson (2-1), coached by Ronald Greer, captured their second win of the season after knocking of the West Lauderdale Knight 28-19 last Friday.

This week, the Cobras continue their road tour as they prepare to visit Seminary to battle with the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs (1-2) coached by Brian Rials, lost a close 22-20 decision to North Forrest.

Wesson’s top offensive performer was Farrod Green, who led all receivers with seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Demarcus Smith was the top tackler with nine tackles. Jeremiah Stapleton had seven stops and an interception.

Last year: Seminary prevailed 38-13 over Wesson in Stone Stadium.

My prediction for this year: Wesson will gain some revenge as they beat the Bulldogs 35-24.

Franklin County (1-2), coached by first-year coach Anthony Hart, experienced a tough 18-0 pounding last week by the hands of the McComb Tigers.

This week, the Bulldogs will expect a packed house as they prepare to entertain Tylertown Chiefs.

The Chiefs (2-1), coached by Jason Johnson, suffered their first loss of the season falling to Franklinton, Louisiana, 20-12 last week.

FC’s top offensive player last week was De’Martre Collins completing five-of-nine passes for 68 yards.

Defensively, DeAnthony King led FCHS with 11 tackles. Michael White and Chris O’Quinn had 8 tackles apiece.

Last year: Franklin County prevailed 17-14 over Tylertown.

My prediction for this year: The Chiefs will tomahawk through Bulldog-country to win 42-14.