The long and winding road to the state football playoffs beginsMonday for Mississippi High School Activities Association members.It’s the official opening of preseason football practice.

Coaches and players will be greeted by high temperatures andhumidity as they begin preparations for the late August seasonopeners. Some schools will practice twice daily while others willgo once a day the first week.

According to MHSAA rules, the first three days of practice arereserved for conditioning. Players can wear shorts, t-shirts, shoesand helmets but no shoulder pads, at least until the fourth day ofpractice.

Players can wear full equipment on the sixth day ofpractice.

“We are ready to get started,” said BHS head coach and athleticdirector Tucker Peavey. “We had a real good summer of weightliftingand conditioning. We are light years ahead of last year.”

Peavey’s Panthers advanced to the semifinals of the Class 4ASouth State playoffs last season. They were eliminated byD’Iberville, the eventual state champion.

The Panthers, numbering 55 strong, start practice Monday at 3p.m. They’ll practice each afternoon through Friday and have alight scrimmage Saturday morning. Their first game is Aug. 29, atHazlehurst.

Serving on Peavey’s staff are Jaymie Palmer, Rod Henderson,Patrick Hardy, Eric Stokes and newcomer Trevor Brister.

Loyd Star: The Hornets, under the direction of headcoach Sidney Wheatley, plan an afternoon practice routine; shortsand t-shirts the first three days.

Wheatley said he expects 46 players to report. TheHornets debut Aug. 29, hosting West Lincoln.

Working with Wheatley are Josh Thibodeaux, JonathanBreakfield and Randy Delaughter. Wheatley said Eddie Britt wouldassist with the weight program.

Bogue Chitto: The Bobcats start practice Monday at 4:30p.m. The team will practice at 4:30 each day until Friday whenschool begins.

Coach Gareth Sartin said he expects around 35 players to reportfor practice. The Bobcats play their first game Aug. 29, atMcAdams.

Working with Sartin are assistant coaches Donnie Stuart and AdamMoak.

North Pike: Coach Adam Barron’s Jaguars begin practiceMonday at 5 p.m. He expects to have 52 varsity players. Their firstgame is Aug. 29, at South Pike.

Working with Barron are assistants George Lott, WesMcCullough, Jamie Jackson and Billy Jack Caston.

Lawrence County: The Cougars practice Monday at 6 p.m.On Tuesday and Wednesday, they practice at 7:30 a.m.

Coach Trent Hammond expects 50 players to report. TheCougars play their first game Aug. 28, hosting FranklinCounty.

On Hammond’s staff are Mike Davis, Cory Keyes, CraigDavis, Chris Clark, Ron Fortenberry and Eric Booth.

Wesson: Coach Ronald Greer’s Cobras will practice twiceMonday at 3:30 and 6 p.m. They will maintain that schedule, exceptWednesday.

Greer said he expects 42 players to report for practice.His assistant coaches are Phillip Knight, Rob Channell, RickyGunter and Ronnie Channell.

The Cobras kick off their season Aug. 29, hostingEnterprise.

Enterprise: The Yellow Jackets will practice at 7 a.m.,each day this week. New head coach Scott Leggett expects to have 45players participating.

The Yellow Jackets debut Aug. 29 at Wesson.

West Lincoln: The Bears also are under the direction ofa new head coach in Ron DuPree. He comes to West Lincoln fromDallas.

The Bears practice at 2 p.m. They’ll take a break andresume at 5 p.m. until 6:15.

The Bears debut Aug. 29, visiting the Loyd Star Hornets.Assisting DuPree are Luke Addison and Randy Laird.

Franklin County: Coach Anthony Hart’s Bulldogs practiceMonday at 2:30 and take a cooling off break midway through beforeresuming drills. The Bulldogs debut Aug. 28, at LawrenceCounty.

Assisting Hart are Grady McCluskey, Tony Gibbs, RaymondBuffington and Charles Moore. They expect 55 players toreport.

Brookhaven Academy: The Cougars have been able to copewith the twice-daily practices and intense heat in their first weekof preseason practice. “We have concentrated on offense this week,”said head coach Ray Ishee. “We are trying to get our playsdown.

“Our kids have a good attitude,” continued Ishee. “They’ve beenworking hard. We are a little thin at some positions.”

Ishee has 10 seniors who will contribute. There are eightjuniors and four sophomores on the squad.

The Cougars put on full equipment Thursday for an afternoonpractice. They’ll participate in the McComb Parklane Jamboree onFriday, Aug. 15.

Ishee’s assistant coaches are Andrew Hickman, Jamie Madison,Stephen Cooksey and Neal King.

Copiah Academy: The Colonels have concluded their firstweek of practice under new head coach John Callahan. Their PictureDay is Monday morning.

Serving on Callahan’s staff are Mitch Mitchell, LanceTeasley and Sam Wright. Copiah hosts its jamboree on Saturday, Aug.16. The Colonels play their first home game Aug. 22, at SillimanInstitute in Clinton, La.

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