Time flies when you’re having fun.

It’s hard to believe that many high school football teams willwrap up their seasons Friday night. The 2003 campaign started backin the sweat-soaked days of August. There hasn’t been any frost onthe pumpkin yet but losing Daylight Saving Time last Sunday is aclear indication that winter is fast approaching.

Oh, how I miss the late afternoon daylight. There aren’t enoughhours in the day to accomplish what needs to be done outdoors.

Football games are played under the lights so there won’t be aproblem seeing the ball. The playoffs start next Friday, Nov. 7,for most classifications. The Class 5A and 1A start a week later,Nov. 14.

In Lincoln County, football fans are gearing up for theplayoffs. Brookhaven, Bogue Chitto and Loyd Star are in. So areLawrence County, Franklin County and Hazlehurst.

I remember the Aug. 28 season opener between Lawrence andFranklin at Monticello. That Thursday night special was supposed todraw a huge crowd. However, as the saying goes, it rained andrained and rained some more.

Watery fingers reached out to the hash marks on the home side ofthe field. It was awfully wet. The 7 p.m. kickoff was delayed forover an hour as school officials tried to unclog drains and makethe sidelines visible.

Lawrence County wound up winning 27-16 in a closely-contestedgame. LCHS coach Trent Hammond was happy to win the opener whileFranklin County boss Anthony Hart was extremely encouraged by hisyoung squad’s performance.

Two months and 9 games later, Franklin County has won the Region7-3A championship and Lawrence County is knocking on the Region6-4A throne room door. The Cougars must beat Brookhaven tomorrownight to secure first place and put Coach Tucker Peavey’s Panthersin the runners-up spot.

Loyd Star, coached by Sidney Wheatley, is the Cinderella storyof the year. The Hornets (9-0) have secured the Region 6-2A titleafter going 3-7 last year. They host McLaurin Friday night beforeentering the playoffs.

Bogue Chitto, coached by Gareth Sartin, is another success storyworth mentioning. The Bobcats struggled through a major rebuildingtask in 2002 but have climbed to 7-2 this year, holding secondplace in Region 4-1A. The Bobcats must beat Natchez CathedralFriday night to maintain their No. 2 status in the region race andthen deal with Enterprise the following Friday night in theregular-season finale.

Make sure to get out and support your favorite team tomorrownight. Halloween should provide plenty of excitement.

Professor Hoopla, B.S., was dressed in camouflage from head totoe as he auditioned for the office Halloween party. He dropped offhis latest list of football predictions. Last week Hoopla predictedthe winners of 23 games and got 18 right. Special congratulationsto Bogue Chitto and Alcorn State for their upset victories.

Hoopla starts this weekend’s predictions with three Thursdaynight specials.

Pearl River at Co-Lin: The Wildcats have a high-powered passinggame and a defense to compliment their offense. Pearl River42-9.

Southwest at East Central: Bears conclude their campaign with athird consecutive victory. Southwest 26-14.

Hazlehurst at Crystal Springs: Indians go on the warpath Fridaynight. Hazlehurst 42-8.

Brookhaven at Lawrence County: An overflow crowd watches thiscat fight for first place in the region. Panthers prevail by awhisker. Brookhaven 21-20.

McLaurin at Loyd Star: Hornets are aiming for a perfect recordon William E. “Sambo” Smith Field. Loyd Star 28-8.

Brookhaven Academy at Riverfield: After a long bus ride toMonroe, La., the Cougars eke out a narrow win. Brookhaven Academy24-16.

Natchez Cathedral at Bogue Chitto: Both teams boast explosiveoffenses so defense should decide the outcome. Bogue Chitto33-26.

Dexter at Enterprise: Yellow Jackets take out their frustrationson the winless Bulldogs. Enterprise 20-6.

West Lincoln at St. Aloysius: Bears have enough offensivefirepower to whip the Flashes. Do they have enough defense? WestLincoln 36-30.

Hinds AHS at Wesson: War Dawgs have too much speed and talentfor the Cobras to handle. Hinds AHS 27-10.

Franklin County at Wilkinson County: Deep in the heart ofWoodville, the Bulldogs escape with a narrow win. Franklin County17-14.

In other area games, Copiah Academy should clip Bowling Green22-20, South Pike should shave McComb 21-20, and Lamar should edgeParklane 17-14.

Here’s a preview of Saturday’s winners.

South Carolina at Ole Miss: Rebels must continue their winningways against a tough row of SEC foes. Ole Miss 31-21.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Southern Miss: Golden Eagles make thebest of a non C-USA encounter. Southern Miss 24-10.

In other Magnolia State action, Delta State should beat Harding21-7, Mississippi College should clip Texas Lutheran 21-14, JacksonState should ambush Arkansas-Pine Bluff 30-19, Valley State shoulddump Prairie View 22-6, Sewanee should maul Millsaps 40-10,Pikeville should clip Belhaven 13-0, and Southeastern Louisianashould stop Alcorn State 19-14. Mississippi State has an open dateto search for a new head coach.