For a change, the cozy confines of King Field will be a welcomeFriday night location for the Ole Brook football team. Two straightroad games, plus Hurricane Katrina wiping out a scheduled home datewith South Pike, have turned many football teams upside down.

Panther fans, take heart. Your Ole Brook Panthers are improving.Anytime you lose 10 starters on offense and 4 on defense from astate championship squad, the consequences are expected andpredictable.

It’s known as growing pains. The reality of inexperience hit thePanthers right between the eyes. and they are learning the hardway. Shut out at Franklin County 6-0 in the season opener and thenoutscored 34-25 by a talented group of Clinton Arrows, thenaysayers have pointed some fingers but things could be a lotworse.

Don’t expect Coach Tucker Peavey’s Panthers to duplicate theD’Iberville Disaster of 2003. The D’Iberville Warriors won theClass 4A state championship in 2002 but proceeded to go winless(0-10) the next season.

Friday night fans will see a lot of potential and a steadilyimproving Panther squad on King Field. For sure, you will need aprogram to match the numbers and names with most of thestarters.

Certainly, the Panthers have a legitimate shot at winning athird straight Region 6-4A championship. Overall, the talent levelis down a few notches in the region, especially with South Pikedropping down to Class 3A. Coach Randall Huffman’s Eagles areranked No. 1 in Class 3A and most recently whipped Class 5A powerWarren Central 31-0 at Magnolia.

History note: Brookhaven went scoreless againstFranklin County. When was the last time a Panther football team wasshut out?

Answer: It was Nov. 8, 1996, when the Panthers lost 34-0 toMcComb in Greg Wall’s first season at the BHS helm. They also lost27-0 to South Pike and 27-0 to Magee in a 4-6 campaign. ThePanthers regrouped and went 12-1 in 1997.

Meanwhile, Professor Hoopla B.S., still is recovering fromHurricane Katrina. The grizzled prognosticator has been trying tofigure out all the revised schedules caused by the stormdamage.

Hoopla posted a 23-7 record last week. Here’s a preview of thisweekend’s winners, starting with two Thursday night communitycollege specials.

Co-Lin at Northwest: Both teams are eager toget their seasons under way. Rangers have an advantage inSenatobia. Northwest 24-13.

Southwest at Hinds: This looms as a defensivestruggle in Raymond. Hinds 13-3.

McComb at Brookhaven: Panthers put all thepieces together and claim a Region 6-4A victory. Brookhaven20-10.

Columbia Academy at Brookhaven Academy: In aDistrict 4-AA showdown, homecoming brings out the best in the hostCougars. Brookhaven Academy 29-16.

Gulfport St. John at Bogue Chitto: Looks like ahigh-scoring affair on Troy Smith Field. St. John 48-35.

Mize at Loyd Star: Bulldogs are rebuildingafter winning the Class 1A state title in 2004 but they have toomuch speed for the Hornets to handle. Mize 45-28.

Mt. Olive at Enterprise: Pirates are favored toreplace Mize in the 1A throne room. Mt. Olive 37-16.

Natchez Cathedral at West Lincoln: Green Wavewashes across Perry Miller Field. Cathedral 36-12.

McLaurin at Wesson: The high-octane Tigers areexpected to wreck the Cobras’ homecoming celebration. McLaurin35-20.

Franklin County at Natchez: In a battle of theBulldogs, the River City canines have too many weapons. Natchez31-21.

Lawrence County at Florence: Cougars are hungryfor a victory as they feast on the Eagles. Lawrence County32-15.

Yazoo County at Hazlehurst: Ouch! Indians go onthe warpath. Hazlehurst 62-6.

Adams County at Copiah Academy: In a showdownof unbeaten District 3-AA teams, the Colonels pull out a big win.Copiah 28-21.

In other area games, South Pike should smashNorth Pike 41-12, Parklane should ambush Lamar 26-19 and Richlandshould dump Crystal Springs 34-13.

After sipping a diet root beer, Hoopla leers at Saturday’scollegiate scene.

Wyoming at Ole Miss: Cowboys boast ahigh-powered passing offense while the Rebels are still hunting anoffense. Wyoming 33-13.

Georgia at Mississippi State: Visiting Bulldogshave too much speed and muscle for the host Bulldogs. Georgia29-10.

Jackson State at Valley State: There’s anambush brewing in the Delta. Valley State 38-22.

In other Magnolia State games, Delta Stateshould sink Henderson State 28-20, Hardin-Simmons should swampMississippi College 42-14, Alabama State should smack Alcorn State30-19, and Belhaven should clip Millsaps 24-21. TheHouston-Southern Miss game has been postponed until Nov. 12, due toHurricane Rita.

In SEC action, Alabama over Arkansas 24- 7;Auburn over Western Kentucky 54-10; Florida over Kentucky 45-9, LSUover Tennessee 23-10; and Vanderbilt over Richmond 38-8.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O.BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mailsports@dailyleader.com