It sounds interesting and it sounds exciting. The DAILY LEADER’squest for an All-Time Greatest Brookhaven/Lincoln County FootballTeam should attract plenty of response from the readers of thispublication.

The ballots for each position will run in several editions ofthe LEADER. Readers can fill out the ballot and submit their entryat Barker Honda and the DL’s front office.

Ballots will be compiled and the final results will be postedNov. 28. While seated on your deer stand that week or digestingyour Thanksgiving Day leftovers, football fans can rehash theplayers and recall those glory days. They can be talked about asyour family and friends huddle in the cozy confines of theden/living room.

For sure, there have been some great players come out of LincolnCounty. Brookhaven High School’s glory years were in the mid 1950swhen standouts like Harol Lofton, Lance Alworth, Ralph “Catfish”Smith and Don “Red” Estes were prowling King Field.

In Brookhaven’s case, football was being played in the 1930s. Inthe 1950s, the Big Eight Conference championship was the ultimateachievement and the Panthers accomplished that feat, and so didAlexander High School, home of the Golden Panthers. The 2004 BHSPanthers won a Class 4A state championship and the memory becomessweeter as the years roll by.

In Lincoln County, schools like Loyd Star, Enterprise and BogueChitto didn’t start playing football until the early 1960s.Brookhaven Academy started in 1970 and West Lincoln took up thegridiron sport 10 years ago.

Overall, there have been many great players through the years.Now it’s the readers’ turn to list their favorites and stuff theballot box. It should be interesting.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Professor Hoopla B.S., was busysearching the bushes for clues. He was performing in-depth researchon the projected winners of this weekend’s games.

Hoopla predicted the winners of 10 games last week and got 8correct. Special congratulations are due the West Lincoln Bears forending their 26-game losing streak. Also, the Loyd Star Hornetsmade lots of people sit up and take notice when they shut out Class3A power Franklin County 12-0.

Here’s a preview of this week’s winners, starting with 2Thursday night community college specials.

East Mississippi at Co-Lin: The Lions can put points on thescoreboard with their veteran quarterback throwing darts but theWolves have an improved defense and offense. Co-Lin 17-14.

Southwest at Miss. Delta: Bears are hunting answers on offenseand defense as they make the long ride to Moorhead to face theTrojans tonight. Delta 18-10.

Franklin County at Brookhaven: The Panthers have had an extraweek to prepare for their season opener. It should make thedifference. Brookhaven 24-12.

Brookhaven Academy at Copiah Academy: This rivalry remainsintense despite the Colonels graduation to Class AAA. Cougars by awhisker. Brookhaven Academy 21-20.

Bogue Chitto at Enterprise: Looks like another close contest onHarry Cole Field as the Fighting Yellow Jackets start their seasonon a successful note. Enterprise 25-20.

Loyd Star at Natchez Cathedral: Hornets must beware of a letdownin D’Evereaux Stadium, in other words…an ambush. Loyd Star18-10.

Wesson at Richland: In a rebuilding mode, the Cobras still haveenough offensive weapons to create excitement. Wesson 31-21.

Lawrence County at Warren Central: Cougars are rebuilding in theoffensive line while the Vikings boast a stout defense. WarrenCentral 17-14.

Morton at Hazlehurst: This looks like another offensive show.Hazlehurst 33-28.

McComb at South Pike: The Class 5A Tigers have had a week tocorrect the mistakes they made at Tylertown. That’s bad news forthe Eagles. McComb 24-16.

In other area action, Lamar over Crystal Springs 27-12, Parklaneover Centreville Academy 29-14 and Bay St. Louis over North Pike28-21. West Lincoln has an open date to savor its overtime victoryover Williams-Sullivan of Durant.

Two Magnolia State senior colleges are starting their seasonearlier than usual.

West Alabama at Belhaven: In a 7 p.m. kickoff on Newell Field inJackson tonight, the Lions elude the host Blazers. West Alabama26-17.

Delta State at Texas A&M-Kingsville: Statesmen make a longbus ride to the Lone Star State but it will be a happy return trip.Delta State 28-14.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O. BOX551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mail sports@dailyleader.com