The state playoffs, a.k.a. the Second Season, begin Friday nightfor many high school football teams. In this area, there’s noshortage of outstanding teams who hope to realize their statechampionship dreams in 2009.

Brookhaven Academy (11-0), the only unbeaten team in southwestMississippi outside of Tylertown, puts its record on the lineFriday night when the Cougars host Silliman Institute in theopening round of the MAIS Class AA playoffs. Most important, theCougars earned the right to host three rounds of the state playoffsby capturing the District 4-AA title.

Copiah Academy and McComb Parklane Academy are entered in theClass AAA state playoffs as both teams tackle powerhouses. TheColonels are at Greenville Washington and the Pioneers are atJackson Academy.

In the MHSAA, Class 4A, 3A and 2A teams start state playoffstomorrow night, needing 5 wins to claim a state title Dec. 4 or 5.In Class 4A, Region 7-4A champion Lawrence County is hostingMendenhall and North Pike is hosting Florence. The Cougars andsurprising Jaguars finished 1-2 in their region, giving them theright to host opening round games. No. 3 seed Columbia visitsNewton County and No. 4 seed South Pike is at Magee.

In Class 3A, Franklin County is in Meadville Friday night tohost Velma Jackson. Region 7-3A champion Tylertown (11-0) hostsMcLaurin. Jefferson County and Hazlehurst, seeded third and fourth,are on the road as the Tigers visit Morton and the Indians invadeForest.

In Class 2A, Loyd Star hosts Enterprise-Clarke Friday night. TheHornets are No. 2 seeds out of Region 6-2A, behind Puckett, whichis home for Bay Springs. Wesson, seeded third, visits Mize.

For sure, South 2A is loaded with title contenders. Bassfield,North Forrest and Taylorsville are loaded.

Meanwhile, teams from Class 6A, 5A and 1A are wrapping up theirseasons tomorrow. Their playoffs begin Nov. 13.

Brookhaven, the No. 4 seed in Region 3-5A, will be on the roadin the opening round. The Panthers will play the winner of the MossPoint-Gautier game next Friday night.

Bogue Chitto’s Bobcats have an outside shot at making the 1Aplayoffs but they have to beat the Dexter Bulldogs tomorrow night.It’s homecoming at Bogue Chitto and that can cause a majordistraction from the task at hand.

Professor Hoopla B.S., delivered his list of weekly predictionsin unusual fashion. They were neatly wrapped around and Osageorange and rolled through the front door. The sticky, green fruitcame to rest in the corner of the newsroom.

Hoopla predicted the winners of 23 games last week and got 18right, including a perfect 10-for-10 on the high school menu.Here’s his preview of this weekend’s winners.

Forest Hill at Brookhaven: Panthers want to win their final homegame and it actually looks like a dry night on King Field.Brookhaven 28-14.

Silliman Institute at Brookhaven Academy: Cougars chalk up their12th straight victory and look forward to next week. BrookhavenAcademy 34-12.

Enterprise-Clarke at Loyd Star: Competition becomes stronger inthe state playoffs but the Hornets survive their first test. LoydStar 21-10.

Mount Olive at West Lincoln: Pirates have too much speed for theBears to contain. Mt. Olive 33-14.

Wesson at Mize: It’s another tough road test for the Cobras.Mize 25-16.

Dexter at Bogue Chitto: Unpredictable Bobcats haven’t had muchtime to prepare for this game since they played and won at SalemMonday night. Bogue Chitto 16-14.

Mendenhall at Lawrence County: Cougars unleash a powerfulrushing attack with their double-wing formation. Lawrence County46-12.

Velma Jackson at Franklin County: Look for the Bulldogs to flextheir muscles in Meadville. Franklin County 35-6.

Hazlehurst at Forest: Indians will have to be lucky and good toescape the Bearcats. Forest 24-20.

In other area action, Tylertown over McLaurin 42-8, South Pikeover Magee 23-21, North Pike over Florence 26-7, Jackson Academyover Parklane 27-12, Washington over Copiah Academy 29-14 and StoneCounty over McComb 35-12.

After draining a Diet Dr. Pepper, Hoopla reveals Saturday’swinners, starting with the MACJC State Championship game.

Gulf Coast at East Mississippi: EMCC cheerleaders chant “ScoobaTech, Scooba Tech,” but it won’t slow down the powerful Bulldogs.Gulf Coast 38-21.

Northern Arizona at Ole Miss: Rebels deserve a break from theSEC wars. Ole Miss 43-10.

Alabama State at Jackson State: Blue Bengals find a victory inMississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Jackson State 28-14.

In other Magnolia State action, Texas Southern over Valley State38-14, Delta State over West Georgia 22-10, Mississippi Collegeover Sul Ross State 28-13, and Belhaven over Shorter 29-7 in ahomecoming celebration. Mississippi State, Southern Miss, AlcornState and Millsaps have open dates to promote their basketballprograms.

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