Brookhaven’s Panthers are gearing up for the SEC portion oftheir schedule. Their Region 3-5A menu begins Friday night at No.1-ranked West Jones. It will be oh-so tough to win in Soso.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Ole Brook returns hometo host powerhouse Wayne County Oct. 1. The War Eagles, like WestJones, are genuine state title contenders.

There is a brief respite the next game, Oct. 8, as the Panthersvisit region cellar dweller Pearl River Central. BHS is back homeOct. 15 to face mighty Picayune. The Maroon Tide has been wipingout non-region foes on the Gulf Coast, raging like Katrina.

Homecoming arrives Oct. 22 against Stone County. The Panthersneeded three overtimes to beat the Tomcats last year in a battlefor fourth place in the region race.

Much-improved McComb hosts the Panthers Oct. 29. The Tigerssuffered their first loss two weeks ago at North Pike. They’ll haveplenty of energy for the Panthers.

Regular-season play wraps up Nov. 5 at Forest Hill, anotherimproved region team that surprised the Panthers 16-13 last seasonon King Field.

In retrospect, this was predicted to be a banner campaign forthe Panthers but they face an uphill battle. The potential is stillthere. It’s a matter of 27 seniors stepping up and overachieving.It’s also a matter of injured players healing their ailments andthe healthy starters staying healthy.

For that matter, some talented juniors and sophomores must riseto the occasion when they face the region heavyweights. Standing at2-1 on the season, the Panthers must generate more offense andstronger defense in the next seven weeks. The offense is averaging20 points per game.

Please double that dose of vitamins. Spinach should become astaple on the training table.

No doubt, Region 3-5A is the strongest region in the MagnoliaState, bar none. West Jones, Wayne County and Picayune are allranked in the Top Ten.

Ole Brook boasts an outstanding offseason weight training andconditioning program that features great participation, plus over70 varsity team members. Is there a superstar hiding in theranks?

The Enterprise-Bogue Chitto history lesson continues today.Former BC head coach Roger Dale Leggett stopped by to visitWednesday morning and he was toting a metal canister that containeda film of the first-ever football game between the neighboringrivals. It was dated Sept. 25, 1964.

Leggett quarterbacked the Bobcats to a 26-7 victory overEnterprise. Recalling that season, Leggett said, “It was the firsttime for a lot of people to ever see a football game. They had alot to learn.”

Tom Bryan coached the Bobcats back then and later joined themilitary for a hitch in Vietnam where he was recognized for hisbravery in battle.

Leggett coached the Bobcats for three years in the early 1970swhen the team was highly successful. He plans to make copies ofthat original Enterprise-Bogue Chitto game film.

Meanwhile, Professor Hoopla B.S. is searching for 50-year-oldphotographs of himself. He used to make shampoo commercials butnobody believes him.

Back to football, Hoopla predicted the winners of 20 games lastweek and got 13 right. Special congrats to the Southern Miss GoldenEagles and Delta State for their impressive wins.

Here’s a preview of this weekend’s winners, starting with twoThursday night specials.

Jones County at Co-Lin: Plenty is at stake asthe unbeaten Wolves host the dangerous Bobcats from Ellisville. Ina squeaker, Co-Lin 17-14.

Southwest at Gulf Coast: The Bears haveimproved this season but they appear destined for a second straightSouth Division setback as the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs flex theirmuscles in Perkinston. Gulf Coast 36-20.

Brookhaven at West Jones: Panthers witness anaerial show in Soso and they’re in the middle of it. West Jones27-14.

Brookhaven Academy at Simpson Academy: In asecond straight battle of unbeaten teams, the BA Cougars survive ascare. Brookhaven Academy 24-21.

St. Aloysius at Bogue Chitto: Bobcats arecounting on a Region 4-1A victory over the Purple Flashes. BogueChitto 26-12.

Enterprise at Mt. Hermon, La.: The FightingYellow Jackets bag a road win over the Jackets who are stillcelebrating their first-ever varsity victory. Enterprise 25-16.

West Lincoln at Dexter: Bulldog reserves arelooking forward to lots of playing time Friday night in the secondhalf. Dexter 44-12.

Wesson at Florence: Class 4A Eagles get luckyand win their homecoming game. Florence 24-21.

Quitman at Lawrence County: The Panthers boastone of their better teams this year and that’s bad news for theCougars. Quitman 30-19.

Franklin County at Mendenhall: Overwhelmed byan awesome assortment of non-region foes, the Bulldogs havestumbled and struggled. Now they’re ambushed on the road.Mendenhall 19-14.

Port Gibson at Hazlehurst: Unbeaten Indiansnotch their fifth victory over the season on their home turf.Hazlehurst 39-13.

In other area action, Jefferson County over South Pike 14-12,North Pike over Amite County 48-14, Central Hinds over CopiahAcademy 28-14, Picayune over McComb 31-19 and Parklane over ACCS17-16.

Hoopla clips his free ice cream cone coupon from the DL’s SchoolPage and cashes it in at Dairy Queen before revealing Saturday’swinners.

Georgia at Mississippi State: This is amust-win SEC game for both Bulldog teams. Georgia 28-20.

Fresno State at Ole Miss: Rebels are huntingfor the winning combination in Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium. Ole Miss17-14.

Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech: Golden Eagles appear to havethe best offensive weapons. Southern Miss 34-24.

Valley State at Jackson State: Delta Devils aredesperate for players and financial support as they try to keeptheir football program afloat. Jackson State 38-12.

In other Magnolia State action Delta State over Henderson State26-16, Alabama State over Alcorn State 23-21, Mississippi Collegeover Louisiana College 30-14 and Trinity over Millsaps 17-10.Belhaven has an open date to promote its soccer program.