Brookhaven High School football is apopular item. Friday night crowds pack the King Field stands andparking is at a premium.

    The situation doesn’t change much for basketball, especially theparking congestion problems. On a cold, rainy night, many folkselect to stay home rather than trying to negotiate the puddlesleading to Sinclair Gymnasium.

    Yours truly has a solution.

    The front campus facing East Monticello Street features a largegreen landscape, large enough for two football fields. It’s a goodplace to grow and cut grass but it would make an even betterparking area for students during the week and sports fans on Fridaynights.

    Imagine a wide, 2-lane paved driveway and a large covered areaapproaching the front steps of the school’s main entrance. Somefolks call it a breezeway.

     Make it large enough toaccommodate two large school buses. Students can be loaded andunloaded without getting soaked to the skin during a rainstorm.

    Unfortunately, most of Mississippi is in the drought mode right nowbut a roofed area for embarking and debarking from buses andautomobiles would be deeply appreciated by students and teachersalike.

    Imagine a gigantic, concrete Panther figure in a crouched positionlooming above the covered archway. Call it the PantherProtector.

    A large parking lot in the front of the school wouldbenefit  both students,teachers and sports fans.

    For sure, it would alleviate the parking problems that folks haveto cope with. Besides, it would reduce the amount of gasolinerequired to cut all that grass.

 

    Meanwhile, Professor Hoopla B.S. is ready to put his John Deereriding mower in hibernation for the winter. However, his wife likesto  mulch the leaves,pinecones and pine needles that fall from the trees. Riding thatmower is like an hour of stress-relief therapy.

    Hoopla dropped off an oil-stained list of predictions for thisweek. Since the weather cooled, he has been busy cutting down brushand saplings with his trusty chainsaw.

    Last week Hoopla predicted the victors of 22 games and got 20correct.

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

    Northeast at Co-Lin: It looks like a defensive struggle in StoneStadium as fans and players don pink gear to recognize BreastCancer Awareness. Co-Lin 14-9.

    East Central at Southwest: Both teams are coming off South Divisionsetbacks. Bears own the advantage in Hurst Stadium. Southwest17-7.

    Brookhaven at Wayne County: In a titanic Friday night struggle, thePanthers win by a whisker. Brookhaven 14-13.

    Brookhaven Academy at Natchez Trinity: Offense is the name of thegame in this River City showdown for District 5-AA supremacy.Brookhaven Academy 36-30.

    Bogue Chitto at St. Aloysius: Bobcats end their Region 4-1Atailspin in Vicksburg. Bogue Chitto 27-14.

    Enterprise at Madison St. Joe: Yellow Jackets shake hands with theRegion 6-2A champions. St. Joe 42-12.

    Loyd Star at Amite County: Hornets have a shot at making the Class2A state playoffs but the hard part is beating the Trojans on theirhome turf in Liberty. Amite County 39-10.

    Wesson at Puckett: Cobras need a victory over the Wolves if theywant to host an opening round, state playoff game next Fridaynight. Wesson 26-19.

    Purvis at Lawrence County: More playoff implications are in theworks as the Cougars host the Tornadoes in a Region 7-4A showdown.Lawrence County 24-21.

    Franklin County at Jefferson County: It’s Friday night in Fayetteand a large crowd watches the Bulldogs flex their muscles. FranklinCounty 30-14.

    Hazlehurst at Crystal Springs: Indians have dominated this seriesfor decades and they’ll continue that tradition tomorrow night.Hazlehurst 42-12.

    In other area action, North Pike over South Pike 26-21, West Jonesover McComb 24-19, Copiah Academy over East Rankin 20-17 andJackson Prep over Parklane 41-14.

    After draining a can of Sunkist Diet Orange, Hoopla perusesSaturday’s collegiate scene.

    Mississippi State at Kentucky: Bulldogs chalk up their first SECwin of the season. State 28-14.

    Ole Miss at Auburn: Slumping Rebels must play four quarters ofsolid football and be lucky, too, in order to win an SEC road game.Won’t happen. Auburn 27-17.

    Southern Miss at UTEP: Golden Eagles are lucky to be flying to ElPaso on this extended road trip. Southern Miss 39-20.

    Jackson State at Prairie View A&M: Tigers have their hands fullwhen they visit the Golden Panthers in Waller County, Texas.J-State 38-28.

    In other Magnolia State action, Texas Southern over Valley State28-20, Alcorn State over Southern U. 32-22, Mississippi Collegeover Sul Rose State 17-7, Belhaven over Cumberlands 21-14 andMillsaps over Centre 17-14. Delta State has an open date to enjoyits No. 1 ranking.

 

    Contact sports editor Tom Goetz by Email:tgoetz@dailyleader.com