Here is a preview of the upcoming high school football games to be played by area schools on Friday.

Brookhaven Academy (1-8) vs. Amite School Center (1-8)

R.M. “Red” Stuard Field, Brookhaven

The gauntlet of MAIS District 3-5A play is finished and Brookhaven Academy will close out the 2023 season at home on Friday against longtime foe, the Amite School Center Rebels.

Brookhaven Academy lost 50-13 last week to Parklane, the District 3 leader heading into the postseason.

Coach Reggie Lea and his Cougars are facing an ASC team that is coming off its first win of the season last week, a 44-26 victory over Delta Streets Academy.

Lea and his staff have a senior class that includes Cooper Strickland, Thomas King, Samuel Evans, Dru McDaniel and Jackson Porter.

 

West Lincoln (2-6) vs. Loyd Star (7-1)

Perry Miller Field, Flea Hop

Loyd Star is hoping to finish with a perfect 4-0 record in Region 7-2A play and a perfect 3-0 record against Lincoln County rivals if they can beat the Bears of West Lincoln on Friday.

The Hornets powered through to beat Bogue Chitto last week 23-21 on a last second field goal in a memorable Possum Bowl. Freshman quarterback Jordyn Kees led Loyd Star with 162 yards on 31 carries and senior fullback Jaden Lea added 92 yards on 16 carries.

West Lincoln dropped a back-and-forth matchup last week at Wilkinson County in Woodville by a 30-22 final score.

Loyd Star is 10-4 all-time against West Lincoln and beat the Bears 54-0 last season.

Wesson (7-0) vs. South Pike (6-2)

H.L. “Hook” Stone Stadium, Wesson

There isn’t a bigger game on the calendar this week than the unbeaten Wesson Cobras hosting the South Pike Eagles in Stone Stadium.

Both teams are 2-0 in Region 7-3A action with Wesson coming off a 34-14 road win last week at Franklin County. The Cobras got two passing touchdowns from junior quarterback Wyatt Garrett, who went 6-of-7 passing for 72 yards, in that win.

On the ground, Wesson got 122 yards on 18 carries from senior running back Zevantae Stapleton. Stapleton scored two rushing touchdowns and sophomore O’Mari Johnson scored once on the ground. Johnson caught both of the touchdown passes from Garrett.

Wesson defensive coordinator Hank Jordan and his group of snakes pitched a shutout in the second half at Franklin County after they led 22-14 at halftime.

Last week, South Pike gave Jefferson County its first region loss of the season by a 30-22 final score in Magnolia. This year the Eagles have losses to Provine (25-14) and McComb (49-0).

South Pike and Wesson began playing each other in the 40s and 50s, when they were known as Magnolia and Copiah-Lincoln High Schools respectively. The last meeting in the series was a 41-0 win for South Pike in 1964. The Eagles are 8-2 all-time against the Cobras.

 

Brookhaven  (3-5) at S. Jones (2-6)Braves Field, Ellisville

Just keep winning, that’s the goal for Brookhaven High and coach Tucker Peavey after the Panthers picked up their first Region 3-5A win of the season last week with a 38-12 homecoming victory over Provine High.

South Jones lost 36-0 last week at Natchez High and was beaten 18-7 by Provine a week prior to that. BHS has key region dates left against South Jones, North Pike and Natchez as the Panthers aim for a second-place finish in the division behind Florence High.

Lawrence County (4-4) at Columbia High (8-0)

Gardner Stadium/Walter Payton Field, Columbia

Columbia High head coach Chip Bilderback has built a winning machine in Marion County since taking over the program in 2018. The Cougars are a combined 63-11 during that time and won the 2021 4A state title.

Thus far in 2023, Columbia has outscored its opponents 310-88 in getting off to an 8-0 start. With games left against Lawrence County and Purvis, the Cougars are trying to go unbeaten in the regular season for a third time in the last five years.

Enterprise (4-4) at E. Marion (1-7)

Eagles Field, Columbia

It’s “win and you’re in” for the Enterprise Yellow Jackets and their MHSAA 1A playoff hopes against East Marion on Friday.

Don’t be fooled by that record though, as East Marion has played a loaded schedule and got its first win in the season opener, a 12-6 triumph over 3A West Marion. In Region 8-1A play, the Eagles lost 18-14 to Sacred Heart (8-0), 14-8 to Lumberton (4-4) and 28-12 to Resurrection (6-1).