If Lincoln County has a long, cold winter, the citizens will bewell prepared. There’s enough firewood available for severalsnowstorms, thanks to Hurricane Katrina. Chainsaws are so numerous,they sound like mutant, giant cicadas during the daily,tree-cutting marathons which have been going strong since thatfateful date, Aug. 29.

Right now, folks are praying for some rain and cooler weather.Besides, there’s plenty of firewood for all the neighbors, too.

The Brookhaven Country Club suffered some major tree damage,mainly on the front nine. According to BCC general manager and PGAprofessional Ronny Ross, the trees have been removed and course isin great shape.

The Ninth Annual Tucker Tournament, scheduled for Labor Dayweekend at the BCC, was canceled for obvious reasons. Founded inmemory of Tucker Smith, the 3-day tourney had served as a majorfund-raiser for the Lincoln County Habitat for Humanity.

Attempts are being made to reschedule the event for later thisyear.

In the meantime, the Jack & Jill Tournament at the BCC isset for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24-25. The 36-hole eventrequires an entrance fee of $220 per team. It covers lunch buffetseach day plus dinner and a dance on Saturday night.

At the Wolf Hollow Golf Club, on the Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege campus, there was little tree damage. Course manager JustinSmith said the new golf carts will arrive Monday. The next bigevent is the Co-Lin homecoming tournament, set for Friday, Sept.30. It will be a 2-man scramble, starting at 12:30 p.m.

Professor Hoopla B.S. has been too busy cutting up trees in hisyard and raking the lawn to pursue his favorite pastime. Sooner orlater, he will return to the links. First of all, Hoopla had todrop off his list of winners for this weekend’s games. The list wasperforated with golf spike holes. Go figure.

Hoopla predicted the winners of 17 games last week and got 13correct. Special congratulations to the Valley State Delta Devilswho are off to a 2-0 start.

Here is Hoopla’s fearless football forecast, starting withFriday’s high school action.

Brookhaven at Clinton: With a little luck and aclutch field goal, the Panthers escape Roy Burkett Stadium with avictory. Brookhaven 17-14.

Wilkinson Academy at Brookhaven Academy: Bothteams have an offense to brag about. Brookhaven Academy 33-23.

Enterprise at West Lincoln: This Family Feudwill go to the Fighting Jackets. Enterprise 35-19.

Loyd Star at North Pike: A defensive strugglelooms in Summit. Loyd Star 14-12.

Stringer at Bogue Chitto: Red Devils areexpected to sizzle this season. Stringer 29-18.

Wesson at Richland: It’s been a long two weeksand the Cobras are ready to roll. Wesson 27-7.

Lumberton at Franklin County: Grady McCluskey’sBulldogs claimed a forfeit win over Prentiss, but they’re hungryfor more when the tackle the defending Class 2A state champions.Franklin Co. 10-7.

Lawrence County at Magee: Cougars tackleanother title contender in the Trojans. Magee 24-14.

Other area games: Vicksburg over Hazlehurst21-12, Madison Central over McComb 17-7, Copiah Academy over AmiteSchool Center 42-16, South Pike over Warren Central 27-21, PortGibson over Crystal Springs 18-13 and Parklane over Jackson Prep22-10.

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt: Rebels are ambushed inNashville. Vandy 22-13.

McNeese State at Southern Miss: Golden Eaglesrebound and run the Cowboys out of Hattiesburg. Southern Miss30-10.

Mississippi State vs. Tulane: The IndependenceBowl in Shreveport serves as a home away from home for thedisplaced Green Wave. State 28-20.

Texas Southern at Jackson State: Tigers win bya whisker in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Jackson State28-24.

Other Magnolia State games: Valley State overAlabama A&M 25-12; Millsaps over Concordia 14-6, Georgetown(Ky.) over Belhaven 22-14; Delta State over North Alabama 31-21;Alcorn State over Langston 29-14; and Mississippi College over SulRoss State 23-10.

In the SEC, Southern Cal over Arkansas 39-9,Florida over Tennessee 23-20, Georgia over Louisiana-Monroe 42-6,Indiana over Kentucky 23-16, Auburn over Ball State 52-12, andAlabama over South Carolina 20-10. LSU has an open date to visitthe evacuees.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O.BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mailsports@dailyleader.com