curmudgeon
09-28-2013, 12:43 PM
I love HS football. I follow Mississippi HS football as much as college football.
After Week 1 of District Play, here are some thoughts.
1. Prep/Bassfield
Prep needs to lead the charge to breakup the MAIS. The bigger schools need to join the MHSAA much like what happened in Alabama a few years ago. Prep and JA would be large 4A, MRA would be 3A. All three of them would be competitive for state titles. Would podunk academy suffer? Yes, but the bigger schools would be competitive, as you saw last night. Dylan Favre led St. Stanislaus to a 4A state title a few years back - their only loss? A 21-20 loss to Prep.
The win over Bassfield is legit. Bassfield is not South Panola, Olive Branch, or even Madison Central, but Bassfield is as good as it gets in 3A/4A which is where Prep is. When Prep decides to make the move, others will follow. Unfortunately, race relations have as much to do with it as logistics. If you don't believe me, start talking to people.
2. 6A Thoughts
Region 1
Look out, Tupelo, the school with more potential than any other in the state to be a powerhouse is 5-0. Its a weak 5-0, but still. South Panola and Olive Branch will still dominate Region 1, but #3 and #4 are up for grabs.
Region 2
Madison Central skulldragged Clinton, and STarkville did the same to Columbus. October 25 those two play in Madison and it will be for the region title. Like Region 1, its a crap shoot for the other two spots. I like Columbus and the Murrah-Clinton winner to be the sacrificial lambs to South Panola and Olive Branch.
Region 3
Brandon, Petal and Oak Grove are all 5-0 and Meridian is 4-1 with a loss to South Panola. Those are your four playoff teams and this will be an awesome division to watch this year, starting with Oak Grove/Petal next week.
Region 4
D'Iberville, Gulfport and Ocean Springs opened with region wins to improve to 4-1. That fourth spot is up for grabs and don't discount Hattiesburg. They are 1-4, but its against a tough schedule, played both Petal and Oak Grove from Region 3. Plus, for you uniform junkies, they have the best HS helmet in the state.
134
3. Other MHSAA
Nine unbeatens in 5A going into last night - three emerged (Callaway, Oxford and Laurel) Callaway is the best JPS team in years and has a solid chance to win Region 2. Still think Oxford and Pascagoula are your 5A championship participants.
Four unbeatens remaining in 4A - Ripley, Leake Central, Yazoo City and St. Stanislaus. Rock-a-Chaws leading 4A averaging 44 ppg.
3A- Water Valley and Louisville only unbeatens. That is destined to be the North Half (and de facto state) championship. In the South, Philadelphia is 5-1 and giving up just 4.5 ppg.
2A - Five unbeatens led by East Webster and Eupora. They play each other in regular season finale and they will both be unbeaten.
1A - Bogue Chitto is the only unbeaten but I'm not sold they are the best team in the state.
4. MAIS
AAA Division I - Parklane and Presbyterian Christian play each other next week for the final playoff spot. Winner gets JA/MRA winner.
AAA Division II - Three of the best four teams are in the North, but the state champion will be Lamar from the South.
AA - Indianola is only unbeaten. What is this, 1988? Still, Simpson is the class of AA.
A - Trinity is my best team, but DeSoto is also good. Watch out for Marshall though.
After Week 1 of District Play, here are some thoughts.
1. Prep/Bassfield
Prep needs to lead the charge to breakup the MAIS. The bigger schools need to join the MHSAA much like what happened in Alabama a few years ago. Prep and JA would be large 4A, MRA would be 3A. All three of them would be competitive for state titles. Would podunk academy suffer? Yes, but the bigger schools would be competitive, as you saw last night. Dylan Favre led St. Stanislaus to a 4A state title a few years back - their only loss? A 21-20 loss to Prep.
The win over Bassfield is legit. Bassfield is not South Panola, Olive Branch, or even Madison Central, but Bassfield is as good as it gets in 3A/4A which is where Prep is. When Prep decides to make the move, others will follow. Unfortunately, race relations have as much to do with it as logistics. If you don't believe me, start talking to people.
2. 6A Thoughts
Region 1
Look out, Tupelo, the school with more potential than any other in the state to be a powerhouse is 5-0. Its a weak 5-0, but still. South Panola and Olive Branch will still dominate Region 1, but #3 and #4 are up for grabs.
Region 2
Madison Central skulldragged Clinton, and STarkville did the same to Columbus. October 25 those two play in Madison and it will be for the region title. Like Region 1, its a crap shoot for the other two spots. I like Columbus and the Murrah-Clinton winner to be the sacrificial lambs to South Panola and Olive Branch.
Region 3
Brandon, Petal and Oak Grove are all 5-0 and Meridian is 4-1 with a loss to South Panola. Those are your four playoff teams and this will be an awesome division to watch this year, starting with Oak Grove/Petal next week.
Region 4
D'Iberville, Gulfport and Ocean Springs opened with region wins to improve to 4-1. That fourth spot is up for grabs and don't discount Hattiesburg. They are 1-4, but its against a tough schedule, played both Petal and Oak Grove from Region 3. Plus, for you uniform junkies, they have the best HS helmet in the state.
134
3. Other MHSAA
Nine unbeatens in 5A going into last night - three emerged (Callaway, Oxford and Laurel) Callaway is the best JPS team in years and has a solid chance to win Region 2. Still think Oxford and Pascagoula are your 5A championship participants.
Four unbeatens remaining in 4A - Ripley, Leake Central, Yazoo City and St. Stanislaus. Rock-a-Chaws leading 4A averaging 44 ppg.
3A- Water Valley and Louisville only unbeatens. That is destined to be the North Half (and de facto state) championship. In the South, Philadelphia is 5-1 and giving up just 4.5 ppg.
2A - Five unbeatens led by East Webster and Eupora. They play each other in regular season finale and they will both be unbeaten.
1A - Bogue Chitto is the only unbeaten but I'm not sold they are the best team in the state.
4. MAIS
AAA Division I - Parklane and Presbyterian Christian play each other next week for the final playoff spot. Winner gets JA/MRA winner.
AAA Division II - Three of the best four teams are in the North, but the state champion will be Lamar from the South.
AA - Indianola is only unbeaten. What is this, 1988? Still, Simpson is the class of AA.
A - Trinity is my best team, but DeSoto is also good. Watch out for Marshall though.