Here are ten games to watch for Week 2 of the high school football season.
No. 11 Brandon at No. 1 Tupelo
The No. 11-ranked Bulldogs make the long trip up to Renesant Field to face the top-ranked Golden Wave in a season opening showdown of ranked 7A teams that have championship hopes. Tupelo will lean on quarterback Drew Dean along with running backs Tyson Hunter and Colorado commit Kylan Bobo along with offensive lineman and Ole Miss commit Antonio Berry to lead the offense. Defense is where the Golden Wave will be stout especially in the front seven anchored by linebackers Landon Daniel, Kaiden Buchanan, and Mississippi State commit Devontray Brewer. Defensive backs Fred Adams and Trace Wilson will lead the back end. Brandon will lean on a potent explosive offense anchored by quarterback and Illinois commit Sladen Shack along with Michigan commit and running back Tyson Robinson. Graydon Walker, Braydon Steele, Tommy Brumfield, and Josh Parker will be top targets at receiver. Promising junior linebacker Travion Washington along with defensive tackles J.T. Chapman and Darshun Patrick and defensive back Kam Roberts will lead the defense. This game was a close one last year and very well could be the same this year, but Golden Wave tough at home.
Pick: Tupelo 28-21
No. 9 Starkville at No. 2 Oak Grove
The ninth-ranked Yellowjackets head down to the Hub City to face the second-ranked Warriors in another season opening showdown of ranked teams in 7A. Last year Starkville beat Oak Grove 57-54 on the last play of the game. Starkville begins the Brett Morgan era as head coach and will bring multiple different schemes offensively from the spread to run-heavy looks. Quarterback and Tulane commit Kingston Johnson along with receivers Chaden Walker, Myson Triplett, and Trent Agnew will lead the offense. Defensive back Graham Hancock and defensive tackle Ladanuel Jordan will lead the defense. Oak Grove will lean on potent up-tempo offense anchored by quarterback and Old Dominion commit Kellan Hall, running backs Roman Causey and Kaiden Toney, and receivers Micah Caraway and K.J. Roberts will lead the offense. Defensive tackle and Oklahoma commit Devon Robertson, linebacker Josiah Barnes, and defensive back Drelin Warner will lead the Warriors defense. This will be a close game, but the Warriors get revenge at home.
Pick: Oak Grove 35-28
No. 4 Gulfport at No. 12 Picayune
The fourth-ranked Admirals head up to Picayune to face the 12th-ranked Maroon Tide in their season opener of state title contenders in Class 7A and Class 6A. This will be a matchup of two different style of offenses. Gulfport, the defending Class 7A state champions, will once again lean on up-tempo spread offense that will be breaking in a new quarterback in Jackson Wolverton, running back Amaji Frederick, and tight end Travor Frost. Ja’vious Hales, Mylan Stubbs, and Cam Morgan are back as top targets at receiver. The front seven will be the strength of the defense led by defensive tackles Lawrence Robertson, Nic Strickland, and Jysavian Causey along with linebackers Victor Labega, Deandre Williams, and Cortell Crandle. Defensive back Cordarius Payton will lead the secondary. Picayune will lean on the always potent run-heavy split back veer offense led by running backs Xavier Dennis, Jamarie Hathorne, fullback Cayne McKinnley, and quarterback Tanner Rayburn. Linebackers Kelvin Stallings, Grayson Aulds and Jeremiah Mark and defensive back Xavier Richardson will lead the defense. The Admiral offense too much on the road.
Pick: Gulfport 38-24
No. 14 Louisville at No. 10 West Point
It’s the 61st all-time battle of tradition-rich programs as the 14th-ranked Wildcats head up to Hamblin Stadium to face the 10th-ranked Green Wave in the season opener of state title contenders in Class 5A and Class 4A. West Point will be breaking in a new quarterback in Jaylen Hall to lead the run-heavy offense along with running backs Kingston Branham and Mike Williams. Defensive tackle Cameron Carothers, linebacker Josh Young, and defensive back Decoryion Mazie will lead a defense that is breaking in 11 new starters. Louisville will lean on running back Zaiden Jernigan and receiver Trey Tippett to lead the offense, while the Wildcat defense will look to be hard to score on. Defensive tackle and Ole Miss commit Mitchell Turner, linebackers Jordan Hunt, Lacorien Turnipseed, and Mississippi State commit Ayden Coleman along with defensive backs Kevyon Turner and Kevyon Turner. This will be a close game, but defense travels and the Wildcats defense is the difference on the road.
Pick: Louisville 17-14
No. 13 Petal at No. 8 Hattiesburg
It’s the Leaf River Rivalry as the 13th-ranked Panthers make the eight-mile trip over to D.I. Patrick Stadium to face the eighth-ranked Tigers to kick off the season. Offensively, Petal will lean on quarterback Caiden Belton along with running backs Acely Brown and Chavez Walker to lead the offense that some questions especially at receiver. Defensively, the Panthers will lean on linebackers Kullen Hitson, Boris Baker, and Dashawn Jones, defensive tackle Vinson Moody and defensive back Kevaughn Peters. Hattiesburg will look to be just as explosive on offense this season anchored by quarterback Gavin Ducksworth, running back Haedyn Levertte, and receivers J.B. Bryant and Kahmaud Plump. Defense will be bright spot with nine starters led by defensive tackles Antavion Allen and Bryson Keyes, defensive end Keshawn Lenore, linebacker Christopher Veal, defensive backs Tre McQueen and Jaylin Andrews. Petal has won five out of the last six meetings in this series, but Tigers defense is the difference at home.
Pick: Hattiesburg 31-21
No. 21 West Jones at Laurel
The 21st-ranked Mustangs make the short trip over to Laurel face the rival Golden Tornadoes a season opening matchup of ranked teams in Class 6A and Class 5A. Scott Pierson is back as head coach at West Jones, while former West Jones coach Cory Reynolds is now the offensive coordinator at Laurel. The Mustang offense will lean on quarterback Tootie Lindsey and receivers Chandler Watson, Parker Barefoot, and Ethan Jones. Defensive end Donta Sand, defensive tackle Sawyer Shows, linebacker Rylan Newcomb, and defensive back Lekiyus Martin will lead the defense. Laurel will have quarterback Bryson Bivins along with receivers Zadrain McCormick and Martavious Collier to lead the offense. Linebackers Harlem Cochran and Dale Windham will lead a big and fast Golden Tornado defense. The Mustang offense is the key in this one.
Pick: West Jones 27-17
Noxubee County at Heidelberg
Two heavyweights will battle in Heidelberg as the Tigers, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, travel down to face the Oilers, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, in a season opening showdown of state title contenders in Class 3A and Class 2A. Noxubee will possibly play two quarterbacks in Jykeim Goodwin and Admadrion Conner to lead the offense that will be dynamic. Running back Adrian Bryant along with receivers Christon Glenn and Michael Dancy will be key factors on offense. Linebacker Derrious Burkhalter and defensive tackle Jhermey Payton will lead the Tiger defense. The Oiler offense will lean on quarterback Chase Craft, running back Kaden Porter, and receiver Ja’kayden Moore. Craft and Moore along with defensive end Madaylan McKenzie will lead the Heidelberg defense. This one will be close, but the Oilers tough to beat at home.
Pick: Heidelberg 26-23
Clarksdale at Cleveland Central
The Wildcats make the short trip down to Cleveland to face the Wolves in their season opener matchup of ranked teams in Class 5A and Class 4A. A lot of new faces on both sides of the ball for both teams heading into this season. Cleveland, ranked No. 6 in Class 5A, will be breaking in a new quarterback in Tony Harris, while Kyle Mitchell will be the primary running back, and receiver and Mississippi State commit Javarious Griffin will be the top target on the outside. Defensive back and Jackson State commit Pasario Self and linebacker Lajervis Thigpen will lead the defense. Clarksdale, ranked No. 9 in Class 4A, will lean on quarterback Keyshawn Perryman along with a plethora of running backs to lead the offense in Braden Johnson, Omarion Perryman, and Chris Thomas. Receiver Eric Marshall looks to be the top target on the outside. Defensive tackle Cam McGee and linebacker Anthony Newson will lead the Wildcat defense. The Wildcat offense will be a ball control and eat up a lot of clock, so the run game is the difference.
Pick: Clarksdale 30-22
East Webster at Choctaw County
The Wolverines make the short trip down Highway 9 to face the Chargers in a season opening battle of ranked teams in Class 3A and Class 2A. Choctaw County, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, has a veteran offensive line returning but will be breaking in a new quarterback in Marcari Holman who will a lot of playmakers to spread the ball to in receivers Kaden Cork, Ethan Miller, and Aston Lilley. Defensive tackle and Ole Miss commit BenJarvius Shumaker will lead a defense that does bring back five starters. East Webster, ranked No. 2 in Class 2A and the defending Class 2A state champs, will lean on quarterback Kross Avent along with receivers Lamarkiz McCurry, Jertaven Ivy, and Dakari Coffey. Defensively, the Wolverines defensive tackles Hayden Graham and Luke Neilson along with linebacker Sproles Stewart to lead the defense. This game could go either way and should be a close one but going with the home team in a close one.
Pick: Choctaw County 20-16
Hartfield Academy (1-0) at Columbia
The Hawks head down to Walter Payton Stadium to face the Wildcats in a key MHSAA/MAIS matchup. Columbia won last year’s matchup 21-20. The Wildcats, the defending MHSAA Class 4A state champions and ranked No. 2 in MHSAA Class 4A, will be breaking in a new quarterback in Jonathan Lowery to lead an offense that will be breaking in new faces in key spots. Running back Kavon Bridges and receiver Christian Expose will be key factors on offense for the Wildcats. Defensive end Achilles Pittman, defensive tackle Greg Laird, and Junior Curney will lead the Columbia defense. Hartfield, ranked No. 3 in MAIS Class 4A, will have quarterback Ethan Elliott, running back Collin McIntyre, and receiver Luke Wesson to carry the offense, while linebacker L.J. Davis and defensive back Landry Norsworthy will lead the defense. This will be a close game like last year, but Wildcats tough to beat at home.
Pick: Columbia 20-17
