Here are ten games to watch for Week 3 of the high school football season.
No. 5 Madison Central (1-0) at Brandon (0-1)
The fifth-ranked Jaguars head back over to Rankin County for a second consecutive week as they face the rival Bulldogs. Brandon is coming off a blowout loss on the road at Tupelo, while Madison won the road at Pearl last week. Madison Central will lean on quarterback Tripp Smith, running back Ashton Williams, receiver Tylan Hutchins, and tight end Jack Brunini. Linebacker Corey Wiggins will lead a stout Jaguar defense. 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. The Bulldogs have won three out of the last four meetings in this series, but Jaguars defense comes up with a big stop late.
Pick: Madison Central 24-21
South Panola (0-1) at No. 2 Oxford (1-0)
The Tigers make the 30-minute trip over to Bobby Holcomb Field to face the second-ranked Chargers in a key non-division matchup of ranked teams in Class 7A and 6A. Oxford is coming off a season opening win over Collierville (Tenn.), while South Panola is coming off a tough loss to DeSoto Central. The Chargers will lean on quarterback Price Renovich, running back Demar Jamerson, and receivers Davis Carruth, D.J. Stribling, and Campbell Soldevila. Linebacker Weldon Wilkinson will lead the Charger defense. The Tigers, ranked No. 4 in Class 6A, will lean on quarterback Van Pollard and receiver Elijah Kerby. Tre Barksdale, Braylon Key, and Floyd Wilson will lead the Tiger defense. Chargers tough at home.
Pick: Oxford 28-20
West Point (0-1) at No. 4 Starkville (1-0)
It’s the 100th all-time meeting as the Green Wave make the short trip down to Starkville to face the fourth-ranked Yellowjackets. Starkville won an absolute classic on the road at Oak Grove last week, while West Point fell short against Louisville. It’s also Starkville head coach Brett Morgan matchup against his former team. The Yellowjackets introduced a potent rushing attack last week that saw three different quarterbacks take snaps along with three different running backs. Tulane commit Kingston Johnson will lead the offense. Defensive back Graham Hancock and defensive tackle Ladanuel Jordan will lead the defense. West Point will lean on quarterback 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. The Jackets too much at home.
Pick: Starkville 28-16
Laurel (1-0) at Hattiesburg (0-1)
It’s the 109th annual battle for the Little Brown Jug as the Golden Tornadoes head down to D.I. Patrick Stadium to face the rival Tigers. Laurel is coming off a shootout win over West Jones, while Hattiesburg is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Petal in a game where Hattiesburg held a 34-20 lead. 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. Hattiesburg will be once again 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 led by defensive tackles Antavion Allen and Bryson Keyes, defensive end Keshawn Lenore, linebacker Christopher Veal, defensive backs Tre McQueen and Jaylin Andrews. The Tigers have won four in the series and bounce back after last week to make it five in a row.
Pick: Hattiesburg 31-21
Germantown (1-0) at No. 6 Oak Grove (0-1)
The Mavericks head down to Hattiesburg to face the sixth-ranked Warriors in a matchup of ranked teams in Class 7A. Oak Grove is coming off a close home loss to Starkville, while Germantown put up 60 points last week against Northwest Rankin. Oak Grove, ranked No. 6 in Class 7A, 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. Germantown, ranked No. 8 in Class 7A, will lean on quarterback Langston Branson, running back Sy McBeath, and receiver Bryce Johnson to lead the offense. Warriors bounce back and get revenge from last year’s loss to the Mavericks.
Pick: Oak Grove 27-20
Stone (1-0) at Poplarville (1-0)
It’s a matchup of two run-heavy teams as the Tomcats make the trip along Highway 26 over to Poplarville to face the Hornets in an early season matchup of ranked teams in Class 5A and Class 4A. Poplarville rolled past West Harrison last week, while Stone won a shootout over Hancock in a game where the Tomcats rushed for 440 yards, while also giving up 563 yards passing. The Tomcats, ranked No. 7 in Class 5A, will lean on quarterback Zander Howard along with running backs Ayden Green and Amarion Fairley will lead the offense. Defensive end Cayden Luster and defensive tackles Jamal Rhodes will lead the defense. Poplarville, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, will lean on running back and Miami commit Ty Keys, quarterback Trac Smith, running backs Remy Naquin and Kayden Bradford will lean the offense. Defensive end and Florida State commit Sam LeJeune and linebacker Lennox Beech will lead the Hornets defense. This was a close game last year and could very well could be close this year, but the Hornets tough to beat at home.
Pick: Poplarville 24-22
PCS (1-0) at Mize (1-0)
The Bobcats head up to “The Hill” to face the Bulldogs in a matchup of ranked teams in Class 3A and Class 2A. Both teams took care of business in their season openers as Mize blew out Taylorsville and PCS handled Mobile Christian (Ala.). PCS, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, will lean on a potent explosive offense anchored by quarterback and Wake Forest commit Smith Stringer, running back Colt Robertson along with receivers Colt Robertson and Reed Bridges. Defense is still a question mark for the Bobcats but will lean on defensive back Kade Welford and defensive tackle Luke McLemore. Mize, ranked No. 3 in Class 2A, has running back Jaymion Gray, quarterback Antrell Agee, running back ZyChristian Benson, and receiver Wesley Little to carry the offense. Jaxon Craft, Walker Sullivan, and Treyvon Keyes will lead the Bulldog defense. This game could go either way, but the Bobcats get a key score late to pull away.
Pick: PCS 34-28
Magee (1-0) at Mendenhall (1-0)
It’s the 102nd Simpson County Super Bowl as the Trojans make the nine-mile trip up to Mendenhall to face the rival, Tigers. Magee shutout Mount Olive last week, while Mendenhall went on the road and beat Ridgeland. The Tigers offensively will be led by quarterback Ty Davis, while linebacker Eddie Weathersby will help lead the defense. Magee offensively will be anchored by quarterback Cameron Griffith and running backs Rynelious Traxler and Treveon McIntyre. Defensive back Connor Pittman, linebacker Kalen Williams and James Gray will lead the Trojan defense. The Tigers have won four out of the last five meetings in the series and make it five out of six at home.
Pick: Mendenhall 30-18
Baldwyn (1-0) at Booneville (1-0)
It’s the 75th all-time Skunk Bowl as the Bearcats up to Booneville to face the Blue Devils in matchup of ranked teams in Class 3A and Class 2A. Both teams opened the season with wins as Booneville beat North Pontotoc and Baldwyn knocked off Kossuth. The matchup to watch in this one Booneville’s veteran offense against a stout Baldwyn defense. Booneville, ranked No. 9 in Class 3A, is anchored by quarterback Qua Bell, running back Tony Ogden, and receiver Kydon Smith to lead the offense. Linebacker Bo Saylors will lead the defense. Baldwyn, ranked No. 7 in Class 2A, offensively will be led by quarterback Rush Watkins, running back Calvin Price, and receiver Brandon Johnson. Defensive end Jamarion Robinson and defensive back Kmauryen Johnson will lead the defense. The Bearcats have won three out of the last four in the series, but the Blue Devils get it done at home in a close one.
Pick: Booneville 28-26
Hartfield Academy (2-0) at MRA (1-1)
The Hawks make the short trip to Madison to face the Patriots in their MAIS District 2-4A opener and a matchup of ranked teams in the MAIS. Hartfield has been rolling on offense the first two games, while MRA is coming their first win of the season over Jefferson Davis County last week. Hartfield, ranked No. 3 in MAIS Top 10 and 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. MRA, ranked No. 2 in MAIS Top 10 and MAIS Class 3A, will lean on quarterback Austin Banks, running back Colson O’Cain, receivers Jack Dalton and Holt Adams to carry the offense. Linebacker Ty Childress and defensive back Daniel Perkins lead a MRA defense that has given up an average of 28 points over the first two games. This very well could be a high scoring game, but the Hawks get it done on the road.
Pick: Hartfield Academy 38-35
