The wait is almost over, football season starts on the prep level in just two days.
All four local teams will hit the field, with two at home and a pair on the road in action for the first Friday.
• The Picayune Maroon Tide opens on the road at Dantzler Stadium against the homestanding Moss Point Tigers.
Moss Point comes into the season as the favorite in Region 4-5A, and ranked ninth statewide by The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson.
Moss Point is led by quarteback Kevin Barkley, who threw for 1,100 yards and 12 scores as a sophomore last season, starting just half the year. Tiger running back Meco Brown is considered one of the top backs in South Mississippi.
The Tigers boast a big offensive line begining with tackle Jerrell Doom (6-5, 300) and Michael Stallworth (6-2, 310)
The Moss Point defense is paced by end Malcom Tatum (6-2, 250), tackle Willie Packer (6-2, 250) and end Josh Chestang (6-0, 195).
“As always, Moss Point has a very good football team,” veteran PMSH head coach Dodd Lee said. “They are very talented, and we know what we’re facing because we’ve seen them the last three years plus we’ve played them in the past two spring games. They are well coached and they play hard.”
The Tigers took a 16-6 win in Picayune last season, snapping a two game Maroon Tide win streak in the series.
Picayune head coach Dodd Lee said that both Ben Luther and Chris Mixon would probably not play this week because of injuries.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
• Two teams with new head coaches face off, as the Jeremy Weir era begins at Pearl River Central with his Blue Devils hosting Stone High.
Brian Oakes is the new coach at Stone High, coming from Warren Central where he was an assistant.
Stone lost standout running back Earvin Moore to graduation, and must replace the 1,000 plus yards he rushed for last season.
“I think we are both in similar situations, both young with not much experience,” Weir said. “It should be a good opening game for both teams.”
Quarterback Curt Amacker leads the Tomcat offense. Ironically, Amacker is the son of previous Stone head coach Greg Amacker, whom Oakes replaced.
On defense, monstrous senior tackle Matt Saucier (6-3, 310) will look to wreak havoc with an in experienced Blue Devil offensive line.
“We are looking to get better at what we are doing and not worry so much about what the other team is doing,” Weir added. “
Stone provided PRC with one of its three wins last season, as PRC smacked the Tomcats 38-14 to begin the season.
The Blue Devils, though, after the hurricane proceeded to lose five straight games before closing the season with a pair of wins over Bay High and Pass Christian.
The Blue Devils look to make it three straight, and one in a row for Weir, Friday night. Kickoff time is set for 7:30 p.m.
• The Poplarville Hornets host East Marion at Dobie Holden Stadium on the Pearl River Community College campus.
It in all likelihood will be the last time Poplarville opens the football season at PRCC, as a new stadium on the Hornets’ campus is already being developed.
Last season, the Class 2A Eagles stopped the Class 4A Hornets 30-18 to open the season.
East Marion is under the leadership of veteran head coach Leslie Peters, who has been coaching the Eagles for almost 40 years. In fact, last season the school named the EMHS stadium after him.
East Marion plays in one of the toughest Class 2A divisions in the state, if not the toughest in Division 8-2A along with two time defending state champion Lumberton, Seminary and Perry Central Bassfield is also in that league, and Bassfield beat PRC in a jamboree last week.
The Eagles were 4-5 last season. Poplarville will have to stop East Marion running back Steve Simmons (5-11, 180), who was named one of the top 44 juniors to watch in the state by the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson.
• In Bay St. Louis, cross county rivals Hancock and Bay St. Louis clash on the grid iron Friday evening.
The Hawks are hoping to wash away the memories of a winless season in 2005.
New head coach Brian Barkley has his young team ready and hungry after a month of two-a-day practices.
The Tigers were a playoff team from last year, and they are returning nearly all of their skilled position players.
Receiver Robert Labat has garnered looks from several division one schools, and quarterback Tyler Brush is fresh off of a stop at a national quarterbacks camp.
By CURTIS ROCKWELL
Item Sports Editor
The wait is almost over, football season starts on the prep level in just two days.
All four local teams will hit the field, with two at home and a pair on the road in action for the first Friday.
• The Picayune Maroon Tide opens on the road at Dantzler Stadium against the homestanding Moss Point Tigers.
Moss Point comes into the season as the favorite in Region 4-5A, and ranked ninth statewide by The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson.
Moss Point is led by quarteback Kevin Barkley, who threw for 1,100 yards and 12 scores as a sophomore last season, starting just half the year. Tiger running back Meco Brown is considered one of the top backs in South Mississippi.
The Tigers boast a big offensive line begining with tackle Jerrell Doom (6-5, 300) and Michael Stallworth (6-2, 310)
The Moss Point defense is paced by end Malcom Tatum (6-2, 250), tackle Willie Packer (6-2, 250) and end Josh Chestang (6-0, 195).
“As always, Moss Point has a very good football team,” veteran PMSH head coach Dodd Lee said. “They are very talented, and we know what we’re facing because we’ve seen them the last three years plus we’ve played them in the past two spring games. They are well coached and they play hard.”
The Tigers took a 16-6 win in Picayune last season, snapping a two game Maroon Tide win streak in the series.
Picayune head coach Dodd Lee said that both Ben Luther and Chris Mixon would probably not play this week because of injuries.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
• Two teams with new head coaches face off, as the Jeremy Weir era begins at Pearl River Central with his Blue Devils hosting Stone High.
Brian Oakes is the new coach at Stone High, coming from Warren Central where he was an assistant.
Stone lost standout running back Earvin Moore to graduation, and must replace the 1,000 plus yards he rushed for last season.
“I think we are both in similar situations, both young with not much experience,” Weir said. “It should be a good opening game for both teams.”
Quarterback Curt Amacker leads the Tomcat offense. Ironically, Amacker is the son of previous Stone head coach Greg Amacker, whom Oakes replaced.
On defense, monstrous senior tackle Matt Saucier (6-3, 310) will look to wreak havoc with an in experienced Blue Devil offensive line.
“We are looking to get better at what we are doing and not worry so much about what the other team is doing,” Weir added. “
Stone provided PRC with one of its three wins last season, as PRC smacked the Tomcats 38-14 to begin the season.
The Blue Devils, though, after the hurricane proceeded to lose five straight games before closing the season with a pair of wins over Bay High and Pass Christian.
The Blue Devils look to make it three straight, and one in a row for Weir, Friday night. Kickoff time is set for 7:30 p.m.
• The Poplarville Hornets host East Marion at Dobie Holden Stadium on the Pearl River Community College campus.
It in all likelihood will be the last time Poplarville opens the football season at PRCC, as a new stadium on the Hornets’ campus is already being developed.
Last season, the Class 2A Eagles stopped the Class 4A Hornets 30-18 to open the season.
East Marion is under the leadership of veteran head coach Leslie Peters, who has been coaching the Eagles for almost 40 years. In fact, last season the school named the EMHS stadium after him.
East Marion plays in one of the toughest Class 2A divisions in the state, if not the toughest in Division 8-2A along with two time defending state champion Lumberton, Seminary and Perry Central Bassfield is also in that league, and Bassfield beat PRC in a jamboree last week.
The Eagles were 4-5 last season. Poplarville will have to stop East Marion running back Steve Simmons (5-11, 180), who was named one of the top 44 juniors to watch in the state by the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson.
• In Bay St. Louis, cross county rivals Hancock and Bay St. Louis clash on the grid iron Friday evening.
The Hawks are hoping to wash away the memories of a winless season in 2005.
New head coach Brian Barkley has his young team ready and hungry after a month of two-a-day practices.
The Tigers were a playoff team from last year, and they are returning nearly all of their skilled position players.
Receiver Robert Labat has garnered looks from several division one schools, and quarterback Tyler Brush is fresh off of a stop at a national quarterbacks camp.