With their last matchup against a Class 6A opponent taking place Friday night, the Picayune Maroon Tide look to remain undefeated as they face a tough team, Harrison Central High School.

Early season high school football rankings can be deceiving, but Picayune has been on the top 10 list for 24 of the past 25 years.

Picayune Memorial High School earned the honor of being the No. 1 Class 5A school in Mississippi, according to the Sun Herald, and No. 3 in the Mississippi “How They Fared” poll by the Associated Press.

Harrison Central High School is ranked No. 9 on the Sun Herald’s top 10 list but not ranked in the AP poll.

Last week, the Red Rebels took on a different Pearl River County opponent, Pearl River Central, in which the Rebels lost by a landslide, 47-21. Now facing another tough team in Pearl River County, the Red Rebels will have to focus on stopping Maroon Tide stand-out running back Josh Littles.

Littles had a monumental start this season, rushing 372 yards and reaching the end zone in every game. He also averages 9 yards per carry, which proves how hard it is to stop him once his cleats dig in.

The powerful running back is not just effective offensively, but also starts as a cornerback for the Maroon Tide defense alongside fellow running back Shaun Anderson.

However, this week Picayune will require a top notch performance out of the entire team to remain undefeated when they travel to Harrison Central.

The Red Rebels have three offensive threats they can lean on to dismantle any opponent in Mississippi. Racing for 400 yards and four touchdowns this season, Rebels running back Keon Moore covers the ground game, while wide receiver Chase Jones rules the air, catching a team leading seven catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns this season. However, the biggest threat is quarterback Tavis Williams, who averages nearly 200 rushing and passing yards each game this season.

The 3-0 Maroon Tide look to add upon their three-game winning streak against 6A opponents before entering district play. Harrison Central enters this week’s game with a record of 2-1. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.