Championships.
That word immediately comes to Tony Stanford’s mind when asked about the South Panola High School football team.
The Tigers, who entered the season as the state’s top-ranked team in The Clarion-Ledger’s Super 10 preseason poll, have won a state record nine championships in football. Their run of success has earned the school the nickname the “University of South Panola.”
“They’re the king of the hill,” Stanford said.
But through six games some of South Panola’s luster has diminished. Not only did South Panola lose to Hoover (Ala.), it saw its winning streak against teams from the state of Mississippi end with a 13-4 loss to Gulfport on Sept. 10.
Last week, South Panola ended another long run when it lost to Olive Branch 24-6 in a Class 6A, Region 1 game. The loss was the first time since 2001 a team from north Mississippi beat the Tigers. It also was the first time since 2001 South Panola lost a game at home.
The victory gave Olive Branch, which snapped a 14-game losing streak to South Panola, control of the 6A-1 race.
It also gave other teams — like Columbus — even more reason to hope this could be their year to beat South Panola. That’s what Stanford and the Falcons (4-2, 1-1) will try to do at 7 tonight when they play host to the Tigers (3-3, 1-1).
“They have lost a few this year, but I think it makes everybody think they’re pretty good when they beat South Panola,” Stanford said.
Columbus has lost 12 in a row to South Panola dating back to a 20-14 victory on Oct. 8, 1999. The fact that that victory still holds a special place in the hearts of people in Columbus speaks to South Panola’s dominance of prep football in the state.
South Panola held the third longest winning streak in high school football history — 89 — from 2003 to 2008. Meridian defeated South Panola in the Class 5A championship to end that run.
In June, MaxPreps published a list of the state’s top football dynasties in the past five seasons. South Panola, which went 15-0 last season and won its second consecutive Class 6A state title, was ranked No. 1.
South Panola started the season as the No. 8 team in the country, according to Rivals.com, hadn’t lost a game to a team from Mississippi since the Class 5A state championship on Dec. 5, 2008, when current MSU backup quarterback Tyler Russell led Meridian to a 26-20 victory.
This season, running back Antonio Conner is the primary weapon on offense. He rushed for 70 yards on 16 carries last week. Running back Quandez Lee also had 27 rushing yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Tevis Flowers was 6 of 16 for 70 yards and four interceptions.
But Columbus has reason to believe this is its year, in part because it has a senior-laden team, led by skill position players like running back Damian Baker, quarterback Cedric Jackson, and wide receiver Deontae Jones.
Stanford also said years of working hard and getting stronger in the weight room have built Columbus’ confidence its brand of physical football can stand up to South Panola’s ground attack and not wear down.
“I think they feel good about the ballgame and they have a chance to win,” Stanford said. “It is probably the first time in their lifetime that Columbus feels like they have a chance to win. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
Stanford said the Falcons have had as good a week of practice as they have had this season. He expects it to be a good ballgame as long as Columbus can avoid turnovers and mistakes. Last week, Columbus trailed Southaven 14-7 with nine minutes to play in the fourth quarter before it tired and made costly miscues that led to a 35-7 loss.
“There is no way to correct turnovers,” Stanford said. “All you can do is try to do a better job and make sure the kids understand how much turnovers can affect a ballgame. Cut out the mistakes last week and we have a chance to win the game.”
Stanford feels his team is up to the challenge of going head to head with South Panola. He feels Columbus established that fact in a 35-27 overtime victory against two-time defending Class 5A champion West Point on Sept. 2. South Panola defeated West Point 37-17, and Stanford expects a similar style game tonight as the other two.
“They’re a big, physical football team,” Stanford said. “They haven’t lost that. They have just lost a couple of football games. They are going to line up and are going to try to run over you. If you are not man in there to stand in there all night, you’re going to get beat.”
In addition to getting stronger in his four years at the school, including the past two as head coach, Stanford feels Columbus has become a more confident football team. After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, Stanford pointed toward this season as one that could help get the program back on track. Wins against Aberdeen, West Point, New Hope, and Tupelo have fueled that belief, and now Stanford hopes that enthusiasm can help produce even bigger results.
“Usually we have lost a good many ballgames (by this point in the season) and our morale is down,” Stanford said. “Over the years, I think our players have been scared of South Panola. This year, I don’t think they are scared of them. I think they think they can play with them and they have a chance to beat them. They are excited about the football game and ready to play.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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