The fax machines are humming. The text messages are ringing.
The prep football schedules are rolling in. Indeed, we are just that much closer to seeing who will raise championship trophies in either November in Clinton or the first weekend of December in Oxford.
As we look through the schedules, it is not hard to be giddy about such matchups. How about a sneak peak of what lies ahead……
Week 1: Starkville at Noxubee County (Aug. 21): Well if nothing else, we learned that you can’t read too much into the opening week after Starkville’s 52-19 win over Noxubee County last season.
Noxubee County righted the ship, won its final 11 games and repeated as Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A state champions.
Both teams return almost all starters from last season. The teams did combine to win 27 games a season ago so the talent level in this one will be high.
Week 2: Aberdeen at New Hope (Aug. 28): Eric Spann makes his debut as coach of the Bulldogs when Aberdeen opens with Corinth. A week later, the Bulldogs are back at it against a young, but talented, New Hope squad.
Aberdeen has 20 seniors on its roster and looks to build on its surprising run to the third round of the Class 4A playoffs. Coach Kris Pickle will be anxious to see exactly what he has this season. He will learn more in this game.
Either way, don’t look for New Hope to repeat last season’s easy 35-8 victory.
Week 3: Starkville at West Point (Sept. 4): Coach Ricky Woods gets his first taste of the Golden Triangle’s best rivalry in his first season as coach of the Yellow Jackets.
People are still discussing Starkville’s 29-28 overtime win during its run to the 2012 Class 5A state championship. Two blowouts have followed with West Point winning 55-33 in 2013 and Starkville winning 34-3 last season.
The closeness of the rivalry returns this season with both teams looking for a huge momentum lift before entering region play.
Week 4: Hebron Christian at Central Academy (Sept. 11): Two of our area’s eight-man football squads will battle in a game with huge playoff implications.
Central Academy was undefeated last season before a 38-6 loss at Hebron Christian. The Eagles were able to parlay that victory into a return to the playoffs.
The contest will be played much earlier this season. However, the stakes will be the same.
Week 5: Caledonia at New Hope (Sept. 18): We check on Andy Crotwell and his second edition of the Confederates here prior to their beginning of region play.
A year ago, Caledonia won six games and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Confederates were still young in several spots and will look to take the next step this season.
New Hope won this meeting, 41-17 a year ago. However, the Confederates were still taking baby steps at the time and still learning how to win.
Week 6: West Point at Oxford (Sept. 30): Get the gas cards out, because we will be leaving the Golden Triangle for this one.
Oxford fell to Laurel in the Class 5A state championship a year ago. The Chargers licked their wounds and a very talented group of student-athletes then won the baseball state championship.
West Point dropped both meetings last season but saw leads slip in both defeats. It will be interesting to see if a very hungry Green Wave squad can get the job done in their region opener.
Week 7: Columbus High at Tupelo (Oct. 2): Let’s stay on the road and check out the blue turf in Lee County the following Friday night.
In its new region, Columbus is well aware the task will be tall. Defending state champion South Panola will most likely remain the class of the region, at least in the preseason.
However, this is the kind of road win that could go a long way towards making sure the Falcon mascot will have a home game to dance at when the playoffs begin.
Week 8: Starkville Academy at Heritage Academy (Oct. 9): The party gets started for real in Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, District 2 action when these rivals square off in Lowndes County.
Starkville Academy snapped a two-game losing streak in the series with a 31-0 win a year ago. The two teams have combined to play in three of the last four state championship games in the former Class AAA, Division II competition.
While the rivalry games falls early in the district competition, don’t think it won’t be huge for both parties involved.
Week 9: Madison Central at Starkville High (Oct. 16): The stakes will be high when these Class 6A, Region 2 rivals meet in Oktibbeha County.
Last season, Starkville won 28-0 as Madison Central started slip-sliding their way out of the playoffs.
With both teams boasting new coaches, it will be interesting to see if this rivalry can regain the spark it once had.
Week 10: West Lowndes at Hamilton (Oct. 23): West Lowndes and Hamilton meet for the first time as region rivals in Class 1A, Region 1 play.
Both teams barely missed the playoffs a year ago and hope that an extra year of seasoning will help their respective squads get over the top.
With West Lowndes then going to defending region champion Coffeeville the following week, the magnitude of this game may be taller for the Panthers.
Week 11: West Point at New Hope (Oct. 30): While New Hope turned heads by winning 10 games in Kris Pickle’s first season, there is little doubt the signature win of the year came when the Trojans knocked off West Point, 20-15.
The rematch of the Class 5A, Region 1 rivals will take place in Lowndes County.
The win lifted New Hope to a first-round playoff game at home. The same could be on the line when this contest takes place.
Week 12: Clinton at Starkville (Nov. 6):
Last season, Starkville knocked off Clinton 56-46 to capture the Class 6A, Region 2 championship.
There was some doubt that contest would be completed in time for this year’s rematch to be played. However, the game is in the books and the rematch could take on the same tone.
Let’s go ahead and put the region championship on the line when kickoff takes place at Yellow Jacket Stadium.
Scott Walters is a sports reporter for the Commercial Dispatch. He may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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