This is a big week.
Columbus, Starkville, New Hope, and West Point begin Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) region play Friday night.
Those four teams are 11-5 as the curtain goes up on the most important part of the season.
With four teams advancing to the playoffs from each region, it is possible all four will advance to the postseason.
As we officially race to the midway point of the prep football regular season, here are five things to watch for in Week No. 6:
Falcons or Jaguars
1. Will Columbus win its first five Class 6A, Region 1 games this season?
You can’t win the first five if you don’t win the first one.
Columbus will travel to DeSoto Central and should have its hands full with the powerful rushing attack of the hosts. A year ago, DeSoto Central led 21-10 at halftime. However, a stirring comeback and a Chris Taylor game-winning field goal gave Columbus a 23-21 victory.
That win helped Columbus break past a 2-2 start with a 5-0 start in region play. After that initial win, it seemed like things got easier for the Falcons.
Playing on the road is never easy. Playing a 4-1 football team is never easy.
However, this is what Columbus signed up for. Let’s see if the Falcons can deliver the mail.
Chargers or Yellow Jackets
2. Will Starkville bounce back?
A year ago, we heard about how great the Callaway football team was. Then on the field, Starkville made quick work of the Chargers, winning 49-7.
This season, Callaway has been a little more under the radar. However, the Chargers do come to town with a 5-0 record.
Starkville saw its two-season, 17-game winning streak snapped last Friday with a 20-10 loss at Meridian. You would think the Yellow Jackets would come out with a little extra motivation after seeing their stingers clipped.
Starkville has owned Class 6A, Region 2 of late. The Yellow Jackets usually grow stronger throughout region play.
Back at home and with some wounded pride, Starkville has a great chance to open region play with a statement heard around the state.
Wildcats or Trojans
3. Will New Hope return to the upper echelon of Class 5A, Region 1?
One has to be impressed by New Hope’s 3-1 start. Even though New Hope didn’t fare well against Columbus, victories against Louisville, Aberdeen, and Caledonia have been impressive.
New Hope finished second in the region in 2014. However, the free fall of a year ago was pretty severe.
We already seen that this year’s squad is different and much better in a lot of areas.
Clarksdale will be the opponent Friday night. The Wildcats come to town with a 4-1 record.
Home games in region play are vitally important. The first region game doesn’t make or break the season. However, New Hope needs to announce it is back. Friday night could provide such a platform.
Chargers or Green Wave
4. Will West Point finally beat Oxford again?
West Point last beat Oxford in 2012. While that isn’t an eternity, there have been a lot of games played between the two since then.
Oxford won a regular-season meeting in 2013 and followed that up with regular-season and postseason victories in 2014 and 2015.
A year ago, it became personal. West Point really wanted to move back to the forefront of Class 5A. Beating Oxford was a must to achieve that, since the Chargers played in the 2014 state championship game.
However, West Point failed to show up in two games that were over quite early.
This season, West Point appears to be the favorite in Class 5A. Oxford is young and rebuilding under a new coaching staff.
We won’t know until much later what a victory against Oxford this season means. However, for the football program at West Point, Friday’s home game is a really big deal.
Patriots or Volunteers
5. Will the Heritage Academy-Starkville Academy game be as good as advertised?
One of the more underrated rivalries in the state matches Heritage Academy and Starkville Academy.
On the football field, the underdog rarely wins. However, the games usually are nip-and-tuck and not decided until the fourth quarter.
On Friday night, both teams will bring 4-1 records to J.E. Logan Field in Starkville. Both teams have been clicking on offense and doing enough on defense.
This also will be one of only three district games for both teams. When you only play three, each game has added meaning.
Starkville Academy has had the recent good fortune in the series. We will see if the home field provides that again.
It should be an outstanding game.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.