Twenty-four high school football teams will have one extra reason to say thanks today.
When the Mississippi High School Activities Association football playoffs resume Friday, those 24 teams will be competing for either North State or South State championships.
The winners Friday night advance to state championship weekend which returns for the second time in three seasons to Davis Wade Stadium on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville.
From a local standpoint, West Point is the only squad to survive the guantlet. The Green Wave own an 11-game win streak and certainly look the part of potential Class 5A state champions.
West Point will be looking for its first North State title since winning the state title in 2010 when it plays host to Region 1 rival Lake Cormorant Friday night at Hamblin Stadium.
Gators or Green Wave
1. Can West Point make it back to the state championship?
It does not seem possible that is has been six years since West Point captured its last state championship.
Coach Chris Chambless has built a winning program. The team is still one of the most feared in the state, even though the top prize has not been captured of late.
West Point dropped a heart-breaking decision to Starkville for the 2012 North State title.
Since that time, West Point has been unable to make it back, including back-to-back season-ending losses to Oxford in 2014 and 2015.
Well, that problem resolved itself when West Point beat Oxford 41-0 last Friday to complete a season sweep of the Chargers this year.
Friday night, West Point faces another region rival — Lake Cormorant — with the North State title on the line.
The Green Wave is clicking on all cylinders, offensively and defensively.
The championship is not won yet, but it is getting closer.
Tornadoes or Maroon Tide
2. Can Laurel cash in on a return trip to South State?
While West Point rides an 11-game win streak, the two teams meeting for South State are also on rolls.
Both Laurel and Picayune carry 12-1 records into Friday’s game at Picayune.
The Maroon Tide has won five straight, while the Golden Tornadoes have won 11 straight.
Laurel looks for a return trip to Davis Wade after beating Oxford there for the 2014 state championship.
Last season, both Laurel and Picayune suffered playoff losses to Wayne County.
The contest should be high-scoring and entertaining.
Jaguars or Arrows
3. Can Cam Akers go out a winner at Clinton?
The North State Class 6A title match provides a surprising matchup as Clinton (12-1) plays host to Madison Central (10-3-1).
Since Clinton was the preseason top-ranked team in the state, its spot in the game was assumed from the outset.
Madison Central, on the other hand, has knocked off Columbus and upset Tupelo to reach this round.
First-year coach Anthony Hart could make a major statement with one more upset win and suddenly a trip to Starkville on the horizon.
While Akers has been arguably the state’s best player the last two seasons, the state championship has been elusive.
Two more wins will get the Arrows over that threshold.
Panthers or Pirates
4. Can Marcus Boyles grab another state championship?
One of the state’s best coaches, Marcus Boyles, continues to defy odds and continues to compete for championships every year.
Boyles will lead Petal (9-4) into battle at Pearl (10-3) for the South State Class 6A title.
Neither team is flashy. Both teams live and die by their defenses. Both teams have found what it takes to have success in the second season.
When a berth in the state championship game is on the line, the best effort will come forward.
Can’t wait to see who emerges and gets to play in the Golden Triangle next weekend.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
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.
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