Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters will look at five prep football questions each Wednesday between now and Aug. 16, 2017, as we count down to the start of the prep football season.
Practice is officially underway for schools in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools. Mississippi High School Activities Association members will follow suit Monday.
That means it really is finally that time of year.
Soon, we will have hard hits, touchdown passes and heat timeouts. The Golden Triangle area will again be blessed with a bevy of talent. As always, the coaching will be great.
As we continue the countdown to opening night, we again look at some burning questions ahead of the season.
1. What are your thoughts on the fourth season of MHSAA state championship play being away from Jackson?
Not only the did the association hit a home run with this move, it turns out to be a grand slam.
While there are some detractors, it is a very small minority. Coaches and players alike are very much down the present format of state championship games at Mississippi State (2014 and 2016) and Ole Miss (2015 and 2017). Southern Mississippi will get its first turn at the two-day, six-game event in 2018.
MSU was clearly feeling its way around when the association and university came together for the 2014 championship weekend. Ole Miss took a full set of notes and did a lot of things much better the following year. When MSU was back up in 2016, it was a different event — much more smoothly run and professional all the way around.
The best thing about rivals taking turns hosting state championship weekend — they will always try to outdo one another.
Look for Hattiesburg to embrace the event and make it special next season as well.
2. Who has the upper hand in our neighborhood academy turf war — Heritage Academy or Starkville Academy?
Now that is a good question. It seems on an annual basis it’s hard to tell who has the upper hand in the preseason.
Coach Sean Harrison turned heads when he led Heritage Academy to 10 wins in his first season as head coach last year. The Patriots fell to Indianola Academy in the third round of the playoffs.
Starkville Academy has won 18 games in Chase Nicholson’s first two seasons as head coach. The Volunteers fell to Adams County Christian in the first round of the playoff last season.
Both teams will be counting on several newcomers on both sides of the ball. Both coaches have been able to build depth during short tenures and that is critical.
The last two rivalry games have been split with each team wining on the road. This season’s game is Oct. 13 in Columbus.
That matchup should decide the district champion. The loser should still be in good shape to return to the playoffs.
3. What are we to take away from realignment for the season ahead?
For the most part, the coverage area was not dealt a big blow.
In MHSAA Class 6A, Region 1, Columbus watches as Oxford replaces Olive Branch. The Chargers have been incredible the last couple of years. However, we know things come in cycles. We will see if they can contend in Class 6A.
Starkville will see a traditional set of foes in Class 6A, Region 2 play.
In Class 5A, West Point will trade Lafayette for New Hope.
In Class 4A, things get interesting as Caledonia is shifted to Region 2 (it will be joined by Amory, Itawamba AHS, Mooreville, Pontotoc and Shannon). New Hope takes Caledonia’s place in Region 4 where it will get to now tangle with Louisville, Noxubee County and Houston for the region crown and subsequent playoff berths.
Everybody should be happy with their assignment there.
In Class 1A, West Lowndes and Hamilton have been sent back to Class 1A, Region 3. That means the Panthers and Lions will be competing for the South State championship this season. Don’t ask Siri why.
In the academy ranks, we go to six state championships (Class 4A, Division I; Class 4A, Division II; Class 3A, Class 2A, Class 1A and Eight-Man).
As Oprah Winfrey would say, “Everyone gets a championship!”
4. What goes through your mind before talking to Jason Crowder for the WFCA Scoreboard Show on Friday nights?
It’s like trying to do stand-up comedy. Hopefully, something funny has happened earlier in the show. The key is to establish a theme and to play off that earlier comedy.
The challenge is to have a handful of stats ready from the game covered that night. However, stats and an assessment of the game is not nearly as important as delivering humor. Humor drives the ratings.
When you have your own lead-in music before a call, you have to deliver the goods. This report is not taken lightly. Honestly, it has to be the best part of the show.
5, We won’t ask about the binoculars this week. Instead, which teams intrigues you the most for the year ahead?
West Lowndes.
The Panthers have more than held their own over the years. However, they have not had that breakout season.
This year, West Lowndes is short on seniors but long on talent. Coach Anthony King said the key to his team’s season might be a dedication to the weight program during the summer.
In Class 1A, depth will always be a factor.
The Panthers have been sent to an easier region. Let’s see if they can take advantage of that.
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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