While we are only two weeks into the prep football season, it is never too early to take stock.
Several teams have turned some heads and made good first impressions.
Let’s look at our seven 2-0 teams and see how long the early season success might continue for each.
TALENTED GROUP
Starkville High: Without question, the Yellow Jackets have made the biggest statements of the season.
Starkville opened the season with a 51-19 victory against Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A favorite Noxubee County. It followed that with a 52-29 victory against Class 5A favorite Oxford. Quarterback Brady Davis, a transfer from New Hope High, has thrown nine touchdown passes in two games with his new teammates.
The Yellow Jackets already have already enough to take over the top spot in The Associated Press rankings, The Clarion-Ledger Super 10, and the Mississippi Association of Coaches rankings.
Starkville will face a huge test Friday night against West Point. The Green Wave won last year’s meeting, 55-33. If Starkville survives this test, a showdown at Class 6A, Region 2 rival Madison Central on Oct. 17 will be the next one to circle.
Starkville Academy: The Volunteers also have stood tall through two weeks. Starkville Academy owns dominating defeats of Lamar School (42-21) and East Rankin Academy (31-10).
Coach Jeff Terrill talked about the experience on defense (nine returning starters) and how that unit would set the tone early. Offensively, Houston Clark is benefiting from his second year of being the every-day quarterback.
Greenville Washington comes to J.E. Logan Field in Starkville on Friday night. Washington won last season’s meeting, 32-21 and prior to that took a 20-0 victory when the teams met for the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, Division II state championship game.
We will give the nod to the Volunteers on Friday and anticipate Sept. 19 when unbeaten Magnolia Heights comes to town.
Caledonia: The Confederates are off to another fine start. For Caledonia, recent struggles have been more commonplace once the team begins MHSAA Class 4A, Region 4 play.
For now, Caledonia has two quality wins. The Confederates opened with a 32-26 victory against Heritage Academy. It followed that with a 47-20 triumph against Class 1A Hamilton.
Against Hamilton, Caledonia senior Brandon Henry ran for 227 yards and four touchdowns. Entering Friday’s game at Smithville, Henry has six scores.
While it’s too early to tell if Caledonia will have staying power in the region race, we can give them the nod to keep plugging away until a battle against New Hope on Sept. 12 at home.
Louisville: The Wildcats are off to a strong under-the-radar start. Louisville has opened with a 41-18 victory against Jim Hill and a 40-19 victory against Wilkinson County. Each game has included big second-half performances as the team has found another gear.
Junior quarterback Brody Burchfield has been the catalyst. He threw two touchdowns and rushed for another against Wilkinson County.
Louisville should have enough firepower to make another run at the MHSAA Class 3A, Region 4 title. However, the undefeated season and 17-game win streak will go on the line Friday night when Louisville plays host to Noxubee County.
MORE WINNERS
Victory Christian: The Eagles have high hopes for a Christian Football Association eight-man championship this season. If the early results are any indication, Victory Christian may be well on its way.
Coach Chris Hamm’s team has opened the season with a 35-20 victory against Hebron Christian. It followed that with a 49-20 victory against Ezekiel Academy. Typically, separation in eight-man football comes on defense. Victory Christian has a lot to be proud of on that side of the ball.
Anthony Sharp ran for 210 yards and four touchdowns against Ezekiel Academy. He will be a key as the Eagles continue to move forward.
Victory Christian has depth and experience. It should be clicking on a high level when the Oct. 17 showdown at Tuscaloosa Christian takes place.
Aliceville: If you are looking for size on the offensive and defensive lines, the Yellow Jackets are your team.
After winning seven games last season, Aliceville looks to make more noise in Alabama High School Activities Association play this season. Competing in Class 3A, Aliceville has defeated Class 6A foe Bryant (33-21) and Class 5A foe Wilcox Central (33-0).
Aliceville has another week before its huge Class 3A, Region 4 opener against unbeaten rival Lamar County.
Lamar County: The Bulldogs complete our list of area teams with 2-0 starts. Lamar County shook off the dust of a 14-7 victory against county rival South Lamar in the season opener to roll over Brilliant 46-20 Friday night.
Junior quarterback Cullin Carter is finding a comfort level in his first year of leading the offense. The Bulldogs have lots of experience on defense, too.
Lamar County will open region play Friday when it plays host to American Christian Academy. A showdown at Aliceville waits in the wings.
We have had a handful of teams with early open dates, so we won’t spend a lot of time on the 1-0 teams.
However, New Hope’s 35-8 victory against Aberdeen surely was one of the headlines of last week. Central Academy and Pickens Academy also begin the third week of the season with 1-0 marks.
Scott Walters is a sports reporter for The Dispatch. You can reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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