Excitement!

What better word to describe the approaching high schoolfootball season. College football produces its share of excitement,too. The NFL used to provide lots of excitement but the Sundayafternoon entertainment level has slipped a few notches. I’d ratherwatch a golf tournament on television unless the Packers or Saintsare playing.

Speaking of excitement, the high school booster clubs have heldtheir organizational meetings, the cheerleaders have applied afinal layer of perfume and makeup, the band members have practiceduntil their lips cracked and their toes bled. All that remains isthe opening Friday night kickoff.

Since the first week of August, the football teams have beenworking hard in sweat-soaked practice sessions. Now the players areready and so are the coaches.

Lots of big games are on tap this season. Here’s a peek at someof the biggies in the next five weeks. Be there or be square.

August 31. Stringer at Bogue Chitto. How good are the Bobcats?They’ll find out tomorrow night when they host a tough, new Region4-1A foe.

Sept. 5. Itawamba at Co-Lin: It’s a whole new ballgame as CoachDave Cross makes his debut in Stone Stadium. How much has theoffense improved over last year?

Sept. 7. Loyd Star at Enterprise: The Hornets and Yellow Jacketshaven’t clashed in a Sting Bowl in three years. Enterprise boastsone of its best-ever teams. Perhaps it is payback time.

Sept. 14. Loyd Star at Franklin County: The Bulldogs have losttwo straight to the Hornets, the last one a heart-breaker.

Sept. 21. Raymond at Brookhaven: This is the first Region 6-4Atest for the Panthers and they need a victory.

Sept. 28. Wesson at Crystal Springs: It’s a Copiah Countyshowdown and the Cobras are looking for revenge.

Speaking of revenge, Professor Hoopla B.S., wants to make amendsfor some of his notorious goofs of 2000. Here’s a preview of thisweekend’s winners, starting with some Friday night prep action.

Brookhaven at Hazlehurst: Panthers make a successful debut fornew head coach Andrew Hickman. Brookhaven 28-18.

Copiah Academy at Brookhaven Academy: New head coaches maketheir debut on both sides of the field. Look for the Cougars topull out a victory. Brookhaven Academy 24-14.

Bay Springs at Loyd Star: Could be the best game in the countyFriday night. Loyd Star 28-27.

Enterprise at McLaurin: An explosive rushing attack carries theYellow Jackets to victory. Enterprise 30-12.

Stringer at Bogue Chitto: Bobcats eke out a win. Bogue Chitto14-13.

Wesson at Salem: Cobras crank up their season with a victory inrural Walthall County. Wesson 31-18.

West Lincoln at St. Joseph: Bears salvage a narrow win. WestLincoln 14-13.

Lawrence County at Collins: Look for the Tigers to pull out ashaky win. Collins 21-19.

Vidalia, La. at Franklin County: Bulldogs find happiness inLouie Mullins Stadium. Franklin County 20-12.

South Pike at North Pike: This highly-publicized, first-evermeeting on the gridiron will get pretty ugly before it’s over with.South Pike 56-6.

Hattiesburg at McComb: The Hub City Tigers boast an explosivepassing attack. Hattiesburg 28-12.

After draining a Pepsi, Hoopla looks at the Magnolia State’scollegiate scene.

Murray State at Ole Miss: Eli Manning makes an impressive debutat quarterback. Ole Miss 32-13.

Oklahoma State at Southern Miss: Thanks to Jeff Kelly, theGolden Eagles will outscore the Cowboys from Stillwater. USM28-20.

Jackson State vs. Howard: On Chicago’s Soldier Field, the Tigersmake a successful debut Jackson State 28-17.

Memphis at Mississippi State: Madkin is the man as the Bulldogstame the Tigers on Labor Day night. State 38-19.

In other Magnolia State games Saturday, Mississippi College willdump Millsaps 17-10, Grambling will trample Alcorn State 48-12,Arkansas-Pine Bluff will blitz Valley State 32-14 and West Alabamawill whip Belhaven 22-7. Delta State has an open date to enjoy itsDivision II national championship.