Hunting a fourth straight victory, the Ole Brook Panthers hostthe Kosciusko Whippets Friday night in what is considered to be thefirst-ever varsity football meeting between the two schools.Kickoff is 7 p.m.,and the Ole Brook seniors will be honored in apregame ceremony.

Coach Tucker Peavey anticipates a strong challenge for hisPanthers (4-3, 3-1) who have won three straight games. Their latestconquest was a 51-8 trouncing of the Port Gibson Blue Waves, atPort Gibson.

“Kosciusko has a good football team,” said Peavey. “They have aDandy Dozen wide receiver.”

Terry Levy (6-3, 205) stars at wide receiver for the Whippets.He has committed to Ole Miss.

“Their quarterback is young but he can throw it well,” Peaveypointed out.

For the Port Gibson game, Ole Brook’s players of the week wereMarlon Dixon, special teams; Charles Wilson, offense, and JeromeAvery, defense.

This is the final regular-season home game for the Panthers.Peavey said 13 seniors would be recognized during a pregameceremony at the 50-yard line.

“Our seniors have been around a lot of wins,” said Peavey. Lastyear the Panthers finished 14-1, winning the Class 4A statechampionship. In 2003, they finished 9-3, reaching the second roundof the state playoffs.

The Panthers played one of their best games last Friday at PortGibson. The Region 6-4A victory kept them in contention for theregion championship.

Against Port Gibson, Wilson rushed for 184 yards on 19 carriesand scored 3 touchdowns. Quarterback Bobo Rancifer completed 7 of 9passes for 141 yards and 1 TD, a 9-yard pass to tight end SimmieYarborough. Dixon, a starter at middle linebacker, returned akickoff 81 yards for a 4th-quarter TD.

Ole Brook’s Will Thibodeaux kicked 6 extra points and a 34-yardfield goal. He currently leads Region 6-4A in kick scoring with 34points, 22 extra points and 4 field goals. That places him seventhoverall in 4A.

Bart Sias, a junior defensive lineman, was credited with 10tackles. Larry Winters had 9 tackles. Anthony Caffie and Dixon eachhad 7 stops. Avery and Caffie picked off passes.

Currently, Ole Brook and Mendenhall are tied for the top rungwith 4-1 region records and Terry is third at 3-1. Mendenhall beatOle Brook earlier in the season, while Terry lost to the Pantherstwo weeks ago.

A tiebreaker will probably determine the top three spots. In theopening round of the state playoffs, which begin Nov. 11, Region6-4A will play Region 8-4A.

In 8-4A, Bay St. Louis, Long Beach and Picayune share the toprung with 3-1 region records. Poplarville is fourth at 2-3.

Perry Leads Kosciusko

John Perry, is in his third season as head coach at Kosciusko.He moved from Northeast Community College in Booneville.

Perry said he was originally from Pearl. “We used to playBrookhaven when I was at Pearl. It was a good series.”

Asked about his squad, Perry said, “We have a good footballteam. We’ll start 14 sophomores Friday night.”

There are only six seniors on the team. Perry said three of themwon’t play because of disciplinary action.

Quarterbacking the Whippets is Kendrick Presley (6-1, 175,soph.). He’s a young signal-caller with lots of potential.

At running back is Jemariey Atterberry (5-10, 165, jr.), anoutstanding athlete who moved from receiver. Atterberry wearsjersey No. 16 and never comes off the field. He plays on specialteams, plus cornerback on defense.

The Whippets have a strong kicker in Taylor Putt (5-10, 150,jr.), Putt has made 26 PATs and does a good job kicking off andpunting

Perry’s assessment of the Panthers: “I think Brookhaven has agood football team. They do a good job with their schemes. Theydon’t beat themselves. Coach Peavey does a good job.

“They play sound defense. Their special teams do a good job,too.”

Perry said Kosciusko is a 2 and 1-half hour bus ride fromBrookhaven. The Whippets made it to the second round of theplayoffs the last two years. They were 8-4 in 2004 and 9-3 twoyears ago.

Currently, Kosy is third in the Region 4-4A race at 5-3 overalland 3-2 in the region. Leading the pack are West Lauderdale (8-0,4-0) and Noxubee County (5-2, 4-0).

Perry said he wanted to beef up his team’s schedule last springwhen the schools were reclassified. “We opened up with NorthwestRankin and picked up Brookhaven. You have to play those strongteams if you want to make it to Jackson.”

Perry watched the Brookhaven-Wayne County South State semifinalsgame last year on King Field. He is good friends with Wayne Countycoach Marcus Boyles.

Panther Paws: After their final home game, thePanthers conclude regular season play with a Nov. 4 date atLawrence County.