Matchups for this weekend’s high school state championship gamescapture the imagination. Seven of the 10 teams are undefeated.

Hazlehurst (12-0), the Class 3A South state champion, heads thelist of local interest. The Indians had been an annual opponent forthe Ole Brook Panthers up until this season when realignment causedrevisions in the schedule.

Also undefeated are South Panola (14-0) in 5A, Wayne County(14-0) in 4A, Hollandale Simmons (13-0) and Lumberton (13-0) in 2A,and Mt. Olive (14-0) and Benoit Ray Brooks (13-0) in 1A.

Charleston (13-1), Hazlehurst’s Saturday morning opponent, losta 7-6 decision to Grenada in the third game of the season.Charleston is located about 20 miles northwest of Grenada.

Certainly, the Charleston Tigers are an athletic team. Accordingto Charleston head football coach Perry Liles, his Tigers haveplenty of speed and strength. They are the 4-time North statechampions in track. They have been North runners-up in powerliftingthe past two years.

“We will always have speed at Charleston,” said Liles, agraduate of nearby Calhoun City High School. This is his fourthyear at the helm.

Liles brought two of his best players with him to the MHSAAMedia Conference which was held Monday morning at the MississippiSports Museum and Hall of Fame. They included fullback Marlin Meeksand linebacker Coderick Govan.

Meeks and Govan were both wearing their yellow lettermanjackets. Meeks had the 6-inch tall letters S-T-U-D sewn on the backof his jacket. He also serves as the team’s kicker and punter.

Meeks works with his dad during the summer in construction. Hedrives a bulldozer and has designs on becoming an engineer someday.

“I like to get down and get dirty,” said Meeks, smilingconfidently. He ran for 171 yards and scored 1 TD in Charleston’swin over Senatobia last week.

Govan said the Tigers have allowed only 52 points in 12 gamesthis season. “We are very stingy on defense.”

For sure, Hazlehurst will have to play well Saturday. Hopefully,they’ll have plenty of energy left after beating South Pike 22-19in an epic struggle.

The Indians like to run the football out of a wing-T formation.They have speed to burn and plenty of power. Junior wingbackCourtney Hall and freshman fullback Kynshun Reese are a lightningand thunder combination. But the Indians have more speed in BobbyMoore and Dearrion Wilbert.

Defensively, the Indians attack with fierce intensity. If theywere bigger, they’d probably put a severe physical hurt on opposingrunners. The Indians are blessed with speed and fly to thefootball.

It should be a great match.

Speaking of great games, Mount Olive and Benoit Ray Brooks inClass 1A smacks with promise. Mount Olive has been devastatingLincoln County and Region 4-1A opponents for several years.

Coached by Jackie Simpson, the Pirates are led by quarterbackPieri Feazell (185, sr.) and running back Jason McNair (175,soph.). Simpson said his team’s unbeaten success story is a work inprogress.

When I mentioned Mt. Olive’s mauling of Enterprise, Bogue Chittoand West Lincoln this season, Simpson pointed out that not longago, things were different.

“I remember when Bogue Chitto knocked us cross-eyed,” saidSimpson. He was referring to Coach Gareth Sartin’s 2003 team whichbeat the Pirates 32-21 and advanced to the second round of thestate playoffs.

This year, the Pirates beat Enterprise 48-6, Bogue Chitto 43-6and West Lincoln 34-0. Look for Mount Olive to be strong again nextyear.

Professor Hoopla B.S., was wearing his wool cap and earmuffswhen he dropped off his abbreviated list of fearless footballpredictions. He’ll wrap up the high school season with thisweekend’s state championship games.

Hazlehurst vs. Charleston: Two high-octaneoffenses put points on the scoreboard but the Indians claim the 3Acrown. Hazlehurst 26-14.

Mount Olive vs. Ray Brooks: Pirates present apurple haze as they win this Class 1A collision of unbeaten teams.Mount Olive 27-16.

Lumberton vs. Hollandale Simmons: Senior-ladenPanthers collect a second straight Class 2A crown. Lumberton35-12.

Wayne County vs. West Point: After beingeliminated by the Ole Brook Panthers last year, the undefeated WarEagles complete their mission with a hard-fought Class 4A win.Wayne County 21-14.

South Panola vs. Meridian: Riding a 44-gamevictory streak, the Tigers keep their national ranking intact asthey claim a 3-peat in Class 5A. South Panola 31-17.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O.BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mailsports@dailyleader.com