The Loyd Star Hornets host the Enterprise-Clarke Bulldogs in thefirst round of the Class 2A state football playoffs Friday night.The game begins at 7 p.m. at William E. “Sambo’ Smith Field.

In the final regular season games for Lincoln County teams,Forest Hill is at Brookhaven, Dexter visits Bogue Chitto forhomecoming and Mt. Olive invades West Lincoln.

The Fighting Enterprise Yellow Jackets (3-8) finished theirseason last Thursday night.

Loyd Star (Region 6 No. 2) secured second place in the regionwith a 22-8 win over the Hinds AHS War Dawgs in the final regiongame of the regular season. Enterprise-Clarke (Region 7 No. 3)stuffed Stringer 26-12 to advance.

Loyd Star head coach Ryan Ross talked with several coaches aboutthe Enterprise-Clarke Bulldogs.

“Enterprise-Clarke is very disciplined football team,” saidRoss. “They are well coached. They have run the same type ofoffense and defense for a long time. Their coaching staff has beenthere for a number of years. They have a very respectableprogram.

Ross said Enterprise-Clarke is traditionally a power-runningteam and they do it well.

“They are primarily a running team,” said Ross. “They have a bigbruiser at running back. He’s about 6-1 and 230 pounds. He can run.He has good speed and power.

“We are going to have to tackle well,” added Ross. “Enterpriseis disciplined and they have size up front on defense and activelinebackers. We have to protect the football and maintain drives tokeep their offense off the field.”

Playing on the Hornet offense line at tight end are T.J. Floydand David Fields. Tackles are Trey Reid and Ken Britt. Guards areJoseph Fredenburg and Clint Scott. Center is Cody Teekel. First subis Dein Fly. “He (Fly) can play any of those positions,” addedRoss.

In the victory over Hinds AHS, Loyd Star (9-1) was directed byTradareous Wilson with 8 rushes for 83 yards and a touchdown.Marquis Hayes carried 13 times for 77 yards and TD. Following with3 carries for 51 yards was Marquis Sims. Joseph Shelby finishedwith 35 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.

Powering the Loyd Star defense with 23 tackles and a safety wassenior linebacker David Fields. T.J. Floyd made 13 stops andrecovered a fumble.

Bogue Chitto (4-6) posted a 35-8 win over Region 7-1A foe SalemMonday night. Now the Bobcats must turn around and face region foeDexter Friday in another must-win situation.

Dexter is coming off a 21-0 shutout loss at the hands of NatchezCathedral.

“Dexter is the same as they always are, athletic and fast,”saidSartin. “They have lost some close games down the stretch. They’revery good on defense. They attack and swarm.

“On offense, we have to do a good job picking up their blitz andlinebackers for us to get some big plays. A win puts us in fourthplace as long as St. Al doesn’t beat Sebastopol.”

In the win over Salem, senior running back Byron Kersee led theBogue Chitto ground game with 17 carries for 145 yards and 3touchdowns. Cole Laird rushed 12 times for 85 yards.

Defensively, Jermaine and Jeremy Blackwell and Kevin Brothernled the Bogue Chitto defense with 5 tackles apiece.

West Lincoln (3-7) is coming off a tough 28-7 beating at thehands of Region 4-1A foe St. Aloysius. The Bears, coached by ChrisCalcote, entertain Mt. Olive on Perry Miller Field for the finalgame of the regular season.

Mt. Olive (5-5) fell to Sebastopol 17-12 last week in a bigregion matchup.

In the loss to St. Al, West Lincoln was led by Calvin Keeswith11 rushes for 65 yards. Trey Moore carried 14 times for 28yards. Josh Reno finished with 4 rushes for 26 yards.

Garrett Rushing collected 6 tackles for the Bears.