After much anticipation, the first week of area high school football has come and gone.

As expected, it was everything a fan hoped it would be and a little more. The opening week of the season, highlighted by the KDMC Kickoff Classic games Thursday and Friday in Stone Stadium at Copiah Lincoln Community College, offered plenty of pleasant surprises and new developments that should have football diehards counting down the days until Friday’s matchups.

Here are just a few early takeaways and observations from the initial week of area competition.

Panthers look complete

Being the superstitious person that I am, as soon as I typed this bold brief head I knocked on wood  hoping to stave off the chances of any injuries or slides in performance. That being said, Tommy Clopton and his Panthers did look very complete in their 21-13 victory over Franklin County.

Though it was only one game and it may be a bit premature to say, they could be in for a promising season should they maintain this level of play. Their offense managed over 400 yards of total offense and their defense held Franklin County’s offense to under 200 total yards. The only blemish on what was otherwise a perfect game were the three turnovers Ole Brook surrendered.

They are still in one of the toughest divisions in 5A with the likes of Laurel and Wayne County, but should they manage to navigate the treacherous waters of 5A Region 3 football, look out.

Nunnery can carry the load

Heading into the 2016 season, one of the biggest questions the Lawrence County Cougars faced was how they would be able to replace the production of 4A Athlete of the Year Quitten Brown. The running back scored 40 touchdowns last year and is the unquestioned heart and soul of the Cougars this year.

He will be missed in his three- to four-game stint, but Charl’Tez Nunnery is more than capable of taking care of things in his absence. The senior quarterback carried the Cougars for all of the first half and most of the second before their offense stalled completely. Nunnery rushed for 135 yards and two scores and also went 13-25 for 157 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

The Cougars still need to shore up some deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball, but it should give head coach Jaymie Palmer and his staff a little relief heading into their first home game against West Marion knowing they can rely on Nunnery.

QB Zach Hodges is a deadly runner

The Enterprise Yellow Jackets’ offense is based around its running game. With a returning 1,000 yard-rusher in Tanner Waldrop returning to lead the backfield it very well should be. However, don’t tell quarterback Zach Hodges that he can’t be just as deadly of a running threat as Waldrop. In a 36-14 season-opening victory over Ethel, Hodges absolutely torched the Tigers’ defense.

The senior rushed for a jaw-dropping 255 yards on 11 carries and also had 84 passing yards for a total of five touchdowns. To put his production into perspective he averaged 23.2 yards, or over two first downs per carry. Waldrop is undoubtedly the head honcho in the Jackets’ offensive backfield, but it could be a stellar season for him, Hodges, the Jackets and the Enterprise faithful if head coach Brooks Burns figures out a way to utilize both of these deadly run threats in a way that could see them both produce that kind of output night in and night out.

Anthony McDougle is the sports editor for the Daily Leader. He can be contacted at anthony.mcdougle@dailyleader.com.