The final week of regular football season for local MHSAA 1A, 2A, and 3A programs is traditionally played on Thursday and that’s again the case this week for the smaller schools throughout the area this week.

 

Thursday, Oct. 31

Loyd Star (7-2) vs. Franklin County (3-6)

Hornet Field, Hwy. 550

The Loyd Star Hornets want to keep their hot streak alive in a non-region closer against MHSAA 3A Franklin County. The 2A Hornets have won seven games in a row after starting the season 0-2.

Coach Adam Smith and his staff know they’ll host Pelahatchie in the first round of the 2A postseason on Friday, Nov. 8. Expect Smith to coach his team with a full effort, as Loyd Star was in a similar scenario last season and won a close game, 39-34 in Meadville.

For the 2024 version of Loyd Star football, it’s been a season of figuring out what works best and tinkering and refining the offense and the rotation, as Smith, the play-caller, has a nice variety of playmakers.

Sophomore quarterback Phillip Ross Spencer can pick up short yards with his height, learning how to fall ahead for yardage when he runs between the tackles.

Sophomore Tristan Fortenberry can carry the ball off a direct snap and has become one of Spencer’s most reliable targets in the passing game, along with junior first year wideout Anthony Humphrey.

The offensive load being spread out has allowed sophomore running back Jordyn Kees to carry a lighter load throughout the season. Thus far, Kees has carried the ball 138 times for 1,447 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a freshman last season, he rushed the ball 306 times for 2,100 yards.

Last Friday in a 55-8 win over West Lincoln, Kees needed just eight carries to pick up 177 yards. He averaged 22.1 yards per carry and scored twice. Sophomore Brayden Richardson, another player that Smith can use in a variety of ways offensively at 6-foot-1, 235-pounds, rushed four times for 68 yards and two touchdowns.

LS also got one rushing touchdown each from Braxton Williams, Cooper Creel and Spencer. Spencer also had a touchdown pass that went to Humphrey.

A big reason for Loyd Star winning Region 7-2A for a second straight year has been the play up front of the offensive line.

Sophomore Brantly Pickett starts at center, while senior Brandon Jenkins plays tight end in the Hornet’s single wing formation. Freshman Micah Townsend starts at right guard, and junior Joe Taylor plays inside tackle while junior Jakes Smith plays outside tackle. Fullback is also a key position in the blocking scheme for LS and that’s been played by senior Zack Cotten and sophomore LaJavion Nelson.

Luke Cotten led the way with nine tackles in the win over West Lincoln Zack Cotton chipped in eight tackles. Freshman Carson Cunningham also made seven tackles while Humphrey and Luke Cotton had one interception each.

The Loyd Star defense allowed an average of seven points per game in its four region games this season.

Franklin County and first year head coach Johnathan Brooks won 21-20 last week against Port Gibson. The Bulldogs other wins came against Region 7-2A members Wilkinson County (20-6) and Amite County (7-6).

Franklin County has won seven games while Loyd Star has won six in the all-time series between the schools separated by just under 30 miles. The win last season for the Hornets broke a five-game win streak for the Bulldogs in the series.

West Lincoln (1-8) at Amite County (2-6)

Trojan Field, Liberty

The first season under the leadership of head coach Johnny Ball will come on Thursday with a trip to Liberty for the West Lincoln Bears. AC beat WL 44-0 last season when the two teams met as the Bears are 1-10 all-time against the Trojans, picking up that lone win 20-18 in 2020.

 

Enterprise (6-3) at Sacred Heart (7-2)

Crusader Field, Hattiesburg

The EAC Yellow Jackets fell behind 20-7 at halftime last week and never could recover in an eventual 32-14 loss to Region 8-1A rivals East Marion. With both Sacred Heart and the Jackets coming into this matchup with 2-2 division records, the results of this game will determine who’s seeded third or fourth in the 1A playoffs that begin next week.

Sacred Heart’s only losses this season are to region leaders Lumberton and East Marion. The 45-8 win by Sacred Heart last season was the first ever meeting between the two schools.

Depending on how things go, EAC coach Trey Woodard and his team know they’ll be on the road next week, either playing at Simmons (8-0) or West Tallahatchie (7-2) as Region 8 matches up with the Mississippi Delta based Region 5 in the first round this season. 

 

Lawrence County (3-5) at Forrest County AHS (4-4)

Henley Field, Brooklyn

Lawrence County finishes up its regular season with a trip to Brooklyn to take on the Forrest County AHS Aggies. Columbia sits atop Region 7-4A with a 3-0 division mark, which includes a win over the Aggies. FCAHS is 2-1 and LC is 1-2, with one loss coming to Sumrall (1-3). FC is 4-2 all-time against the Aggies, winning the last four in a row including a 36-31 victory last season and a 47-42 game in 2022.

 

Friday, Nov. 1

Brookhaven High (7-1) vs. North Pike (2-6)

King Field, Brookhaven

The senior class of Brookhaven High football, cheer and band will be honored on Friday as the Panthers close out the home portion of the 2024 regular season with a matchup against the North Pike Jaguars.

Last week in a 28-10 win over South Jones, the Panthers were paced offensively by sophomore quarterback Jaden Allen, who threw for one score and gained 200 yards on the ground via 17 carries. Junior running back Caiden Quarles scored twice and picked up 86 yards on seven rushes. The Panthers averaged 11.9 yard per carry against the Braves.

For the defense, William Buie, Derwin Fields, and Jeremy Bibbs had one sack each. Linebackers Hampton Smith and DJ Washington had 10 tackles apiece to lead the defense. Bibbs had a team high four tackles for a loss while Washington and Jamaal Brown each snagged an interception. Senior defensive back Rameriaze Edwards intercepted two passes, one of which he returned for a score.

North Pike beat Provine 36-8 last week to break a six-game losing streak. The previous win for the Jags before that was a 23-18 victory over Franklin County in the season opener. BHS is 6-1 all-time against North Pike, including a 13-9 win last season.

 

Wesson (7-1) vs. Jefferson County (6-2)

Stone Stadium, Co-Lin CC

The atmosphere should be electric as Wesson hosts Jefferson County in the regular season finale for both MHSAA 3A programs.

The Cobras lost their first game of the season last week, 40-37, at South Pike in Magnolia. Jefferson County sits atop the Region 7-3A standings after beating South Pike 20-8 at home two weeks ago. Last season Wesson came into this game undefeated but got overwhelmed early in a 42-12 win by the Tigers.

The Cobras were tied 16-16 at halftime against South Pike, only to see the Eagles forge ahead for a 32-16 lead after three quarters. The Cobras had a fourth quarter touchdown that pulled them to within 32-30, but failed on the 2-point conversion attempt to tie the game.

Wesson senior quarterback Cole Gibson threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. Gibson and fellow senior Deshawn Smith rushed for scores on the ground. Deshawn Smith made four catches for 83 yards and two scores while sophomore Damarion Smith caught five passes for 99 yards and one touchdown.

Cotton Westbrook and Wyatt Garrett led the CLCC defense with nine tackles each.

Losses this season for JC have been to Murrah (8-1) and Holmes County Central (6-2).

Jefferson County senior quarterback Royale Shelvy is one of the most dynamic players in the state with the ball in his hands. Shelvy has thrown for 1,211 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 1,055 yards and 13 more scores.

 

Bogue Chitto (4-4) vs. Wilkinson County (1-7)

Troy Smith Field, Hwy. 51

The Bogue Chitto Bobcats were idle last week and will close the 2024 regular season on Friday with a home matchup against Wilkinson County.

A win by BC will lock up second place in Region 7-2A and assure coach BJ Smithhart and his team of hosting a MHSAA 2A playoff game next week on Troy Smith Field against St. Andrew’s Episcopal.