District races around Mississippi are definitely heating up as several local and area schools are trying to scratch and claw their way into the playoffs with basically three to four weeks remaining until the end of the season in Week 9 of the Friday Night Lights.

Local football fans will have a Thursday night special tonight as the West Lincoln Bears travel to Columbia to take on the East Marion Eagles for a big region test.

In Friday night action, four team local teams will home games. Brookhaven and Lawrence County will have their homecoming festivities as former and past alumni return to their alma maters for their class reunions. Brookhaven welcomes the Stone Jones Braves to King Field. Lawrence County entertains the South Pike Eagles.

Brookhaven Academy will host their archrival, the Copiah Academy Colonels, on R.M. “Red” Stuard Field. Wesson entertains Jefferson County in Stone Stadium.

The schools that are the road, Bogue Chitto visit Sandhill to battle the Pisgah Dragons. Franklin County invades Crystal Springs.

In other games of local interest, Hazlehurst will also be having their Homecoming festivities this Friday as they prepare host the Wilkinson County Wildcats. McComb entertains Purvis. North Pike visits Columbia and Parklane invades East Rankin Academy.

Here is just a reminder that all games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Loyd Star (2-6, 1-2) and Enterprise (0-8, 0-3)  both have an open date this week to nurse their injured players and to enjoy their Fall Break. The Hornets and the Jackets will back in action next Friday.

In last week prognostications,  I finished with a 8-1 record on week eight predictions WOW! Hopefully, I will guess it right again this week, but don’t get wrong, I do enjoy it when our local teams use this prediction as motivation to prove me wrong.

Brookhaven (3-4, 0-3),  coached by Tommy Clopton, are currently on a three-game losing streak after falling the West Jones Mustangs 34-26 last Friday in region action.

This week, the Panthers will have a tough task ahead of them as they fight through the homecoming distractions, while trying to get over the shock of a sudden loss of two fellow teammates to prepare for the South Jones Braves.

The Braves (1-6, 1-2), coached by Cory Reynolds, were clobbered by the Natchez Bulldogs 56-14 last week.

Working in the trenches for the Panthers’ offensive line is Jordan Nations, Stephen Springfield, Wanya Morris, Maliak Powell, Jared Dillon and Brandon Rice.

BHS’s top offensive performers last week: Tre McDaniel paced the Panthers with 62 yard rushing on 14 carries. Ken Boyd contributed 45 yards rushing on 8 carries.

Defensively, Leo Lewis powered Ole Brook’s charge with 12 tackles and a sack. Ben Robinson and Greg Watts contributed nine stops apiece.

Last year: Ole Brook trounced South Jones 54-14.

My prediction for this Friday: Brookhaven will have to fight through their emotions to secure a 35-14 homecoming victory over South Jones.

Brookhaven Academy (3-5, 1-1), under the direction of first-year coach Blake Purvis, was overpowered 35-0 by a much stronger Silliman Institute Wildcats ball club last Friday.

This week, the Cougars are hungry for a win as they prepare to welcome their archrivals, the Copiah Academy Colonels, to town.

The Colonels (2-5, 0-2), under first-year head coach Paul Anderson, were blanked the Presbyterian Christian Bobcats 35-0 last week.

BA’s top offensive performers last week: Connor Dorman powered the BA Cougars with 39 yards rushing on 15 carries and caught 6 passes for 15 yards. Heath Hickman completed 10-of-17 passes for 28 yards

Defensively, Senior defensive lineman Garrett Pace provided another double-digit performance in tackles for the eighth straight week. Pace had a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry in his 12 tackle heroics, which include three tackles for a loss with a sack.

Last year: The Cougars surpassed the Colonels 21-18 in Gallman.

My prediction for this Friday: This should be a interesting contest to watch as BA prevails 28-24.

West Lincoln (3-5, 0-2), coached by Willie Brumfield, was blanked 52-0 last Friday by the Amite County on Perry Miller Field.

This week, the Bears will visit Columbia tonight to take on the East Marion Eagles for a big Region 7-2A test.

The Eagles (4-4, 2-0), coached by Kevin Jackson, survived a defensive battle against Loyd Star to escape Lincoln County with a 36-6 victory.

West Lincoln’s top offensive performers from last week: Jayden Rushing led the Bears rushing attack with 10 carries for 89 yards. Jade Use had 15 rushes for 48 yards.

Defensively, Charles Wayne Smith led the defense with 10 solo tackles, 4 assist, and 1 sack. Aaron Byrd contributed 8 solo tackles and 4 assist.

Last year: East Marion drilled the Bears 58-0.

My prediction for this Friday: The Eagles will soar past West Lincoln to claim a 42-14 win.

Bogue Chitto (1-7, 0-6),  coached by Gareth Sartin, are extremely hungry for a win after falling to the Lumberton Panthers 46-7 last week at Troy Smith Field.

This week, the Bobcats will a break away from the grueling Region 4-1A race to visit Sandhill and the battle the Pisgah Dragons.

The Dragons (3-5, 1-0), coached by Michael Granberry, suffered a 28-22 loss last week to the Bay Springs Bulldogs.

BC’s top offensive performers last week: Sherman Jackson was the Bobcats top rusher with 13 carries for 65 yards. Connor Douglas completed 4-of-9 passes for 48 yards.

Defensively, Matthew Black led the team with 11 tackles. Will Fauver had 6 tackles.

My pick for this Friday: The Bobcats will give Pisgah everything that can handle, but the Dragons will prevail 28-14.

Lawrence County (4-4, 0-2),  under the direction of first year head coach Jaymie Palmer, suffered a tough region loss last week after falling to the McComb Tigers 28-21.

This week, the Cougars will also have to overcome their homecoming distractions to get ready for another tough region contest against the South Pike Eagles.

The Eagles (3-4, 0-2), coached by Michael Andrews, were defeated by the Columbia Wildcats 33-12 last Friday.

Lawrence County’s top offensive performers last week: Quitten Brown led the LCHS Cougars with 111 yards on 17 carries. T-Tez Cole had 6 rushes for 39 yards, and caught 3 passes for 73 yards.

Defensively, Willie Bryant led the team with 9 tackles. T-Tez Cole contributed 8 tackles. Brandon Armstrong had six stops.

Last year: Lawrence County thumped South Pike 31-12.

My pick for this Friday: The Cougars will feast on the Eagles 31-21.

Franklin County (4-3, 2-0),  coached by first-year head coach Anthony Hart, is riding a three-game winning after ending a 5-year losing streak against Hazlehurst 42-34 last Friday.

This week, the Bulldogs will continue their region road tour as they prepare to invade Crystal Springs to take on the Crystal Springs Tigers.

The Tigers (2-6, 0-2), coached by Stephen Rice, lost to Wesson 45-31 last week.

Franklin County’s top offensive performer: Bernard Selmon powered the Bulldogs ground attack with 243 yards rushing on 33 carries and four touchdowns.

Defensively, Deanthony King and James O’Quinn led the Bulldogs with 15 tackles each. Gregory Queen contributed seven tackles.

Last Year:  Franklin County skinned the Tigers 52-28.

My prediction for this Friday: The Bulldogs will extend their winning streak to four games after defeating Crystal Springs 49-14.

Wesson (3-5, 1-1),  coached by Ronald Greer, captured a big 45-31 region win over Crystal Springs last Friday to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.

This week, the Cobras will be searching for another big win in region action as they host the Jefferson County Tigers.

Jefferson County (5-2, 2-0), coached by James Herrington, is currently riding a five-game winning streak after trouncing the Wilkinson County Wildcats with 46-23 last week.

Wesson’s starting offensive linemen are Demarcus Smith, Justin Boone, Jamarcus Patterson, Bobby Pritchard, Blake Burns and Matthew Craft.

Wesson’s top offensive performer: Tyler Christmas completed 4 of 13 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, Kendrick Brown, Enrique Smith and Jamarcus Patterson lead the charge with 8 tackles each.

Last Year:  Jefferson County edge Wesson 17-14.

My prediction for this Friday:  The Tigers and Cobras should have a great defensive battle as Jefferson County escapes Stone Stadium with a 24-21 win.