Playoff seedings hang in the balance for several local and area schools while others are working hard to improve on their teams’ fundamentals for the upcoming season in Week 11 of the Friday Night Lights.

Ole Brook football fans will have a Thursday night special tonight as the Brookhaven Panthers travels to Jackson to take on the Wingfield Falcon for a big region test at Forest Hill.

Other local football fans will also be searching for a victory as some folks prepare to travel to support their favorite schools, while other fans have a choice of four home games to choose from this Friday.

Loyd Star will have their homecoming festivities this Friday night as former and past alumni return to their alma maters for their class reunions. The Hornets welcome their Lincoln County/region rivals the West Lincoln Bears.

Enterprise entertains Amite County on Harry Cole Field. Wesson hosts Wilkinson County at Stone Stadium, and Franklin County welcomes Jefferson County to Meadville.

On the road, Bogue Chitto invades Walthall County to battle the Salem Wildcats and Lawrence County visits Purvis.

In other games of local interest, Hazlehurst entertains Crystal Springs. Copiah Academy hosts East Rankin Academy for homecoming. McComb visits Columbia. South Pike invades North Pike and Parklane welcomes Lamar School.

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

The Brookhaven Academy Cougars  concluded their season last Friday with 3-7 worksheet and finished with 1-2 record in division play, under the direction of first-year head coach Blake Purvis.

In last week prognostications, I finished with a 6-1 record in week ten predictions. Awesome! Hopefully, I can continue this momentum in this week’s forecast, to help motivate our schools to advance to the playoffs. But don’t get wrong it is just a forecast so our local teams can use the prediction as motivation to prove me wrong.

Brookhaven (5-4, 2-3), coached by Tommy Clopton, experienced an offensive thriller last Friday as they edged the Natchez Bulldogs 34-32 on King Field to stay in the hunt for the final playoff spot in the Region 3-5A race.

Tonight, the Panthers are searching for another big division victory as they prepare to invade Jackson to battle the Wingfield Falcons at Forest Hill.

The Falcons (1-8, 0-5), coached by Terrell Johnson, are currently riding an eight-game losing streak after being hammered the Pearl River Central Blue Devils 70-12 last weekend.

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 powered the Panthers ground attack with 33 rushes for 215 yards. Jon-Mark Mathis contributed 106 yards on five carries. Tyler Mixon finished perfect on the extra point attempts kicking four-for-four on the night. He also nailed a 22- and 21-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, Ben Robinson led the Panthers with nine tackles. Leo Lewis contributed eight stops. Greg Watts provided six tackles and intercepted a pass. Lazorian McNulty broke up three passes and had an interception.

Last year: Ole Brook blasted Wingfield 47-6.

My prediction for Thursday: The Panthers will feast on the Falcons 56-7.

West Lincoln (4-6, 1-3), coached by Willie Brumfield, capture a big district win last week after knocking off the Enterprise Jackets 36-8 on Perry Miller Field.

This week, the Bears visit their Lincoln County and Region 7-2A rivals the Loyd Star Hornets with high hopes of making the playoffs for the first time ever in their school’s football history.

Working in the WLHS offensive line are right guard Patrick Nottingham, right tackle Brady Case, center Nicholas Burns, left guard Anthony Ferrell and left tackle Aaron Byrd.

West Lincoln’s top offensive performers from last week: Ty Forman completed 5 of 7 passes for 101 yards and had 15 rushes for 141 yards. Jayden Rushing contributed 11 rushes for 127 yards, and Bryce Temple had 12 carries for 107 yards.

Defensively, Aaron Byrd led the Bears with seven solo and six assist tackles. Rushing collected seven solo and five assist tackles.

Last year: Loyd Star beat West Lincoln 14-6 on Perry Miller Field.

My prediction for this Friday: This will be a exciting Lincoln County battle as the Bears look to spoil the Hornets’ homecoming festivities with a 21-14 victory.

Loyd Star (2-8, 1-3),  coached by first-year coach Adam Cook, fell to the two-time defending Class 2A state champions, the Bassfield Yellowjackets, 66-18 last Friday in Jefferson County.

This week, the Hornets are hungry for a victory as they welcome the West Lincoln Bears to Sambo Smith Field for homecoming as both teams fight for the final playoff spot.

Loyd Star’s starting offensive linemen are Cannon Travis, Bradyn Brister, Tucker Watts, Cole Moak and Cole Smith.

Loyd Star’s top offensive performers: Senior running back Brett Calcote paced the Hornets ground attack with 104 yards rushing on 9 carries. Peyton Flowers contributed 10 rushes for 96 yards.

Parker Flowers completed 6-of-14 passes for 91 yards. Calcote caught two passes for 28 yards Peyton Flowers caught a pass for 30 yards.

Defensively, Peyton Flowers directed the Hornets’ charge with 16 tackles and a fumble recovery. Calcote provided seven stops. Parker Flowers helped with five tackles.

Enterprise (0-9, 0-4),  coached by Brook Burns, entered into last Friday contest looking to end West Lincoln’s playoff dreams, but dropped a tough 36-8 decision on Perry Miller Field.

This week, the Jackets are searching to end their 39-game losing skid as they host the Amite County Trojans on Harry Cole Field.

Working in Enterprise’s offensive line are Dylan Nelton, Jonathon Britt, Adam Magee, Drake Allen, Jacob Thames, Dalton Wilcoxson, Layne Brown and Brant White.

The Trojans (3-7, 2-2), coached by Sedric Cain, lost to East Marion 48-32 last week in Liberty.

Enterprise’s top offensive performers: Braxton Thompson led the Yellow Jackets with 19 carries for 77 yards, Chance Lacking had 9 rushes for 56 yards.

Defensively, Devon Kirtfield powered Enterprise with five solo tackles and Treston Cantrell collected three tackles.

Last year: Amite County blanked Enterprise 38-0.

My prediction for this Friday: Amite County’s speed will be too much for the Jackets. Trojans win 49-14.

Bogue Chitto (1-9, 0-6),  coached by Gareth Sartin, is still searching for their second win of the season in a rebuilding campaign. The Bobcats suffered another tough loss last Friday falling to the Madison St. Joe Bruins 48-14 on Troy Smith Field.

This week, BC returns to the Region 4-1A race as they prepare to visit the Salem Wildcats.

The Wildcats (5-3, 3-3), coached by Kenneth Murphy, were defeated by Natchez Cathedral 28-12 last Friday.

Working in the trenches of the Bobcats’ offensive line are: left tackle Matthew Black, left guard Bo Smithers, center Will Fauver, right guard Devin McEwen, right tackle Hayden Burton and tight end Kody Halford.

BC’s top offensive performers last week: Kobe Roberts led the Bobcats with six rushes for 121 yards. Connor Douglas completed six of 21 passes for 40 yards. Dee Dillon was the top receiver with four catches for 22 yards. Roberts had two catches for 18 yards.

Defensively, Brandon McKenzie directed the team with nine tackles. Bo Smithers contributed with eight tackles.

Last year: Salem edged Bogue Chitto 21-20 on Troy Smith Field.

My pick for this Friday: The Bobcats and Wildcats will continue their heated region rivalry as Salem prevails 28-14.

Lawrence County (6-4, 2-2),  under the direction of first-year head coach Jaymie Palmer, captured a big win to stay in the hunt for playoffs as they clipped the Columbia Wildcats 15-7 last Friday in Monticello.

This week, the Cougars will be looking to earn a playoff spot as they prepare to take on the Purvis Tornadoes in a huge division contest.

The Tornadoes (7-2, 3-1), coached by Perry Wheat, destroyed the South Pike Eagles 49-13 in Magnolia.

Lawrence County’s top offensive performers last week: Charl’Tez Nunnery led the Cougars’ ground attack with 12 rushes for 51 yards and powered the aerial attack completing 2-of-6 passes for 34 yards and one interception.

Quitten Brown was the second leading rusher with 23 carries for 87 yards. T-Tez Cole provided 12 carries for 45 yards. Jarius Snell had 11 rushes for 46 yards.

Last year: Purvis defeated Lawrence County 47-27 in an offensive slugfest.

My pick for this Friday: The Cougars will take to wind out of the Tornadoes to prevail 28-24.

Franklin County (6-3, 4-0),  coached by first-year head coach Anthony Hart, is currently on a five-game winning streak after knocking off the Wesson Cobras 40-7 last Friday to win the Region 7-3A crown for the first time since 2006.

This week, the Bulldogs are looking to stay undefeated in their region race and extend their winning streak to six games as they visit the Jefferson County Tigers.

Franklin County’s top offensive performer was sophomore DeMartre Collins, who rushed for 147 yards on 11 carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 60, 50 and 5 yards.

Defensively, Danzel Allen powered the Bulldogs’ attack with six tackles. Deanthony King contributed five tackles. Michael White provided four stops.

Last Year:  Franklin County clobbered Jefferson County 30-6 in Meadville.

My prediction for this Friday:  The Bulldogs will remained undefeated in Region 7-3A action with a 40-14 victory over the Tigers.

Wesson (4-6, 2-2),  coached by Ronald Greer, is still in the playoff hunt after falling to the Franklin County Bulldogs 40-7 last Friday.

This week, the Cobras have their sights set on making the playoffs for the first time since joining the Class 3A ranks. Wesson will host the Wilkinson County Wildcats at Stone Stadium.

The Wildcats (3-4, 1-3), coached by Kenneth Brown, snapped a four-game losing streak last week after knocking off the Crystal Springs Tigers 20-14.

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 2-of-13 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Kendrick Brown had 12 rushes for 31 yards. Dartavious Dixon caught a 37-yard touchdown pass.

Defensively, Kendrick Brown led the Cobras with 11 tackles, and Blake Burns provided seven tackles. Arthur Harris, Jamarcus Patterson and Tyler McLeod had six tackles each.

Last Year:  Wilkinson County hammered the Cobras 44-7 in Woodville.

My prediction for this Friday: Wesson will clinch their first ever Class 3A playoff spot with a 35-14 win over the Wildcats.