The Bogue Chitto Bobcats travel to Durant Friday night to tacklethe host Tigers in the first round of the MHSAA Class 1A statefootball playoffs. The game kicks off at 7 p.m.

Also seeing action in the 1A first round are Vardaman at EastWebster, Calhoun City at Mound Bayou, Shelby Broad Street at BenoitBrooks, Greenville St. Joseph at Okolona. Stringer at Weir, NanihWaiya at Mount Olive and French Camp at Puckett.

Bogue Chitto (8-2) comes into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed out ofRegion 4. Durant (10-1) enters as the Region 3 No. 2 seed.

Last week, Bogue Chitto fell to Mt. Olive 50-7 while Durant dumpedSouth Leake 28-7.

“Durant is a running team,” said Bogue Chitto head football coachGareth Sartin. “They run out of the I-formation. They have a goodtailback and a fullback who is really good. Their quarterback istheir best athlete. He’s quick and elusive. They have big linemen.They are probably the biggest team we will play all year.

“Defensively, they run multiple sets,” continued Sartin. “They’llrun three or four up to a six-man front.”

In the loss at Mt. Olive, Bogue Chitto junior quarterback SethAvants led the running game with 16 rushes for 85 yards. Cole Lairdfollowed with 13 carries for 112 yards. Collecting 38 yards on 7carries was Donyea Dillon. Avants hit D.J. Turner for a 20-yardtouchdown.

Senior linebacker Scotty Brown powered the Bobcat defense with 7tackles. Making 6 stops was James Anderson.

Starting on offense for Bogue Chitto are Avants at quarterback,Cole Laird at fullback, Dillon at tailback, D.J. Turner at splitend, Brian Robinson at flanker and J.W. Fry at tight end. Thelinemen include Robert Lewis at left tackle, Fred Tillman at leftguard, Scotty Brown at center, Josh Wallace at right guard andLenell Bryant at right tackle.

Starting on the Bobcat defense are Fred Tillman at right end,Luther Watts at nose tackle, Bubba Bigner at left tackle, RobertAnderson at strong safety and James Anderson at rover. Thelinebackers are Austin Jones, Cole Laird and Scotty Brown.Cornerbacks are D.J. Turner and Donyea Dillion. Working at safetyis Brian Robinson.

“We are raring to go,” added Sartin. “We’re ready to get back toplaying. We want to win. We want to play at home next week. It willbe a tough game. I think we will be fine.”