With one eye on the state playoffs and the other on LawrenceCounty’s Cougars, the Ole Brook Panthers invade Monticello Fridaynight for their regular-season finale. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on CougarField.

Ole Brook (5-3, 4-1) is tied with Terry (8-1, 4-1) for secondplace in the Region 6-4A race. Mendenhall (6-3, 5-1) has completedits region schedule and plays Simpson County rival Magee tomorrownight. Terry wraps up its season and region menu tomorrow night atMcComb.

Ole Brook head coach Tucker Peavey said the final regionstandings will be determined by a tie-breaker system used by theMississippi High School Activities Association. Region 6 will playRegion 8-4A in the opening round of the state playoffs. The top twoteams in each region host opening round games while the No. 3-4teams must travel.

Peavey’s priority is Friday night’s game with the Cougars (3-5,2-3) who are under the direction of head coach Mike Davis.”Lawrence County is a good football team. They have lost their lastcouple of games by some freak plays and turnovers.

“What they do offensively, is a a challenge,” Peavey pointedout. “They are a whole lot more diverse than they used to be. Theyspread it out and run some shotgun. They still run two tight-endsets and a double wing.

“They are good at running back. Their QB runs their offensewell.”

Will Harris works at quarterback for the Cougars. Taebyus Smith,making a comeback from a preseason leg injury; and Isiah Ferdinandare the main movers at running back.

In last Friday’s 33-17 loss at McComb, the Cougars had reducedtheir deficit to 19-17 on an 8-yard touchdown run by Ferdinand with8 seconds left in the third quarter. Earlier, LCHS led 10-7 on a23-yard halfback pass from Smith to to Danny Powell. and a 25-yardfield goal from Travis Stallans

Smith rushed for 95 yards in the loss and Tavalas Peyton gained57. Ferdinand picked up 44 yards.

Looking at the LCHS defense, Peavey said the Cougars “stay onthe move a lot. They do a lot of blitzing and have good speed ondefense. Their linebackers make a lot of plays.”

Ole Brook’s Players of the Week for the Kosciusko game were BartSias on defense. Charles Wilson on offense and Anthony Caffie onspecial teams. Sias, a junior linebacker, accounted for 8 tacklesand a pass interception and was named The DAILY LEADER’s DefensivePlayer of the Week.

Wilson, a junior running back, rushed the football 37 times for234 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was named The DL’s Offensive Playerof the Week.

Caffie, a senior cornerback, returned a Kosciusko punt 62 yardsto paydirt. He also had 6 tackles.

Linebacker T.J. Qualls accounted for 6 tackles. OrlandusChapman, Josh Witherspoon and Virgil Sanders each had 5 tackles.R.J. Jenkins intercepted a pass, helping the Panthers limitKosciusko to 47 yards passing and 170 rushing.

“I expected Brookhaven to be in the race for the top and theyare,” said Coach Davis. “I think their defense might be better thanit was last year. They have more speed and everybody gets to theball.”

Davis said his team was looking forward to playing Brookhaven.”Our kids have had a good week of practice. We would like to winagainst our rivals.”

Sophomore linebackers Dontray Collins and Julius Magee lead theCougars in tackles.

Friday’s game is Senior Night at LCHS and all senior members ofthe squad will be recognized at 6:30. It also is the last game forveteran offensive line coach Craig Davis who has announced hisretirement.

“Craig has done a great job for us and I am going to miss havinghim on our staff,” said Mike Davis. “He has been a valuable assetto our program.”

Panther Paws: Last year Peavey’s Panthers beatLawrence County 40-0 en route to the state championship, afterleading 13-0 at halftime. Ole Brook quarterback Jimmy Johnscompleted 7 of 10 passes for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns. He threwTD passes to Montral Smith for 26 yards and to Taurean Jones for 8yards. Wilson rushed the football 16 times for 81 yards, and scoredon runs of 11 and 15 yards in the second half.