Area football fans have the opportunity to see plenty of actionFriday night as the 20001 season officially kicks off with somehome games and road games.

Wesson visits Salem, Lawrence County travels to Collins,Franklin County hosts Vidalia, La., Hazlehurst entertainsBrookhaven, South Pike is at North Pike, Hattiesburg visits McComband Crystal Springs is at Raymond.

Region 6-2A Wesson opens last season against Salem and posted a28-0 victory. Under veteran head coach Ronald Greer, the Cobrasfinished last year’s campaign with a 6-5 record.

Wesson’s district foes this year include Loyd Star, Hinds AHS,McLaurin, St. Andrew’s and St. Joseph. Friday night, Loyd Starentertains Bay Springs, Hinds AHS visits Port Gibson, St. Andrew’shosts French Camp and St. Joseph is at West Lincoln.

Salem, a member of District 4-1A, was 1-9 on the season.

Lawrence County, a member of the Region 6-4A, is under thedirection of first-year head coach Trent Hammond, a formerassistant coach at McComb last year. Former Lawrence County headcoach Danny Adams took a coaching position at Sylvester, Ga.

The Monticello-based Cougars finished last year with a 6-4record. Other region members are Brookhaven, McComb, Port Gibson,Raymond, South Pike and Terry.

Friday night, Brookhaven visits Hazlehurst, McComb is atHattiesburg, Port Gibson hosts Hinds AHS, Raymond entertainsCrystal Springs, South Pike is at North Pike and Terry hostsBailey.

Collins finished 9-2 last year and is under the direction ofBruce Merchant.

Franklin County hosts Vidalia, La. Franklin County (3-7) fell toVidalia 8-6 last year. Coaching the Region 6-3A Bulldogs is veterancoach Michael Goff.

Other Division 6-3A members include Amite County, CrystalSprings, Hazlehurst, Jefferson County, North Pike and WilkinsonCounty. Friday night, Amite County hosts Tylertown, Crystal Springsvisits Raymond, Jefferson County is at Clarksdale and WilkinsonCounty is at Natchez.

Hazlehurst, coached by Willie Brown, was 7-4 last year. Theiropponent Friday is Region 6-4A member Brookhaven who finished lastyear with as 7-3 worksheet. The Panthers are under the direction offirst-year head coach Andrew Hickman.

North Pike opens their schedule with Pike County powerhouseSouth Pike in the first meeting ever between the two teams. Thehost Jaguars are coached by Adam Barron and finished last year witha 1-8 record.

South Pike is coached by Greg Wall who coached the previous fiveyears at Brookhaven. The Magnolia-based Eagles were 5-5 lastyear.

McComb, the defending Class 4A state champ, is under thedirection of new head coach Ted Milton. He replaced Lee Bramlettwho retired. The Tigers were 13-1 in 2000.

The Tigers first opponent is Region 3-5A powerhouse Hattiesburg.Coached by new boss Clemon Ector, the 3-7 Tigers were 13-7 victorsover McComb in the 2000 opener for the teams.

Crystal Springs is coming off a 2-9 record as the Tigers travelto Raymond (4-7) for their opener. Crystal Springs is coached byRoyce Foster. Michael Fields coaches Raymond.