Four big football games involving Lincoln County teams are ontap Friday night. The Bogue Chitto Bobcats visit the West LincolnBears and the Enterprise Yellow Jackets celebrate homecoming withStringer in two key Region 4-1A games. The Loyd Star Hornets invadeWesson in Stone Stadium on the Co-Lin campus for a big Region 6-2Atest

Other local football action features McComb at Brookhaven in animportant Region 6-4A matchup.

The Enterprise-Stringer game is expected to kick off around 8p.m. or following the end of the homecoming activities. The paradeof cars begins at 6:15.

Bogue Chitto, coached by Gareth Sartin, endedits four-game losing streak with a lopsided 50-19 Region 4-1Avictory over St. Aloysius. Sartin’s Bobcats improved to 1-4 on theseason and 1-2 in division play.

West Lincoln, coached by Brooks Burns, fell to Mount Olive 38-7in last week’s division contest. The Bears are 0-5 on theseason.

Burns says he has seen improvement in Bogue Chitto since thepreseason jamboree. In that jamboree, West Lincoln beat BogueChitto 6-0.

“They (Bobcats) look very good,” said Burns. “The problems theyhad early on were turnovers and mistakes. They have eliminatedthat.

“Their No. 1 (Dantae Ratcliffe) is as good an athlete as we haveseen,” continued Burns. “No. 33 (Corey Washington) is a hardrunner. They have No. 5 (Lange Porter) who is a good receiver.Porter does a good job running routes and receiving.”

In last Friday’s win over St. Al, Ratcliff rushed 9 times for217 yards and 4 touchdowns for Bogue Chitto. He also passed 14yards to Robert Bullock for another TD. Ratcliff has been selectedThe DAILY LEADER’s Offensive Player of the Week.

Washington rushed the football 13 times for 156 yards and atouchdown.

“They (West Lincoln) have good size up front on the offensiveand defensive lines,” said Sartin. “Darnell Sampson is a reallygood little tailback. He will be good for the next couple of years.It will be tough to slow him down. They’ve had turnovers.”

Sartin feels positive about the game with the Bears.

“We expect a good ball game,” added Sartin. “All region gamesare important for us. We need to come out and get another win inthe region. I expect my kids to play hard. It’s a rival game with acounty school.”

In last week’s 36-7 loss to Mt. Olive, the West Lincoln offensewas led by Darnell Sampson with 10 rushes for 71 yards and atouchdown.

Defensively, Mark Case paced the Bears with 12 tackles. CaseyRoberts finished with 9 stops.

Burns said the Bears’ defense needs to do two things against theBobcats. “First, we need to contain their quarterback on defense.Second, we have to do a good job of pass covering in thesecondary.”

The West Lincoln offense needs to control the football accordingto Burns.”Offensively, we have to stay on our blocks. The rest ofit is good blocking and hard running. The best thing we can do onoffense is ball control, don’t fumble or make mistakes.”

Last year, Bogue Chitto thumped West Lincoln 40-12.

Loyd Star, coached by Wade Henderson, lockshorns with their division nemesis Wesson Friday.

Last Friday, Loyd Star (3-2) and Wesson (1-4) sufferednon-division losses. Loyd Star fell to Bassfield 14-0 and Terrypounded Wesson 42-14.

“Wesson is a lot like us,” said Henderson. “They have a lot ofyoung kids. They are big like us. We’re evenly matched with speed.it will end up with who gets the ball last and wants to win it themost.”

In the loss to Terry, Wesson was led by Blake Brister with 19carries for 80 yards. Brian Channell rushed 16 times for 81 yardsand a touchdown.

“The (Micah) Davis kid is very impressive running and throwingthe ball,” continued Henderson. “Their two running backs, No. 18(Blake Brister) and No. 33 (Randy Driscoll), are strong, hard-nosedrunners. Their line is big on both sides of the ball.”

Henderson said his Hornets must get back to doing the minorthings right.

“It’s a matter of us doing the small things,” added Henderson.”We must cut down on the mistakes. The offense staying on ourblocks more and not giving up the big play on defense.”

Gary Johnson had 3 solo tackles and 8 assists in Loyd Star’s14-0 loss to Bassfield. Michael Britt collected 2 solos and 9assists. Gary Johnson followed with 2 solos, 6 assists and fumblerecovery.

“They (Loyd Star) have a good football team,” said Wesson headcoach Tommy Clopton. “They are well coached. They play hard. JustinWhatley and Juron Collins both started for them last year. They doa good job of getting the ball in the end zone.”

Friday’s game will be the first division test for bothteams.

“We are looking forward to getting into division play,” addedClopton. “We want to get a good start in division play.”

For Wesson, Bobby Harris paced the Cobra defense with 8 tackles.Recording 6 stops was Tuffy Thompson.

Last season, Loyd Star dumped Wesson 40-11.

Enterprise, coached by Mac Bezet, hostsStringer for homecoming Friday night. The Yellow Jackets (2-3, 1-2)are coming off a 35-6 beating at the hands of Salem.

Stringer (2-2, 2-1) got past Dexter 12-8 in a division test lastFriday.

Terrell May sparked the Jacket offense with 18 carries for 87yards and a touchdown in the loss to Salem. Blake McKee rushed for34 yards on 8 carries.

Defensively, Bronson Russell led Enterprise with 7 tackles.

In last season’s game, Enterprise fell to Stringer 40-14.