Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters will look at five prep football questions each Wednesday between now and Aug. 16, 2017, as we count down to the start of the prep football season.
Well, we are quickly getting to that time of year.
Coaches are tweeting out pictures of perfectly manicured football fields. Team meetings are being announced. Parking lots outside weight rooms are a little more crowded.
In less than one month from now, we will have high school football scores to analyze and Hudl highlights to sort through. Every player will have that one great play a college coach needs to see.
For now, we simply have questions about the upcoming season. Fortunately, we have answers as well.
Here are the latest:
1. Which game are you looking forward to the most on the opening weekend?
Once again, for the fifth or sixth season in a row, it’s easy to circle the marquee game. Class 6A favorite Starkville faces Class 4A favorite Noxubee County in Macon.
These teams have formed quite the rivalry. There is always a lot of star power on display and typically the game is decided late. Starkville won 24-21 last season. A year earlier, Jeffery Simmons won the game by himself as Noxubee County won 26-20 in double overtime.
For both teams, it is an excellent way to start the season. For Noxubee coach Tyrone Shorter, his budget will be set for the rest of the year when the gate receipts get totaled.
2. How many local teams will we have in Oxford state championship weekend?
This is always one of the best questions asked in the preseason. We have four months of regular-season play straight ahead. Yet, it is always fun to debate who will be the final teams standing.
After missing the playoffs last season, a new coach (Chris Jones) and a new attitude will try to get the Yellow Jackets back to the top of Class 6A. Many have said a strong junior high class would help push Starkville back to the top, as early as in 2017. So we will see if this group can deliver the goods.
In Class 5A, West Point returns virtually everybody from a state championship squad. It took a little while for the Green Wave to get their footing a season ago. This year, there should be no issues. Minor things — such as a new starter at quarterback — should be sorted out very early against a tough non-region slate. Inside Class 5A, there will be no competition.
In Class 4A, this is a good time to put Noxubee County back on the mountain top. The last time the state finals were held in Oxford, Noxubee County routed St. Stanislaus to win a championship. The growth and maturity of Maliek Stallings and the coaching prowess of Shorter will give the Tigers a shot.
And in Class 1A, West Lowndes played have taken to Twitter to talk about winning a state championship. The basketball team played for a title two seasons ago. Let’s see if the football team can do the same.
3. Who are you feeling as the surprise team in the area this season?
Let’s go with New Hope.
Even in down years, coach Kris Pickle has established a program that plays hard, disciplined and fundamentally sound. The Trojans have been able to score but have been missing a few pieces on defense.
This season, New Hope will be looking to break in some new faces on both offense and defense. There have been some coaching staff changes as well.
However, the biggest change is dropping down to Class 4A. New Hope will be very competitive in 4A. It will battle Louisville and Noxubee County for the region crown.
New Hope should enjoy a return to the postseason. From there, the Trojans can make some noise if the right things fall into place.
4. Which preseason interview do you look forward to the most?
There will be the annual sit down with Chris Chambless at West Point. One can always sense about how well the Green Wave will do based on the ease of the answers from Chambless. Always soft-spoken, the veteran coach will never go out of his way to build his team up. However, five minutes into an interview, the temperature of the room will tell you how good the team can be.
Preseason interviews at West Point also include defensive coordinator Roger Burton telling you he doesn’t know how good his unit is going to be.
Fortunately, that is where the newspaper reporter can step in and tell you — they are going to be excellent.
5. Have you found the binoculars yet?
They have not turned up yet. However, in full disclosure, they have not been looked for either.
The good news is all of the area football schedules have been typed in. Rosters and team information sheets are beginning to stream in as well.
Meanwhile, the press credential is also missing. So if you see me at the stadium, please be nice and open the gate. There could be kind words for you coming in a column soon.
Scott Walters is a sports reporter for the Commercial Dispatch. He may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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