Immanuel Christian hopes week off helps Friday

A week off can do wonders for your football team.

Immanuel Christian coach Greg Watkins already has seen a difference in his team after a week off following a 25-14 loss to Canton Academy on Sept. 16.

Now Watkins hopes Immanuel Christian (1-4) will be able to build momentum at 7 p.m. Friday against Carroll Academy before it returns to the final stretch of the regular season that will determine its postseason fate.

Noxubee County working to overcome injuries

MACON — Tyrone Shorter is excited.

You might not think the Noxubee County High School football coach would be feeling so chipper considering his team is still fighting plenty of injuries.

Central Academy will try to extend unbeaten streak

MACON — Ronnie Sciple found the break he was looking for Friday night.

After sweating through five victories by a combined 22 points, Sciple and the Central Academy football team cruised to a 44-0 victory against Veritas on Friday. Sophomore T.J. Coleman had 273 yards and five touchdowns to help the Vikings push their record to 6-0.

Johnson, ‘O’ line lead Trojans to victory

Jameel Johnson didn’t have any illusions of grandeur entering his junior season.

With the graduation of key skill players like Johnny Beamon, Terrence Dentry, and Franklin Richardson Jr., Johnson figured he would be in position to see more time at running back this season. But Johnson wasn’t sure just how much of an impact he would be able to make on an offense that on paper looked to feature seniors like Darius Petty and Lawrence Brown.

Boren wins in finale as Heritage Academy coach

STEENS — Krisi Boren planned to take a picture with her team Monday afternoon regardless of the outcome of its match against Immanuel Christian.

The final result made that picture an ideal way to finish the season.

Softball teams start playoffs today

The second season begins today.

The Hebron Christian and Starkville Academy fast-pitch softball teams will represent the area in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools North and South State tournaments at Bayou Academy and Jackson Prep, respectively.

West Lowndes wants to extend streak coming off bye week

An off week came at an opportune time for the West Lowndes High School football team.

Now the Panthers are primed to take care of their next piece to business.

Victory Christian wants to bounce back from loss

Chris Hamm knows the feeling.

Hamm has had plenty of players who could change a game with one touch of the ball in his time as coach of the Victory Christian football team.

Butler knows Heritage’s margin for error shrinking

Brad Butler knows the Heritage Academy football team has left itself very little room for error.

Last week, Butler didn’t want to call his team’s matchup against Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, Division II, District I rival Lee Academy a must win, but he knew a victory would make things easier for the Patriots.

Bradley hopes New Hope will continue to come into focus

Michael Bradley hopes one drive will help bring his team into focus.

Last week, the Trojans executed what Bradley called “probably the best drive of the season” with about four minutes remaining to seal a 28-0 victory against Caledonia.

Caledonia will try to rebound after shutout

Ricky Kendrick knew his team was in for a challenge.

Even though the New Hope High School football team lost to Noxubee County and Columbus, Kendrick knew his improved Caledonia Confederates still faced a tall order if they were going to knock off their Lowndes County rival.

Noxubee County doesn’t envision letdown

Tyrone Shorter doesn’t want to talk about letdowns.

As far as the Noxubee County High School football is concerned he is ready for his Tigers to hit their stride and to set a course for Jackson, the site of the Mississippi High School Activities Association state title games.

Central Academy tries to keep streak going

There is sweet and then there is sweet.

Central Academy football coach Ronnie Sciple knows any win against archrival Kemper Academy is a good one. But coming off two big losses to Kemper Academy last season, including one in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Eight-Man title game, Sciple and the Vikings were looking for any piece of satisfaction they could get to keep their season rolling.

Columbus focused on stopping streak vs. Tupelo

The road to the playoffs will go through Tupelo.

That’s the sentiment Columbus High School football coach Tony Stanford has shared with his players ever since they started preparations for the 2011 season.

Schools rushing in to get payout

All hail football.

The money associated with the sport that has long been recognized as the engine behind college athletics is out of control and will continue to trigger unimaginable shifts in the NCAA landscape.

Holifield’s blasts power New Hope

Lauren Holifield can’t help it.

Like most hitters, Holifield’s eyes get wide as a Cheshire cat’s when she gets a pitch she can jack.

Things don’t go as planned for Mullen

STARKVILLE — The script didn’t call for a clunker.

Throw out the 11-game losing streak to LSU and the disappointing loss Saturday at the University of Auburn. Thursday was going to be different.

Caledonia-New Hope latest chapter in Lowndes County rivalries

CALEDONIA — The third chapter of the Lowndes County high school football rivalry series kicks off at 7:30 tonight when Caledonia visits New Hope.

Caledonia coach Ricky Kendrick hopes the latest installment plays out a lot like the first chapter (a victory against West Lowndes) and not like the second one (a double-overtime loss to Heritage Academy).

West Point travels to play rival Noxubee County

Chris Chambless believes.

The West Point High School football coach believed in his team after a season-opening loss to South Panola.

That confidence didn’t waver after an overtime loss at Columbus the following week.

Tested Aberdeen to get another challenge vs. West Bolivar

ABERDEEN — Staying positive is the only way Aberdeen High School football coach Chris Duncan knows.

While some around the state and in Aberdeen might be scratching their heads wondering how a team many pegged as the Class 3A state champion before the season started can be 2-2.