Offensive fireworks could fly when Columbus faces South Panola

In 2012, the Columbus High School football team won six games by scoring 21 or less points.

Those days are long gone for the Falcons.

This season, Columbus has used an up-tempo, high-octane offense to help it make a push for a second-straight appearance in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A playoffs.

Victory against South Panola would help Columbus’ playoff cause

Under coach Randal Montgomery, the Columbus Falcons have made it a habit of playing big football games.

Columbus now flirts with statewide rankings and region championships. Crowds have grown, and support is at an all-time high for the program.

If you look closely, the Columbus junior high teams were dominant this year. While a huge senior class will graduate this year, there is plenty of reasons to believe the success will continue.

Walters column: Area teams fight for postseason lives Friday

We have now hit the stretch run for Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) football for the 2016 season.

Defense on prowl as EMCC looks to extend win streak against Hinds C.C.

East Mississippi Community College sophomore defensive back Brian Cole likes where his defense is at the moment.

No break in store for Ole Miss

The Ole Miss football team could use a break.

Reeling from back-to-back losses to Arkansas and LSU, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze would enjoy a little extra time to help get his team back on track.

Columbus grabs key road win at Olive Branch

OLIVE BRANCH – Columbus High School football coach Randal Montgomery feels like his offense ranks as one of the best in Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A.

No. 3 EMCC shuts out Coahoma C.C.

CLARKSDALE — East Mississippi Community College freshman lineman Maleke Bell admits it took him about a month to adjust to playing on this level and feeling comfortable around his teammates.

The same could be said for the Lions’ defense as a whole.

With the learning curve now firmly behind the squad, the former Starkville High standout is helping lead a defense that appears to be peaking at the right time.

Playoff fates will be on line in Week 10

Believe it or not, the final week of the regular season is here for Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) teams in Class AAA and Class A/AA.

Heritage Academy and Starkville Academy will look to work their way up the seeding charts with critical home wins to complete district play.

In the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) ranks, Starkville and New Hope face must-wins at home. Columbus and West Point hit the road needing to win to keep their stocks high.

Here is what to watch for week in No. 10:

Run in first set sparks Caledonia volleyball team

CALEDONIA — Outside hitter Tori Brooks and middle blocker Cheyenne Ruth realized their team needed a lift at the same time.

Brooks and Ruth responded with back-to-back kills to spark a 13-1 run for the Caledonia High School volleyball team.

Caledonia took control from there, beating Cleveland 3-0 Tuesday night in the opening round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class II playoffs. Set scores were 25-14, 25-8, 25-13.

No. 3 EMCC has two to go before postseason

There is no time for a letdown for the East Mississippi Community College football team.

After dropping the season opener, the Lions have faced an uphill battle to put themselves back in position to compete for a third National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championship in four seasons.

Pruitt, Noxubee County working toward on another title run

Noxubee County High School sophomore Kyziah Pruitt grew up watching the school’s football team. He knew the honor it was going to be to play for Tyrone Shorter.

Shorter has worked as a coach at Noxubee County High for 19 years. He served as an assistant and then defensive coordinator for veteran coach M.C. Miller, and played a key role in the program’s first state title. Since taking over as coach for Miller in 2010, Shorter has led the Tigers to three more Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A state championships.

Orgeron, No. 25 LSU await No. 23 Ole Miss

After seeing a near-fatal blow to its Southeastern Conference championship hopes, the Ole Miss football team doesn’t have time to wallow in pity.

Instead, another rival and big opportunity in the Southeastern Conference awaits at 8 p.m. Saturday (ESPN), when No. 23 Ole Miss (3-3, 1-2 SEC) will face No. 25 LSU (4-2, 2-1) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the Magnolia Bowl.

Statement game: No. 4 Lions beat No. 1 Rangers

SCOOBA — The Lions are back.

The East Mississippi Community College football team slipped from the nation’s subconscious a year ago. A season-ending brawl, a postseason ban, and a loss in this season’s opener left the Lions a forgotten team.

Columbus beats Southaven to get back to .500

Friday night was the Columbus High School football team’s time to feel good again.

Columbus last lost three-straight games midway through the 2014 season. That streak is still intact thanks to a 49-33 victory against Southaven in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 1 game on Homecoming at Falcon Field.

EMCC could find needed rival Saturday

During its domination of Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) football this decade, East Mississippi Community College has gotten pretty much whatever it wanted.

From favorable bowl assignments to lofty national rankings to signing the best players in the state, coach Buddy Stephens and his staff have put a plan in place to build arguably the nation’s best program.

What EMCC hasn’t had is a rival.

Noxubee County holds on to beat Louisville

LOUISVILLE — The Noxubee County High School football team had four turnovers in the first half turnovers Thursday of its Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A, Region 4 game against Louisville.

Fortunately, the Tigers had one more takeaway in them for the second half.

Local teams will face key region games

We are rapidly reaching the end of the prep football season.

Some teams already are looking ahead to the playoffs, while others know a win or two is needed right away to ensure a postseason berth.

Most of our area teams are traveling this week, so a lot of coaches will talk about the challenges of winning on the road.

Regardless of the venue, now is the time, and some teams really need to get busy.

Here is what we are watching for in Week No. 9:

Walters column: West Point gearing up for Class 5A state title run

Don’t look now but the West Point football team has a 6-1 record.

No. 12 Ole Miss back to work for No. 22 Arkansas

After opening with one of the nation’s most difficult schedules, the No. 12 Ole Miss football team enjoyed its first open date of the season last week.

Ole Miss has returned to work to prepare for its game against No. 22 Arkansas at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Horn Lake surprises Columbus

HORN LAKE — Horn Lake High School sophomore Tyler Grim woke up Friday morning without a date for the school’s Homecoming dance.

Most likely, that worked itself out by the time the day ended.

Grim made the most of his first career start, rushing for 283 yards and scoring five touchdowns to help Horn Lake stun Columbus 44-35 in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 1 game.