Down the stretch they come….
The prep football regular season has hit the stretch run. Some area teams can start selling playoff tickets.
As always, it is a diverse group with some thoroughbreds and some newcomers.
Here is a breakdown of some of our area teams and where they stand:
Columbus: The Falcons have turned some heads by winning four straight Class 6A, Region 1 games.
Columbus (6-2, 4-0 region) still needs either one more win or a loss by Hernando to clinch a playoff berth — the school’s first since 2012.
However, the quick start now has Columbus wanting even more.
A victory at home over Olive Branch (5-3, 3-1) Friday night will clinch a top two finish in the region and a first-round playoff game at home.
It would also set up a matchup of the region’s unbeatens with South Panola (if South Panola also beats Southaven) the following week in Batesville.
Starkville: The Yellow Jackets have clinched a fourth straight playoff berth.
Starkville (7-1, 4-0) still has lots of work to do though to repeat as region champions. After this week’s tuneup at Murray, Starkville plays at Warren Central and comes home for Clinton.
Both Warren Central (7-1, 4-0) and Clinton (6-2, 4-0) are undefeated in region play so Starkville could still finish anywhere from first to third.
Warren Central plays at Clinton Friday night in the first matchup of the heavyweight powers.
West Point: The Green Wave is also in the position of needing one more win to clinch a playoff berth.
Presently, West Point (6-2, 3-1) is tied with Clarksdale (6-3, 3-1), Lake Cormorant (6-3, 3-1) and Center Hill (5-3, 3-1) for second place in Class 5A, Region 1. From this group, three of the four could join Oxford (6-2, 4-0) as playoff participants.
The three West Point region wins all game against teams in the tie. So that means one more West Point win (thanks to the tie-breaker) would give them the playoff nod. It also means the Green Wave is in good shape for a top two finish and a first-round home playoff game.
West Point finishes region play with Saltillo, New Hope and Lewisburg – the bottom three teams in the standings. Victories in two of those three games would wrap up a playoff game at home.
New Hope: The Trojans will have to win their final three games and get help to have a postseason life for a second straight year.
New Hope (1-7, 0-4) has been competitive but is yet to win a region game. With Lewisburg and Saltillo remaining on the schedule, two wins there are possible. However, a victory over West Point would be needed and then New Hope would need tie-breaking help since it has lost the head-to-head matchup with Clarksdale, Lake Cormorant and Center Hill.
Noxubee County: The defending Class 4A state champion Tigers have already clinched a playoff berth in Class 4A, Region 4.
Noxubee County (5-4, 3-0) can wrap up the region’s top-seed by beating Caledonia (4-4, 0-3) at home Friday night and by having Houston (7-2, 2-1) lose to Louisville (6-3, 2-1). The Tigers have opened region play with convincing victories over Kosciusko, Leake Central and Louisville.
The Tigers can also wrap up the top spot by beating Houston next week. A victory in either game will also clinch a first-round home playoff game.
Caledonia: The Confederates will need a pair of wins and some help to make a return trip to the postseason.
Caledonia (4-4, 0-3) plays at Noxubee County (5-4, 3-0) before returning home for Leake Central (4-5, 0-3). One more win by Louisville would eliminate Caledonia from a chance at a top two spot. However, for now, the task at hand is knocking off Noxubee County in Macon. That will be a tall challenge.
Aberdeen: The Bulldogs have also clinched a playoff berth in Class 3A, Region 4.
Aberdeen (6-3, 3-0) made it three straight dominating performances in region play with victories over Mooreville (39-0), Hatley (37-0) and South Pontotoc (48-3).
Friday night, Aberdeen plays at North Pontotoc (7-2, 3-0) with the winner taking over the top spot in the region. The Bulldogs still won’t clinch the top spot unless Nettleton (2-5, 2-1) also loses to Hatley (5-4, 1-2).
Aberdeen can clinch a top two spot and a first-round home playoff game with one more victory. However, the Bulldogs are clicking now and should be up to the challenge Friday night.
West Lowndes: The Panthers are not officially in the Class 1A playoffs. However, they are close to nailing down a spot in Class 1A, Region 1.
West Lowndes (5-4, 4-1) will play at Hamilton (1-6, 1-4) Friday night. A victory there — based on other results around the region – could clinch a playoff berth.
After the game with Hamilton, West Lowndes finishes the year with Coffeeville (4-4, 4-1) and Thrasher (3-5, 1-4). Wins over Hamilton and Coffeeville would wrap up a first-round playoff game at home.
Also in that region, Hamilton will need to win its final three games or win two of three and get some help to make the playoffs.
Academies: In the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, Class AAA and Class A/AA will both complete regular season play this week.
In Class AAA, District 2, Starkville Academy (8-1, 2-0) is the No. 1 team and will host a first-round playoff game Oct. 30. Heritage Academy (4-5, 1-1) must win at Leake Academy (6-3, 1-1) Friday to secure the district’s other playoff berth.
In Class A/AA, District 2, Oak Hill Academy (6-3, 2-1) secures a playoff berth with a win at Deer Creek Academy (3-5, 1-2) Friday night. If Oak Hill loses, the Raiders still have a good shot to secure a wild card playoff berth.
In Eight-Man District 2 play, Hebron Christian (6-2, 2-0) will face Kemper County (9-0, 2-0) next Friday night in DeKalb for the district championship. Both teams are in the playoffs.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. You can email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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