The Columbus High School football team is still trying to just control what it can control.
“We don’t try to put the cart before the horse,” Falcons coach Joshua Pulphus said. “We just want to try to be perfect each week.”
For Pulphus, that means not looking ahead at the games to come on the schedule: Grenada, West Point, Lafayette and more.
Instead, the Falcons (1-3) must focus solely on Friday’s contest at Center Hill (3-1) as both teams hope to improve to 2-0 in MHSAA Class 5A, Region 1 play.
“You work hard all summer, you work a lot during your football career just to go and play in big games like this,” Pulphus said. “We’re excited just to go back up there and get ready to play another Friday.”
Columbus heads into the game with a defense as strong as any in Class 5A and an offense that broke out a bit against New Hope in last week’s 23-7 win. A whole host of Falcons earned touches, and many had solid games.
Pulphus said the Falcons will have to play even better than that to have a shot against the Mustangs on Friday.
“We’re excited to see how we respond this week to what they did last week,” he said. “Hopefully we can take it and not just be settled but be better — be more explosive, see how our guys react with the ball in space.”
New Hope (1-3) at Lake Cormorant (2-1)
Lake Cormorant might be 0-1 in Region 1-5A play when New Hope travels to face the Gators on Friday, but Trojans coach Wade Tackett said he and his team won’t take their opponent lightly.
Tackett remembers Lake Cormorant’s season last year — wins over Grenada and Center Hill en route to a playoff appearance. The Gators kept the score within two touchdowns against eventual state champion West Point — a week after they cruised to a 34-0 win at New Hope.
“They’re still a power team within our district right now,” Tackett said.
With the Trojans’ 23-7 loss at Columbus last week, both schools claim an equivalent district record thus far, making Friday’s game important for the winner — and just as critical for the loser.
“Either one of us coming out with the win would give us some momentum going forward in the district,” Tackett said.
To get that victory, New Hope will have to handle the Gators’ spread offense, featuring a strong running back in Jaiden Gray and all 77 inches and 292 pounds of Mississippi State commit Gabe Cavazos, who offers quarterback Telvin Amos a big target.
On defense, the Gators bring multiple looks, but they’ll undeniably stack the box in order to force Zac Butler and New Hope to throw the football.
“They get after it just like Lake Cormorant’s known to do,” Tackett said.
West Point (3-1) at Saltillo (0-3)
West Point handled Saltillo 34-7 last season at Hamblin Stadium, but Green Wave coach Chris Chambless knows that doesn’t count for much when the two teams square off again Friday in Lee County.
“Every year is different, so you have to stay prepared the best you can,” Chambless said.
With four straight state championships under its belt, West Point comes into Friday’s game about as prepared as a team can be to face the winless Tigers, who went just 1-11 last year. Plus, the Green Wave have already replaced last year’s three-headed rushing attack of Brandon Harris, Dantariyus Cannon and Jimothy Mays with three new talented rushers: JaKobe Pate, Chris Ivy and Cameron Young.
“All three complement each other real well, and they pull for each other,” Chambless said. “They’re each other’s biggest supporters. They all root for each other. I feel confident with our run game right now.”
Still, Chambless said, anything can happen in Region 1-5A road games, and the Green Wave must stay prepared for any scenario they might face Friday at Saltillo.
“It’s going to still be a challenge for us like it is every year,” Chambless said. “We’re going to get their best shot. We know that, and we’ll have to be prepared for it.”
Starkville (4-0) at Germantown (3-1)
Top-ranked Starkville is riding high off last week’s 38-20 win at No. 2 South Panola, and the Yellow Jackets know they can’t afford a letdown Friday at Germantown.
“Every week is important,” coach Chris Jones said.
This week could be especially so on the road against a Germantown team that won its first three games before last week’s loss to Warren Central.
Quarterback Colton Gardner, running back Branson Robinson and several defenders who can fly around will lead the Mustangs’ charge Friday. Starkville, of course, counters with Florida State commit Luke Altmyer and Mississippi State pledge Amariyon Howard.
Jones said he hopes the Jackets will keep their unbeaten season going and won’t suffer a letdown on Friday in Madison.
“Hopefully we come out this week and have a good game come tomorrow, but we understand that we can’t come out half cocked,” he said.
Pillow Academy (4-2) at Starkville Academy (3-2)
Starkville Academy coach Chase Nicholson hasn’t forgotten that his Volunteers were “thumped” by Pillow Academy 35-7 last year in Greenwood.
But he also remembers the traditionally close games between the Vols and the Mustangs. Starkville Academy won by a field goal in 2018 and held off Pillow’s offense after suffering a late safety in the two schools’ 2017 matchup.
“It’s going to be a close battle no matter what,” Nicholson said of Friday’s contest, set to be played in Starkville. “We know that, so we look forward to a good football game.”
The coach said the Vols have begun to get over the hump of youth and immaturity that cost them in one-score losses to Lamar School and Leake Academy. Last week’s 49-20 win at Washington School helped Starkville Academy in that education.
“We got to learn through winning,” Nicholson said.
The Vols’ goal is to finish in top in MAIS Class 5A, District 1, and Nicholson said his team will likely have to go undefeated in district play to get there. So far, the Vols are 1-0, and they can double that Friday.
“To win this game — to get where we’re going, to do what we want to do — this is all part of that road to get there,” Nicholson said.
West Lowndes (2-2) at French Camp Academy (1-3)
West Lowndes started out hot in the first half of last year’s home game against French Camp Academy.
The Panthers scored 30 points in the first half to take an 11-point lead into the break, but in the second half, they went cold. French Camp scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and came up just one point short as West Lowndes held on for a 32-31 victory.
With a matchup against French Camp on the road Friday, West Lowndes coach Anthony King knows he can’t let that happen again.
“If we get them down, we’ve got to go ahead and keep them down,” King said. “We don’t need to let them get their hopes up and come back.”
His Panthers will be tasked with holding off a French Camp offense led by quarterback Calvin Johnson II, a U.S. Naval Academy commit. While French Camp lost some talent at its skill positions, West Lowndes’ opponent improved elsewhere, King said.
“They’re a lot bigger than they were last year,” King said.
With a 2-1 district record so far, West Lowndes is tied with Tupelo Christian Prep for the second seed in Region 2-1A play. Finishing in the top two would give the Panthers a home playoff game, so it’s important for West Lowndes to take care of business Friday at French Camp.
“Right now, we’re playing for that No. 2 seed, and we’ve just got to hold onto it,” King said.
Noxubee County (2-1) at Houston (2-2)
Noxubee County escaped with a 14-12 win over Houston in triple overtime during the Class 3A playoffs last season.
The Tigers hope Friday’s rematch with the Hilltoppers won’t be quite as closely contested.
Early-season results hint that it won’t: Noxubee County started 2-0 before a reasonable loss at No. 3 West Point, while Houston is 2-2 to open the season.
The Tigers beat Shannon 39-0 in Week 1, and Shannon turned around and beat Houston 40-32 the following week.
Columbus Christian Academy (1-5) at Delta Academy (3-3)
Columbus Christian earned its first win last week against Kemper Academy and has a chance for its second victory Friday.
The Rams, who beat Kemper 54-34 last Friday, will take on Delta Academy this week in Marks.
The Raiders have won three games in a row — beating Hebron Christian, Calhoun Academy and Marvell Academy (Arkansas) — after opening the season with three straight losses.
Oak Hill Academy (1-4) at Rossville (Tenn.) Christian Academy (0-3)
Oak Hill Academy’s lone win so far has come by way of a forfeit, and the Raiders hope to change that Friday.
They’ll go on the road to face district opponent Rossville Christian Academy (Tennessee), which is 0-3 thus far. The Wolves own losses to MHSAA program HW Byers as well as Lee Academy and Marshall Academy.
Oak Hill lost to Marshall last week with losses to Tunica Academy and Winston Academy the prior two weeks.
Hebron Christian (2-4) at Unity Christian Academy (0-0)
Hebron Christian can build on its two straight wins Friday at Unity Christian Academy in Leland.
The Rams dominated Kemper Academy and West Memphis Christian School (Arkansas) over the past two weeks.
Unlike Hebron, Unity Christian isn’t a member of the MAIS and enters the contest with a 0-0 record.
Victory Christian Academy (2-1) at Tuscaloosa Christian (1-3)
Victory Christian Academy hopes to extend its two-game winning streak to three Friday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The Eagles have posted back-to-back victories against Tabernacle Christian and New Life Christian Academy in the past two weeks, while this Friday’s opponent, Tuscaloosa Christian, has faced a similar schedule.
The Warriors beat New Life Christian 58-8 on Sept. 4 and lost 64-55 to Tabernacle last week.
Alabama: Pickens Academy (4-1) at Southern Academy (1-3)
Pickens Academy got a week off after its first loss of the season.
The Pirates can show they’ve made good use of their bye week Friday at Southern Academy in Greensboro, Alabama.
The Cougars are just 1-3 this season, but they handled the Pirates 53-6 last Oct. 25.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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