FULTON — The start of a new season is here for New Hope football, the first Friday night of high school football for public schools across the state.

Last season was one to forget for the Trojans, who missed the postseason after dealing with a myriad of injuries that limited the offense.

There was a trickle-down-effect, too, as the defense dealt with setbacks just the same. Beginning with their game against Itawamba Agricultural at 7 p.m., however, New Hope plans flip the script.

“We’ve had a strong week of practice,” head coach Seth Stillman said. “Staying healthy was our most important thing, as well as being able to be outside and get some good, physical practices in…We’re just going to have to be better at the small things.”

Itawamba is coming off a 12-1 season, losing to Houston in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A quarterfinals. 

That’s the third 11+ win season for the program in the last four years and fourth 10+ win season in the last six overall.

The only thing that’s evaded the program has been a state title, undoubtedly the goal for 2023, but Itawamba AHS could be a stumbling block right out of the gates.

“They’re going to do all of the small things right,” Stillman said. “We have to find a way to take advantage when they make a small mistake. That’s a really good football team and we’re going to have to play a really good football game and a clean game to have an opportunity to win.”

Leake Academy (0-1) at Starkville Academy (2-0), 7:30 p.m.

STARKVILLE — Friday night’s primetime matchup between Starkville Academy and Leake Academy has major ramifications for both teams.

For the Volunteers, this is a shot at redemption, having lost to the Rebels handedly in the first round of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Class 5A playoffs last season.

It’s also an opportunity to reverse a trend, having lost four of their last six games against the Rebels. 

For Leake, it’s a chance to get that elusive first win of the season and do it against a team it has dominated in recent years. The Rebs have allowed 20 or fewer points against the Volunteers in those last six meetings.

The Vols have gotten off to a hot start this season, a 2-0 record with a convincing win over Escambia Academy (Ala.) last Thursday. They look to make it three-in-a-row to start things on Friday, benefitting from what expects to be a sizable home crowd.

West Lowndes (0-0) at French Camp Academy (0-0), 8 p.m.

FRENCH CAMP — Success has been the standard at West Lowndes for the past several seasons, recording three 8+ win seasons over the last four years.

The Panthers have competed for district titles and proven to be one of the better Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A schools in the state.

What’s been missing from the equation is a state title, something the Panthers are striving for beginning Friday night against French Camp Academy.

“We’re going to rest, stay hydrated, and just do our best to keep team chemistry up,” head coach Anthony King said. “Practice has been hectic this week with the weather, but we’re doing what we can do to stay prepared for Friday.”

The weather has done no one any favors this week, with temperatures reaching the century mark throughout the entire state.

It’s pushed practices inside and walk-throughs for Friday’s game into a new environment, but the Panthers have kept a mental toughness throughout the preseason.

West Lowndes dominated this matchup in 2022, a 38-14 win over FCA, and it hopes to repeat the feat come 8 p.m. Friday.

“We’ll try to get in as many guys as possible, try to keep everyone fresh,” King said. “We’re a running team, but we saw the passing game is wide open. We just have to get a better percentage of passes completed.”

Columbus (0-0) at Houston (0-0), 7 p.m.

HOUSTON — Before the 2023 season, Columbus head coach Josh Pulphus talked about what is expected to be a tough non-district schedule for the Falcons.

That stretch begins on Friday night as they head to play Houston, a team that reached the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A semifinals in 2022.

This is the first-ever matchup between the two teams, but Columbus will need to be firing on all cylinders against a big-time opponent like the Hilltoppers.

“The season got here pretty quickly,” Pulphus said. “It seemed like we were just starting in July. I’ve been proud of them, the work that they have put in. Things have been shaping up well.”

Columbus’s defense shined in its five wins last season, allowing 11.8 points a game, but in losses, the Falcons allowed more than 31 points a game, including 28 points or more in every non-district regular season game.

Those numbers mirror Houston’s offensive success in 2022, where they averaged more than 32 points per game. 

The Hilltoppers were held under 21 points three times last season, so the key for the Falcons to have a chance is getting stops early and often.

“Our boys know that they have to be prepared for a fight,” Pulphus said. “We’re expecting them to get after it well. If we control the ball, control the clock and take our shots when they’re presented, we’ll put ourselves in a position to be successful.”

Caledonia (0-0) at Nettleton (0-0), 7 p.m.

NETTLETON — Caledonia made some noise in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A playoffs, reaching the quarterfinals despite a 4-6 regular season.

Their playoff run fell short against eventual 4A state champions Louisville, but it showcased the determination the Cavaliers were searching for early on and eventually found.

The team showed heart, character and grit, and they’re looking to continue that momentum heading into Friday night’s season opener against Nettleton.

“We have a young football team, so we’ve had some good days and then we’ve had some setbacks,” head coach Michael Kelly said. “We got a scrimmage under our belt last Friday. We’re just looking forward to starting the season.”

This season opener is a revenge game for the Cavs, who were dismantled by Nettleton last season, 41-13.

It was part of a stretch that saw Caledonia start 1-5 overall before regrouping in district play and squeaking into the playoffs.

“Hopefully tonight, we can play really well, execute really well and hopefully, that will lead to a victory,” Kelly said. 

Columbus Christian Academy (0-1) at Calhoun Academy (0-0), 7 p.m.

CALHOUN CITY — Columbus Christian Academy had a tough start to the 2023 season last Friday against Benton Academy.

The Rams struggled with depth under hot and humid conditions, and couldn’t keep up with a bigger and faster Raiders team in the first half.

A 28-0 halftime deficit loomed large, despite the defense pitching a shutout in the second half.

CCA was unable to score in its season opener, but it looks to right the ship against Calhoun Academy in its second game of the season.

Recent history favors the Rams, who dominated against the Cougars in 2022, a 52-22 blowout win. Despite two losses to Calhoun before 2022, CCA is 5-3 all-time against the program.

Last season was played in a different context, 8-man football as opposed to 11-man football that the Rams are playing this season, but a desire to take two straight against the Cougars will certainly be on the minds of CCA come Friday night.

Marshall Academy (0-1) at Oak Hill Academy (0-1), 7 p.m.

WEST POINT — Last week was not what Oak Hill Academy football had drawn up against Central Holmes Christian, losing 38-28 in a high-scoring season opener.

The Raiders have been searching for strong defensive performances, but for the sixth time since the start of the 2022 season, they allowed 38 points or more to an opponent.

The road to their first win of the season gets that much tougher Friday against Marshall Academy, a team dealing with its own share of issues after losing, 50-6, in its season opener. 

Marshall has had the upper hand in this matchup for nearly 25 years, holding a 12-4 record against OHA since 1998.

That includes a 40-0 shutout victory last season, something the Raiders would much like to forget with a win in 2023.

Other games

Northeast Baptist (La.) (0-0)  at Hebron Christian (0-1), 7 p.m.

Victory Christian (0-0) at Unity Christian Academy (0-0), 7 p.m.