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.

On Friday night, Columbus will face traditional power South Panola. A chance at second place in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 1 race will be on the line in one of the biggest regular-season games in the history of Falcon Field.

While Columbus-South Panola is the marquee matchup, there are other delightful matchups on the schedule. Here is what to watch for in Week No. 11:

Tigers or Falcons

1. Can Columbus get over the hump and finally beat South Panola?

If we go by history, South Panola will breeze to victory.

However, the games are played in real time and Columbus has a legitimate chance to earn one of the program’s biggest victories.

South Panola is like several other teams in the Region 1. It has a powerful defense and a questionable offense.

The Columbus defense has made several struggling offenses look good, so we will predict it will be a high-scoring game. After all, that is what the Falcons play this season.

Whether Columbus can put up big points and yards against South Panola is the big question.

There is also the 1-3 home mark this year for the Falcons. Several big games have been played at Columbus but most of them haven’t gone the home team’s way.

Vikings or

Yellow Jackets

2. Can Starkville pull the great escape?

Starkville faces a big challenge in coach Ricky Woods’ second season.

A 6-3 record isn’t a bad thing. However, in Class 6A, Region 2 play, the margin for error is small. Losses to Northwest Rankin and Madison Central have muddied the waters for the Yellow Jackets.

With two regular-season games remaining, Starkville, the reigning Class 6A State champion, must beat Warren Central and Clinton to return to the playoffs. Those teams are a combined 16-2 and ranked in the top three in the state.

However, it would be foolish to count Starkville out. A team with a championship pedigree won’t go down without a fight.

Here is hoping Starkville has its best game of the year left to be played. Actually, here is hoping it has two of those in reserve.

Trojans or Green Wave

3. Can New Hope pull the upset against West Point?

When you live with a high-flying offense, you always have a chance.

That being said, New Hope will have to play its best game of the season to snap West Point’s seven-game winning streak.

New Hope has had great offensive success. Thomas Stevens has led a passing attack as good as any in Class 5A. When New Hope comes up short, usually, turnovers and penalties have been key.

On the other hand, West Point is throwing the ball, too. However, the Green Wave still thrive on a powerful rushing attack, which has been hugely successful even with Chris Calvert slowed.

West Point can nail down the region’s top seed by winning one of its final two games. New Hope has to win out and get help to earn a postseason bid.

The task will be tough for the Trojans, but we know they will play hard.

Flashes or Patriots

4. Is Heritage Academy ready for the prime time?

Coach Sean Harrison didn’t hide his intentions. When hired as the Heritage Academy football coach in the spring, Harrison talked about the desire to play in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA State championship game.

After back-to-back break-even seasons, some might have wondered if Heritage Academy had what it takes. However, Harrison has molded the Patriots into a title contender as the No. 4 seed in the Class AAA playoffs.

Heritage Academy can throw and run the ball with equal authority. The team plays smart, disciplined football. It is a close-knit group, and that chemistry has led to some great results.

First-round playoff opponent St. Aloysius is 3-7, but it is enters the first-round matchup riding a three-game winning streak.

The stakes will get higher. This team appears ready to take on that challenge.

Hawks or Volunteers

5. What do we make of Starkville Academy as it preps for the MAIS playoffs?

Starkville Academy has been one of the mysteries of this season.

The Volunteers begin postseason play with a record of 7-3. The strength of schedule gave the Volunteers the No. 7 seed and a chance to play host to Hartfield Academy on Friday in the first round.

The Volunteers have competed under Chase Nicholson. Each week, Starkville Academy shows up and plays a competitively against some of the state’s best teams.

During the regular season, a challenging schedule prepared the squad for the postseason. Still, Nicholson knows his team has yet to play a four-quarter game.

With postseason play here, that masterful performance could come in handy at the right time.

Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.