COLUMN: Picking out the winners on the Prep gridiron

By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
Aug. 27, 2004
For the 2004 high school football season, I'll be running this column on Fridays picking the winners in games involving area schools (at least until they are eliminated as the playoffs drag out).
You can play along. Each week, I'll show how I fared the previous week and the results for the year. You can pick the games along with me. If you get more correct than me for the season, that's great. That and a dollar bill will get you a soft drink in most places. If I beat you, have enough sense to keep it to yourself.
Meridian at Clinton
Last year's season-opening 14-7 loss to the Arrows at Ray Stadium was the Wildcats' most embarassing defeat in an 8-5 season. Clinton went on to finish 5-6 and did not make the make the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
If the Wildcats wish to retain their lofty preseason ranking No. 2 in Class 5A a victory tonight is mandatory.
The pick: Meridian
Columbus at Wayne County
As the area's premier football program in recent years, the War Eagles look to begin their bid for a third-straight championship season when they host Columbus in Waynesboro.
Wayne quarterback Drexler Johnson is another year older and should lead the offense to big things again this fall. One man gang Jerrell Powe will lead the defense. Columbus finished 7-4 in 2003.
The pick: Wayne County
Kosciusko
at Newton County
The Cougars lost 20-2 to the Whippets last year and Kosciusko returns quarterback Chris Herron, who gave them fits in the 2003 game.
Newton County's defense had trouble slowing down Union in the early going last week and long snap counts had the Cougars crossing the neutral zone with alarming regularity.
The pick: Kosciusko
Northeast Lauderdale at Northwest Rankin
Steve Nelson's Trojans lost 23-0 to the Cougars at home last year. Jeremy Bibbs returns for Northwest after rushing for 1,618 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns a year ago. Linebacker Demarco Clanton leads the Cougar defense.
The pick: Northwest Rankin
Choctaw Central
at Philadelphia
Choctaw Central first-year head coach Tony Stanford used to coach at Philadelphia. After being an assistant, he was 5-5 in 1986, his one year as head coach of the Tornadoes.
The Warriors are very inexperienced and Philadelphia isn't the team to be expecting to build cheery moments against.
Brian Anderson debuts as head coach of the Tornadoes and returns an entire offense line, and a big one at that, from last year.
The pick: Philadelphia
Enterprise at
Southeast Lauderdale
The Tigers have a new head coach in Ty Trahan. Many of the Division 5-3A coaches have said that Southeast has always had a lot of talent. Whether Trahan can focus that talent in one direction remains to be seen. The Tigers have only two wins in their last 24 games.
Joel Speed led Enterprise to a 25-13 win over the Tigers last year. This year's game should be a tad closer.
The pick: Enterprise
Newton at Forest
Forest lost 32-6 to Winona in a spring game (four quarters) in May. Last week, the 2003 Class 3A South State runner-up Bearcats rallied from a 21-7 deficit to knock off Winona 22-21 in a jamboree (two quarters) at Louisville. Forest also spanked Louisville 17-0 before the night was done.
Newton turned a muffed punt and a fumble return into two touchdowns in beating Union 14-0 last week before falling 7-0 to Newton County.
Forest head coach Brad Peterson was the head man at Newton from 1999-2002 going 26-19. Of the 26 wins, two were against Forest. He led Forest to a 24-0 blanking of the Tigers last year.
The pick: Forest
Kemper County at West Lowndes
Kemper finally decided to give its head coaching position to Bob Wilson after dragging it out nearly the entire summer. Call it a summer wasted when it comes to planning for the season, workouts, etc.
Wilson, who was 53-56 at Beulah Hubbard from 1979-89, 2-8 at Newton County in 1994, and 7-22 at Kemper County from 1996-98 may one day get the Kemper program turned around, but it likely won't be tonight against a Panther team that finished 7-5 last year with a 16-7 win over Kemper to its credit.
The pick: West Lowndes
Lamar School at Heritage Academy
Lamar won a state championship last year. Heritage played for one, losing to Simpson Academy.
Heritage has won 13 of the previous 15 meetings with Lamar. The Patriots have a new coach (former Louisville head man Lynn Moore) this year and apparently are abandoning their throw and throw some more offense of a year ago.
The pick: Lamar
Leake Academy at Newton County Academy
Leake edged Kirk Academy 7-6 last week, while NCA set a school record in its 64-20 rout of Hebron Christian School. Four Generals each rushed for over 100 yards. However, NCA quarterback Bo Diveley suffered a hairline fracture in his leg during the rout and is out this week. Colby Bishop fills in.
The pick: Leake
Hebron Christian School at Kemper Academy
Hebron gave up 64 points in a 64-20 loss to Newton County Academy last week. Kemper has Kyle Davis. Need I say more?
The pick: Kemper
Veritas School at Sylva-Bay Academy
The Saints of Sylva-Bay fell 16-8 to Winston Academy last week. They'll have no problem getting back to .500 tonight.
The pick: Sylva-Bay