Football playoffs on tap
By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
Nov. 5, 2002
It's playoff time for those qualifying teams in MHSAA classes 4A, 3A, 2A and MPSA AA. The playoffs enter the second week for both Wayne Academy and Heidelberg in MPSA class A action.
Thirteen area teams will be taking part in playoff football on Friday night, while others will begin their postseason experience the following week.
The Clarkdale Bulldogs are in the playoffs for the first time in school history. Not only that, but you can call the Bulldogs Region 5-2A champs after Newton came back to beat previously unbeaten Scott Central 28-27 last Friday night.
Region 5-2A has been matched-up with Region 7 and this has produced some interesting East Mississippi match-ups.
Clarkdale (7-3) will host 6-4 Bay Springs on Friday in a first round game.
Enterprise (8-2), the runner-up from Region 7-2A, will host Newton (8-2) in a rematch from a week five meeting. Newton won the game 21-8 in Newton. This time, the game will be in Enterprise.
Seminary (8-2) heads to Scott Central (9-1) in a tough first round match-up. Seminary handed Clarkdale its first loss and had reeled off eight straight wins before losing both to Enterprise and Taylorsville. Taylorsville (7-3), the region 7 champ, hosts 5-5 South Leake.
In 3A, unbeaten Newton County, fresh off winning its fourth straight region football title with a 24-6 win at Heidelberg, hosts North Pike (4-6) in the first round at Decatur.
Heidelberg (8-2) will host Wilkinson County (6-3) in a first round game. Philadelphia and quarterback Tyler Threadgill head to Hazlehurst (8-2). Carthage (4-6) takes on Region 7 champ Franklin County (8-2).
The Region 6-3A teams will have defending 3A Champion Collins (10-0) at home against Prentiss (6-4). Velma Jackson (9-1) hosts Columbia (5-5) while Morton (6-4) heads to Forrest AHS (7-3) and Forest (3-7) takes on Greene County (10-0).
In 4A, Quitman (4-6) travels to Lucedale to take on 8-2 George County. Northeast Jones (5-5) battles Laurel (8-2) while West Jones (10-0) hosts Poplarville.
Noxubee County, the champs from Region 2-4A, hosts Lanier. Louisville (6-4) heads to Pearl while Jim Hill (9-1) takes on West Point (9-1).
In MPSA AA, Leake Academy (8-3) is at Marshall Academy in Holly Springs.
Heidelberg Academy and Wayne Academy were both impressive in winning first round MPSA A games at home last Friday. But this week, both hit the road for challenging contests.
Wayne beat Mississippi County Christian out of Arkansas 32-0 in Waynesboro. This week, the 7-3 Jaguars head to Webb to battle unbeaten and 11-0 Strider Academy. Strider whipped East Holmes 43-8.
Heidelberg moved to 10-1 on the year after whipping Central Holmes 49-7. The Rebels now face a road date at DeSoto Academy in West Helena, Ark.
Classes 5A, 1A and the MPSA AAA, all will play a final week of regular season games. Meridian heads to Hattiesburg while Lamar School travels to Hillcrest.
