By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Nov. 18, 2002
Ten area high school football teams are still in the running for state championships entering this week.
The first state championship to be handed out in 2002 will go to the Heidelberg Academy-Prentiss Christian School winner. The two meet for the Mississippi Private School Association's Academy A state title Thursday at 1 p.m. at Mississippi College's Robinson-Hale Stadium. Heidelberg is 12-1 as is Prentiss Christian. Heidelberg defeated Wayne Academy 6-0 last week, while Prentiss Christian beat Trinity Episcopal 30-8.
In Mississippi public school action on Friday night, Wayne County's 11-1 War Eagles host Gulfport, 8-3, in Class 5A. That winner will face the Brandon-Oak Grove winner for the Class 5A South State championship the following week. Wayne County routed Pascagoula 46-7 last week, while Gulfport took a 42-35 thriller over Hattiesburg.
All public school playoff games have 7 p.m. kickoffs.
In Class 4A, Louisville, 8-4, travels to Division 2-4A rival West Point, 10-2. That winner will play the Lafayette County-Grenada winner the following week for the Class 4A North State championship. Louisville knocked off Noxubee County 21-20 last week with West Point winning 6-0 at Jackson Provine.
In Class 3A, Newton County, 12-0, heads to Heidelberg, 10-2, for a rematch of their Division 5-3A championship game from three weeks ago. The Cougars won that matchup 24-6. That winner will face either Collins, 12-0, or Greene County, 12-0, for the Class 3A South State championship next week. Newton County held Franklin County to minus-10 yards in a 17-0 win last week. Heidelberg battled back from a 14-0 third quarter deficit to defeat Hazlehurst 16-14 on the road.
In Class 2A, Bay Springs, 8-4, travels to Taylorsville, 9-3, for a rematch with the Division 7-2A rival Tartars. That winner will face the St. John-Lumberton winner next week for the Class 2A South State title. Bay Springs ripped Enterprise 32-0 last week. Taylorsville blanked Seminary 29-0.
In Class 1A, all four remaining teams in the South half are from Region 3-1A. Union, 9-3, travels to Lake, 8-4, while Nanih Waiya, 9-3, hosts Puckett, 10-1. Those winners will play for the 1A South State championship on Nov. 27. Union beat Enterprise-Lincoln 41-20, Lake blanked Dexter 14-0, Nanih Waiya stunned Mize 28-0, and Puckett shut out St. Aloysius 14-0 in last week's games.
In Alabama, unbeaten Southern Choctaw, 11-0, will host Houston Academy, 11-1, in the quarterfinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs at 7 p.m.