Familiar foes meet in Class 1A

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Nov. 13, 2003
It's deja vu all over again for the Nanih Waiya Warriors as they travel to Mize for a first round Class 1A playoff game Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Warriors upset Mize a year ago. This year finds both teams with the same seeding they had last fall, Mize at No. 1 from Region 4-1A and Nanih Waiya No. 4 from Region 3-1A.
Nanih Waiya is 8-3, while Mize is 9-2.
Nanih Waiya played in a much tougher region, however, with the likes of Scott Central, Puckett, South Leake and a 6-4 Union team that didn't make the postseason.
Mize's losses were to Raleigh and Taylorsville in the first two weeks of the season.
Clarksdale
at Louisville
Louisville ended Amory's dominance over the Wildcats with a 20-7 road win last week and will host Clarksdale Friday at R.E. Hinze Stadium. Louisville comes in 8-3, while Clarksdale is 9-2.
Amory had beaten the Wildcats three straight times before Louisville ended the streak Friday at Longenecker Field.
Interim head coach John Mullins remains unbeaten at 3-0 since taking over following the firing of Joe Gant.
Amory was hampered by the loss of quarterback Matthew Randle late in the third quarter with a head injury, after a hit by Louisville's Deshun Yarbrough.
Meanwhile, Louisville had big plays to take the lead early. Tailback Brandon Dotson scored on a 34-yard run and quarterback Barry Doss scored on a 26-yard keeper in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.
Louisville's defense didn't allow a first down until midway through the third quarter.
Another big play sealed the win as Doss hit Dotson on a 56-yard scoring pass.
Ken Coleman had 101 yards on 18 carries for the Wildcats.
Jeremy Williams had 218 yards on 24 carries as Clarksdale whipped Indianola Gentry 45-14.
Pontotoc
at Noxubee County
Noxubee County used a late goalline stand, while Pontotoc racked up 58 points as both teams advanced to Friday's 4A second-round contest at Tiger Stadium in Macon.
Noxubee County comes in 8-3, while Pontotoc is 10-1.
The Tigers stopped Neshoba Central with a fumble recovery at the Noxubee 7 on the next to last play of the game to preserve a 13-6 win last week.
Meanwhile, Pontotoc quarterback Michael Penson ran 11 times for 145 yards and three touchdowns and completed 11-of-25 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the Warriors' 58-21 rout of Jackson Lanier.
Lanier actually led 9-0 before the Warriors got their offense cranked up.
Pontotoc led 34-9 by halftime.
Penson had plenty of help as senior running back Marcus Thomas had 121 yards and a touchdown on eight carries and senior wide receiver Grayson Pickett had six receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
Neshoba Central
The Rockets finished 5-6 with their 13-6 loss at Noxubee County. Kevin Marshall had 109 yards on 24 carries for Neshoba.
Philadelphia
The Tornadoes closed out at 8-3 following their 16-0 loss to Gulfport St. John.
Noxapater
The Tigers ended their year at 4-7 with a 43-21 loss at Puckett.
Kemper County
The Wildcats finished 2-9 after their 58-0 beating at Lumberton.