Prep football on the rise in East Mississippi

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
November 21, 2003
Heidelberg Academy's Rebels won the MPSA Class A state football championship Thursday afternoon with a 19-14 victory over Trinity Episcopal Day School of Natchez at Mississippi College.
Lamar School's Raiders look to earn the right to be called state champion when they take on Madison-Ridgeland Academy for the Class AAA Division 2 title this afternoon at MC's Robinson-Hale Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. in Clinton. Both teams are 10-2.
While Heidelberg is old hat in winning state championships (Thursday's win was the Rebels' sixth), Lamar is making just its second title game appearance. The Raiders lost 12-8 to Strider Academy at Grey Cobb Field in the 1982 title game. Lamar hasn't gotten past the opening round since… until this year.
MRA is making its fifth appearance in a championship game. However, the Patriots are only 1-3 in their previous four appearances. Their lone championship came in 1992 with a 21-7 victory over Jackson Prep.
The Patriots lost 21-0 to Washington School in 1985, 38-16 to Pillow Academy in 1997, and 31-24 to Magnolia Heights School last year.
It's been a while
Believe it or not, the 8-4 Meridian Wildcats are hosting their first playoff game since 1996 tonight when they take on unbeaten Oak Grove, 12-0, at Ray Stadium.
The 96 Cats beat Gulfport 25-17 and Hattiesburg 25-20 in a pair of home games before losing 35-9 at Moss Point.
Meridian went to Moss Point again in 1998… and lost 27-7.
The Cats went to Moss Point again in 1999… and lost 17-3.
Meridian dropped a 42-35 shootout at Gulfport in 2000 and missed the playoffs in 2001 and 2002.
Oak Grove has a 3-0 series advantage over Meridian, winning 27-13 in 2001, 34-27 last year, and 28-21 this year.
The Meridian-Oak Grove winner will take on the Picayune-Northwest Rankin survivor next week for the Class 5A South State title.
It might be, it could be
Old rivals Louisville and Noxubee County could tangle for the Class 4A North State title if they get past tonight's opponents. Louisville, 9-3, hosts Oxford, 8-4, while Noxubee County, 9-3, gets a much tougher draw against Jackson Provine, 11-1, at Hughes Field in Jackson.
Another rematch
Enterprise, 8-4, gets a return match with Taylorsville tonight when the Bulldogs travel to Smith County to take on the 9-3 Tartars. Taylorsville won the first meeting which was also played at Taylorsville.
Enterprise nipped Gulfport St. John 20-19 last week.
Also in the Class 2A playoffs, Heidelberg, 8-4, hosts unbeaten Seminary, 12-0, with an Enterprise-Heidelberg rematch next week a possibility.
Heidelberg knocked off Perry Central 24-22 last week, despite losing four of its six fumbles.
All four Division 7-2A teams (Enterprise, Taylorsville, Seminary, and Heidelberg) made it to the third round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.
For a little drive
Scott Central's 10-1 Rebels host Bogue Chitto, 9-3, and Puckett, 10-1, goes to Mize, 10-2, in Class 1A action.
Puckett racked up 42 points in the first half of last week's 56-7 rout of Mount Olive. The Wolves also had a 42-point half in last year's second round playoff win at Nanih Waiya.
Gas er up
Folks who would like to see South Panola's 12-0 juggernaut should consider the drive to West Point tonight as the state's No. 1 team takes on the 9-3 Green Wave.
A Class 3A dandy at Leakesville has Greene County, 8-4, hosting two-time defending 3A state champion Collins, 11-1.
Collins held West Lauderdale to 94 total yards last week in a 25-6 win.