COLUMN: Predictions keep coming after best week this season

By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
Nov. 5, 2004
Maybe the planets were aligned just right last Friday night. For whatever reason, the weekly high school football picks had their best showing of the year, missing only one game out of 14.
Clarkdale spoiled the run at perfection as the Bulldogs rallied from a 27-13 halftime deficit to defeat Newton 34-27.
For the year, there have been 102 hits, 20 misses and one tie for an accuracy percentage of 83.3.
This week's picks primarily consist of playoff games along with a regular season contest that should take on a playoff atmosphere when Northwest Rankin comes to Ray Stadium to face Meridian for the Region 3-5A championship.
With area teams now facing those from other parts of the state, the picks will be much tougher from here on out, but here goes:
Hinds AHS at Clarkdale
In Class 2A, Clarkdale will be in just its second playoff game ever when the 4-5 Bulldogs host the 7-3 War Dawgs of Hinds AHS.
The key to Clarkdale's success will be whether the Bulldogs can slow down Hinds' Austin Divinity, who already has 22 touchdowns to his credit.
The pick: Hinds AHS
Madison St. Joseph
at Philadelphia
The Bruins of St. Joe are 5-5 after going 1-8 a year ago, so they're happy. Philadelphia is 9-1, losing only to unbeaten Forest. But the Tornadoes aren't happy as they haven't won a playoff game since 2001.
They should be happy tonight. It could be a long game, however, as Bruins' quarterback Joseph Shirley was 16-of-30 passing in last week's 34-7 loss to St. Andrew's.
The pick: Philadelphia
Newton at McLaurin
The 3-7 Tigers of Newton find a 9-1 litter of Tigers awaiting them at McLaurin. McLaurin's only loss was a 22-21 thriller to unbeaten St. Andrew's.
The pick: McLaurin
Lake at St. Andrew's
Despite a 2-8 overall record, the Hornets of Lake made the playoffs with wins over Kemper County and Williams-Sullivan.
David Bradberry's Saints of St. Andrew's are 10-0 and plan on making a long playoff run.
The pick: St. Andrew's
Heidelberg at Perry Central
The Oilers run into a tough Perry Central team that is 9-1 at New Augusta. Heidelberg fell to 6-4 with last week's 14-0 loss to Taylorsville.
A year ago, Heidelberg defeated Perry 28-26 in the playoffs when the Bulldogs missed a late field goal.
The pick: Perry Central
Enterprise at Lumberton
Enterprise (5-5) had it rough last week in a 60-6 loss to Seminary. That's the bad news, part I. The second part is that 9-1 Lumberton's only loss was to Seminary by a 29-28 margin.
The pick: Lumberton
Collins at Newton County
In Class 3A, the Tigers bring an 8-2 record to Decatur, while the Cougars are 7-3.
Newton County got no bargain when Collins lost 13-12 to Prentiss without head coach Bruce Merchant, who was ill at the time.
The pick: Collins
West Lauderdale
at Prentiss
Also in Class 3A, the Knights take a 7-3 record to Prentiss where the 8-2 Bulldogs await.
Prentiss can be explosive as evident by a five-touchdown second quarter in last week's 43-21 win over Raleigh. The Bulldogs have racked up 40 or more points in three of their last four games. Defensively, Prentiss held Raleigh to just 98 total yards.
Still, in games with common opponents Morton and Forest, the Knights have fared much better.
The pick: West Lauderdale
Lawrence County at Wayne County
In Class 4A, the War Eagles are a perfect 10-0, while Lawrence County's Cougars limp in with a 5-5 mark that includes a 40-0 whipping from Brookhaven last week.
The pick: Wayne County
River Oaks School at Wayne Academy
The Jaguars look to break in a few wild ponies when the Mustangs from Monroe, La., come to Waynesboro for the MPSA Class A second-round matchup. Both teams have 9-2 records.
The pick: Wayne Academy
Leake Academy at North Delta
The 7-2 Rebels of Leake finished runner-up to unbeaten Simpson Academy in the MPSA 2-AA league. North Delta's Green Wave is 11-0. After tonight, Leake can say it played the best two teams in the state in Class AA.
The pick: North Delta
Northwest Rankin at Meridian
The Region 3-5A crown goes to the winner. Don't be surprised if the two meet again in three weeks for the 5A South State championship. Meridian is 8-0-1, while Northwest is 9-1, losing only to Madison Central early in the year.
Meridian holds a 5-0 series advantage.
The pick: Meridian
Lamar at Hillcrest
Ordinarily, one would probably go with Hillcrest, but several of the Cougars were banged up in a wreck while returning from an Ole Miss football game. While most are back playing, Hillcrest has lost its last four games.
The pick: Lamar