The end of the regular season of high school football is upon us for 2012 in Classes 2A, 3A, and 4A.
One more week left after this for 1A, 5A, 6A.
That certainly leaves plenty of room for important games and matchups in that tight window on the calendar as teams jockey for positioning in the playoff brackets.
With many different directions to gaze, what grabs my eyes eventually is in Division 1-5A – Oxford at West Point.
Both have been recognized as two of the top teams in the state, and this contest will decide the 1-5A title. Perhaps the biggest contest the rest of the state will notice early in the week in Northeast Mississippi.
West Point’s scheduled is littered with quality opponents – South Panola, Noxubee County, Starkville. Oxford got over a big mental hurdle with a victory over Lafayette.
More times than not, go with experience, at least in the first matchup.
Staying in perhaps one of the best stories of the season (Pat Byrd for Coach of the Year?), Saltillo is at Hernando. Let us assume Saltillo takes care of business, key game for them to reach the No. 3 seed are the Tigers at Lake Cormorant next week.
Some of the next big games involve mathematical calculations I am not prepared to type out (call me chicken, if you will). By game-time Friday, I am sure people with all teams will know what they need to know.
In 1-3A, Booneville is at Belmont.
In division, Booneville is 4-0, Belmont 3-1, and Ripley 3-1. If Belmont beats Booneville, and Ripley holds on against Alcorn Central, get out the calculator. Again, I like experience.
And, Holly Springs is at Kossuth to decide the No. 4 spot.
In 2-3A, Nettleton is at Mooreville. In the what-if department, if Mooreville wins, all types of complications involving potentially South Pontotoc and Mantachie as well.
For the No. 4 spot in this division, keep an eye on Holly Springs at Kossuth, both at 1-3 and tied for fourth.
In 1-2A, Bruce is at Calhoun City.
In division, Bruce is 4-0, Calhoun City is 3-1, and Baldwyn is 3-1. Rivalries tend to make objective thinking very blurry.
Again, if Calhoun City trips up Bruce, get out the calculator. Bruce might have the experience edge here as well.
Also for the No. 4 spot here, Walnut is at Okolona, with both at 1-3. Key game.
Oh, 4A.
In my favorite entertainer, 1-4A, I think the four teams have been decided – Itawamba AHS, Amory, Shannon and Corinth.
Perhaps the most interesting game of the week, though, is Corinth at Shannon. The winner is No. 3, the loser is No. 4.
But dig a little deeper. The loser gets Noxubee County, the beast of 4A in the North.
Just to touch on 2-4A, Lafayette is at North Pontotoc Thursday; and New Albany is at Lewisburg on Friday. Have fun what-ifing these.
Whew.
And in 1-1A for the No. 4 spot, Thrasher, Coldwater and H.W. Byers are all 3-3 and Biggersville is 2-4. And this is just for one spot.
Coldwater is at Biggersville this week, which could unjumble the situation.
David Wheeler has been contributing to the high school sports coverage of the Daily Journal since 1985.
