Top 10 Games of Week 1

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Mississippi high school football kicks off in full force this week! We are officially back in action. This week, our eyes will be all over the place, but have identified these 10 games as the best matchups in the state. Check them out below!

MRA vs Oakland (TN)

MRA hits the road this week to take on Tennessee 6A powerhouse Oakland High School. MRA comes into the game with a 1-1 record, losing to Greenville Christian in their season opener. Oakland enters 1-0 off of a big blowout against Hendersonville. Oakland’s strong offensive attack is led by senior running back and Georgia commit Jordan James and Miami wide receiver commit Isaiah Horton. This dangerous 1-2 punch is responsible for the majority of Oakland’s scoring, but their offensive line is deadly too. MRA’s QB John White, LB Stone Blanton Stone Blanton 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Madison-Ridgeland Academy | 2022 State MS , and WR Davis Dalton Davis Dalton 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Madison-Ridgeland Academy | 2022 State MS will all have to be on their A-game to get this one done. Exciting matchup with a ton of talent on the field.

Hernando vs Neshoba Central

Two of the state’s best quarterbacks face off in week one of the regular season. Originally, we weren’t supposed to get this matchup, but due to some scheduling conflicts, the game was set earlier this week. Southern Miss commit Zach Wilcke Zach Wilcke 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Hernando | 2022 State MS enters his senior year with lots of talent returning around him, and Mississippi Gulf Coast commit Eli Anderson Eli Anderson 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Neshoba Central | 2022 State MS does as well. This game will be explosive with lots of offense. If you like watching big plays, stay tuned for this Friday.

Columbia vs Mendenhall

Any game that involves Alabama commit Jaheim Oatis Jaheim Oatis 6'4" | 345 lbs | DL Columbia | 2022 State MS in it is bound to draw some attention. Mendenhall enters the year with a team loaded full of young talent. Junior quarterback DK Jenkins DK Jenkins 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH St. Martin | 2023 State MS will be put to the test this week – can he handle the pressure from a loaded Columbia front seven? Columbia’s senior running back Omar Johnson Omar Johnson 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Columbia | 2022 State MS will be looking to put some of his doubters to rest. Intriguing matchup to keep an eye on. State semifinalist vs a team that could be a serious contender this year or next.

Brandon vs Oxford

This matchup will be the first time in history where these two schools have played. Both schools are talked about for state titles each season, and Oxford enters with one under their belt after 2019. This game will feature two well disciplined teams who will fight to the very end. Expecting the trench play to be the deciding factor.

Provine vs Gautier

Provine enters the season after taking a year off due to COVID-19. Starting edge rusher and Mississippi State commit Donterry Russell Donterry Russell 6'4" | 190 lbs | DL Provine | 2022 State MS will take on Ole Miss commit Bryson Hurst Bryson Hurst 6'6" | 320 lbs | OL Gautier | 2022 State MS . This is certainly a matchup we should see for the next 4 years, so it will be exciting to watch it start at the high school level this season. Gautier shifted to an air raid offense this summer and junior quarterback Kaden Irving Kaden Irving 6'2" | 215 lbs | QB Gautier | 2023 State MS is bound to give teams fits in it. Provine will present a lot of challenges to Gautier due to the unknown.

Tupelo vs Lafayette

This could be the state’s best matchup of the week. Tueplo enters the season returning lots of core talent, but will be playing a new quarterback in replace of their graduating senior. Lafayette looks like one of the teams to beat and boasts a loaded defense filled with college level talent. Southern Miss commits DJ Burgess DJ Burgess 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Lafayette County | 2022 State MS and Mario Wilbourn Mario Wilbourn 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Lafayette County | 2022 State MS will look to challenge national recruit and tackle Zay Alexander Zay Alexander 6'6" | 315 lbs | OL Tupelo | 2023 State MS in the trenches. Although this is a 6A vs 5A matchup, we could be watching two of the state’s best teams play against each other in week one. This one will come down to whoever can turn the ball over less and manage the clock well.

West Point vs Louisville

The perineal state championship winner versus last year’s state championship winner. These two teams are a HS football fan’s dream of watching. West Point brings back a loaded running attack headed by RB Cameron Young Cameron Young 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB West Point | 2022 State MS , while Louisville loses many of their key defensive linemen from last season. Last time these two played, Louisville took home the W 38-28. This year, West Point will look to win this heavily contested season opener and get back on track to bringing home the state title again. Exciting matchup that will have a lot of points scored in it.

Wesson vs Tylertown

Wesson quarterback Will Loy Will Loy 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Wesson Attendance Center | 2023 State MS was one of the best pure passers in Mississippi last season and will look to open things up in a big way against Tylertown. On Tylertown’s offense, Ole Miss commit Jeremiah Dillon Jeremiah Dillon 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR/TE Parklane Academy | 2022 State MS and Kentucky commit Jordan Anthony Jordan Anthony 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB/TE Tylertown | 2022 State MS will try to score from anywhere on the field. These two make up one of the fastest wide receiver tandems in the state and probably the country. Defensive back Chris Davis Chris Davis 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Wesson | 2023 State MS and the Wesson secondary will have their hands full trying to guard these two. Looking for this to be an absolute shootout, and a fun one at that.

Clinton vs Ocean Springs

These two teams haven’t played each other since 1993, but boy are we ready for this game. Ocean Springs brings one of the most talented defensive back groups in the state to play this season led by safety Avery Carter Avery Carter 6'5" | 185 lbs | DB Ocean Springs | 2022 State MS . Last year, this team was a first round exit in the playoffs and will look to make a deeper run this season. Clinton, the 6A semifinalist, will look to continue on their success and make a serious run at a 6A title. Tons of talent on the field this week, and this is one of the best games to watch.

Choctaw County vs Winona

This game is featuring two of the best runningbacks in the state – Antonio Kennedy Antonio Kennedy 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Choctaw County | 2023 State MS and Deriaun Townsend Deriaun Townsend 5'9" | 200 lbs | RB Winona | 2022 State MS . Both backs are dynamic in the open field and are hard to get a hand on when they get to full speed. These teams almost mirror one another’s playstyles offensively. Gonna be a lot of rushing in this football game. If you’re a big fan of the pass, this one isn’t for you! Going to come down to whoever can get a big defensive stop on a short yardage down.