PRZ Mississippi: Week 1 Gumption Games 6A-4A

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>6A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Madison Central vs West Jones</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Previous Match-Up:</strong> Madison Central took the victory in the 2021 season opener vs West Jones last year; the back and forth match-up ended 27-21 in favor of MC. They meet again in 2022 for the first game of the season with bragging rights on the line as implications. Madison Central is coming off of a State Championship victory last season, so I'm sure they would like to get this year off to a strong start against a respectable West Jones team. West Jones made an early exit to last year's 5A playoffs, losing in the second round to Laurel 30-20. Even after losing 15+ Seniors, the Mustangs are returning a talented group that is looking to make a statement win in Week 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Last Years Record:</strong> Madison Central - Overall:13-1 District: (6-1) West Jones - Overall: (9-3) District: (6-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Players to Watch: </strong> Madison Central - [player_tooltip player_id='108930' first='Vic' last='Sutton'] #9 QB | [player_tooltip player_id='108979' first='Isaiah' last='Spencer'] #11 WR | De'Andre Pullen #4 WR | [player_tooltip player_id='340827' first='Braxton' last='Barney'] #40 DE | [player_tooltip player_id='139634' first='Joe' last='Koury'] #55 C</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> West Jones: - [player_tooltip player_id='107298' first='Matthew' last='Nixon'] #8 WR | Mason Jenkins #9 DE/TE | Marlon Lindsey #7 QB | Jonathan Keys #90 DT/DE </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Clinton vs Ocean Springs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clinton 13 Ocean Springs 31</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This match up took place on Thursday Night of week 1 at Clinton, and the Arrows could not use the home field advantage to gain an edge. The Greyhounds are a pretty good looking team with a high powered offense led by highly talented recruit Brayson Hubbard. The Alabama commit accounted for nearly 300 yards and 3TDs as the Hounds cruised to an easy victory. He completed 17/18 passes and ended the game with a passer rating of 156. Ocean Springs was able to jump out to an early lead in the second and not look back. Ocean Springs talented Defense held their own too only allowing 13 points by the Arrows of Clinton. Clinton fought back and made the score respectable in the fourth, but overall the game was pretty one-sided after the first quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>5A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Lafayette vs Tupelo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Previous Match-Up:</strong> The last contest between these two 5A powers ended in a defensive minded fans dream. The final score was 5-3 in favor of Tupelo as no touchdowns were scored in the contest. This year's game will feature more of the same, but with a few more scoring possessions rather than field goals and a safety. The #10(Lafayette) &amp; #11(Tupelo) teams in the state will face off tonight in a game that has few implications, but plenty of talented prospects to look into. The game itself will be won in the trenches in my opinion, whomever can win the line of scrimmage will likely take the win home!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Last Years Record:</strong> Lafayette - Overall:10-3 District: (6-1) Tupelo - Overall: (7-4) District: (3-4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Players to Watch: </strong> Tupelo - [player_tooltip player_id='344100' first='Jeremiah' last='Harrell'] #3 QB | [player_tooltip player_id='107037' first='Zech' last='Pratt'] Jr. #4 DB | JaReylen McCoy # 99 DE | Isaiah Alexander #77 OL | LaAdrian Ray #91 DT | [player_tooltip player_id='139851' first='JQ' last='Witherspoon'] #1 WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> Lafayette - Will Dabney #12 TE/H | Trey Johnson #71 OL| Acy Payton# 64 OL | [player_tooltip player_id='1118985' first='Charlie' last='Fair'] #1 QB | [player_tooltip player_id='346403' first='Martrell' last='Wilbourn'] #10 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>West Point vs Louisville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Previous Match-Up:</strong> DNP in 2021-2022 Season. Though these teams did not have a contest in last year's season, the tension between these two programs has been boiling over for the past few years. Both schools are historically known as powerhouses in their respective Regions. They both are looking forward to de-throning one another and the opportunity to have a leg up in the barber shop talks for the next year. I'm looking forward to seeing which of these schools win out in this 4A-5A battle. West Point was poised for an undefeated, championship run type of season last year after going 11-0 in their first 11 games, but fell short in the championship game to Picayune. They return this season as a top 10 team in the state with a vengeance. Louisville did not enjoy the same type of success last season, but they did have a stellar 10-3 record and made it to the 3rd round of the playoffs. With that being said, there should be plenty of fireworks tonight in this one!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Last Years Record:</strong> Louisville - Overall:10-3 District: (4-1) West Point - Overall: (11-1) District: (7-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Players to Watch: </strong> Louisville - [player_tooltip player_id='340743' first='Gabriel' last='Moore'] #7 OLB | Key Jackson #8 ATH | Xavier Hunt #9 QB/WR | [player_tooltip player_id='340862' first='Christavious' last='Savior'] #4 DB | [player_tooltip player_id='506205' first='Kellon' last='Mann'] #80 TE </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> West Point - [player_tooltip player_id='503391' first='Coledan' last='Carter'] #12 ATH | Zayvian Lowery #55 DT| [player_tooltip player_id='344052' first='Kahnen' last='Daniels'] #9 QB/RB </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>4A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Mendenhall vs Columbia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Previous Match-Up:</strong> Mendenhall fell short to Columbia in last year's season opener 34-12. The game was pretty evenly matched for the first two quarters, but after halftime Columbia put up a 21 point third quarter that Mendenhall failed to recover from. Reigning 4A Champions Wildcats of Columbia are looking to return to glory after losing 16 Seniors from last years' team, and missing a few key pieces. However Mendenhall is in a similar situation after losing a small, but reliable senior class from last year and also a couple of key components to that offense. Their defense is going to be their back bone this year in the beginning stages of this season. This 4A on 4A action is the type of game that could shape the rest of the season for both of these programs, and I'm excited to see how both teams respond within the contest regardless of the outcome!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Last Years Record:</strong> Mendenhall - Overall: 9-4 District: (4-0) Columbia - Overall: (14-1) District: (5-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>Players to Watch: </strong> Mendenhall - [player_tooltip player_id='119162' first='Chancellor' last='Barron'] #7 S/RB | Tyree Bridges #3 OLB | Jeffrey Hobbs#9 OLB/SS | Alonzo Newsome #15 WR/FS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> Columbia - Will Dabney #12 TE/H | Trey Johnson #71 OL| Acy Payton# 64 OL | [player_tooltip player_id='1118985' first='Charlie' last='Fair'] #1 QB | [player_tooltip player_id='346403' first='Martrell' last='Wilbourn'] #10 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Itawamba AHS vs Amory</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Match-Up:</strong> Amory &amp; Itawamba AHS are schools separated by about 15 miles, and are used to seeing one another on a consistent basis. These programs have both enjoyed recent success and made deep playoffs runs last season. In last year's contest Itawamba AHS took the victory in a 35-14 season opening battle.&nbsp;&nbsp;Though IAHS, won the head to head match up and ended with a better record . Amory put together a slightly better overall season with a 3A championship appearance. Both of these programs are looking to improve from last year's product and make minor but necessary adjustments to get over the hump.&nbsp;This one will be one for the books, and plenty of defense!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Last Years Record:</strong> Itawamba AHS - 11-2 District (5-0) Amory - 10-4 District (4-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Itawamba AHS - Issac Smith #2 S | Ty Davis #7 QB | Zion Ashby #6 DB/WR | [player_tooltip player_id='379881' first='Bryson' last='Walters'] #11 LB/TE </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> Amory - [player_tooltip player_id='281786' first='Hayden' last='Dozier'] #78 OL/DL | [player_tooltip player_id='349437' first='Kobe' last='Williams'] #76 OL/DL | [player_tooltip player_id='108968' first='Charleston' last='French'] #9 RB | [player_tooltip player_id='286476' first='Elijah' last='Spratt'] #5 ATH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->