PRZ Mississippi: Week 3 Games with Gumption 6A-4A

6A   Tupelo (2-0) vs Corinth (2-0)   Previous Match-Up: Last year's contest between these two programs was a fairly lop-sided affair that resulted in Tupelo getting the win 56-0. The Warriors of Corinth are returning a team with better talent and more experience this season. They have 15 Seniors who all remember that embarrassing loss from their last meeting, and they all have a sour taste in their mouth from that game that left them a bit salty. After starting the season out with two victories, they are hoping that their momentum and spite yield results that are different from last years. This year's match-up will be slightly more closely contested with plenty of fireworks on offense. Tupelo has a talented group of student-athletes on defense whom have not allowed a point scored on them all season, so I'm excited to see how Corinth will attempt to break that trend. I predict this game to be a tough battle that is close for the first two quarters, but Tupelo will be too much for the Warriors and get the win 42-20.   -Last Years Record:  Tupelo – Overall: 7-4 District: (3-4) | Corinth – Overall: (2-8) District: (1-4)   Players to Watch: Tupelo – [player_tooltip player_id='344100' first='Jeremiah' last='Harrell'] #3 QB | [player_tooltip player_id='107037' first='Zech' last='Pratt'] Jr. #4 DB | [player_tooltip player_id='139851' first='JQ' last='Witherspoon'] #1 WR | Tristain Jernigan #11 LB | LaAdrian Ray #91 DT | [player_tooltip player_id='108897' first='Zay' last='Alexander'] #77 OT   Corinth – [player_tooltip player_id='107031' first='Chris' last='Rodgers'] #14 TE/OLB | Jay Cummings #44 LB | [player_tooltip player_id='124000' first='Brawner' last='Cregeen'] #7 QB | Tyvondre Kirksey #70 OL/DL | Eli Burciaga #25 K     Columbia (2-0) vs Petal (2-0)   Previous Match-Up: This will likely be one of the best match-ups of the week as Columbia faces Petal. These two teams faced off last year in a close game that ended up with a score of 14-7 in favor of Petal. The reigning 4A State Champions(Columbia) were granted their only loss of the season last year by Petal, and I'm all too sure that they remember the team that prevented them from completing a perfect season. This game features several student-athletes with the potential to play after their senior year's. In my opinion it will be another close game with a lot of defense. I predict that whichever team wins the turnover battle and capitalizes off of those turnovers is who'll take the victory. I believe Petal will do so and get their second victory in a row over Columbia 34-28.   Last Years Record:  Columbia - Overall: (14-1) District: (5-0) | Petal – Overall: (4-7) District: (1-6)   Players to Watch: 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']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/martrell-wilbourn/"></a> #10 LB   Petal - [player_tooltip player_id='114386' first='Deljay' last='Bailey'] #7 QB | Mason Clinton #95 DT | Amari Butler #2 CB | [player_tooltip player_id='106311' first='Kelton' last='Mickell'] #90 DE | [player_tooltip player_id='139611' first='Skylar' last='Husband'] #5 CB     5A   Provine (2-0) vs Callaway (2-0)   Previous Match-Up: This rematch from last year's Week 3 match up is set to be a good one. Provine and Callaway are notoriously known as schools that are revered as basketball schools, but this year they both have pretty respectable football programs that started off their seasons' at 2-0. Last year in this long lived rivalry Callaway took the victory over the rams 14-12. This year's game will be another closely contested battle, and it will be won by the team who can prevent the other from getting the run established. Both of these teams have threats to pass the ball, so that's why running the ball and creating pace on offense will be important. Callaway and Provine are also pretty decent when it comes to the defensive box, with that being said it is another game that will need to be won in trenches.   Last Years Record:  Provine – Overall: (4-6) District: (3-5) | Callaway – Overall: (3-7) District: (2-6)   Players to Watch: Provine – Tommy Kelly Jr. #8 LB | [player_tooltip player_id='108976' first='Daniel' last='Smith'] #18 WR | Carlando Crump #6 WR | Jadarious Sherman #44 DT | [player_tooltip player_id='346402' first='Braiden' last='Clayborn'] #19 OLB/DE   Callaway – Kedarius Wade #10 WR | [player_tooltip player_id='340869' first='Chris' last='Brown'] #11 DE | Jamarion Bowling #0 ATH | Jamar Chapman #1 FS | [player_tooltip player_id='344026' first='Jeremy' last='Scott'] #6 WR | Rkhyzon Cleveland #3 WR     Gulfport (2-0) vs Picayune (2-0)   Previous Match-Up: Last year's contest between these two teams ended with the 5A State Champions taking the sight edge over Gulfport 35-21. This year's match up will feature a highly touted Picayune team that is poised for yet another championship run. That backfield for Picayune is dangerous and it will take a great effort from Gulfport on the defensive end to stifle them, let alone shut them down. Gulfport has a poised offense, with a few weapons. The will be able to move the ball and stretch the field vertically and horizontally. These weapons will need to show up in great fashion to keep this game interesting, but I see Picayune being to much for the Admirals in the end. Picayune will take the win 35-20.   Last Years Record:  Gulfport – Overall: 8-5 District: (5-2) | Picayune – Overall: (14-1) District: (7-0)   Players to Watch: Gulfport – Jacob Palazzo #3 QB | Gavin Brown #7 RB | Tavaris Henshaw #4 WR | [player_tooltip player_id='344140' first='Damon' last='Felder'] II #5 DB | Ladarius Jordan #74 OL   Picayune – [player_tooltip player_id='108971' first='Dante' last='Dowdell'] #2 RB | [player_tooltip player_id='344053' first='Chris' last='Davis'] #6 RB | [player_tooltip player_id='344138' first='Jamonta' last='Waller'] #11 DE | Darnell Smith #41 HB/FB | [player_tooltip player_id='379149' first='Amarion' last='Tyson'] #29 LB     4A   West Lauderadale (2-0) vs Meridian (1-1)   Previous Match-Up: This cross county rivalry has surprisingly only been played 5 times and Meridian has won 80% of these matchups. However, West Lauderdale was able to capture a win in a close one last year in shootout fashion 45-42. Both of West Lauderdale's first couple games of the season were handled pretty easily, but this will be their first true test of the season. Meridian is a team loaded with talented players; some of which will likely cause matchup problems for Knights of West Lauderdale. I'm anxious to see how Jordan Gowdy and his defense will fair against Meridian's passing attack. On the flip side, West Lauderdale is a team that had rushed for over 220 yards in both of their first games, with 8 TDs, averaging almost 6 yards a carry. This game will be another closely contested battle, but I believe the home team will take the edge. Meridian will win 41-28.   Last Years Record: West Lauderdale – Overall: 10-2 District: (5-0) | Meridian – Overall: (5-7) District: (2-5)   Players to Watch: West Lauderdale – Jordan Gowdy #8 DE | Caleb Collins #25 RB | Jackson Parker #5 QB | Zach Simpson #77 OT | Cooper Luke #25 WR   Meridian – [player_tooltip player_id='139635' first='Daniel' last='Hill'] #3 WR | Quindarrius Brown #16 WR | Christan Jones #33 OLB | Eddie Bennett #54 OL/DL | Fernando Atterberry Jr #1 WR | Tylan Cole #44 DE     Mendenhall (1-1) vs Laurel (3-0)   Previous Match-Up: Mendenhall faces Laurel this week; a team they lost a close game to last year 21-24. Mendenhall is a talented team that has one of the toughest schedules in the state this year. After losing to a good Columbia team in Week 1 they bounced back in Week 2 vs their rival Magee, bludgeoning the Trojans 34-0. This will be yet another tough opponent listed on their schedule as they face the Golden Tornadoes of Laurel. Both of these teams are programs looking to make a deep playoff push this season, and rightfully so with all of the exceptional student-athletes each team has in the foal. Mendenhall is looking for a statement win vs a more than worthy 5A opponent, and Laurel wants to prove that they are as good as people suspect with another solid win over a respectable team. This will be a tough game that is physical and fast on both sides of the football. Mendenhall will get the upset and win it 28-20.   Last Years Record: Mendenhall– Overall: 9-4 District: (4-0) | Laurel – Overall: (10-4) District: (5-2)   Players to Watch: Mendenhall – Walter Owens #4 WR | [player_tooltip player_id='119162' first='Chancellor' last='Barron']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/chancellor-barron/"></a> #7 ATH | Tyree Bridges #3 OLB/SS | Jeffrey Hobbs #9 OLB/SS | Alonzo Newsome #15 WR/FS | [player_tooltip player_id='139636' first='Jay' last='Ulmer'] #1 SS/RB   Laurel – [player_tooltip player_id='106163' first='Malik' last='Ellis']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/malik-ellis/"></a> #67 OT | [player_tooltip player_id='108898' first='Malachi' last='Breland']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/malachi-breland/"></a> #71 OT | Anthony Rogers #12 DB | Caden Arrington #6 RB | La'Troy MCurdy #7 TE/SS | [player_tooltip player_id='106773' first='Jeremy' last='Porter'] #4 OLB