FNL Must Watch Games: Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Football is finally here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 season kicks off this week with some of the best season openers in recent memory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where are the games to watch? We've got them for you in this week's edition of Friday Night Lights Must Watch Games!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quitman vs Meridian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Akylin Dear vs [player_tooltip player_id='139635' first='Daniel' last='Hill']. This season opener between Quitman and Meridian will feature two of the most explosive and dynamic running backs from their respective class, with Dear representing 2025 and Hill representing 2024. With these two on the field, many eyes around the state will be on this game. Opportunities to see players like Dear and Hill go head to head are rare. Outside of the obvious storyline, Quitman will be tasked with playing a tough 7A opponent to open up their season. Meridian starts the season on the road with a possible sleeper 4A contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clinton vs Warren Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Clinton moving up to 7A and Warren Central staying in 6A, this will be an enjoyable non-region game between two foes that stack up well with each other. Warren Central finished 10-2 on the season last year and will look to take home the 6A title with Starkville, Tupelo, and more now in 7A. Clinton played spoiler to several of those top dog teams last year and will look to start the season off hot yet again. This will be a gritty game won in the trenches as both sides have their strengths of their teams in the offensive and defensive lines. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Noxubee County vs Starkville</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of the state's best QB-WR duos will be facing off in an unexpected matchup to open the season. Although Starkville and Noxubee County are not far at all from one another, the two have not played in the regular season in a while. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='273258' first='Trey' last='Petty'] and WR [player_tooltip player_id='139597' first='Braylon' last='Burnside'] of Starkville will attempt to out-gun quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='648939' first='Kamario' last='Taylor'] and wide out [player_tooltip player_id='123210' first='Dequadrion' last='Welch'] of Noxubee County. Outside of the air match up, which will be a very special and memorable one, Starkville will showcase new running back transfer [player_tooltip player_id='346421' first='Jay' last='Stevenson'] in his first true game as a Yellow Jacket. Expecting a high scoring game with a lot of passing yardage involved in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">West Point vs Louisville</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both perennial state championship winners in their respective classifications, West Point and Louisville will square off in what could be the most physical game of the week. Led by Florida commit [player_tooltip player_id='344052' first='Kahnen' last='Daniels'], the Green Wave are rolling again and will commit to running the football over 80+% of the game. Louisville is known for producing high level defensive linemen and linebackers and this year is no different. Rarely do you get to see two teams with such winning tradition compete in a season opener, meaning that this should be one of the top games to watch in both 4A and 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Picayune vs Brandon</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Picayune's dominant run over the last 2+ years has been one for the record books. 7A's Brandon is a loaded team year in and year out. The two teams kick off their season with what should be the most exciting game of the South this Friday. Loaded with offensive skill players, Brandon's [player_tooltip player_id='273250' first='Landon' last='Varnes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273259' first='Nate' last='Blount IV'] will lead the charge against a defense that rarely allows for double digit points to be scored on it. With players like [player_tooltip player_id='344138' first='Jamonta' last='Waller'] on the line of scrimmage, Brandon could face some adversity trying to move the ball on the ground. In addition, Picayune's rushing attack offense spearheaded by [player_tooltip player_id='344053' first='Chris' last='Davis'] is one that takes a ton of skill to stop. All eyes will be on this one Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ocean Springs vs Madison Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although they have graduated a lot of senior talent, Ocean Springs is still one of the best programs on the coast of Mississippi. While last year had a heavy emphasis on the offense, more eyes could be on the defense this year with players like [player_tooltip player_id='346399' first='Trace' last='Carter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='282392' first='Eric' last='Moore Jr']. anchoring the box. Madison Central gears up for a a big season with a ton of returning starters and young talent that is finally emerging. With the Jaguars playing in the toughest division in the state, an opponent like Ocean Springs will be a great first test.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tupelo vs Whitehaven (TN)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An interesting cross-state game here - the Tupelo Golden Wave will take on Whitehaven out of Memphis, TN to open up regular season play on Saturday. Tupelo returns many of their starters from both sides of the ball that helped them gear up for a dominant 6A run last season. With a new, but familiar, road ahead in 7A this season, Tupelo will start things off with a tough opponent in Whitehaven. One of Memphis' most dominant high schools over the years, Whitehaven will bring a tough and explosive test to Tupelo early before their gauntlet of an in-state schedule begins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->