MS Top 5 Games of the Week: Week 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we roll into week 4 there is no shortage of premier matchups. Rivalry games, non-division matchups and everything in between is on deck.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Louisville @ #2 Starkville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jackets and the Wildcats have been a matchup that is looked forward to yearly for seemingly forever and this year's edition is no different. Last year's contest was a thriller to the very end with Starkville winning a one point game, 21-20. Both teams went on to win state titles and both teams are without a doubt in the hunt again this year. What will the heralded Wildcat defense have to say about [player_tooltip player_id='273258' first='Trey' last='Petty'], [player_tooltip player_id='139597' first='Braylon' last='Burnside'] and Josh Stevenson?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 Madison Central @ Northwest Rankin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madison Central has been a staple in our power rankings from the very beginning and the Cougars of Northwest Rankin have been right on the edge looking in. A bit of a rivalry feel will be on display Friday night in Rankin county. Both teams are coming off tough non-division matchups last week with the Jags beating Gulfport on the road and Northwest Rankin dropping a matchup to Ocean Springs in which they led at one point by three scores. Expect a defensive battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madison Ridgeland Academy @ #1 Oak Grove</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The atypical private vs. public school matchup happens to feature what is most likely the number 1 teams in each respected class. In what may be the most interesting match of the week, both sides will get to determine where they stand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Picayune @ #8 Gulfport</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another top 10 battle taking place down on the coast. Two potential favorites in the south half of their respective classifications. Stars will be all over the field with Picayune's [player_tooltip player_id='344053' first='Chris' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='616691' first='Niquis' last='Ratcliff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='344138' first='Jamonta' last='Waller'] and Gulfport's Nico Williams, [player_tooltip player_id='346398' first='Kai' last='McClendon'] and others. The matchup to watch will be the high flying offense of the Admirals against the stout defense of the Maroon Tide.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbia @ Jefferson Davis County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams have toyed on the fringe of our overall power rankings so far this season and both plan on having a say in the state championship race in 4A and 3A. [player_tooltip player_id='346332' first='Amarion' last='Fortenberry'] is worth the price of admission for Columbia as well as the group of runnings backs from Jeff Davis County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->