MS Power Rankings: Week 8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Top 5 teams (Starkville and Pearl) dropped games that they were favored in last week and as a result there is major shakeup in this week's edition of the power rankings:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 (Last Week #1) Oak Grove (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More of the same at the top of the rankings, although for the first real time this season the Warrior defense looked a bit suspect at Meridian last week. The offense was a different story.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: beat Meridian 45-35</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: vs. Brandon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 (#2) Louisville (7-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of defense, the Wildcats continue to play at another level as they have outscored opponents 91-6 in the last two weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: Beat Kosciusko 41-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: @ Caledonia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 (#5) Holmes County (7-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holmes pitched a shutout at Greenville last week and remainds unblemished. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: Beat Greenville 42-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: @ Gentry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 (#6) Ocean Springs (5-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Greyhounds continue to be what may be the surprise of 2023 so far. A real force down on the gulf coast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: Beat D'Iberville 43-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: @ Harrison Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 (#8) Northwest Rankin (5-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The win of week 7 belongs to the Cougars as they knocked off rival Pearl and as a result leap into the top 5 of the rankings for the first time this year. The road isn't getting any easier moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: Beat #8 Pearl 21-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: vs. Meridian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 (#7) Tupelo (5-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can't say enough about the rebound for the Golden Wave in a hostile environment in Madison last week after dropping two consecutive matchups beforehand. Everything they want is still on the table.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: Beat Madison Central 14-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: vs. Germantown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 (#9) West Jones (7-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, that 2-0 final score with Terry last week was actually on the gridiron...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: Beat Terry 2-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: BYE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 (#10) Picayune (4-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many have wondered if this Maroon Tide team could compete at the same level with [player_tooltip player_id='344053' first='Chris' last='Davis'] sidelined due to injury. Last week seems to have answered that question. Don't ever count them out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: Beat Pascagoula 51-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: vs. West Harrison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#9 (#4) Pearl (5-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week saw the Pirates drop a rivalry game to Northwest Rankin due mostly to four costly turnovers. They have to be careful this week to not get caught looking ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: lost to #5 Northwest Rankin 21-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: @ Petal</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#10. (NR) West Point (4-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't look now but the Green Wave is hitting their stride right on time once again. They will be favored the rest of the way out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week: Beat Corinth 49-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week: @ Clarksdale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->