MS Power Rankings: Final 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is always amazing how quickly the high school football season comes and goes. Check out the final edition of the 2023 power rankings below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 Louisville (15-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Never in a million years did I ever expect a 4A team to be #1 in our final rankings of the season, but here we are. The best defense in the state, hands down, belonged to the Wildcats from week one on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 Oak Grove (13-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors were our pre-season number 1 team in the state and now you can see why. Elite talent took over down the stretch on both sides of the ball. Congrats to Coach Causey and the 7A state champs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 West Jones (14-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Louisville does not have the best defense in the state in 2023 then it probably is West Jones. Outscoring opponents 449-76 on the year is just insane. The 6A state title belongs to the Mustangs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 West Point (11-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team that just got better and better as the year went on is the Green Wave as they destroyed Laurel for the 5A state title. [player_tooltip player_id='344052' first='Kahnen' last='Daniels'] Quinterion Evans put Point City on their backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Starkville (10-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things were shaky at times early in the season for the Yellowjackets, but come the end of the year things were clicking on all cylinders. The offensive talent led by [player_tooltip player_id='273258' first='Trey' last='Petty'] And [player_tooltip player_id='139597' first='Braylon' last='Burnside'] was extremely fun to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Brandon (10-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the south state championship the Dogs gave Oak Grove everything they wanted and then some, which lands them in the top spot of the teams that did not make the state championship games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Tupelo (9-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For much of the year the Golden Wave was thought to be the class of the north part of the state. If injuries had not mounted up down the stretch they definitely could have been. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Picayune (10-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ironically enough, much like just mentioned with Tupelo, if you take the injuries the Maroon Tide faced down the stretch of the season away then you would probably find them located in the top half of the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#9 Grenada (11-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it didn't necessarily show in the state title game, the Chargers were as hot as anybody in the state down the stretch of the campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#10 Winona (15-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dipping into the smaller schools, what a year for 3A Winona on their way to a state championship undefeated. The offense was among the most elite in the state led by [player_tooltip player_id='1121288' first='Chase' last='Richardson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->