6A Mississippi Playoff Bracket and Predictions

<!-- wp:image {"id":506333,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/2022-Mississippi-6A-Football-Championships-1024x1004.png" alt="" class="wp-image-506333"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Mississippi 6A Playoff Bracket presented by SBLive.com and the MHSAA<br></em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6A football playoffs kick off this week, and this year's title could go to absolutely anybody. With all the traditional powers entering the post season with at least one loss in the regular season, parity is incredibly even in the 2022 playoffs. This year features some of the most remarkable turnarounds, elite quarterback play, and special defensive units in recent memory. Going to be an exciting November to watch and remember.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's get started...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Quick Regular Season Info</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District Champs:</strong> Southaven, Tupelo, Brandon, Ocean Springs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Regular Season Records:</strong> Tupelo (10-0), Ocean Springs (10-0), Southaven (10-0), Brandon (9-1), Warren Central (9-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Passing Leader:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='273250' first='Landon' last='Varnes'], Brandon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rushing Leader:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='106164' first='D'Mariun' last='Perteet'], South Panola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Receiving Leader:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='107036' first='Lester' last='Miller'], Brandon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tackles Leader:</strong> Amarrien Bailey, Terry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sacks Leader:</strong> Christopher Thomas, DeSoto Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Interceptions Leader:</strong> Prince Cottonham, Gulfport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Field Goals Leader:</strong> Jonah Artman, Warren Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Playoff Predictions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best First Round Match Up:</strong> Southaven vs Starkville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleeper Teams:</strong> Clinton, Warren Central, Starkville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Four:</strong> Tupelo, Starkville, Ocean Springs, Warren Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Title Game:</strong> Tupelo vs Ocean Springs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022 6A State Champs:</strong> Tupelo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Notable Stories</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hancock's 1st Playoff Game Since 2017</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After winning enough district games to finish 4th, the Hawks have found themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Hancock finished the season 5-5 on the year, but all records reset come playoff time. With a strong junior class led by quarterback Dylan Moran and running back Zach Gullung, Hancock is poised for big things in their future and it all starts this Friday against Brandon High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elite Quarterback Play</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The quarterbacks left standing could make up the most talented quarterback group in recent Mississippi post season history. Starkville's [player_tooltip player_id='273258' first='Trey' last='Petty'], Tupelo's [player_tooltip player_id='344100' first='Jeremiah' last='Harrell'], Madison Central's [player_tooltip player_id='108930' first='Vic' last='Sutton'] (committed to Louisiana Tech), Brandon's [player_tooltip player_id='273250' first='Landon' last='Varnes'], Ocean Spring's [player_tooltip player_id='108938' first='Bray' last='Hubbard'] (committed to Alabama), and Oak Grove's AJ Maddox are all future quarterbacks on Saturdays. The fact that we potentially have the opportunity to watch many of them shoot it out during the playoffs is a football fan's dream. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tupelo Dominates Regular Season</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a season last year where they narrowly missed the playoffs, not a lot of people had the Golden Wave going 10-0 with a district championship crown this year. Tupelo's young talent over the last year is paying off in a huge way for them. Defenders [player_tooltip player_id='106778' first='Jamarion' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='413138' first='Tristan' last='Jernigan'], and [player_tooltip player_id='107037' first='Zech' last='Pratt'] Jr have been outstanding leaders of a defense that nobody has scored more than 17 points in a game on all season long. Starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='344100' first='Jeremiah' last='Harrell'] has made huge strides in his development and has paired up well with wide outs KD Gibson, Tyreke Darden, and [player_tooltip player_id='139851' first='JQ' last='Witherspoon'], while the running game has been running on all cylinders through junior Quay Middlebrooks. Is this the year for Tupelo to pull off a perfect season? It sure does feel like it with the talent they have. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Players to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139597' first='Braylon' last='Burnside'] | Starkville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best overall athletes in the state and class of 2024, [player_tooltip player_id='139597' first='Braylon' last='Burnside'] will be a game wrecker in the post season that both offensive and defensive coordinators will have to prepare for. At wide out, Burnside is a long and tough player that can go up top and snatch the ball at its highest point. In the secondary, Burnside brings unparalleled range and ball skills to a Starkville secondary that has given opposing passing attacks fits this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340824' first='Griffin' last='Berch'] | Clinton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The left tackle to a Clinton offensive line that has been rolling this season, [player_tooltip player_id='340824' first='Griffin' last='Berch'] has been one of the best offensive tackles in 6A this year. With his powerful lower body and good ability to change directions, Berch can handle the best of the defensive ends and outside linebackers in 6A. Games are won in the trenches in November and Clinton certainly has an edge with Berch at tackle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='107045' first='John' last='Slaughter'] | Southaven</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tennessee commit has been one of the most feared defensive backs in the state for a while now. Slaughter brings a ton of game changing ability to a Southaven defense that has been one of the best in the state this season. His ability to break on the football and make big time contact with the ball carrier make him one of the toughest defensive players to scheme around for offensive coordinators.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='106164' first='D'Mariun' last='Perteet']</strong> | South Panola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rushing for over 1,337 yards and 19 touchdowns, Perteet has been one of the best backs in Mississippi for a while now. Playing his best ball of his career with one of his best offensive lines, Perteet has playoff breakout potential this year. The weather *should* get colder, which means Perteet's bruising running style is going to make defenders thing twice about tackling him one on one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DE [player_tooltip player_id='350949' first='Ronnie' last='Blossom']</strong> | Warren Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren Central's defensive front has been one of the best in Mississippi this year. Sophomore defensive lineman has been one of the breakout talents on it, totaling double digit tackles for loss and 5 sacks throughout the regular season. Blossom has great length and explosion off the ball, making him a nightmare for any offensive tackle to slow down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='108979' first='Isaiah' last='Spencer'] | Madison Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2021 state champion wide out has been spectacular this regular season and knows a thing or two about post season play. Spencer is a tall, long, and fast receiver that can score from anywhere on the field. The uncommitted prospect has a great connection with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='108930' first='Vic' last='Sutton'] and the two lit up the playoffs last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RBs </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='273259' first='Nate' last='Blount IV'] and [player_tooltip player_id='108964' first='Jarvis' last='Durr'] | Brandon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dynamic set of running backs for Brandon have totaled 1,864 yards and 23 touchdowns throughout the regular season this year. Blount and Durr are Brandon's "Smash and Dash" tandem that have given the entire state fits for the last two years. With a now well established passing game clicking, Blount and Durr face lighter boxes and better match ups than they could've ever wanted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='340817' first='Jaylen' last='Aborom']</strong> | Oak Grove</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mississippi State commit has been a lockdown corner for his entire high school career, but has been one of the leading contributors on Oak Grove's offense this season. Aborom is a long and athletic player that takes away an entire side of the field on the defensive side of the football and can make some big time grabs on offense. With the rest of the defense and secondary clicking, Oak Grove is going to be a tough team to score on in the post season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->