Baldwyn opened the season with a win, lost three straight and became more nationally known for a skunk on its field than locally for its football success.

The Bearcats (5-3) have since won four straight and didn’t allow Okolona to score through the final three quarters Friday.

Attention has turned from the skunk scare – which ESPN made famous after it cleared Baldwyn’s sidelines against Booneville – to the team being in the thick of a division race.

Coach Michael Gray wanted his Bearcats to celebrate Friday’s Division 1-2A win against Okolona, but not for long.

The coach and his quarterback, junior Corbin Scott, both had the same timetable in mind for enjoying the win against the Chieftains, 48 hours.

Scott said in a radio interview after the game that the fun from Friday would end today as prep turns to the team many believe to be a state finals favorite, Bruce.

“We’ve got a chance to win our division against a great ballclub,” Gray said. “They’re skilled at every position. We’ve got our work cut out for us but we get that opportunity now.”

Baldwyn moved back into the Journal’s Small School rankings this week and will face the team atop those rankings on the road Friday. Bruce (6-2) has a passing game led by senior quarterback Davis Brown and matchup problems in receivers Rashad Turner and Shaq Bush.

‘Very huge’

Both teams are 2-0 in division play. The Trojans are coming off a 68-0 win at Hatley.

“It’s huge. It’s very huge,” Baldwyn junior quarterback Corbin Scott said. “It’s going to be a big game.”

The teams split the series the last two seasons at Baldwyn and the Bearcats won at Bruce three years ago.

Baldwyn has been under the radar – admittedly the way Gray likes it – and has played without running back and defensive back Laquintez Upshaw since he injured his knee two weeks ago.

“We’ll get back to work Monday afternoon,” Gray said.

brandon.speck@journalinc.com

DAILY JOURNAL RANKINGS

(Updated each Monday)

Class 6A/5A LW

1. West Point (5-2) . . . . . . . . . . . 1

This week: at Saltillo

2. Oxford (7-0) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

This week: at Hernando

3. Saltillo (5-2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

This week: vs. West Point

Class 3A/4A LW

1. Itawamba AHS (7-0) . . . . . . . . 1

This week: at Pontotoc

2. Lafayette (7-1) . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

This week: at New Albany

3. Aberdeen (6-2) . . . . . . . . . . . 3

This week: at Mooreville

4. Amory (7-1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

This week: at Shannon

5. Houston (7-1) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

This week: at Noxubee County

Class 2A/1A LW

1. Bruce (6-2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

This week: vs. Baldwyn

2. Smithville (5-1) . . . . . . . . . . . 3

This week: at Houlka

3. Vardaman (4-3) . . . . . . . . . . . 2

This week: at Biggersville

4. Falkner (6-1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

This week: at Tupelo Christian

5. Baldwyn (5-3) . . . . . . . . . . . NR

This week: at Bruce

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