How They Fared

Last week: 23-2

Season: 244-53

Friday’s Games

H.W. Byers (3-7, 3-4) at Biggersville (2-7, 2-5)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Falkner 54, H.W. Byers 22; Coldwater 38, Biggersville 6. ... Division 1-1A game. ... Quantario Stigger had a 49-yard TD last week for Byers. ... Biggersville averages 150 yards passing, 158 yards rushing per game.

PREDICTION: Byers



Falkner (9-1, 6-1) at Smithville (8-1, 6-1)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Falkner 54, H.W. Byers 22; Smithville 54, Thrasher 18. ... Division 1-1A game. ... The winner gets to host a first-round state playoff game next week while the loser goes on the road. ... Falkner RB Jeramie Lawrence has rushed for 1,740 yards, 25 TD. ... Smithville RB J.T. Pitts scored on runs of 42 and 71 yards last week.

PREDICTION: Smithville

Houlka (2-8, 1-6) at Coldwater (6-4, 4-3)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Houlka 22, Benton County 18; Coldwater 38, Biggersville 6. ... Division 1-1A game. ... Houlka sophomore QB Wyatt Esterley has passed for 863 yards, 5 TD. ... R.J. Johnson leads the Wildcats in rushing with 654 yards, 4 TD.

PREDICTION: Coldwater

Oxford (9-1, 5-1) at Clarksdale (4-6, 2-4)

THE BUZZ: Last week – West Point 35, Oxford 21; Lake Cormorant 47, Clarksdale 7. ... Division 1-5A game. ... Oxford RB Jarius Barnes has rushed for 741 yards, 4 TD. ... Chargers QB Parker Adamson has passed for 1,807 yards, 16 TD.

PREDICTION: Oxford

Saltillo (6-4, 3-3) at Lake Cormorant (6-4, 3-3)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Saltillo 45, Hernando 28; Lake Cormorant 47, Clarksdale 7. ... Division 1-5A game. ... Saltillo QB Andrew Soper has passed for 1,467 yards, 16 TD and rushed for 919 yards, 10 TD. ... The Tigers can clinch a state playoffs berth with a win.

PREDICTION: Saltillo

Neshoba Central (5-5, 3-3) at Starkville (7-3, 6-0)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Starkville 34, Callaway 16; Neshoba Central 51, Lanier 8. ... Division 2-5A game. ... Starkville QB Gabe Myles has thrown seven TD passes in his last three games. ... The Yellow Jackets have already clinched the top seed in the division.

PREDICTION: Starkville



Tupelo (4-6, 2-4) at Olive Branch (9-1, 5-1)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Tupelo 31, Horn Lake 0; Olive Branch 16, Columbus 7. ... Division 1-6A game. ... Golden Wave needs a win and some help to reach the postseason. ... Tupelo LB James Gilleylen returned a pass interception 51 yards for a TD last week.

PREDICTION: Olive Branch

West Point (8-2, 6-0) at New Hope (3-7, 1-5)

THE BUZZ: Last week – West Point 35, Oxford 21; Center Hill 41, New Hope 0. ... Division 1-5A game. ... West Point QB Tez Lane rushed for 216 yards, 3 TD last week against Oxford. He also passed for a TD. ... The Green Wave has won six straight.

PREDICTION: West Point

Friday’s Playoff Games

Class 4A

Corinth (8-2) at Louisville (7-4)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Corinth 20, Shannon 14; Louisville 44, Leake Central 7. ... Corinth K John Michael McPhail kicked two FGs last week for 19 and 40 yards. ... Warriors average 220 yards per game rushing behind backs Robert White and Kendrick Williams.

PREDICTION: Louisville

Indianola Gentry (6-5) at New Albany (7-4)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Yazoo County 20, New Albany 6; New Albany 14, Lewisburg 13. ... Gentry RB Ladarius Brown has rushed for 951 yards, 5 TD. ... New Albany RB Boston Newsome has rushed for 1,753 yards, 19 TD.

PREDICTION: New Albany

Greenwood (5-5) at Lafayette (9-2)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Cleveland 29, Greenwood 23; Lafayette 38, North Pontotoc 0. ... Greenwood QB Kwadra Griggs has completed 158 of 289 passes for 2,399 yards, 23 TD. ... Lafayette RB D.K. Buford rushed for 134 yards, 2 TD last week. He has 792 rushing yards, 12 TD for season.

PREDICTION: Lafayette

Houston (9-2) at Amory (9-2)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Houston 38, Kosciusko 10; Amory 27, Pontotoc 14. ... Houston DE Chris Jones and NG Deontay Smith lead the team with 100-plus tackles each. ... Amory QB Jon David Poss has completed 152 of 234 passes for 2,358 yards, 20 TD.

PREDICTION: Houston

Kosciusko (4-7) at Itawamba AHS (10-0)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Houston 38, Kosciusko 10; Itawamba AHS 62, Tishomingo County 14. ... Itawamba packs a rushing punch with RB Ashton Shumpert – 1,346 yards, 21 TD – and Charles Moore – 1,217 yards, 17 TD. ... Indians QB Tyler Dossett has passed for 1,026 yards, 10 TD.

PREDICTION: IAHS

North Pontotoc (6-5) at Yazoo County (9-2)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Lafayette 38, North Pontotoc 0; Yazoo County 20, Gentry 6. ... Vikings QB Trey Jolly has completed 144 of 277 passes for 2,319 yards, 25 TD. ... Yazoo County averages 242 yards per game rushing.

PREDICTION: Yazoo County

Shannon (3-7) at Noxubee County (11-0)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Corinth 20, Shannon 14; Noxubee County 34, Caledonia 7. ... Red Raiders RB Diamante Pounds has rushed for 1,475 yards, 12 TD. He rushed for 164 yards, 1 TD last week against Corinth. ... Noxubee County RB Darrell Robinson has rushed for 1,400 yards.

PREDICTION: Noxubee County

Class 3A

Belmont (6-3) at McClain (8-3)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Booneville 28, Belmont 14; McClain 20, Ruleville Central 12. ... McClain QB Rotavious Thurmond has complied 2,500 yards total offense. ... Belmont RB Alexander Fancher has rushed for 1,200 yards, 21 TD.

PREDICTION: McClain

Mantachie (5-6) at Charleston (10-1)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Water Valley 56, Mantachie 3; Charleston 44, Independence 0. ... Charleston is averges 263 yards and 40 points per game. ... Dustin Carrell kicked a 26-yard FG last week for Mantachie.

PREDICTION: Charleston

Velma Jackson (3-8) at Ripley (7-4)

THE BUZZ: Last week – East Side 52, Velma Jackson 24; Ripley 60, Alcorn Central 6. ... Ripley QB Cody James has completed 108 of 190 passs for 1,963 yards, 19 TD. He has rushed for 804 yards on 131 carries and scored 14 TD.

PREDICTION: Ripley

Mooreville (5-6) at Byhalia (7-4)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Mooreville 50, Nettleton 15; Byhalia 25, North Panola 0. ... Moorevile compiled 537 yards total offense last week against Nettleton. ... Troopers QB Tay Rucker passed for two TDs against the Tigers.

PREDICTION: Byhalia

Kossuth (3-7) at Cleveland East Side (11-0)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Kossuth 28, Holly Springs 19; East Side 52, Velma Jackson 24. ... Kossuth QB Elijah Potts rushed for two TD and passed for one TD last week. ... East Side RB Quadre Butler has rushed for 1,434 yards, 13 TD.

PREDICTION: East Side

North Panola (5-5) at Water Valley (9-2)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Byhalia 25, North Panola 0; Water Valley 56, Mantachie 3. ... Water Valley LB Quinterrio Bailey has recorded 141 tackles. ... RB Brandon Bounds leads the Blue Devils’ ground game with 668 yards, 8 TD. ... Water Valley is coached by former Tupelo assistant and Bruce native Brad Embry.

PREDICTION: Water Valley

Ruleville (2-9) at Booneville (8-2)

THE BUZZ: Last week – McClain 20, Ruleville Central 12; Booneville 28, Belmont 14. ... Booneville RB Dejesuse Rogers rushed for 173 yards, 1 TD last week against Belmont. He has 1,236 rushing yards on 170 carries. ... Devils LB Jordan Miller leads team with 113 tackles.

PREDICTION: Booneville

Winona (5-6) at Aberdeen (9-2)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Winona 47, Palmer 14; Aberdeen 39, South Pontotoc 3. ... Aberdeen QB John Williams has completed 72 of 134 passes for 1,516 yards, 21 TD. He’s added 548 yards rushing, 7 TD.

PREDICTION: Aberdeen

Class 2A

Baldwyn (7-4) at South Delta (9-1)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Baldwyn 69, Hatley 0; South Delta 54, Marshall 0. ... Baldwyn DE Reggie Richey leads team with 103 tackles. ... South Delta has two 1,000-yard backs in Hakeem Johnson, 1,490 yards, 20 TD; and Terry Montgomery, 1,020 yards, 19 TD.

PREDICTION: South Delta

East Webster (8-3) at Strayhorn (9-2)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Eupora 37, East Webster 7; Strayhorn 16, Broad Street 12. ... East Webster is led by sophomore QB Deangelo Liggins who has passed for 440 yards, rushed for 834 yards, and accounted for 9 TD. ... Strayhorn RB Geg Caston has rushed for 1,200 yards.

PREDICTION: Strayhorn

Hamilton (4-7) at Mound Bayou JFK (8-3)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Ackerman 42, Hamilton 7; Mound Bayou JFK 50, West Tallahatchie 8. ... JFK RB Eugene Pruitt has rushed for 808 yards, 10 TD this season. ... Hamilton entered the playoffs a No. 4 seed.

PREDICTION: JFK

Simmons (4-6) at Bruce (8-3)

THE BUZZ: Last week – West Bolivar 44, Simmons 8; Calhoun City 15, Bruce 14. ... Simmons RB Tokir Winters has rushed for 651 yards, 4 TD. ... Bruce QB Davis Brown has completed 112 of 180 passes for 2,105 yards, 29 TD. ... WR Shaq Bush leads Trojans with 40 receptions, 768 yards, 7 TD.

PREDICTION: Bruce

O’Bannon (5-6) at Calhoun City (7-4)

THE BUZZ: Last week – O’Bannon 56, Riverside 20; Calhoun City 15, Bruce 14. ... Calhoun City QB Chakel Gates has completed 72 of 131 passes for 852 yards, 6 TD. He has rushed for 926 yards on 181 carries, 15 TD.

PREDICTION: Calhoun City

Okolona (4-7) at West Bolivar (9-2)

THE BUZZ: Last week – Okolona 62, Walnut 12; West Bolivar 44, Simmons 8. ... West Bolivar Dandy Dozen RB Kailo Moore has rushed for 663 yards, 11 TD. ... His teammate, Trevoris Hampton leads the team with 677 yards, 17 TD.

PREDICTION: West Bolivar