If you want to know who the No. 1 prep football team in Mississippi is going into the 2010 season, you don’t have to look any further than Batesville.
South Panola, the defending MHSAA Class 6A Champions and the winners of state record eight titles overall, are the odds on favorite to end the year with the championship trophy once again.
Defending champions also hold preseason No. 1 rankings in Class 5A (West Point), Class 3A (Tylertown), Class 2A (Bassfield) and in the MAIS Overall (Jackson Academy) rankings.
Lafayette County has been tabbed the team to beat in Class 4A, with Durant holding down the preseason No. 1 spot in Class 1A.
While South Panola is unquestionably the team to beat, look for Meridian — ranked No. 2 in Class 6A — to be a real challenge for the Tigers. Taking the third spot in 6A is Petal, a team that should make up some major ground this year. Rounding out the top five are Clinton and Madison Central.
There is nothing really shocking about the top names in 5A, as West Jones is No. 2 behind West Point, followed by Wayne County. New Hope, last year’s big surprise, and Moss Point are fourth and fifth respectively.
Lafayette County opens the season on top of Class 4A, followed by perennial power Noxubee County, Shannon, Greene county and Forrest County AHS. Class 4A is the most fluid of all seven rankings categories, as multiple teams have a chance to come away with the championship trophy.
Tylertown holds an ever-so-slight edge over Aberdeen to open the year in Class 3A, followed by Charleston, Forest and Philadelphia.
Bassfield is looking for the repeat in Class 2A, as the South looks to be extremely strong at the top. Taylorsville is ranked second, followed by West Bolivar, North Forrest and Puckett.
While Mount Olive has a lot back from its 2009 championship, Durant still looks to be the team to beat. First-year head coach Sleepy Robinson looks to have the Tigers in Jackson in December once again.
Following Durant and No. 2-ranked Mount Olive are Nanih Waiya, Smithville and Sebastopol.
Jackson Academy opens the year as the top team in the MAIS, followed by arch-rival Jackson Prep, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Brookhaven Academy and Washington School.

THE RANKINGS/TOP 15
The Mississippi Prep Sports Source rankings are produced by Austin Bishop and Bobby Gray. Bishop has been covering high school sports in Mississippi since 1975, while Gray is a longtime follower of prep football in North Mississippi. The ranking service is in its third year and is subscribed to by more than 50 media outlets.

6A
1. South Panola (14-1)
2. Meridian (11-2)
3. Petal (7-5)
4. Clinton (11-2)
5. Madison Central (13-1)
6. Olive Branch (10-3)
7. Oak Grove (11-3)
8. Ocean Springs (11-3)
9. Southaven (9-3)
10. Natchez (9-5)
11. Gulfport (6-5)
12. Brandon (7-3)
13 Harrison Central (9-3)
14. Hancock (5-6)
15. George County (7-5)
Lurking Around:  Hattiesburg (6-6), Starkville (4-8), Columbus (3-8),  Northwest Rankin (4-8), Pascagoula (2-9).

5A
1. West Point (14-1)
2. West Jones (11-1)
3. Wayne County (11-4)
4. New Hope (11-2)
5. Moss Point (11-3)
6. Ridgeland (10-3)
7. Pearl (9-4)
8. Picayune (8-4)
9. Brookhaven (5-6)
10. Oxford (6-6)
11. Stone County (6-5)
12. Neshoba Central (5-6)
13. Callaway (8-4)
14. McComb (3-8)
15. Gautier (7-5)
Lurking Around: Forest Hill (5-6), Hernando (6-6), Provine (4-7), St. Martin (4-7), Yazoo City (3-8).

4A
1. Lafayette County (14-2)
2. Noxubee County (12-2)
3. Shannon (11-2)
4. Greene County (10-5)
5. Forrest County AHS (10-3)
6. West Lauderdale (9-3)
7. St. Stanislaus (14-1)
8. Itawamba AHS (13-1)
9. Purvis (6-5)
10. Lawrence County (9-4)
11. Pontotoc (8-3)
12. Senatobia (9-3)
13. Louisville (9-5)
14. J.J. McClain (4-8)
15. New Albany (6-6)
Lurking Around: Kosciusko (5-7), South Pike (4-7), Cleveland (8-5), Quitman (6-6), Northeast Lauderdale (6-5), North Pike (8-5), Magee (9-3)

3A
1. Tylertown (15-0)
2. Aberdeen (13-3)
3. Charleston (13-1)
4. Forest (10-2)
5. Philadelphia (11-3)
6. Morton (13-2)
7. Franklin County (10-4)
8. Velma Jackson (10-3)
9. Perry Central (12-1)
10. Belmont (9-4)
11. Water Valley (7-5)
12. Booneville (13-1)
14. South Delta (8-4)
15. Leflore County (8-3)
Lurking Around: Corinth (6-5), Nettleton (9-4), Kemper County (7-5), East Side (8-4), Collins (7-6)

2A
1. Bassfield (14-2)
2. Taylorsville (11-3)
3. West Bolivar (14-1)
4. North Forrest (10-3)
5. Puckett (11-2)
6. Hollandale-Simmons (10-2)
7. Baldwyn (7-6)
8. Eupora (10-2)
9. East Webster (7-7)
10. Calhoun City (7-6)
11. Loyd Star (10-2)
12. Wesson (8-3)
13. Lumberton (8-4)
14. Ackerman (15-1)
15. Pisgah (10-2)
Lurking Around: Mize (8-5), Union (7-5). Mound Bayou Kennedy (5-6), Pelahatchie (7-5), Greenville O’Bannon (6-6), Walnut (7-4).

1A
1. Durant (13-2)
2. Mount Olive (10-5)
3. Nanih Waiya (11-2)
4. Smithville (10-1)
5. Sebastopol (11-3)
6. Okolona (9-4)
7. Vardaman (9-4)
8. Coffeeville (8-5)
9. Weir (10-3)
10. French Camp (7-4)
11. Greenville St. Joe (6-5)
12. Shaw (6-4)
13. Bogue Chitto (5-7)
14. Ray Brooks (4-6)
15. South Leake (6-6)
Lurking Around: Wheeler (5-6), Natchez Cathedral (4-7), Dexter (4-7), Noxapater (4-7), West Oktibbeha (5-6).

MAIS OVERALL
1. Jackson Academy (12-1)
2. Jackson Prep (10-3)
3. MRA (6-5)
4. Brookhaven (15-0)
5. Washington School (10-2)
6. Simpson Academy (11-2)
7. Pillow Academy (9-3)
8. Trinity Episcopal (12-3)
9. Lamar School (12-2)
10. DeSoto School (13-1)
11. Winston Academy (-5)
12. Centreville (9-4)
13. Copiah Academy (6-6)
14. Magnolia Heights (6-4)
15. Parklane (7-4)
Lurking Around: River Oaks (11-2), Marshall (10-2), Clarksdale Lee (4-7), Presbyterian Christian (5-6), Leake Academy (7-4), Indianola Academy (7-5).

Rep Greg Snowden

MS House Rep Greg Snowden joins Bill and the Dog on The Morning Show and discusses Gov Barbour’s response to new federal education, jobs and Medicaid Assistance legislation. Click the link below to hear the conversation.

• Greg Snowden Interview

www.gregsnowden.com

Delbert Hoseman

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman joins Bill Smith and The Dog on The Morning Show and talks about Meridian’s new entertainment district, illegal immigration, voter ID and much more. Click the link below to listen to the interview.

• Delbert Hoseman Interview

Fredie Carmichael

Fredie Carmichael, Editor The Meridian Star and host of “Sunday Mornings with the Editor,”  fills in as co-host for the vacationing Dog. Click the links below to hear the segments.

• Fredie Carmichael part 1
• Fredie Carmichael part 2

www.meridianstar.com

Chris, along with Jacky Jack and Jody White, join Bill Smith and the Dog on The Morning Show and discusses his music career, the tribute from the Sucarnochee Revue and much more. Also, listen for moving performances by Jacky Jack and Jody White. Click the link below to hear the segment.

• Chris Ethridge Jacky Jack and Jody White

Hartley Peavey

Hartley Peavey and Betty Lou Jones join Bill Smith and Scott Gray on The Morning Show and talk about Sparkle and Twang: Marty Stuart’s American Musical Odyssey. The exhibit will be in Meridian, MS in the MSU Riley Center for Educational and Performing Arts July 10th through September 18th 2010. Click the link below to hear the conversation.

• Hartley Peavey and Betty Lou Jones

http://www.visitmississippi.org/events/sparkleandtwang.html

Wayman Newell

Lauderdale County Supervisor, Waymon Newell, joins Bill and the Dog on The Morning Show and discusses open and closed meetings, county debt, higher taxes and more. Click the link below to hear the interview.

• Wayman Newell Interview

Stanley Shannon

Lauderdale County Tax Collector, Stanley Shannon, joins Bill and the Dog in studio on The Morning Show. Mr Shannon is serving his fourth term as Tax Collector. Click the link below to listen.

• Stanley Shannon Interview

Leonard Van Slyke

Leonard Van Slyke, Hotline Attorney for the Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information, joins Fredie Carmichael and discusses open meetings law. Click the link below to hear the interview.

• Leonard Van Slyke Interview

The Mission of the Mississippi Center for Freedom of Public Information is to safeguard the freedoms that protect the public’s right to know about the public’s business.

The Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information web site www.mcfoi.org

Lt Gov Phil Bryant

Mississippi Lt Governor Phil Bryant joins Fredie Carmichael on Sunday Mornings with the Editor and discusses open meeting laws.

“If an informed citizenry is to meaningfully participate in government or at least understand why government acts affecting their daily lives are taken, the process of decision making as well as the end results must be conducted in full view of the governed.” Oklahoma Ass’n of Municipal Attorneys v. State, 577 P.2d 1310, 1313-14 (Okla. 1978)

• Phil Bryant Interview