Sep

Week 4 MPSS High School Football Rankings

By Austin Bishop & Bobby Gray
Mississippi Prep Sports Source

There are a pair of new No. 1s in the Mississippi Prep Sports Source rankings this week.
Wayne County re-took the top spot in MHSAA Class 5A, while Durant is the new No. 1 in what has become a wild and crazy MHSAA Class 1A.
While last week’s No. 1 in 5A, West Jones, didn’t lose, Wayne County continues to impress. The fact that Meridian High School, ranked No. 3 in 6A and the only team to beat the War Eagles in 2009, continues to show that it is a legitimate contender to repeat as State Champion in the state’s largest classification helps Wayne County’s cause.
The War Eagles beat George County 35-21 last week, while West Jones downed South Jones 27-13. West Point is No. 3, followed by Stone County and New Hope.
In 1A, Durant used a convincing 28-6 win over Coffeeville to take over the No. 1 spot. In a rare wrinkle, Coffeeville (2-2), climbed two spots to No. 3 despite the loss.
Vardaman is No. 2, Sebastopol No. 4 and Weir No. 5.
Madison Central holds a narrow edge over South Panola in 6A, while Meridian moves up a spot to three with a 21-6 win over Quitman. Oak Grove is No. 4 and Olive Branch is No. 5.
Noxubee County is No. 1 in 4A, followed by Itawamba AHS (which moved up three spots), Shannon, Quitman and Lafayette County.
Tylertown maintains a stranglehold in a very good Class 3A, while Philadelphia is second, Forest third, Morton fourth and Charleston fifth. Any of those from No. 2 to No. 6 (Perry Central) could legitimately claim to be second-best behind Tylertown.
West Bolivar, 4-0, continues to beat larger schools as it stays at No. 1 in Class 2A. the Eagles are followed by Ackerman, Eupora, Bassfield and Puckett.
Although Jackson Prep lost to Pearl 24-21 on Friday night, the Patriots remain as the top team in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Top 15 rankings. Washington School, which opened the season with a 7-0 loss to Prep, climbs to No. 2, followed by Lamar School, Madison-Ridgeland Academy and Jackson Academy. MRA defeated JA 22-21 on Friday night.

The RANKINGS/TOP 15
The Mississippi Prep Sports Source rankings are produced each week 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 received by more than 30 media outlets and is in its second year.

MHSAA 6A
1. Madison Central (4-0) — Beat Canton 43-0
2. South Panola (3-1) — Beat Clarksdale 42-14
3. Meridian (4-0) — Beat Quitman 21-6
4. Oak Grove (3-0) — Open
5. Olive Branch (3-0) — Beat Brentwood (Tenn.) 31-20
6 Clinton (4-0) —Beat Provine 27-6
7. Petal (1-2) —Beat Hattiesburg 22-14
8. Ocean Springs (2-1) — Open
9. Hattiesburg (2-2) — Lost to Petal 22-14
10. Gulfport (3-0) — Open
11. Southaven (3-0) — Beat Hernando 41-7
12. Harrison Central (3-0) — Beat Springfield (La.) 31-29
13. Brandon (3-1) — Beat Northwest Rankin 16-6
14. Warren Central (2-2) — Beat Natchez 26-23
15. Natchez (3-1) — Lost to Warren Central 26-23
Lurking Around:
George County (2-2), Biloxi (3-1), DeSoto Central (3-1), Hancock (2-2), Pascagoula (1-2).

MHSAA 5A
1. Wayne County (3-1) — Beat George County 35-21
2. West Jones (3-0) — Beat South Jones 27-13
3. West Point (2-1) — Beat Starkville 33-13
4. Stone County (3-1) —Beat West Harrison 45-7
5. New Hope (2-0) — Open �
6. Brookhaven (2-1) — Beat Lawrence County 27-20
7 Pearl (2-2) — Beat Jackson Prep 24-21
8. Moss Point (2-2) —Beat Pascagoula 29-15
9. Forest Hill (3-0) — Beat Lanier 31-6
10. Ridgeland (3-1) — Beat Kosciusko 37-6
11. Callaway (2-1) — Open
12. Picayune (0-2) — Open
13. Indianola Gentry (3-1) — Beat Humphreys County 46-16
14. Lanier (3-1) — Lost to Forest Hill 31-6
15. Gautier (1-2) — Lost to Columbia 20-13
Lurking Around: Hernando (1-1), Oxford (1-3), Saltillo (3-1), Provine (1-3), Vancleave (2-1)

MHSAA 4A
1. Noxubee County (4-0) —Beat Greenville-Weston 29-0
2. Itawamba AHS (4-0) — Beat Lafayette County 25-19
3. Shannon (3-0) — Beat Corinth 35-7
4. Quitman (3-1) — Lost to Meridian 21-6
5. Lafayette County (3-1) — Lost to Itawamba AHS 25-19
6 Forrest County AHS (4-0) — Beat St. Martin 25-22
7. Louisville (3-1) —Beat Tupelo 20-17
8. St. Stanislaus (3-1) — Beat Hancock 44-21
9. Greene County (3-1) — Beat East Central 14-7
10. Magee (2-1) — Beat Collins 12-6
11. Pontotoc (3-0) — Beat Ripley 21-7
12. Senatobia (4-0) —Beat Oxford 29-20
13. Columbia (2-2) — Beat Gautier 20-13
14. Lawrence County (1-2) — Lost to Brookhaven 27-20
15. North Pontotoc (4-0) — Beat South Pontotoc 34-12
Lurking Around:
Bay St. Louis (3-1), South Pike (1-2), West Lauderdale (2-2), Northeast Jones (0-3), Tunica Rosa Fort (3-1)

MHSAA 3A
1. Tylertown (4-0) — Beat Vicksburg 42-7
2. Philadelphia (4-0) —Beat West Lowndes 48-18
3. Forest (2-0) — Beat Kemper County 45-14
4. Morton (4-0) —Beat Newton 55-6
5. Charleston (4-0) — Beat Cleveland 34-19
6. Perry Central (4-0) —Beat Richton 59-6
7 Hazlehurst (3-1) — Beat Wingfield 39-16
8. Booneville (4-0) —Beat Saltillo 18-0
9. Franklin County (2-2) — Beat South Pike 37-14
10. Aberdeen (2-2) — Beat Amory 36-3
11. Velma Jackson (4-0) — Beat J.J. McClain 20-14
12. Raleigh (3-1) — Lost to Taylorsville 27-12
13. Choctaw Central (4-0) — Beat Cherokee (N.C.) 37-8
14. McLaurin (4-0) — Beat Richland 15-7
15. Ripley (1-2) — Lost to Pontotoc 21-7
Lurking Around:
Cleveland East Side (2-1), Corinth (1-2), Belmont (3-0), Ruleville Central (2-1), Nettleton (3-1)

MHSAA 2A
1. West Bolivar (4-0) — Beat Cleveland East Side 10-6
2 Ackerman (4-0) — Beat Houston 42-7
3. Eupora (4-0) — Beat Bruce 47-20
4. Bassfield (2-2) — Beat Northeast Jones 32-8
5. Puckett (3-1) — Beat East Marion 26-16
6. Loyd Star (4-0) — Beat Bogue Chitto 46-13
7. Scott Central (3-1) — Beat Carthage 39-6
8. Hollandale-Simmons (3-0) — Beat Leland 10-0
9. Taylorsville (3-1) —Beat Raleigh 35-12
10. North Forrest (3-1) — Lost to Purvis 29-16
11. Lumberton (4-0) —Beat Pass Christian 31-0
12. Mize (3-1) — Beat Dexter 42-6
13. East Marion (2-1) —Lost to Puckett 26-16
14. Pisgah (4-0) —Beat Copiah Academy 21-7
15. Walnut (3-0) — Beat Middleton (Tenn.) 47-6
Lurking Around:
Wesson (3-0), Calhoun City (2-2), Hinds AHS (3-1), West Lowndes (3-1), Enterprise-Clarke (3-0)

MHSAA 1A
1. Durant (3-1) — Beat Coffeeville 28-6
2. Vardaman (2-1) —Lost to Calhoun City 9-7
3. Coffeeville (2-2) — Lost to Durant 28-6
4. Sebastopol (2-1) — Open
5. Weir (2-1) — Beat Thomastown 44-0
6. Nanih Waiya (2-1) — Beat French Camp 27-0
7. Smithville (3-0) — Beat Mantachie 42-13
8. Shaw (2-1) — Beat Greenville St. Joe 52-17
9. South Leake (2-1) — Beat East Oktibbeha 34-6
10. Mount Olive (0-3) — Lost to Seminary 31-13
11. McAdams (2-0) — Open
12. Ray Brooks (1-2) — Beat Montgomery County 28-22
13. St. Aloysius (3-1) — Beat Madison St. Joe 34-14
14. Okolona (2-1) —Beat New Site 55-0
15. Drew (0-2) —Open
Lurking Around:
Bogue Chitto (1-3), Biggersville (2-1), Greenville St. Joe (2-2), French Camp (1-1), Ethel (2-1).

MAIS
1. Jackson Prep (3-1) — Lost to Pearl 24-21
2. Washington School (3-1) — Beat Magnolia Heights 31-24
3. Lamar School (4-0) — Beat Heritage 49-12
4. MRA (2-1) — Beat Jackson Academy 22-21
5. Jackson Academy (3-1) — Lost to MRA 22-21
6. Pillow Academy (3-1) — Beat Clarksdale Lee 48-21
7. Magnolia Heights (3-1) — Lost to Washington School 31-24
8. Centreville (3-1) —Beat Silliman 21-0
9. Central Private (4-0) — Beat Oak Forest 14-7
10 Oak Forest (2-2) — Lost to Central Private 14-7
11. Parklane (1-2) — Beat Starkville Academy 44-13
12. Leake Academy (3-0) —Beat Oak Hill 38-7
13. DeSoto School (3-0) — Open
14. Simpson County (4-0) — Beat Columbia Academy 14-7
15. Trinity Episcopal (4-0) —Beat Alpha Christian 48-0
Lurking Around:
North Delta (3-1), Heritage (3-1), Brookhaven Academy (3-0), Bowling Green (3-1), Clarksdale Lee (2-2).