8/22 Pearl Jamboree
It's always good to see my friend John Perry. Coach Perry had a great run at Kosciusko and I expected nothing less at Pearl. I didn't expect to see the Pirates win the Region this year, but they did in convincing fashion. What an amazing story and Pearl will certainly be a team to watch in the coming years as they become contenders once again.
I am not sure any team in the state is as loaded with talented juniors as Madison Central was. Peyton Johnson and Carlton Martin led an impressive crop all the way to the north state championship. If they work hard and stay healthy, they have a great chance to make it to the Big House next year.
Northeast Jones showed a lot of grit this year and turned in a 9-4 record in what might have been the most competitive region in the entire state. D'iberville just proved to be too much for them in the south state semi-finals.
8/29 Red Carpet Bowl
The folks in Vicksburg do a great job with this event and it is always on my calendar. You won't see better football in the opening week anywhere in the state and you get to see two games for the price of one.
This year Clarksdale and South Panola knocked off the hosts, but both games were entertaining.
This was my first chance to see South Panola sophomore wide receiver Nickloss Brassell. If he works hard, he will be a top prospect in two years.
I am looking forward to next year when Gulfport and Ocean Springs make the trip.
9/5 Callaway vs. Provine
The Jackson area schools are some of the most gracious hosts in the state and I always look forward to making new friends in the area.
This year Callaway beat city power Provine and made a step towards a brighter future. Junior quarterback Mark Thigpen was the hero this night and metro player of the year favorite Nickoe Whitley was lost for the year with a knee injury.
9/12 Bailey vs. Forest Hill
Mississippi is filled with great coaches who love to promote their players, but you would be hard pressed to find a coach more excited about his kids than Forest Hill's Mario Lane.
Coach Lane and Ole Miss commitment Emmanuel McCray won going away and ended up making the playoffs after winning just a couple of games the year before.
9/19 Gautier vs. Moss Point
Moss Point is another regular stop. Great football, great hospitality and it seems that everybody down there can tell you a story about local boys done good, Three Doors Down.
These two teams ended up finishing one two in the region with Gautier taking first, but this time out Moss Point got the better of the Gators.
9/26 Ocean Springs vs. Hancock
I have been to see the Greyhounds play four years in a row and Coach Todd Mangum is one of many personal favorites of mine.
OS is loaded with juniors and the Hounds should be state title contenders in 2009.
This was my first trip to the house that Favre built and I must admit to feeling a bit nostalgic about the visit. I will probably make that drive again next season.
10/3 Harrison Central vs. Gulfport
This was probably the best regular season game I got to see all year. A late run by Ricky Floyd put the Admirals on top, but the Rebels would not go quietly.
Aerion Williams led his team down the field in the final seconds to score only to see the extra point sail just wide.
I am not sure I felt worse for a kid all year than I did that night.
The ladies who work the concession stand there in Gulfport have the patience of Job and run that operation better than the assembly line workers of the auto industry.
10/10 Oak Grove vs. Meridian
My first trip back to the Ray since 1989 when my high school team played the Wildcats in soccer.
This is one of the best rivalries in the state. Make no mistake about it there is no love lost between the fans of either school.
Tyler Russell had a dream night as Meridian got the leg up in Region 3-5A. The game ended with the Meridian fans chanting "Oak Grove Who?" in unison.
10/17 Tylertown vs. Amite County
I was originally scheduled to take in D'iberville and St. Stanislaus, but a wreck on I-12 sent me in the opposite direction.
I got the chance to see Mississippi State commitment Gabriel Jackson and the Trojans take on the eventual 3A south champs.
The Tylertown players were among some of the friendliest players I met all season. It was pretty cool to get to see those same guys play for a state title a few weeks later.
10/24 Lawrence County vs. Forest Hill
My only return trip of the regular season took me back to Jackson to see Lawrence County and Kendrick Hardy against the Rebels/Patriots.
Lawrence County played an army of running backs it seemed and each one was just as talented as the one before him.
This was my first time to see Matthew Wells play for the Cougars and he is a name you may want to become pretty familiar with.
10/31 Canton vs. Lanier
Halloween night meant senior night for Lanier and they came out ready to play in front of a pretty sparse crowd as the first real cold front of the year rolled through.
Canton had been forced to forfeit their previous wins just a few days before this game, so I was anxious to see how motivated the team was when they teed it up.
Lanier won the game in a blow out, but Canton won the all important battle of the bands.
11/7 Southeast Lauderdale vs. Franklin County
The first round of the playoffs took me to Meadville to see the Bulldogs who always have a prospect in every class.
Jamie Collins led the way that night, but had plenty of help from the Hunt brothers and cousins.
Note to future travelers: If you miss the turn at the sign on the highway that says "Franklin County High School", you are going to have to go a couple of miles to turn around.
11/14 Quitman vs. D'iberville
Every time I go to D'iberville everybody I meet there treats me like one of their own. Everybody wants to sit and talk football and not just about their own team. Warrior fans are not just some of the friendliest fans, but some of the most knowledgeable.
I got to see Patrick Hearn of Quitman go head to head with Kevin Norwood all night. Hearn held his own, but Norwood and the Warriors advanced to the next round and eventually the state championship.
11/21 Franklin County vs. Columbia
Who says you can't go home? The south state semi-finals led me to a familiar location in my hometown of Columbia, MS. The game was just my second in that stadium since I walked out of there with my diploma in hand many years ago.
The warmth of familiar faces did little to help out in the frigid weather that covered most of the state that night.
An untimely penalty and a missed tackled made all the difference as Alex Smith scored the only touchdown of the night to led Franklin County into a rematch with Tylertown for the south state title.
11/28 Oak Grove vs. Meridian
The weather had been brutal all day and the field got a fresh drenching about ten minutes before kickoff.
The Warriors came to play, but the wet conditions provided an extra obstacle for the visitors. Oak Grove never seemed to get on track offensively.
Meridian was far from perfect, but the Wildcats made enough plays to put the game away and shutout Oak Grove for the first time that I can remember.
___________________________________
With the state championships now in the books, folks are already talking about next year.
I don't have an off season conditioning program to worry about, so I am getting ready for All-Star games and signing day.
Shortly after that we're into junior days, spring football and spring jamborees. Before you know it we get into summer camps and 7-on-7 tournaments.
There really isn't an off season anymore. There is just one continuous process and on going commitment from anyone who takes on the challenge of becoming a football player.
Before we all rush along to make our predictions for 2009 let us truly appreciate the season that was and honor the young men, their parents and coaches for the sacrifices they made so they could represent their communities on the field of play in a game we all love.
I would like to thank the hundreds of great high school coaches who do so much for so little and that work with us to help every player who has a real chance have a better chance.
Most importantly I would like thank all of the great high school players in the GREAT state of Mississippi for their hard work and sacrifice.
There is a special life out there for everyone of you if you work hard to find it. Nothing worth having will ever come easy, so don't take the easy way out.
Finally, I would like to challenge everyone involved with athletics in the state of Mississippi to work together to make it bigger and better than ever next year.
Worry less about protecting your turf and spend more time expanding it by putting the kids first. As adults our time under the lights has passed and we must work together to ensure the young people of today have a real chance at something special. I think they are worth the time and trouble. How about you?