A new era is here in high school football…

[Faustdog]

The Jackson area private schools have been in an arms race for the last 20 years.

MRA defeats defending 7A champ Oak Grove 51-17.

There is more D1 talent at Hartfield than Madison Central, Brandon, “Point City”, Columbus, Hattiesburg, or Clinton.

Prep is still Prep, and maybe JA has finally found a football coach.

The best football in the state, bar none, is played in MAIS 6A.

 

[BirdPuppy]

Not sure Oak Grove is who we thought they were this year. I think Tupelo has at least 6 D1 guys who are Juniors/Seniors.

ETA: Looks like Tupelo has 8 guys with D1 offers—quite stout.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

I’m not all that surprised that MRA won— the margin of victory though…

Oak Grove lost to Hattiesburg last week so I didn’t think they’re as good as they were last year.

 

[SteelCurtain74]

I met an Oak Grove cheerleader yesterday while I was at Renaissance with my daughter and asked her if Hattiesburg was that good. She said she didn't know why they lost to them but did mention their quarterback is a sophomore. I think they were probably ranked a little high to start the season.

I thought MRA would give them a game but didn't expect what occurred. I heard MRA had over 300 yards passing in the first half.

 

[CoastTrash]

It just means more in MAIS

 

[patdog]

I’m not all that surprised that MRA won— the margin of victory though…

Oak Grove lost to Hattiesburg last week so I didn’t think they’re as good as they were last year.

I think Oak Grove & Brandon are just down this year. But no doubt the Big 3 MAIS schools are good. West jones dominated Prep pretty good last year, but I expect a better game this year.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

I think Oak Grove & Brandon are just down this year. But no doubt the Big 3 MAIS schools are good. West jones dominated Prep pretty good last year, but I expect a better game this year.

When do they play?

 

[patdog]

When do they play?

Two weeks. At Prep. Should be a good one.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Two weeks. At Prep. Should be a good one.

Geez. I’d love to see it — got friends with kids and grandkids at both schools — but I’ve committed to see Sturgill Simpson that same night at the Brandon Amphitheater.

 

[DawgieDust]

Yep on Faustdogs take. Oak Grove won 7A last year, and MRA took them overtime. MRA was not even in the MAIS championship game last year. MAIS usually outperforms MHSAA when matched up head-to-head on the field. Small private school Tri County drubbed a decent NE Lauderdale 42-7 this year too. Parklane Academy beat a good Choctaw County 22-21. But it's been like that ever since MAIS started playing public schools. Prep beat Pearl 50- 0 a decade ago and came close to 2014 championship game participant Oxford High School 26-21. Those Oxford teams usually beat West Point by 3 or 4 touchdowns.

 

[blacklistedbully]

Subject line made me think this was about MSU football.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

…Small private school Tri County drubbed a decent NE Lauderdale 42-7 this year too….

I agree with a lot of what you wrote except for that snippet.

NE Lauderdale’s football history — to put it kindly — ain’t great.

They’ve only won 40 percent of the games they’ve played as well as 4 playoff games in over 40 years and haven’t won their district (they did win an old subdistrict in ‘81) even once during that course of time.

Mississippi High School Football History

The History of high school football in Mississippi

www.ahsfhs.org

 

[bulldoghair]

I think Oak Grove & Brandon are just down this year. But no doubt the Big 3 MAIS schools are good. West jones dominated Prep pretty good last year, but I expect a better game this year.

West Jones just recently lost their returning QB for the year.

 

[patdog]

West Jones just recently lost their returning QB for the year.

That will hurt. Their RB did have 361 yards rushing vs Wayne Co Friday night. But can’t be that 1-dimensional vs good teams (still not used to Wayne Co sucking but they have for a few years now).

 

[bulldoghair]

That will hurt. Their RB did have 361 yards rushing vs Wayne Co Friday night. But can’t be that 1-dimensional vs good teams (still not used to Wayne Co sucking but they have for a few years now).

True. But there aren’t enough good teams in 6a ball, especially in the south, so it doesn’t really matter. Same as last year, not enough good teams in 5a and 6a. The extra division has diluted the competition especially in those two. With that said, their running back might be the best or second best in the state. He’s at least 220 and is pretty fast especially for that size. He’s a load and looks to be in shape this year. The only other good team in the south 6a that is pretty good is Hattiesburg.

 

[TimberBeast]

And Coast football is still Coast football. Nothing going on down here.

 

[bulldoghair]

Recounting for classifications next year. Anyone got any insight as to possible division changes?

 

[patdog]

Recounting for classifications next year. Anyone got any insight as to possible division changes?

Someone posted a pretty good breakdown a few weeks ago. I think Pearl dropping to 6A, with Forest Hill (picked up a lot of the Wingfield students) & Hancock moving up to 7A.

 

[Faustdog]

Jackson Prep - 21
West Jones - 0
End of the first quarter

 

[SteelCurtain74]

35-0 Prep right before half.

 

[GloryDawg]

Anytime a private school beat a big public school everyone starts to throw out excuses for the public school. Oak Grove is a big school and MRA is not as big. It's one school beat another school. That's it.

 

[ETK99]

You're comparing a school that can recruit to one that can't. Taylorsville, a 2A school smoked Prep few years ago.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Anytime a private school beat a big public school everyone starts to throw out excuses for the public school. Oak Grove is a big school and MRA is not as big. It's one school beat another school. That's it.

Not true, and I’m a supporter of private schools. If you don’t have a defined district, you have an advantage that must be accounted for.

 

[GloryDawg]

Not true, and I’m a supporter of private schools. If you don’t have a defined district, you have an advantage that must be accounted for

A group of people here are saying Oak Groove must be down to get beat by a private school. The other group are saying MRA recruits. Has nothing to do with district. Private schools don't have districts. They have rules to keep private schools from taking from other private schools. There is way more talent at Oak Grove than MRA. How often does a starter from Madison Central leave to go to MRA? Not saying it doesn't happen but the guys they get from public schools are usually the second and third team guys. My son has been out of Brandon Highschool two years but when he was there, I had my ear to the ground following Brandon football. Kids did leave to go East Rankin or Hartfield. They were not starters. Most of the really good athletes that come out of MRA have been going to MRA since first grade. MRA just beat them. One school beating another school.

 

[patdog]

A group of people here are saying Oak Groove must be down to get beat by a private school. The other group are saying MRA recruits. Has nothing to do with district. Private schools don't have districts. They have rules to keep private schools from taking from other private schools. There is way more talent at Oak Grove than MRA. How often does a starter from Madison Central leave to go to MRA? Not saying it doesn't happen but the guys they get from public schools are usually the second and third team guys. My son has been out of Brandon Highschool two years but when he was there, I had my ear to the ground following Brandon football. Kids did leave to go East Rankin or Hartfield. They were not starters. Most of the really good athletes that come out of MRA have been going to MRA since first grade. MRA just beat them. One school beating another school.

A little of both. Both Oak Grove and West Jones are down a little bit this year. Oak Grove lost to Hattiesburg for the first time in forever. And both Oak Grove and West Jones beat MRA and Prep last year (WJ held Prep to 135 yards of total offense and -61 yards rushing). But MRA and Prep are both legitimately really good teams. Prep impressed me last year even losing 24-3.

 

[dog12]

A little of both. Both Oak Grove and West Jones are down a little bit this year. Oak Grove lost to Hattiesburg for the first time in forever. And both Oak Grove and West Jones beat MRA and Prep last year (WJ held Prep to 135 yards of total offense and -61 yards rushing). But MRA and Prep are both legitimately really good teams. Prep impressed me last year even losing 24-3.

I was in Mississippi recently, and I went to the Prep-JA football game. The athleticism on both teams was impressive.

I thought the Prep QB looked really good . . . good enough to play in college. Is he being recruited by anyone?

 

[Faustdog]

I was in Mississippi recently, and I went to the Prep-JA football game. The athleticism on both teams was impressive.

I thought the Prep QB looked really good . . . good enough to play in college. Is he being recruited by anyone?

He is really good. I think height would be the holdback for D1 offers.

 

[11thEagleFan]

Times must have truly changed since I played MS high school football in the early 2000s. I played for a pretty good 4A school and I can say with confidence that we would’ve smoked any private school in Mississippi.

 

[LOTRGOTDAWGFAN]

West Jones smoked prep last year and got smoked last night. It was west jones first loss since 2022 season. I was watching the game on YouTube last night and gotta say, those Chrut reffs were throwing questionable flags all night.