Prediction: Tupelo (Miss.) drops home opener, wins 7A title

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we continue to sweep through the Southeast and head out to Mississippi to checkout the state powerhouse Tupelo Golden Wave. The Golden Wave had themselves a banner year in 2024, winning the program’s sixth state championship after upending Brandon in the MHSAA Class 7A title game. With graduation hitting Tupelo more so than their adversaries, can they nab the program’s seventh championship this fall?

Player Spotlight: RB Jaeden Hill

Hard to not name the running back that could make the argument of being the best in the Southeast. Hill is committed to Mississippi State and heads into his senior season after a stellar ’24 campaign that matched the likes of any high school tailback. Last season, Hill carried the ball 208 times for 2,028 yards and found the endzone for 32 scores. With Tupelo breaking in a new starting quarterback this season, expect the Golden Wave to hand the ball off to Hill often, surpassing the his touches total from a year ago.

Others to watch: CB Iverson McCoy, DL JaReylan McCoy, CB Braylen Williams, LB Devontray Brewer, OT Antonio Berry, RB Kylan Bobo, LB Kaiden Buchanan, RB Tyson Hunter, WR Shamar Nichols

Season Prediction: 10-1

The Tupelo Golden Wave are as good as they come in the Magnolia State and with the roster they have returning, winning another state title is certainly well within reach. Only problem is getting by their nemesis Brandon, who should meet them at the end for the 7A crown. By now, you’ve seen the one loss we have for the Golden Wave and we going to say that happens at the beginning of the season. Right out of the gates, Tupelo starts 0-1 in a state title rematch. They bounce back to win ten straight and get into the playoffs and make a run back into the championship game and meet none other than Brandon. We have Tupelo winning the 7A state title, finishing 13-1 overall.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 29 – Brandon (Miss.) Bulldogs – L
A rematch of last year’s Class 7A state championship game. It doesn’t get any better than that, but its the Golden Wave taking the loss to start the season. First loss since Nov. 17, 2023.

Sept. 5 – Christ Presbyterian Academy (Tenn.) Lions – W
On the road in Tennessee in Week 2, Tupelo bounces back with a 35-21 victory.

Sept. 12 – Houston (Tenn.) Mustangs – W
Another Tennessee opponent and a second straight win for the Golden Wave as they defeat one of the Volunteer State’s better programs.

Sept. 19 – at Oxford (Miss.) Chargers – W
Facing a team out of Mississippi for the first time since the opener, the Golden Wave cruise to victory on the road.

Sept. 26 – West Point (Miss.) Green Wave – W
Battle of the Waves goes to Tupelo as they blow by West Point, 41-13.

Oct. 3 – Hartfield Academy (Miss.) Hawks – W
Second consecutive home game for the first time this season equals a fifth straight victory for the Golden Wave.

Oct. 10 – Southaven (Miss.) Chargers – W
The Chargers are no match for the Golden Wave as they rout Southaven under a running clock, 44-7.

Oct. 17 – at Hernando (Miss.) Tigers – W
Tupelo is literally on cruise control in this contest as they pickup win No. 7.

Oct. 24 – Horn Lake (Miss.) Eagles – W
Horn Lake is no match for Tupelo in another blowout victory.

Oct. 31 – Lewisburg (Miss.) Patriots – W
Only thing spooky about this one is if it ends in less than two and a half hours as the Golden Wave roll heading into the finale.

Nov. 6 – at DeSoto Central (Miss.) Jaguars – W
That’s 10 straight victories for Tupelo as they head into the Class 7A playoffs brimming with confidence.