Just three games into the regular season and Newton County Academy will play its most important game of the season this week.
The Generals limp into this week’s matchup with rival Sylva Bay with an 0-2 mark and have struggled mightily on offense. The Generals lost 9-7 to Oak Hill last week and lost 29-14 in week one to Winston Academy.
“We moved the ball good at times but have to be more consistent on the offensive line,” NCA coach Rob Roberts said. “We tried to spread the ball and run but missed the blocks. We have to keep on going and working on getting better. If we can get better up front, I think we will be fine.”
On the other hand, Sylva Bay is off to a 2-0 start under former East Central Community College coach Terry Underwood. The Saints have been one of the surprise teams in Class AA this season after opening up with a 17-14 win at traditional power Tri-County. Then last week, the Saints beat Winston Academy 6-0.
“They are not bad but not as good as I was thinking,” Roberts said. “They only had about 25 players but they have a quarterback who runs the ball well. Winston did a good job of containing him. He turned the ball over four time and carries it like a loaf of bread. If we can force some turnovers, we will have a chance. We just have to eliminate the penalties and get a lot better this week.”
Last year, NCA beat Sylva Bay 35-12 en route to the district championship. The winner of this week’s game is in the driver’s seat for the district championship.
Union at Noxapater
A pair of 1-1 teams will meet on Friday night in one of the county’s most entertaining series.
Union comes in 1-1 after a season-opening win over Choctaw Central but followed that up with a loss to Nanih Waiya.
The Tigers come in 1-1 as well after losing to St. Andrews in the season opener. They bounced back and beat J.Z. George 26-18 last week.
“I have watched them and they are a good team,” Union coach Brad Breland said. “At this stage though, I’m just wanting us to get better and us to improve. I think we can play with anybody on our schedule. I can do a lot of stuff but I can’t do it for them.”
Last year, Union beat Noxapater 22-20 in the last seconds.
Scott Central at County
The Cougars enter week three of the Bobby Bass era with a stern test against Class 2A power Scott Central.
After a 45-19 loss to Neshoba Central in which the Rockets ran at will against the Cougars, Bass is concerned with Scott Central, who comes in with a 2-0 record. The Rebels have opened the season with a 43-14 win over Enterprise and a 41-7 win over Morton.
“They probably have more athletes than most 4A teams,” Bass said. “To me, they are very comparable to the really good Bassfield teams, except they are bigger than Bassfield up front. They have skill and speed everywhere. You wouldn’t think they are a 2A school just looking at them on the field. And they are physical as well. We have to be prepared for how physical they are going to be. It’s going to be the same kind of game that it was last week. I have to do a better job of getting them prepared for how physical they will be this week.”
Last year, the Rebels crushed the Cougars 58-0.
Clarkdale at Lake
The Hornets enter week three feeling a little bit better about themselves after a 45-7 win over Sebastopol to even their record at 1-1 on the season.
Clarkdale enters the game with an 0-2 mark, having lost 38-0 to Sebastopol and 45-0 to Stringer.
“Clarkdale has a new coach,” Hanna said. “They’ll be ready to play and being hungry, and of course, you can’t take anybody for granted in our league in 2A ball. We got to go out there and prepare, but we’re going to work on Lake next week just like we did this week.”
Last year, Lake hammered Clarkdale 42-0.
Newton at Lamar
One of the week’s more interesting matchups will happen in Meridian when the Tigers travel to Lamar and take on the MAIS Raiders at Grey Cobb Field.
The Raiders are the defending Class AAAA, Division II state champions but are off to a 1-2 start and have lost two straight, falling 21-20 to Starkville and 48-14 to Jackson Academy.
The Raiders are led by quarterback Joseph Hutchinson, a 6-foot-6 senior who has committed to play at Cornell and has other Division I offers.
