Antonio Conner and South Panola are our pick to keep some distance from the rest of the field in Mississippi football.
Photo by Joe Boyd
9-4
Head coach: Lance Pogue
Team previewAfter finishing No. 1 nationally in 2010, South Panola understandably took some lumps in 2011 after the nucleus of its team moved on to college. The team was young last fall and is poised to be much better this season. Dynamic playmaker
Antonio Conner will once action see action on offense in addition to his play at safety. However, quarterback duties will fall to junior Rip Kirk this season. He'll line up behind a massive offensive line led by Mississippi State commit
Deon Mix,
Justin Barksdale and
Jerry Boyd. South Panola is the top-ranked team in the
Mississippi Top 10 most consistent football programs.
2. Meridian2011 finish: 13-1
Head coach: Larry Weems
Team previewMeridian's undefeated season came to a crashing halt with a 23-14 loss to an Anthony Alford-led Petal squad. While last year's team strength was defense, the 2012 Wildcats should feature an explosive offense. Tenth-grade quarterback
J-mar Smith made a splash as a freshman last year and is supremely athletic. Look for receiver
Isaac Johnson to be his top target. If the defense, which will feature nine new starters, can come together, this has the makings of a very complete team. Meridian is No. 2 in the June, 2011 list of the
Mississippi Top 10 football dynasties.
3. Olive Branch2011 finish: 15-0
Head coach: Scott Samsel
Team previewOlive Branch got over the hump last season and captured a Class 6A state title, the school's first championship. Prolific quarterback Todd Mays is gone, as are receivers D'Arthur Cowan and Jaylen Miller. Returning running back
Byrekus "Jap" Payne should see an increased workload. Transfer
Samuel Craft will likely replace Mays.
Jamil Collins and
Dontrell Nelson give Olive Branch a strong secondary. Four Olive Branch players are featured in the list of
Mississippi Class of 2012 Division 1 signees.
4. Picayune2011 finish: 13-2
Head coach: Dodd Lee
Team previewA wealth of offensive skill players will power Picayune this season. Fresh off a Class 5A state title,
Ben Hickman,
Preston Dedeuax,
Desmond Taylor and
Justin Mark are all experienced and should be even better this fall. The Maroon Tide graduated its three leading tacklers from a year ago, so the defense could be an issue early on. Still, it has a great chance to defend its Class 5A crown. Picayune is featured on the list of
Mississippi state football champions for the past nine years.
5. Starkville2011 finish: 12-3
Head coach: Jamie Miller
Team previewStarkville lost to Picayune in the Class 5A final last season, and many folks around the Magnolia State are penciling in a rematch.
Gabriel Miles will be one of the top players in Mississippi and not surprisingly, will have the ball in his hands often.
Stanley Higgins will play both linebacker and tight end; on offense, he's a trusted target for Miles. Miller's concern is the offensive line, which will be young. Search for Starkville on the list of
Mississippi 2011 All-Region football teams.
