Notes, numbers and sidelights from Week 9 (Week 10 for academies):
• Itawamba AHS had best guard against the proverbial letdown. Coming off a huge win over Shannon on Friday, the Indians must next face a red-hot Pontotoc squad. Of course, this game means nothing for IAHS as far as the Region 1-4A standings – the title is in hand. But it’ll mean a lot to Pontotoc, which has won four straight and is averaging 38.3 ppg over the last three weeks.
The Warriors (6-3, 3-2) need a win to assure themselves a playoff berth. The only way they miss out is if they and Tishomingo County (6-3, 3-2) both lose. That would put Tish and New Albany (3-6, 3-3) in the playoffs based on a points tie-breaker: Tishomingo beat Pontotoc 12-7; Pontotoc beat New Albany 29-26; New Albany beat Tishomingo 28-24. So Pontotoc is minus-2, while Tish and New Albany are both plus-1. However, if Pontotoc loses and Tish wins, Pontotoc’s in based on its win over New Albany. Got it?
• Starkville suddenly finds itself in the race for the Region 1-5A crown with a 14-7 upset of Olive Branch. Now the Yellowjackets have the joyous task of traveling to Batesville to take on first-place South Panola, which is going for 70 straight.
“This was a win against a big-time program, and now we are going to play for the top spot in the region,” coach Bill Lee said Friday. “Our goal is to win the region championship, and now we can go and fight for it next week.”
• This Friday’s game between Ripley and Booneville will decide the Region 1-3A title. It’ll be a heavyweight battle – and that’s just the coaches.
Ripley’s Mac McCurry – 201 career wins – will square off against Booneville’s Jim Drewry – 327 (state’s all-time record). McCurry, in his 21st season as a head coach, has won 14 division championships, was Tennessee Coach of the Year in 1988, and is 30-5 at Ripley. Drewry, in his 43rd year as a head coach, owns who knows how many division titles (I’ve got that info somewhere) and has won three state championships. McCurry is still seeking state title No. 1.
• Five area teams could make the playoffs despite losing records: Amory (3-6), Hamilton (4-4), Houston (2-7), Mantachie (4-5), and New Albany (3-6). Mantachie and Hamilton play each other this week, but both are already in.
Inside NeMiss High School Sports 
The Pontotoc vs. Itawamba scares me as a IAHS fan. Itawamba is coming off a HUGE win against Shannon. They have the division wrapped up and are fixing to be hosting their first playoff game in years. Pontotoc pretty much has to win to make the playoffs. This is definitely a trap game. Hopefully Itawamba doesn’t overlook Pontotoc, Dampeer is a great coach and the players are starting to buy into his system there.
Oops, forgot to mention. I still expect IAHS to win this. Just saying that it’s still a little scary.
Not as scary as it is for a TC fan, if Itawamba doesn’t take care of business, we have to against Shannon, but I take it as if Pontotoc beats Itawamba, they DESERVE to go to the playoffs over Tish County, but I think that Itawamba will take care of business on their senior night. They’ll be all fired up for that.
ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS HOW IS SHANNON GOING TO JUMP FROM #1 TO #5 JUST BECAUSE WE LOST 1 GAME…BUT THAT ONLY MAKES US WORK HARDER…LET’S SEE WHAT THE END OF THE SEASON WILL BRING!!!
OH YEAH BRAD, I’M THE ONE THAT SPEAKS TO U AT ALL DA SHANNON GAMES…FROM THE STANDS…I RECORD ALL THE GAMES AND I SAW YOU WITH YOUR CAMCORDER AT THE IAHS GAME AND THAT LAST DRIVE THAT IAHS PUT TOGETHER WAS BASICALLY DRIVEN BY THE REFS…FOR INSTANCE THAT PASS INTERFERENCE CALL, YOU KNOW LIKE I KNOW THAT HE DIDN’T TOUCH THE GUY AND THE BALL WAS NOT A CATCHABLE BALL ANYWAYS…IF YOU WANNA COMPARE FILM WE CAN DO THAT!!!!! BUT WE ARE OVER THAT…I GIVE CONGRATZ TO IAHS 4 PLAYING A WELL FOUGHT GAME AND BRINGING OUR BOYS HEAD DOWN OUT OF THE CLOUDS…MAYBE WE NEEDED THAT TO WAKE US UP A LITTLE BIT…BUT NOW THE PLAN IS FOR US IS TO TAKE IT OUT ON EVERYBODY STARTING WITH TISH COUNTY FRIDAY…WE KNOW WE CAN’T LOSE ANYMORE GAMES AFTER FRIDAY OR THAT’S IT AND THE ONE THING THAT THE GUYS WORKED FOR THE WHOLE SEASON…UNDEFEATED OR NOT…WILL BE OUT OF THE PICTURE, AND THAT IS THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!
I was wondering exactly who that was shouting at me. 🙂 I hated to drop Shannon that far for a one-point loss, but those kind of things happen when an unranked team shakes things up. The Red Raiders will be fine.
I had to leave in the third quarter. I so badly wanted to stay for the end, but I had to get back to the office.
If you’re over the game, why are you still talking about some call? All games are like that. TC had a game two years ago against Shannon at home (our last home loss by the way) and with 21 seconds to go Ledbetter threw a pass to Darrius Young in the back of the endzone and Darrius jumped for it and his feet land simutaneously down, one outside of the endzone and one on the other side. Ref signals endzone, a kickoff later the clock goes zero. The refs run to their cars with 6 seconds left in the game. Some games hurt, but it’s better just to get over them quick, because nothing can ever be done.
lol error above ^^ (ref signals *TOUCHDOWN*)
Just to let djt27 know, as an impartial observer that was standing at the back of the endzone, the only reason the IAHS receiver could not make the catch was because the Shannon defender was holding him down with his right hand and swatting at the ball with his left. I am a Shannon grad and it was a good call. Nothing to be taken away from either team. Well played game. Best high school game I have seen in years. Shannon is a great team but give IAHS some credit djt27. Shannon shouldn’t have let it come to that one play and neither should IAHS but that is what’s great about HS football, sometimes it does.
tcfan don’t hate on me just because tish couldn’t beat us when i played and both of my feet were in but cry all you want. i enjoyed that game haha
Darius! What’s up, man?