DeSoto, Tunica highlight pressure packed week ten
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
With just two weeks left in the 2010 regular season the remaining games are critical to several squads hoping to advance to post season play. Tight district races will play out in high intensity and pressure packed week ten matchups and will continue as the regular season wraps up in two weeks.
Class A post season qualifying seems simple, the top two finishers in each district advance but the dreaded tie-breaker could come into play in a few districts, particularly District 2A where Deer Creek, Bayou and Greenville Christian are all in contention for the district crown and #1 seed.
In District 1A, which many think is the best Class A district from top to bottom, Tunica can clinch the #1 seed and district title with a win over DeSoto this Friday night in Tunica. A DeSoto victory leaves the door open for a few scenarios to still play out.
In Class AA the top two district finishers qualify but four wildcard teams will also qualify. With two weeks remaining only one team has clinched a district title, River Oaks. The District 5AA race will not be decided until the final week when Centreville travels to Central Private.
In Class AAA three teams; Jackson Academy, Pillow and Jackson Prep have a solid grip on top seeding but a potential week eleven huge game could play out with the surging Copiah Colonels making a late season push. If Copiah gets a home win this Friday night over East Rankin and Oak Forest loses to Jackson Prep, week eleven will pit Copiah at Oak Forest for a top seed.
Spending lots of time studying the playoff brackets and salivating over what could be some great matchups, it appears that Class A could pose some explosive parings in round two and the semi-finals.
A preview of one of those potential playoff pairings will take place this Friday night as #2 DeSoto makes the short trip to battle #6 Tunica.
DeSoto is one of four undefeated teams in Class A and under the direction of head coach Bill Beck, in his 8th season, the Thunderbirds have a state title (2008) and two straight state championship title game appearances.
Tunica and head coach Jimmy Hicks will be hoping to clinch a district championship by beating a team it has had difficulty with over the past decade but the Blue Devils have played DeSoto tough in Tunica the past two meetings and most expect a tight, down to the wire contest.
Two of the better tailbacks in Class A will go head to head this Friday night. Versatile DeSoto senior Dylan Cruz (right) has picked up 1,030 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns, passed for 4 and has 3 touchdown receptions. The senior also has kicked field goals and scored by way of kick-off return. According to DeSoto head coach Bill Beck the only method of scoring the senior hasn’t accomplished in his time with the Thunderbirds is a punt return for a score.
Tunica senior Freeman Gray (Left) is the second leading rusher in the MAIS with 1,531 yards, just 178 yards behind Cody Prewitt of Sylva Bay. Gray broke the MAIS single game rushing record in a week three win over Lee (AR) with 491 yards. Gray has 21 touchdowns to his credit through seven games.
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
With just two weeks left in the 2010 regular season the remaining games are critical to several squads hoping to advance to post season play. Tight district races will play out in high intensity and pressure packed week ten matchups and will continue as the regular season wraps up in two weeks.
Class A post season qualifying seems simple, the top two finishers in each district advance but the dreaded tie-breaker could come into play in a few districts, particularly District 2A where Deer Creek, Bayou and Greenville Christian are all in contention for the district crown and #1 seed.
In District 1A, which many think is the best Class A district from top to bottom, Tunica can clinch the #1 seed and district title with a win over DeSoto this Friday night in Tunica. A DeSoto victory leaves the door open for a few scenarios to still play out.
In Class AA the top two district finishers qualify but four wildcard teams will also qualify. With two weeks remaining only one team has clinched a district title, River Oaks. The District 5AA race will not be decided until the final week when Centreville travels to Central Private.
In Class AAA three teams; Jackson Academy, Pillow and Jackson Prep have a solid grip on top seeding but a potential week eleven huge game could play out with the surging Copiah Colonels making a late season push. If Copiah gets a home win this Friday night over East Rankin and Oak Forest loses to Jackson Prep, week eleven will pit Copiah at Oak Forest for a top seed.
Spending lots of time studying the playoff brackets and salivating over what could be some great matchups, it appears that Class A could pose some explosive parings in round two and the semi-finals.
A preview of one of those potential playoff pairings will take place this Friday night as #2 DeSoto makes the short trip to battle #6 Tunica.
DeSoto is one of four undefeated teams in Class A and under the direction of head coach Bill Beck, in his 8th season, the Thunderbirds have a state title (2008) and two straight state championship title game appearances.
Tunica and head coach Jimmy Hicks will be hoping to clinch a district championship by beating a team it has had difficulty with over the past decade but the Blue Devils have played DeSoto tough in Tunica the past two meetings and most expect a tight, down to the wire contest.
Two of the better tailbacks in Class A will go head to head this Friday night. Versatile DeSoto senior Dylan Cruz (right) has picked up 1,030 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns, passed for 4 and has 3 touchdown receptions. The senior also has kicked field goals and scored by way of kick-off return. According to DeSoto head coach Bill Beck the only method of scoring the senior hasn’t accomplished in his time with the Thunderbirds is a punt return for a score.
Tunica senior Freeman Gray (Left) is the second leading rusher in the MAIS with 1,531 yards, just 178 yards behind Cody Prewitt of Sylva Bay. Gray broke the MAIS single game rushing record in a week three win over Lee (AR) with 491 yards. Gray has 21 touchdowns to his credit through seven games. .
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Below is an audio interview with DeSoto head coach Bill Beck and Tunica head coach Jimmy Hicks:
