From the notebook..................................

**While a handful of teams have already locked down playoff spots the final week of the regular season has a bevy of district matchups with high stakes and playoff implications in play. Perhaps the biggest and most talked about is in Class AA where second ranked Lamar (8-2 & 2-0) visits third ranked Simpson (7-2 & 2-0) to decide the District 4-AA title and a guarantee of hosting a round one playoff game against the top seeded wildcard team from the south.  Simpson has won 4 of the past 5 meetings between the two. In 2009 Lamar beat Simpson 42-28 in Mendenhall to capture the North AA State title.

**Another huge Class AA battle to decide a district championship will be sixth ranked Trinity (7-3 & 2-0) at ninth ranked Brookhaven (6-4 & 2-0) for the District 5-AA crown. The winner of that matchup will host the second seeded wildcard team from the south.

**Want more drama if you’re a Class AA fan? How about top ranked Centreville (10-0 & 3-0) at eighth ranked Silliman (6-3 & 3-0) for the District 6-AA championship with the winner hosting the loser of the Lamar/Simpson game in a round one slobber-knocker?

**In Class A the scenarios have been easier to decipher with Deer Creek locking down District 1-A last week and Newton already securing the top seed from District 4-A. Top ranked and undefeated Tri-County has the upper hand on any tie-breaker should the unimaginable happen and they get upset by Greenville Christian this Friday night in the District 3-A finale. The best matchup of the night will be second ranked WCCA (8-1 & 6-0) hosting one of the hottest squads in Class A, the third ranked Cenla Lions (7-3 & 5-1) who have won seven straight after dropping their first three games of the season. This game will pit one of the top defenses (WCCA 8.6 papg) against one of the top offenses (Cenla 35.2 ppg) in Class A and a Cenla win would create, in all likelihood, a three way tie at the top of District 3-A with Riverfield.

**In Class AAA the fourth ranked Presbyterian Bobcats can earn their third straight trip to the playoffs if Jackson Prep defeats Parklane. For an ever improving Heritage football squad a win at Pillow and a Washington win over Magnolia Heights would clinch a number one seed for the Patriots. A win by Magnolia Heights and a win by Heritage would give the Patriots the number two seed. The game of the week in Class AAA obviously is third ranked MRA (9-1 & 5-0) at second ranked Jackson Academy (9-1 & 5-0). MRA has reeled off nine straight wins since a week one loss to top ranked Jackson Prep while JA’s only loss of the season was a week eight three point overtime loss to Prep. Jackson Academy has won nine straight over MRA, they last lost to the Patriots in 2004 at MRA 22-21.

**Staying on the subject of football enough cannot be said about the many sponsors and supporters of Southern Sports & Travel who make the whole endeavor possible. One new sponsor in particular has been a blessing and has helped enable some much needed improvements to be made in promoting the website. Gateway Tire & Service Center deserves much credit in helping to promote MAIS athletics by sponsoring a weekly “Player of the Week” during football season.  To date twelve “Player of the Week” plaques have been sent to schools during the course of the season who had an athlete named “Gateway Tire & Service Center Player of the Week” and the recognition to these players has been received with much appreciation.

**Injuries have hit a handful of teams hard this season in all three classes. Simpson tailback Michael Layton was lost for the season early on after suffering a knee injury. Layton had led the defending Class AA state champions with 160 yards and 2 touchdowns in a week one hammering of Leake. Prentiss tailback Carter Bridges suffered a broken tibia a few weeks ago and was lost for the remainder of the season. Bridges finished with 1,207 rushing yards and at the time of his injury was amongst the MAIS leaders in that category.

River Oaks tailback Alex Biedenharn suffered what was thought to be a season ending knee injury but the senior has battled back and in limited playing time rushed for 117 yards in a loss to Central Hinds this past week.

Presbyterian sophomore tailback Fate Eiland went down with a torn mcl against Parklane two weeks ago but is expected to play this Friday night in the Bobcat’s game at Starkville. Eiland has rushed for 1,221 yards on the season.

**I’ve enjoyed the weekly travels to cover “The Southern Sports & Travel Game of the Week” and I truly put forth much effort in providing balance in covering all three classes during the course of the season. The playoffs offer up larger challenges but no less energy will be spent in attempting to provide data that otherwise would be nowhere to be found. If the growth of Southern Sports & Travel continues so too will the huge staff of two people that get little sleep on week-ends. I feel that we are truly a few generous sponsors away from adding to our capabilities in that area.

**Problems with the live Twitter feeds that post scores on Southern Sports & Travel on Friday nights have been an ongoing issue the past two weeks and much attention is being paid in getting that resolved before this Friday’s games. It is a Twitter issue and hope is that things will be back to normal in a day or so.

**Basketball season is officially in progress with girls action starting on a limited basis this week, the Southern Sports & Travel 2012 basketball rankings will be posted in a few weeks. Player ads will be available in two weeks for those wishing to offer up encouragement and support for a particular player or team. A sample ad has been posted on the site but many designs are available.

**As most everyone knows by now the new MAIS athletic realignment has been posted for the 2012/13 seasons. A district by district breakdown is expected to be announced in early December.

**Please buckle up when traveling to football games this week-end and as a parent or a friend stress to others to do the same!
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God is great,
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See ya somewhere………………..