Long time sportswriter and high school football expert Robert Wilson is doing a predictions column each week during the high school football season on teams from Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties. All the local teams have finished playing, Robert is predicting all the championship games. Robert went 9-3 last week (75 percent) and is 202-53 (79.2 percent) for the season.
Class 6A: Oxford (12-0) vs. Oak Grove (12-0), Friday at 7 p.m.
This is a rematch of last year’s 6A state championship when Oxford outscored Oak Grove 28-0 in the second half to win 31-21. Oxford has won 25 straight games, but Oak Grove has been playing very well, averaging winning by 22 points in the playoffs. This is Oak Grove’s third straight appearance in the 6A state title game, losing the previous other two. The Warriors’ last state title was in 2013. Junior quarterback Kabe Barnett will get Oak Grove another one this season.
Oak Grove 35, Oxford 31.
Class 5A: West Point (11-3) vs. West Jones (12-2), Saturday at 7 p.m.
West Point looks to join South Panola as the only school to win five consecutive MHSAA state football championships with a win this weekend. Also, West Point has pass South Panola with a MHSAA record 12 state titles. This is also a rematch of the 2018 state title game when West Point won 27-12. West Point coach Chris Chambliss is 6-0 in state title games. He will make it seven.
West Point 28, West Jones 21.
Class 4A: Louisville (12-1) vs. Poplarville (10-3), Saturday at 11 a.m.
Louisville goes for its 10th state championship, only South Panola and West Point have more with 11. Also, Louisville coach Tyrone Shorter goes for his fifth state title, having won all four at Noxubee County before he took the job at Louisville last season. This is a rematch of the 2018 4A state title, won by Louisville 25-20. Poplarville will be playing in its third state title game, losing both games in 2018 and 2019. Louisville has never lost in a state title game.
Louisville 28, Poplarville 21.
Class 3A: Noxubee County (10-1) vs. Magee (11-0), Friday at 11 a.m.
Teddy Dyess won two state championships at a player at Bassfield and two as a head coach at Lumberton. Now, he will try to bring back a state title to Magee for the first time in 20 years. And if he does, star quarterback Chandler Pittman, the MHSAA Class 3A Mr. Football, will be a big reason why. Pittman has passed for 1,988 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for 1,052 yards and 11 TDs this season. Noxubee County is back in the state title game again after losing to Jefferson Davis County last season. The Tigers have won four state titles this decade. It’s Magee turn.
Magee 35, Noxubee County 26.
Class 2A: Calhoun City (10-2) vs. Taylorsville (13-1), Saturday at 3 p.m.
Taylorsville, led by senior quarterback and MHSAA Class 3A Mr. Football Ty Keys, averaged 51.7 points in four playoffs games. Keys, who has verbally committed to Tulane, has passed for 2,319 yards and 27 TDs. This group has lost only four games in four seasons. This is the fourth straight time Taylorsville has been in the state title game, winning two of those. Calhoun City will be trying for its first state title since 2016.
Taylorsville 40, Calhoun City 21.
Class 1A: Biggersville (13-0) vs. Lumberton (11-1), Friday at 3 p.m.
Both teams are coming off shutout victories in the semifinals. Biggersville blanked defending state champion Nanih Waiya 26-0 and Lumberton blanked Simmons 30-0. This is Lumberton’s third state title appearance in the past fives seasons, but haven’t won since 2010. This is Biggersville’s first state title appearance in school history. Lumberton has MHSAA Class 1A Mr. Football, senior running back Robert Henry (1,840 yards and 27 TDs). Henry will be enough.
Lumberton 21, Biggersville 14.
