Veteran sportswriter and high school football expert Robert Wilson is doing the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard predictions column each week during the high school football season on teams from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin County. Wilson had a 2-1 record (66.7 percent) last week and has an 273-59 record (82.2 percent) this season.
Brandon (12-1) vs. Tupelo (13-0), Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Southern Miss’ M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg (televised by MEtv, radio on ESPN the Zone, 105.9 FM)
Brandon has never won a state football championship in school history. The Bulldogs have had many great players over the years (Jerious Norwood, Damario Davis, Gardner Minshew, Jonathan Mingo, and Will Rogers, just to name a few) since the MHSAA state playoffs began in the early 1980s but haven’t been able to win the big one.
Fourth-year Brandon coach Sam Williams has been close, closer than any coach in school history. He has taken his team to the state championship game three times now, in 2021, 2022 and this season. The only other time Brandon made to the championship game was in 2012 under coach Brad Peterson.
Williams – one of the best high school head coaches in Mississippi – has an outstanding staff, including veteran coordinators, Wyatt Rogers on offense and Greg Robinson on defense, who both are in their 15th season at Brandon, a rarity in football programs these days. Both Rogers and Robinson have been a part of every Brandon state championship appearance.
Williams and his staff have been very successful for the past four seasons, with 45 wins, including 12 wins this season, and a superb 83.3 winning percentage.
The state championship games have been a tough pill to swallow for the Williams and the Bulldogs.
In 2021, Madison Central defeated Brandon 24-17 ending Brandon’s 11-game winning streak. Brandon hadn’t lost a game since a 42-19 decision to Madison Central in early September. Brandon played without starting running back Nate Blount, who was injured.
Madison Central scored the winning touchdown with 3 minutes, 41 seconds to play.
It was remarkable season for Brandon as Williams, in his first year at Brandon, turned around a 5-6 season and almost won a state championship. He was named the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Coach of the Year.
In 2022, Starkville defeated Brandon 48-32 behind quarterback Trey Petty’s 256 yards and five touchdowns.
For the second straight state championship game, Brandon was without its starting running back, this time Jarvis Durr, who missed the last six games of the season with an injury. He did play briefly in the state title game.
Now, Williams and his Bulldogs get another chance. This time their star running back, sophomore Tyson Robinson, is healthy.
Robinson had 162 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries and three catches for 25 yards and one TD in last week’s 31-13 victory over Ocean Springs in the semifinals.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Robinson – who has 17 Division I offers, including SEC schools Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A&M – has 1,239 rushing yards and 23 TDs this season and 655 receiving yards and 10 TDs this season.
Another talented sophomore, quarterback Sladen Shack completed 14 of 20 passes for 170 yards and two TDs in the Ocean Springs win. Shack – who has a Division I offer from Central Arkansas – has completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 2,405 yards and 24 TDs this season.
Senior linebacker Khalil Norwood led Brandon with 15 tackles, one for loss, and three quarterback hurries against Ocean Springs. The 5-11, 205-pound Norwood – the nephew of former Brandon High, Mississippi State and NFL running back Jerious Norwood – has 170 tackles, 11 for loss, 10 sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, 3 caused fumbles and 1 fumble recovery this season.
Brandon junior defensive back Preston Ashley is rated the No. 9 player in the Mississippi and No. 22 safety in the country in the Class of 2026 by 247 Sports and has 14 Division I offers, including eight from the SEC.
Tupelo’s 6-foot, 220-pound senior running back and Mississippi State commitment Jaedan Hill is rated the No. 27 player in Mississippi and the No. 61 running back in the country in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports. In addition to MSU, Hill has Division I offers from Hill’s offers Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Oregon, Southern Cal, Wisconsin, Stanford, Louisville, Memphis, and West Virginia.
Hill – Mississippi Association of Coaches MHSAA Class 7A Mr. Football – has 2,028 yards (9.8 yards per carry) and 32 TDs this season.
Clinton – the only team to beat Brandon – lost to Tupelo 49-0.
Look for Hill to have a big night.
