By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Nov. 20, 2001
Of the 16 area teams making last week's state football playoffs, only three survived to play this week.
Two of the survivors – Newton County and Wayne Academy – were rewarded with home games Friday night, while the third remaining team – Louisville – will hit the road.
In Class 3A, Newton County puts its 12-0 record on the line against a 10-2 Collins team whose only losses were by forfeits for using an ineligible player in wins over Lawrence County and Quitman.
Newton County slipped by Collins 7-0 in opening-round action at Decatur last year.
The Cougars crushed West Lauderdale 40-10 last week, while Collins blanked Philadelphia 23-0, holding the Tornadoes to just 66 total yards and three first downs.
The teams have four common opponents – Forest, Morton, Carthage, and Philadelphia. Newton County beat Forest (35-0), Morton (31-14 and 34-6), Carthage (28-12), and Philadelphia (32-15).
Collins beat Forest (49-6), Morton (31-6), Carthage (47-7), and Philadelphia (23-0).
The winner will face the Wilkinson County-Columbia winner next week for the Class 3A South State championship.
Wayne Academy, 11-1, hosts a 10-2 DeSoto (Ark.) School squad Friday at Waynesboro in Academy Class A action.
The Jaguars ripped West Memphis, Ark., 32-6 on the road last week as Cory Cochran and Matt Brown both ran for two touchdowns.
The Thunderbirds from West Helena, Ark., blanked Mississippi County (Ark.) 34-0. Mississippi County eliminated Heidelberg Academy the previous week.
The T-Birds have returned four interceptions for touchdowns this fall and returned a blocked punt for another score.
The Wayne-DeSoto winner will play the Trinity Episcopal-Glenbrook, La., survivor for the MPSA Class A state championship next week.
Louisville rallied from a 38-20 deficit entering the fourth quarter to beat Shannon 44-38 last week. The Wildcats, 8-4, travel to Hernando, 11-1, Friday. Hernando got a 23-yard field goal as time ran out to nip Noxubee County 24-22 last week. Louisville lost 21-19 to Noxubee during the regular season.
Hernando's only loss was a 32-30 decision to Shannon. Hernando has a 33-18 win over Oxford, while Louisville defeated Oxford 38-14 in the first round of the 4A playoffs.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or call him at 693-1551, ext. 3235.