It will be a battle of the Tornadoes Friday night at Blair Field at R.H. Watkins Stadium when the Laurel (5-5) Golden Tornadoes host the Region 8-4A third place team Purvis (6-4) Tornadoes at the “Bricks” in the first round of the South State 4A playoffs.
Golden Tornado head coach Milton Smith believes once the playoffs are here, any team can win on any given night. “Once you get to the playoffs you are 0-0,” he said. “Any team can win on any given night.”
Purvis head coach Perry Wheat knows the character and tradition behind the “Bricks”. “When I was coach at Magee back in the 90s, I had the chance to coach there,” he said. “We’ve told our players about it, and they will know what to expect.”
Smith thinks because the Golden Tornados play in Region 5-4A it will give them an advantage. “This region is tough, even with Wayne County and West Jones coming out of it,” he said. “West Lauderdale ran the table this year, and you just had to come ready to play every night.”
Smith has already told his team they must play their best football of the season Friday night. “I’ve told the guys that Purvis will bring their A game when they come to the Bricks,” he said. “We just have to be ready to play sound football.”
Wheat believes the Golden Tornadoes will be one of the most athletic and quickest teams they will face this whole season. “The are a very athletic team. They have a lot of speed. Dontrelle Pruitt has a cannon for an arm, and their receiver Walter Smith does an excellent job of catching it.”
Smith believes there will be three key factors in Fridays’ game. “We are going to have to limit and create turnovers. We have to control the clock,” he said. “And we have to win the special teams battle.”
Wheat agreed with Smith. “We have to limit our turnovers. We have to limit the big plays,” he said. “And we have to drive the football down the field and score.”
The winner of Friday’s game will face the winner of the Mendenhall/Lawrence County game. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Photo/James Pugh
Battle of Tornadoes at The Bricks
Laurel hosts Purvis in 4A playoff opener
- Local Sports
-
-
Lady Braves in title game
The South Jones Lady Braves will meet their old nemesis Wayne County here Friday night at 6 p.m. in the finals of the Region 5-5A basketball tournament. South Jones downed county rival West Jones while Wayne County came away with an impressive win over Stone County here Tuesday night.
- LCS girls advance in 4-AA tourney
-
STATE CHAMPIONS
The Laurel Knight Hawks captured the Mississippi Christian Home Educators (MCHE) state basketball championship Monday in Jackson. In the final game of the double elimination tournament, the Knight Hawks defeated the two year reigning state champions, Jackson Victors, with a final score of 67-64.
-
Northeast Jones grads doing well in sports world
Justin Cooley was approved Monday night by the Smith County school board as the new head football coach at Raleigh High School.
-
No. 2 Bobcats ready for 2012 baseball season
What can they do for an encore?
That’s the question facing the 2012 Jones County Junior College Bobcats as they prepare for the Feb. 11 home opener against Mississippi Delta Community College. -
Hot-shooting Bobcats whip East Central, 92-62
The Jones County Junior College Bobcats shot over 52 percent from the floor and defeated East Central Community College 92-62 here Monday night in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.
-
Second season begins tonight
The season ending district tournaments are beginning tonight throughout Mississippi.
-
No. 10 Lady Bobcats have high expectations in 2012
The Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats accomplished quite a bit on the softball diamond in 2011.
-
NEJ’s McMillan signs with Holmes Bulldogs
-
LHS’ Armstrong signs with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College:
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
