It's championship weekend in the MHSAA. One of the last two weekends sports fans will have the chance to watch Mississippi high school football.
In our local readership area, the Wayne County War Eagles will try to capture their fourth state championship Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Mount Olive Pirates, meanwhile, captured the golden football. Mount Olive won its second state championship Thursday night, while the War Eagles will try to capture their fourth. In this week's column, we'll take a look at schools in the area who have state championships, and who has the most?
Until You Win It, it's Just Another Season
I'll start with the county that has the most hardware. The winner is Smith County with a total of 9 state championships. The Taylorsville Tartars lead the way with five state championships. The Tartars won their championships in 2002, 1998, 1995, 1994, and 1991.
The other Smith county team is the Mize Bulldogs who have a total of four state championships. The Bulldogs won in 2002, 2000, 1995,and 1988.
Next, Jones County has a total of three state championships. Laurel leads the way with two state crowns. The Golden Tornadoes won championships in 2007 and 1990. This doesn't include the old Big 8 Conference titles.
Northeast Jones is the other Jones County school with a championship. The Tigers won their lone title in 1996.
Up in Jasper county, the Stringer Red Devils have a total of three state championships. The Red Devils won back-to-back-to-back championships in 1990, 1991, 1992.
In Wayne County, the War Eagles have also captured three state championships. The War Eagles won in 2006, 2003, 2002.
Covington County has a total of three state championships as well. The Collins Tigers lead Covington with two titles. The Tigers won in 2002 and 2001. The Mount Olive Pirates won in 1989.
What A Wild Week In Sports
If you've tuned in to ESPN for just two minutes, then you have probably heard about these two subjects — Tiger Woods and the several coaching vacancies in college football.
The subject on Tiger Woods has really gotten old. Everyone at one point in their lives has messed up in one area or more.
He ran over a post, and now its coming out he's had an affair with someone a few years ago. Give me a break. In South Mississippi and the rest of the country this happens everyday. The man wants his privacy, and the tabloid media needs to respect the request.
The other choice topic is the current job opening at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have finished the season at 6-6.
What's the big deal?
Notre Dame is not the power house they once were. There are a ton of schools out there, who finished 6-6. There are some 5-7 teams which would have easily won games with the Fighting Irish schedule.
In my opinion, the top choices for Notre Dame are Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, Urban Meyer of Florida, and Brian Kelly of Cincinatti. If I had to take a shot at the next Irish head coach it would be Kelly of Cincinatti, but I doubt the athletic department would take any advice from a guy in South Mississippi.
John Blackledge is a sports reporter for the Laurel Leader Call. He maybe reached at 601-428-0551, or by e-mail at llcsportswriter@gmail.com
Local Sports
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Championships and controversy
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Local prep soccer players to compete in All-Star game Saturday
Two soccer players from Northeast Jones High school and four from West Jones High School are on South State All-Star team, with games scheduled to be played Saturday.
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South Jones stuns Stone County in OT
The South Jones Braves stunned Stone County 64-63 in overtime here Tuesday night in the Region 5-5A basketball tournament.
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Lady Red Devils win
The Stringer girls advanced to the championship game of their division tournament with a 66-36 victory over Sacred Heart.
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Young hunter bags a buffalo
A local boy had three unparalleled hunting experiences recently which left him with three unique stories to tell.
Nine-year-old Logan McLelland spent several days during the month of January testing his hunting and marksmanship skills. -
Stringer teams advance in tourney
The Stringer Red Devils had three players in double figures to advance to the championship game of their division tournament Tuesday night.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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. - More Local Sports Headlines
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Local prep soccer players to compete in All-Star game Saturday
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