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