Five things to consider as the start of the 2018 season approaches:

1. Taylorsville, Collins and Bay Springs are all likely candidates for the 2A title

Never has there been a moment like the present for 2A football, at least in this area. 

Taylorsville, and rightfully so, claimed the title as Class 2A’s top dog last year. Then freshman phenom Ty Keyes lit up 2A football last year with a season like no other at his position across the state. The Tartars’ quarterback led the state in passing yards and touchdown thrown in 2017. With his return in 2018, the consensus would be that Taylorsville is primed for another title run. And they are. But so is Collins and Bay Springs. 

Collins made it as far as the 2A South State Championship last year, falling to Taylorsville 48-32 in late November. And returning from its 2017 class this year – seven players on offense and seven on defense. 

Then there’s Bay Springs. The 2017 season was ‘supposed’ to be a rebuilding year for the Dawgs. Despite a rugged non-district schedule – including teams like (5A) West Jones, (4A) Northeast Jones and (4A) Quitman – Bay Springs finished the year 8-6 and three rounds deep into playoffs. Also, keep in mind that Bay Springs lost to Taylorsville in the regular season on a last-second field goal. 

Don’t be surprised if this years’ 2A top dog is right in our backyard again. 

2. The 2019 class might be Mississippi’s most highly recruited class

Mississippi has yet to see a recruiting class as highly touted as the 2019 class. Several local teams have players that are among not only the best players in the state but the nation. 

West Jones standout Byron Young is listed as the nation’s No. 8 strong-side defensive end. The four-star Alabama commit is not alone. Seminary’s four-star DE Nathan Pickering is listed as the nation’s No. 47 overall recruit and has committed to Mississippi State.

Other highly recruited players in this area include three-star offensive linemen Charles Cross, who recently announced his commitment to Florida State. 

3. Laurel doesn’t get a pass in Region 3-5A now that Wayne County is out of the picture

We saw the reality of this last year. With Wayne County’s move to Region 5-5A, it would seem that Laurel would have a much easier path to continue its reign as Region 3-5A’s top team. Then came the surge from team’s like Brookhaven and West Jones, knocking off Laurel in the regular season and plummeting Laurel to the third spot in 3-5A. (To be fair, Laurel did knock off Brookhaven in the playoffs to advance further in postseason play than both teams that beat them in the regular season.)

The same could occur this year. 

West Jones and Brookhaven return key players that made last season special and will give Laurel another not so easy path to the 3-5A title it missed out on last year. 

4. Stringer could be back in the running for a Class 1A title

All the pieces of the puzzle are there. Stringer needs to place them in the right spots, and the Red Devils could be looking at its second 1A title in a decade after its previous drought of nearly 20 years. 

Stringer has a tremendous senior class this season – 18 to be exact. Of the 18 returning seniors, seven are also returning starters who played on both sides of the ball. 

The biggest name out of that list is running back Anthony Thomas. He rushed for 1,461 yards on 164 carries and 18 touchdowns in 2017. 

Stringer ended last season 10-4 overall and was ousted by Nanih Waiya in the second round of the playoffs. 

5. Who will step up for South Jones and take the load off John Mitchell’s shoulders

First-year head coach Roger Satcher is correct, anyone who is slightly informed about the South Jones program and knows its situation this year would be a fool to not revolve the offense around senior quarterback John Mitchell. He’s talented, athletic and gives the offense several options. 

But one man can’t carry the load and run the show all on his shoulders. Someone else on offense must step up and help Mitchell if South Jones wants to continue the excitement that’s been felt on The Reservation in recent years. 

South Jones returns only two starters on both sides of the ball this season after a massive senior class graduated in May. 

Especially in 5A ball, a team needs more than one superstar.