Week 8 of the MHSAA football season is here. Here are our predictions of the games this week that involve Jones County teams.
Wingfield at Laurel
Brookhaven handed Laurel its first Region 3-5A loss since October 10, 2014, last Friday night.
No worries for Laurel this week though, the probability of a second straight loss is so minute that I seriously doubt it can be measured.
Wingfield, Laurel’s Week 8 opponent, is 1-5 on the season and has yet to beat the Tornadoes in Region 3-5A action.
Prediction: Laurel +40
South Jones at Natchez
The trip to Natchez is long, and an even longer ride back following a loss.
Beating Natchez is South Jones’ ticket into the playoffs this season, something the Braves haven’t celebrated since 2009.
West Jones beat Natchez last Friday night, 46-15. That means that both the Mustangs and South Jones could nail down third and fourth seed spots in Region 3-5A if the Braves can beat Natchez, one of two other viable contenders (North Pike being the other) in the region, this week.
It would also make the South Jones/West Jones’ meeting later this season even more meaningful.
As South Jones head coach Cory Reynolds says every week, “the most important game of the season is the next one,” and oh how right that is this week especially.
Prediction: South Jones +9
West Jones at North Pike
I don’t mind being wrong, as long as it’s a local team who proved me wrong.
Last week I picked West Jones to lose to Natchez in a close game, and how wrong I was. The Mustangs stomped Natchez in the ground, 46-15. To be fair, my pick was warranted. Week after week West Jones had struggled to find any momentum on offense; they averaged just 15 points a game in the six weeks leading up to last Friday night’s important Region 3-5A matchup. Then they scored 46 points.
West Jones needs a similar outing this week against North Pike (5-1).
Prediction: West Jones +7
West Lauderdale at NEJ
I placed Northeast Lauderdale, Northeast Jones’ opponent last week, on upset alert. And the Tigers almost pulled it off, falling to the Trojans 39-36.
West Lauderdale, whom NEJ plays this week in Region 5-4A action, won’t be caught off guard. They’ve learned, based on NEJ’s performance in Week 7, not to judge the Tigers based on their record. Northeast Jones must take this into account.
Prediction: West Lauderdale +12
