In high school football, legends are created in November, as the conclusion of Halloween weekend means that playoffs across the state are set to begin.
And from the local area, a whopping 10 teams are gearing up for their respective postseason runs, with both private and public schools hoping to play deep into the month and create memories that last a lifetime.
Full first-round previews for Pike County’s participating schools will be coming later this week, but this article aims to serve as a compendium of the regional area’s playoff action.
If you’re looking for matchups, dates, links to the various brackets and some brief analysis, this is your one-stop shop:
McComb Tigers
MHSAA 4A | No. 2 Seed | 8-1 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: vs. No. 3 Greene County (6-4)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 7 | McComb, Miss.
Following a season in which McComb endured through a challenging slate of games and only fell to undefeated Columbia, the Tigers will host their first-round game against Greene County.
The visitors are a proud program that has won 14 combined games over the past two seasons, and 4-star receiver Jase Matthews (an Auburn commit) will do his best to go toe-to-toe with McComb’s many dynamic athletes.
With a win, the Tigers would face the victor of the Leake Central-Richland matchup, which pits a No. 1 seed vs. a No. 4 seed respectively. Defending 4A champs Poplarville reside in the lower half of McComb’s quadrant, and if Alden Foster’s side reaches the semifinals, it would more than likely have to face Columbia in a rematch.
Bracket Link: MHSAA 4A
Parklane Pioneers
MAIS 4A D-II | No. 1 Seed | 9-1 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: vs. No. 4 Starkville Academy (6-4)/No. 5 Copiah Academy (8-2)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 14 | McComb, Miss.
Parklane has followed up its state-title season from 2024 with another dominant campaign, only falling to powerhouse MRA on the road while winning six games by 30 or more points.
Now, Ron Rushing’s team gets to enjoy a bye week while the other teams in the bracket duke it out. The Pioneers will host the winner of the Starkville-Copiah matchup next Friday, with them having beaten each of those teams within the past two seasons.
With a semifinal win, Parklane would face the representative from the lower half of the bracket, which includes Magnolia Heights (No. 2), Heritage Academy (No. 3) and Oak Forest Academy (No. 6). The 4A D-II title game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 21 from Jackson Academy.
*Listed seeds detail how the teams are placed within the D-II bracket, not how they are seeded overall by the MAIS.*
Bracket Link: MAIS 4A D-II
South Pike Eagles
MHSAA 4A | No. 4 Seed | 3-6 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: @ No. 1 Pass Christian (9-1)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 7 | Pass Christian, Miss.
South Pike rebounded from an 0-3 start to the year in order to reach the postseason, with its only three losses since September coming at the hands of powerhouses Poplarville, Columbia and McComb.
The issue is that, as the fourth seed from their district, the Eagles will have to hit the road to face another strong opponent in Pass Christian, a team that has won eight games by double-digits. Thus, it will take one of South Pike’s most complete games of the year to pull off a round-one upset, but it certainly has the talent to do so.
With a win, the Eagles would face the victor of the Morton-West Lauderdale matchup, which pits a No. 2 seed vs. a No. 3 seed respectively.
Bracket Link: MHSAA 4A
Tylertown Chiefs
MHSAA 3A | No. 3 Seed | 6-4 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: @ No. 2 Hazlehurst (5-3)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 7 | Hazlehurst, Miss.
A season-ending road loss to Presbyterian Christian forces Tylertown to hit the road for its first-round matchup, and the Chiefs will have to take down a Hazlehurst team that just beat two teams by a combined 80-8 to close its campaign.
But with quarterback Keonnis Davis making his final postseason run alongside a host of Tylertown’s veterans, Osborne Holmes’ team has what it takes to manufacture a deep run.
With a win, the Chiefs would face the victor of the Union-Jefferson Davis County matchup, which pits a No. 1 seed vs. a No. 4 seed respectively.
Bracket Link: MHSAA 3A
Bogue Chitto Bobcats
MHSAA 1A | No. 1 Seed | 7-3 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: vs. No. 4 Richton (5-5)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 7 | Bogue Chitto, Miss.
Bogue Chitto stumbled to a 1-3 start but has since been one of the hottest teams in the state, as BJ Smithhart’s side has ripped off six wins by double-figures and just clinched a district title with a dominant win over Salem last week.
Eyeing a deep run, the Bobcats welcome a pesky Richton team to town this week and will have home-field advantage for at least the first two rounds.
With a win, the Bobcats would face the victor of the Leake County-Shaw matchup, which pits a No. 2 seed vs. a No. 3 seed respectively.
Bracket Link: MHSAA 1A
Franklin County Bulldogs
MHSAA 3A | No. 1 Seed | 5-5 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: vs. No. 4 St. Patrick (3-6)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 7 | Meadville, Miss.
Much like the Bobcats above, Franklin County rallied from a rough non-district showing to go undefeated in district play, clinching its first regional title since 2014.
With home-field advantage through the first two rounds, the potential is there for the Bulldogs to mount another magical postseason run, and it all starts when St. Patrick visits this Friday.
With a win, Franklin County would face the victor of the Quitman-Magee matchup, which pits a No. 2 seed vs. a No. 3 seed respectively.
Bracket Link: MHSAA 3A
Salem Wildcats
MHSAA 1A | No. 2 Seed | 6-3 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: vs. No. 3 Lumberton (4-5)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 7 | Tylertown, Miss.
Making its first postseason appearance since 2015 following a breakthrough campaign under second-year coach William Frazier, Salem will host Lumberton on Friday.
The Wildcats have stunned the 1A level by completely changing the narrative surrounding their program, and they have the athletes needed to win their first playoff game since 1995.
With a victory, Salem would face the winner of the Nanih Waiya-West Bolivar matchup, which pits a No. 1 seed vs. a No. 4 seed respectively.
Bracket Link: MHSAA 1A
Amite County Trojans
MHSAA 2A | No. 2 Seed | 7-2 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: vs. No. 3 Collins (3-6)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 7 | Liberty, Miss.
Amite County has surged to a 7-2 record under head coach Sedric Cain, who returned to lead the Trojans prior to the 2024 season after he had a three-year stint in charge from 2014-2016. And ironically enough, Amite County’s current win total is its best since it went 9-3 in 2015, Cain’s second year at the helm.
Dominance in the trenches and explosive plays from a variety of contributors have defined the Trojans’ season, and the bracket is set up so they would not have to face undefeated Wesson until the semifinals.
With a first-round win over Collins, the Trojans would face the victor of the Scott Central-Clarkdale matchup, which pits a No. 1 seed vs. a No. 4 seed respectively.
Bracket Link: MHSAA 2A
Amite School Center Rebels
MAIS 3A D-II | No. 7 Seed | 7-3 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: @ No. 2 Adams County Christian (8-3)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 7 | Natchez, Miss.
Second-year head coach Bryce Bean has guided ASC to its best season since it went 10-3 in 2000, but the Rebels will have to take that momentum on the road to start postseason play.
With a district title on the line last Friday, ASC fell to Adams County Christian by a score of 49-28 in Liberty, which sets up a first-round rematch in Natchez.
With a win, the Rebels would face the victor of the Riverfield Academy-Wayne Academy matchup, which pits a No. 3 seed vs. a No. 6 seed respectively.
*Listed seeds detail how the teams are placed within the D-II bracket, not how they are seeded overall by the MAIS.*
Bracket Link: MAIS 3A D-II
Centreville Tigers
MAIS 2A D-I | No. 1 Seed | 9-1 Overall Record
First-Round Matchup: vs. No. 4 St. Joseph (4-6)
7:00 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 14 | Centreville, Miss.
The dynasty rolls on in Centreville, as Bill Hurst has a team that is fully capable of claiming the school’s 10th state title.
If the Tigers can take down St. Joseph at home, they’ll find themselves in the MAIS 2A D-I title game, which is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 21 from Jackson Academy.
With a semifinal win, the Tigers would face the victor of the Lee Academy-Winona Christian matchup, which pits a No. 2 seed vs. a No. 3 seed respectively.
*Listed seeds detail how the teams are placed within the D-I bracket, not how they are seeded overall by the MAIS.*
Bracket Link: MAIS 2A D-I
*IMPORTANT NOTE: North Pike and Kentwood–schools that are also in our coverage area–both still play one more regular season game before their respective postseason runs begin.*
