Tigers to kick off season

By Myra Bean

South Panola football fans will finally be able to say, it’s football time.

The No. 1 state ranked and various nationally-ranked Tigers will open the season Thursday night on the road. Sports Illustrated ranked the Tigers No. 5 in its latest poll. The Tigers are usually within the top 10 in the national polls.

The Tigers will participate in the Red Carpet Bowl held at Vicksburg High School, facing the Warren Central Vikings.

On The Panolian website blog, a South Panola alumni who now lives there reports that signs are up all through Vicksburg saying “The Dynasty Falls,” writes Eric Lawson, a 1990 graduate.

Lawson also reports the trash talking started about two months ago. People down south are saying that South Panola is looking past Warren Central to Clarksdale and the Vikings are planning to serve an “upset special.”

Lawson lost a piece of personal Tiger paraphernalia he let Batesville know about.

“Somebody even took two SP signs off my truck,” Lawson wrote. “Oh they gotta get the smackdown!!!”

According to Lawson, the Vicksburg Post started a countdown for the big game at 60.

“I love it,” South Panola head football coach Lance Pogue said. “I think it’s great. If I were Warren Central, I would be having fun, too.”

South Panola got a little bit of action Friday night taking on Provine and Forest Hill in a scrimmage.

Pogue said mostly it was good for them to hit someone other than themselves.

“Provine has a good team,” Pogue said. “I believe they will have a great year.”

He said the defense had a good night and some players were in new positions.

“The offense had a real productive night,”  Pogue said.

As for Thursday night, Pogue said in this first game on the road with new coaches, they are trying to be as prepared as they can be.

Tickets for the Red Carpet Bowl are going fast in Vicksburg. South Panola still has some for sale for $8 in the high school office.

“The people down there won’t guarantee there will be any for sale Thursday,” Pogue said. “So please get your tickets here and let’s have a good showing.”

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Directions to Vicksburg Stadium:

Take I-55 South to Jackson. Take the I-220 West Jackson exit. It will turn into I-20 West. Keep going to the Utica and East Clay Street Exit 5B. Keep to the right and the road will wind around on Highway 27. Come to a 4-way stop. Keep straight 1.3 miles down Highway 27. Stadium is on left, address is 1000 Highway 27, Vicksburg.