By Myra Bean

“Revenge is a dish best served cold” is what the old adage says.

South Panola will travel to Olive Branch Friday tonight to take on the Conquistadors in the second round of playoffs. The weather is predicted to go from cool to cold in the mid to low 40s and Olive Branch would like nothing better than to knock off the No. 1 nationally-ranked Tiger team.

The Tigers (12-0) defeated Olive Branch (8-4) 42-7 on October 1 in Olive Branch.

History

South Panola is prepared for that battle, according to fourth year head coach Lance Pogue.

This is not the first time South Panola and Olive Branch have had to meet twice in the same year. For three straight years, 2005, 2006 and 2007, the teams met in the North Half games.

In 2007 South Panola downed Olive Branch 43-28 in the north half game. In the regular season game, the Tigers won 17-3.

In 2006, South Panola won the regular season game 12-7 in a come-from-behind contest but won the North Half contest before a capacity crowd 35-13.

In 2005, South Panola shut out OB in the north half game 26-0. In October of that year, South Panola won 27-3.

“Our kids do know that Olive Branch is very capable,” Pogue said. “They have greatly improved since we played them in early October. They lost some games early but they have not lost since we played them.”

Preparation

The last two weeks, Olive Branch “destroyed” its opponents Tupelo 43-17 and Clinton in the first round of playoffs 42-14.

“We have seen film on them and we know without question they are better,” Pogue said. “The thing is we respect that and the focus in practice is paying attention to detail. Preparation is the key.”

Pogue said they do not wait until they get to the game and say “it’s time to kick it on.”

“It’s what you do Monday through Friday and so far I have been well-pleased with our focus,” he added. “Our kids fully respect them, knowing we will get their best shot and at their place again. I think we will be ready to play them.”

Since South Panola and Olive Branch played October 1, Olive Branch is 6-0. Olive Branch’s four losses were against ranked teams in their respective states, Cocoa, Fla., Brentwood Academy, Memphis, Southaven and South Panola.

OB State of Mind

Pogue contemplated what Olive Branch head coach Scott Samsel may be gearing up a team who has lost to South Panola in every meeting since 2000.

“They are going to say the pressure is on us,” Pogue said and he agreed. “That’s a live statement, that’s true.”

Pogue speculated what else may be said.  

“They will say that we have another shot at them and we are better than we were back in October. We got them at home. We have nothing to lose. They might be thinking ahead, something else, so far. I know they are going to use all of those angles.

“What we are trying to get our guys to understand is we have had some battles with Olive Branch that have been down to the wire,” Pogue added. “We know that they are going to give us their best shot. We do know they have some capabilities.”

Senior quarterback Todd Mays for the Conquistadors is an outstanding player, according to Pogue.

“He is very capable. Our kids know that and respect that.

“They won’t catch us asleep,” Pogue added. “We just know they are better than they were but that’s what you get in the playoffs.”

Tiger Weapons

Pogue mentioned some players who have turned into weapons the Tigers use this year to get this far.

Senior quarterback Lee Self has picked up where he left off last year, according to Pogue.

“He gives us everything he’s got every week. We know that.”

 Qyen Griffin has been the almost surprise player of the year, Pogue said.

“I knew he had all those capabilities but he never really did it as a running back,” Pogue said. “What he has done his senior year has been phenomenal.”

Griffin has 204 carries for 2,049 yards and 30 touchdowns, along with four receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown.

“I have been so pleased with him,” Pogue said. “I thought what he has done he could do until he actually did it. He has so much confidence. I don’t really call him a surprise but nobody knew about him. He played defense mostly last year.”

Pogue praised the whole offensive line and said it has “really come on.” The offensive line is led by seniors Austin Douglas, Kenyahti McMurry, Deshondrick Hines, Carlton Howards and Thomas Campbell.

“We got Marcus Henry back after he was banged up earlier in the year to go along with Brassell,” Pogue said. “I have been well-pleased there.”

The Tiger defense calls itself the nasty bunch. It has given up 90 points, an average of 7.5 points per game and had four shutouts while the offense has scored 592 points, averaging 49.3 points per game.

“All year long, I have been pleased with the defense,” Pogue said. “We have been playing Brassell a lot now in the secondary, using him both ways.”

A budding star on the special teams has been kicker Clayton Sibley. He has kicked 24 extra points and scored one field goal.

“We got Clayton Sibley in the middle of the season and he has been outstanding the last four games,” Pogue said. “He hasn’t really missed an extra point, has kicked a couple of field goals. I have been well, well pleased with him. That has been a big boost.”

The South Panola/Olive Branch game has been built into a rival match. Last year a book was released mentioning the game as one of the best rivalries in Mississippi.

“It has gotten built up so much in the last few years,” Pogue said. “We know they would like nothing more than to knock us off. We fully understand that but we have goals, too. In order to achieve our goals, we have to play Olive Branch and we have to find a way to win.”

Throughout the season, many of the starters have not really played the entire game and that has some fans worrying whether or not the starters can go the difference if the game calls for them.

“We practice that way when we go our best against our best, offense and defense,” Pogue said. “We try to stay sharp in that area. I am not really concerned about that. Those guys can play four full quarters because we keep practicing it.”

Each week Pogue enlists the help and support of the fans.

“I just appreciate all the fans,” he said. “We encourage you to buy up all the tickets. We have 2,000 we are selling here, to  help you avoid the lines and all of that. We would like to have a big time, standing room only crowd on our side, be lively and enthusiastic. Nothing excites these guys more.

“I am expecting a lively enthusiastic crowd, high intensity level game. That’s what our kids like,” Pogue added.

Tickets are on sale at the high school from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today for $7. Kickoff is tonight at 7 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on WBLE 100.5 FM starting with the pregame show with Judge George Carlson, Steve Wingert and crew at 6 p.m. Live video-streaming can be found at www.panolian.com and press South Panola football live streaming box on the left.

Additonal Playoff info:

In addition to South Panola playing at Olive Branch, Madison Central is playing at Northwest Rankin.  If South Panola wins, and if Northwest Rankin wins, NWR comes to South Panola for the North Half, because NWR would have won at home while SP would have won on the road.  If SP wins and Madison Central wins, SP would travel to Madison for the North Half, because both SP and MC would have won second round games on the road; both SP and MC are seeded No. 1; and MC, as the No. 1 seed in the even numbered region (Region 2) in an even numbered year (2010), gets to host the North Half.  The same tie-breakers caused MC to come to SP in 2009 and SP to travel to MC in 2008.