By Angie Ledbetter

After a hard fall to No. 12 nationally-ranked Bentonville, the No. 7 South Panola Tigers (2-2) are looking ahead to the beginning of division play against the Horn Lake Eagles (2-2) tonight.

“Division play starts now and every game is big each week,” said head coach Lance Pogue. “Every time you win a game you’re helping yourself. It’s all about getting into the playoffs.

“We’ve played a tough schedule with two ranked teams out of state and didn’t win but keeping a great attitude is going to help us as we move on,” Pogue added. “We’re learning from those games and trying to improve and get better. I think you do that by playing good teams like those. Nobody has played a schedule like that or are willing to.”

Pogue said you have two choices in life and when you play football.

“There are going to be days when it doesn’t go your way so you can respond to it in a positive manner, build off of it and learn from it or you can give into it. If we take the right path, attitude-wise, it’ll make us a better team.”

The Eagles are under the direction of new head Coach Brad Boyette. The former head coach moved to Olive Branch to be an assistant coach along with his son who was the quarterback at Horn Lake.

Horn Lake has averaged 106.5 rushing yards per game, 69.8 passing, 56.8 tackles, 9.5 points, 25 passing completions and .333 completion percentage.  

“You can tell they’re trying to find themselves a little bit with a new coach, quarterback and doing some new things,” Pogue said. “Seems to me they’re playing hard and have won two games so obviously they’re feeling pretty good about themselves.”

The Eagles will mix it up with both passing and running the ball.

Stepping in as the quarterback will be No. 15 Dalton Minton who is a 6-2, 167 sophomore.

“It’s his first time to play quarterback but he’s been doing some good things,” Pogue said. “You can tell he’s learning on the job like any inexperienced quarterback would.”

They opened the season with Munford, Tenn. shutting them out 28-0. The following week they lost to Lake Cormorant 37-14.

The last two games the Eagles got on the winning track by shutting out their opponents. They defeated Sheffield, Tenn. 14-0 and last week shut out one of their rivalries with Hernando 10-0.

One athlete who is all over the field with his speed will be No. 8 Darius Harris.

“Horn Lake is utilizing Harris in a lot of positive ways and he’s a good looking player.”

According to Pogue the defensive side of the ball has some speed also.

 “Looks like they have some guys who can run a little bit. They’re very similar defensively as they have been in the past. They shut Hernando out and that’s always impressive when you hold somebody scoreless.”

As far as the Tigers getting ready for the Eagles this week, Pogue said it’s a new season.

“We played the toughest schedule in the nation and now we’re getting ready to play the local Mississippi teams that we’re familiar with and try to gets some things going to get on a roll.”

South Panola has averaged 116.5 passing yards per game, 112 rushing yards, 50 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 11 points and 22 pass completions.

Kickoff at Robert H. Dunlap Stadium will be at 7:30 p.m. with pregame at 6:30 on FM 100.5.