Friday Night Blitz: Week 7

Another week down and another week closer to the ultimate goal for every team in the state, Jackson. Each team has aspirations of making it to the Big House in Jackson where they have the opportunity to play for the gold trophy but as each week goes by, those opportunities get slimmer and slimmer for many teams. This week, region games are heating up around the state and the stakes are getting higher with less non-conference games from here on out. It should be a great week of high school football in Mississippi and we've got you covered here on BulldogBlitz.com. How about my record on picking games this year? A 4-1 week last week led to some more separation on my overall record. Check it out.

Last Week's Record: 4-1

Season Record 22-8

Now, my game of the week and four more games to watch.

Game of the Week: Olive Branch at South Panola: The game of the week in the state is a tough pick with several huge games with huge implications, but this one is my choice. South Panola had a big loss to Memphis University a couple of weeks ago and fell in the rankings a couple of spots because of it. The good news for the Tigers is that they don't have a loss in the state much less their region yet. This is the battle of the number five and six teams in my rankings this week and should be a great battle. Olive Branch is still one of the teams in the hunt for 6A gold and this is a game that could put them over the top. Rip Kirk and Darrell Henderson are going to be too much for the Conquistadors to handle though and South Panola will win this one by 10.

South Panola

Grenada at Tupelo: I know this will absolutely elate friend and creator of the term "Them Blankets", Braden Bishop as his beloved Tupelo Wave has made my list for top five games of the week. That's not to say I haven't shown the Wave any love this season as I have Tupelo cracking the top 10 for the first time this season at number nine. Fact is, them blankets are finally back where they belong as winners. Tupelo has had a long-standing tradition of winning in all sports and, for some reason, just hasn't gotten it done on the gridiron in years past despite having loads of talent walking the halls at the school. That's beginning to change again as the Wave has jumped out to a perfect 5-0 record with possibly their biggest test of the season as Grenada comes to town. Undefeated in their own right and members of my top 25, Grenada has also resurged from proud tradition to make this an outstanding matchup between two tough programs. The winner of this game will be on the fast track to a big finish this season while both should be contenders moving forward. Tupelo

Petal at Oak Grove: I really had to think long and hard about this game as my game of the week but decided against it although it was too good to be kept off of the list. 6A is absolutely loaded again this season and might be as competitive as it has ever been. This game culminates just how great it is with the undefeated Petal Panthers facing the huge challenge of knocking off the Oak Grove Warriors. The two schools are not far apart and the rivalry is bitter. This matchup pits the number two and three teams in the state of Mississippi for one of the top three games of the season to this point. Jesse Jackson will be tested against an always strong secondary at Oak Grove as the senior closes in on making his final decision next week. It will be interesting to see if that weighs on him at all in this game. My guess would be that it doesn't and he has a big game on the way to solidifying the Panthers as the number two team in the state at this point in the season. Petal

Forrest County AHS at Newton County: This might be one of the most underrated matchups of the week pitting two Mississippi State commits and dangerous playmakers against each other. Jamoral Graham of Newton County has had a big year playing all over the field on defense and offense for the Cougars on the way to just one loss in the early going. He will get the chance to try and defend one of the state's top running backs in Dontavion Lee of Forrest County AHS whose team has reeled off four-consecutive wins after their first-game loss to Bassfield. Lee is going to be a chore to stop for the Cougars has he's racked up nine yards-per-carry on his way to 708 yards and five touchdowns through the first five games. I see this one going to the away team. FCAHS

Water Valley at Charleston: Always a great battle in the state, Water Valley and Charleston get together to see which team gets a head start in their division. Water Valley has had a great start to the season and has been a surprise team for some as they try to make it back to prominence at the storied program. Charleston always has their hand in the pile at the end of the season and will be tough to knock off for any team this year. Still, I think Water Valley finds a way to get another signature win with a victory on the road. Water Valley

Player of the Week: Dontavion Lee (MSU commit) Forrest AHS: There were several other players in the state that ran for more yardage than Lee this past week, but I doubt anyone did so much damage in very few carries. The senior standout rushed just nine times but for 182 yards and two touchdowns in his team's blowout win over Mize.

Now let's take a look at this week's top 25 for the state of Mississippi.

Top 25:

1. Brandon (5-0)

2. Petal (5-0)

3. Oak Grove (5-0)

4. Oxford (5-0)

5. South Panola (5-1)

6. Olive Branch (5-1)

7. Louisville (6-0)

8. Meridian (4-1)

9. Tupelo (5-0)

10. Madison Central (3-2)

11. Picayune (3-1)

12. Bassfield (5-1)

13. Callaway (6-0)

14. Pascagoula (4-1)

15. Starkville (3-2)

16. Wayne County (3-2)

17. Hazlehurst (5-1)

18. Gulfport (4-1)

19. Laurel (5-0)

20. Pearl (5-1)

21. Jackson Prep (5-1)

22. Grenada (5-0)

23. D'Iberville (4-1)

24. West Point (2-3)

25. Ripley (6-0)