Bulldogs4

We need a stop on defense badly.

I know I was just yanking your chain. You should beat both of those teams comfortably.

If you keep losing players to injuries, you are liable to be SE Lauderdale’s only victory of the season and thus eliminate Enterprise from the playoffs completely. And you said it in your last sentence about being careful saying that one team can’t beat another team.

That best 3A defense got torched for 27 points by Union last week.

For decades, the students in immediate area of Clarkdale (in Clarke County) attended Clarkdale as the two districts had worked out a deal to allow it to happen. Quite a few residential developments happened in the area. However about 30+ years ago, Clarke county decided they were losing too much tax revenue by those homes paying school ad valorem taxes to Lauderdale county. I think it eventually went to court and after it was settled all those students that lived a stones throw from Clarkdale had to go to Enterprise which is about 10 miles away (which is still not too far away). But for people who bought a home right there, it was a difficult pill to swallow. Especially if they worked in Meridian. The school has been there since the 1920’s. Not sure why they built it on the county line but at the time, the population there was sparse so it probably made sense then.

As 83 noted, 2018 and 2020 our trips to LEX were disastrous. 2016 we lost on a last second 50+ yard FG. This year, I hope will be different. I believe we will handle the atmosphere better. We actually did fine in BR for three quarters. But we failed to cash in on our opportunities and eventually that is going to bite especially on the road against a quality team. Offensively we need to score consistently even if we have to take a FG here and there. I am glad Leach has confidence in our ability to make 4th down conversions but I wish he would be more judicious in going for it. Defensively, if we can limit the big plays I think we will be okay. Special teams are going to be important. Other than XP/FG’s we have been good there in other facets. As Al Davis used to say “ just win baby” I don’t care how, just would like to get out there with a win and no injuries. Ole Miss takes out six years of frustration and wallops Auburn big. Bama @ Tennessee. This should finally be a good game again. Selfishly I hope it goes to like 4-5 overtimes. I am thinking Young does not play. If that is the case, Tennessee wins. But if he does play, Bama wins. A part of me even thinks if he does play, Bama may blow Tennessee out. No reason other than a hunch. If KJ plays Arky beats BYU. Florida eeks out a win over LSU. TCU over Okie State. Shrader for the win for Cuse over NCSTATE. Utah scrambles the PAC 8 or 10 or 12 or 14 or whatever they call it over USCW.

We went to see Jay Leno Friday Night so I only saw the score after the game was over. Certainly disappointing to let this game slip away. Unfortunately, as you all have noted we have not learned how to win close games. Still not giving up on our guys and I hope we can find a way to make the playoffs this year.

Also, this weekend reconfirms that it hard to predict games based on past performances. Tennessee beat LSU who beat State who beat A&M who beat Arkansas who beat Cincinnati who beat Indiana who beat Illinois who beat Wyoming who beat Air Force who beat Navy who beat East Carolina who beat Old Dominion who beat Virginia Tech who beat Boston College who beat Louisville who beat UCF who beat Georgia Tech who beat Pitt who has not beat anyone of consequence. But you guys get the idea. Just a lot of unpredictability this year in CFB.

As usual A&M plays a great game against Bama who struggles but gets the win. If Young is not back next week, I think Tennessee breaks the streak and beats Bama. If Young returns, it makes for a great game and it could definitely be a toss up type game since it is at UT. State is at Kentucky. If Levis returns this is going to be a difficult game. They have lost two in a row and I suspect they will play a desperation to break that streak. It appears we have matured and hopefully handle a road environment better than we did in BR. As I have mentioned before, this year we are going to see some bottom rail on top scores. Texas 49 zip over Oklahoma. Who saw that coming? Obviously TX was favored but to win by 7 TD’s in a shutout? Was this the only weekend of the season that we had all SEC matchups with no open dates or OOC games. Other than 2020, this is generally a fluke that only happens once a season or so. Pretty cool though. I kind of thought Ole Miss-Vandy would go like it did. Vandy would play well in the first half and had the lead and then Ole Miss would win the second half. Credit to Ole Miss for scoring 52 points. Didn’t think you would put that many points up.

Typical OM-Vandy. Ole Miss is flat and Vandy is actually better this year. Nervous if you are a Rebel fan but they will probably eek out a win today.

I think he is playing. This is all been a smoke screen about him. Nothing new and teams have done it for years. Leach did not fall off a turnip truck yesterday. They have prepared for him to play . Simple as that.

I get that but I thought Atterberry had been getting some touches along with us throwing the ball a bit more. Definitely need to spread the ball around so that he stays healthy. Unfortunately, I have not been able to see a game yet and probably will not until the Petal game.

Or maybe just some Family Tradition by HW Jr. Hank? Why do you drink? Hank, Why do you smoke? I am just carrying on an old Family Tradition. Though in our cases, it’s our football teams that drive us to drink and smoke…:)

Ole Miss is likely to be flat after an emotional win over KY. Ordinarily, they would be ripe for an upset. But while Vandy is improved I don’t see this being the usual tight game between these two. Vandy may have a lead early but Ole Miss wins 31-17 in a semi competitive game early. Arkansas-State might be rat poison coming out of FYV concerning Jefferson. I think he will play and that State has prepared as if he were playing. I like State to continue to play well and win this game. Not sure what the score may look like but I will go with 35-24. Tennessee@LSU. The Vols are the better team but LSU is no slouch this year. I think they burst the Vol bubble. 34-31. Bama wins over A&M but it is not shellacking. Bama still coasts to a win. 41–19. UGA 28, Auburn 10. Missouri is not able sustain the emotions of last Saturday. Florida wins comfortably 28-8. Kentucky rebounds with a win. USCe will play hard but come up short. KY 20, SCAR 10. In the Gameday game, TCU edges Kansas 36-35 in an epic finish.

Mout, What is the issue with the scheme? Numbers for Meridian have been an issue for years now. I think the roster has about 50 players which is terrible for a 6A school. Our OL has been a weakness for years as well. So with regard to the scheme, with regard to the above problems what would you suggest be done different? The other item with Daniel Hill may be a consideration but his Dad is on the staff at Meridian High and is a legendary Wildcat player. I would think he would want his son to play out his HS career as a Wildcat.

Kentucky certainly had their opportunities but credit to Ole Miss with a couple of great defensive turnovers there late. Both teams are good. I would image a lot of players are going to be in the whirlpool today. Very physical game. State’s OL was the MVP. Obviously the turnovers and blocked FG were huge. But Rogers was not sacked yesterday. The teams that have one or two athletic fast pass rushers give State fits i. e. the guy from Bama , can’t think of his name and Sam Williams at OM last year. That is our weakness. Yesterday we blocked and we ran the ball well too. 144 yards on the ground was big as well. The earth got back on its axis last night with Georgia eeking out a win and LSU came back to beat Auburn.

Good win for both State and Ole Miss. Held serve at home which is crucial in the SEC. Auburn is raping LSWHO right now!!! Do not know if it is will hold but they are playing well as now.

Good win for Ole Miss. Gritty win and it does not matter how just getting the win is what counts.

Yep. Which team shows up? We have had two good games and two terrible ones. The NWR game was a puzzler after we had seemingly turned the corner. We have two good RB’s but have found at least a semblance of a passing game. You have to be able to do both against a good team. Certainly a good win last night against Pearl but I have no idea how good they actually are so this Friday will give us a good gauge on how good Meridian is.

It has been a long time since this game has mattered. Last year we were competitive for 3+ quarters but OG was the better team and ran away with it in the fourth quarter. This year, OG is still better but I think we have improved some more. Three keys for Meridian are: Turnovers Penalties Special Teams That is a lot of areas right there. We have the ability but we have got to play a clean game with 1 or less TO’s, limit the penalties and just be solid on ST’s. That is a lot to ask but IF we handle those areas, I believe we will have a chance to win. Always tough to win at OG. I know some of you OG guys have been puzzled at your play so far. I know the old bitterness of the game has melted away. I hope we can rekindle the rivalry but with out the acrimony that existed 10-15 years ago. Just want it to be hard fought and competitive but clean on the field and between the fans.

Back, way back it was done under the table. Decades ago when I was a student at State a good friend of my Dad’s would take care of getting the basketball players TV’s each year. One year when State was playing at Ole Miss in basketball, several of us made a road trip to Oxford to see the game. Ole Miss won. Later we were at a party with some OM friends and several of the basketball players came to join in the fun. One of them said, when they got back into the locker room, each one of them found a $100 bill in their locker. How all this plays out is going to be very interesting over the next several years. But for now it seems to resemble the Wild, Wild West. Unfortunately, IMO, it along with the transfer portal are going to make for poorer and more inconsistent performances on the field.

I mentioned last month when Laurel beat Meridian that Meridian played so badly it was hard to know how good Laurel was. The jury is still out on Meridian but for tonight a win is a win. And Laurel won. Regardless of how. it is a W in the book.

Meridian 51 Pearl 27 Final The Division is a scrambled mess. Brandon /NW Rankin at the top 2-0 but after that I think you have about 4 teams 1-1 and then Petal/Terry 0-2.

I like Ole Miss at home provided they play a complete game. As I mentioned in a previous post, the portal is creating inconsistent play around the country. Teams with a lot of new talented players are struggling to gel and we have seen it already happen around the country. KY is solid but the home crowd will carry Ole Miss to victory. 28-23 Ole Miss with the win. A&M @ State will be decided (like 83 said) on how State’s OL performs against a very good DL. A&M had no business beating Arkansas but they did. I tend to agree that this will be a low scoring game. I think Tulu will make a big play in special teams and that will help State edge A&M in a tight game (28-24). But my confidence in our OL is still shaky so I am not convinced yet that they are good enough to beat a better defense. This weekend will show if they have improved in the last two weeks. Bama-Arkansas. It is tempting to say Arky has a chance but they are not good enough. They will play hard and give Bama all they have but it will not be nearly enough. Bama 42-17. LSU beats Auburn and I know they have voodoo in JH stadium but LSU is much better and I think they win convincingly. LSU 25-Auburn 8.

KY-OM is an intriguing match up. At the LOS, I think UK is a better but OM is at home. UK manhandled FL in the 4th quarter on the road. This is obviously the first big test for OM but they have had 4 games to work out the kinks. The Tulsa game is a bit concerning because they really only played well for one quarter (though as noted , it was enough to win the game). I am kind of like 83 here. I could see this game going either way. It may come down to turnovers and a big special teams play that decides this game.