Best teams that you have personally seen in Each classification.

[Archer]

On 3/9/2024 at 9:54 AM, Pull-A-Roy said:

Moss point also had some really good teams n the late 90’s. Had guys like Fant, Kelly, barnes they were really talented 

 

Their '95 team was the most loaded and lost in a wild south state game to Hattiesburg at Dantzler after leading by several touchdowns.  They were undefeated entering that game having pitched seven shutouts and averaging 31.5 ppg.

[Chunky6617]

1 hour ago, Archer said:

 

Bless their hearts.  Give that team a spot in the top 5 slots.  But 1987 Pascagoula would not be shut out of the top 5 slots which was your prior assertion.

First, Pascagoula was not a 6A team in 1987 because there were no 6A teams. So Pascagoula cannot be anywhere in the discussion anyway. I really need to check and see what year we went to 6 classes before I can even say for definite if SP is the best 6A squad of all time 

[Dubaction]

09 SP is the best 6A squad. 

[Archer]

7 hours ago, Chunky6617 said:

First, Pascagoula was not a 6A team in 1987 because there were no 6A teams. So Pascagoula cannot be anywhere in the discussion anyway. I really need to check and see what year we went to 6 classes before I can even say for definite if SP is the best 6A squad of all time 

 

5A was the largest classification in 1987 so it's relevant.  

 

Obviously, you're not wrong on a technical level but listing the best team by classification wouldn't be relevant given many of the evolving classification standards, juxtaposed with the enrollments of 5A schools in the 80s and 90s -- including Pascagoula which had an enrollment of over 2,000 students in 1987 -- versus today's enrollment numbers of 7A schools.

 

At the highest classification, it's a few South Panola teams, 1987 Pascagoula, 1985 Meridian and maybe '96 Moss Point in the discussion for the greatest team.

 

 

 

Edited March 11, 2024 by Archer
Correction

[FBdude]

58 minutes ago, Archer said:

 

5A was the largest classification in 1987 so it's relevant.  

 

Obviously, you're not wrong on a technical level but listing the best team by classification wouldn't be relevant given many of the evolving classification standards, juxtaposed with the enrollments of 5A schools in the 80s and 90s -- including Pascagoula which had an enrollment of over 2,000 students in 1987 -- versus today's enrollment numbers of 7A schools.

 

At the highest classification, it's a few South Panola teams, 1987 Pascagoula, 1985 Meridian and maybe '96 Moss Point in the discussion for the greatest team.

 

 

 

I’ll take 78 meridian over 85… but man Meridian used to be cream of the crop.

[Pull-A-Roy]

1 hour ago, FBdude said:

I’ll take 78 meridian over 85… but man Meridian used to be cream of the crop.

I would love to see an old picture of ray stadium with the  stands packed out 

[Chunky6617]

3 hours ago, Archer said:

 

5A was the largest classification in 1987 so it's relevant.  

 

Obviously, you're not wrong on a technical level but listing the best team by classification wouldn't be relevant given many of the evolving classification standards, juxtaposed with the enrollments of 5A schools in the 80s and 90s -- including Pascagoula which had an enrollment of over 2,000 students in 1987 -- versus today's enrollment numbers of 7A schools.

 

At the highest classification, it's a few South Panola teams, 1987 Pascagoula, 1985 Meridian and maybe '96 Moss Point in the discussion for the greatest team.

 

 

 

I wouldn’t have 1985 meridian in the discussion for best overall team, simply because they lost 2 games that season. Their offense was not very good. But their defense was probably the best ever in all classes. I think they gave up 25 points all season, and two scores against them were interception returns that wasn’t on the defense. 

[Bulldogs4]

1985 Meridian team lost one game to Callaway 12-9. Both of Callaway’s scores were defensive.

The Meridian defense was the best I have ever seen and the competition we played that year was stout. 
1978 Meridian team was undefeated but won a number of close games. While I consider it a great team I would not call it one of the best ever. 

1966 Meridian team has to be considered one of the best ever. Outscored opponents 309-49. Vicksburg & Greenville were the only two teams to score over 7 points against Meridian. And this was when both those teams were good.

 

I did see all three of the above teams in person. 
 

Other great teams that I saw in person include the 2005 & 2010 SP teams. Both of those teams have to be included among the best ever. 

[FBdude]

13 hours ago, Bulldogs4 said:

1985 Meridian team lost one game to Callaway 12-9. Both of Callaway’s scores were defensive.

The Meridian defense was the best I have ever seen and the competition we played that year was stout. 
1978 Meridian team was undefeated but won a number of close games. While I consider it a great team I would not call it one of the best ever. 

1966 Meridian team has to be considered one of the best ever. Outscored opponents 309-49. Vicksburg & Greenville were the only two teams to score over 7 points against Meridian. And this was when both those teams were good.

 

I did see all three of the above teams in person. 
 

Other great teams that I saw in person include the 2005 & 2010 SP teams. Both of those teams have to be included among the best ever. 

66 meridian would that of been led by Sunny Fisher at QB?

[FBdude]

18 hours ago, Pull-A-Roy said:

I would love to see an old picture of ray stadium with the  stands packed out 

78-79 teams certainly packed them out. Let’s not forget 78 was Macs first year as a HC. Just think if he had that roster with 10hr ads HV experience under his belt.

[Bulldogs4]

29 minutes ago, FBdude said:

66 meridian would that of been led by Sunny Fisher at QB?

No Sonny Fisher played for Meridian in the late 1950’s. He was the QB for the MHS team that won the Big 8 in 1959. Before my time but that was really good team. 
 

He was the QB for State in 1963 (Also played defense as well) when was 7-2-2. State was four points away from winning the SEC. Two ties Florida (9-9) and Ole Miss (10-10) and heartbreaking loss to Bama 20-19. Finished 4-1-2 in the conference that year. Beat NC State 16-12 in the Liberty (Ice) Bowl. Last year it was played in PHL. Temp was 13 degrees and Jack Cristil uttered his famous quote “it was colder than a pawnbroker’s heart.”

 

1966 Meridian High QB was Bob White. Johnny Vaught had signed him to play at Ole Miss and he was touted as the QB of the future at Ole Miss. 

But he tore up his knee in the MS All Star football game that during that time was played in the summer after graduation. His injury destroyed his career and opened the door for a little known QB from Drew, MS named Archie Manning to become a star. 
 

It is interesting how history can be changed by events and in sports especially by injuries to players that allow another player the opportunity to shine. Archie may have possibly never seen the field at Ole Miss had White not been injured. 

[Bulldogs4]

42 minutes ago, FBdude said:

78-79 teams certainly packed them out. Let’s not forget 78 was Macs first year as a HC. Just think if he had that roster with 10hr ads HV experience under his belt.

Record crowd at Ray Stadium was in 1967 for the Big 8 Championship. Crowd was 18,500. Bleachers were set up behind the end zones and people were sitting on the slope around the N end of the stadium. 
 

When the stadium was built in 1936, that slope around the N end was landscaped for possible expansion as they were potentially expecting that the stadium would host college games. And in fact State did play a handful games at the Ray in the 1930’s including the very first ever game played in 1936 or possibly 1937. 
 

The stadium has seen some great performers as well including Elvis Presley, Alabama, George Strait, Oak Ridge Boys, 30 Years of Rock& Roll Tour and others.

 

We had great crowds in 1978 & 1979 as well.

 

In recent years, when SP came to Ray Stadium about 10 years ago, the crowd was 13K+. 
And we had some big crowds with Oak Grove back in the mid/late 2000’s as well. 
 

Alas, I don’t see the stadium ever being packed again unless something unusual happens.

People have so many different options for entertainment these days and HS football is not on the radar for most people unless someone has a family member or friend playing on the team. 

[Washed_Up_Athlete]

On 3/6/2024 at 7:54 AM, maroontide06 said:

6A - 2023 West Jones.  Have we ever seen a better defense than that?  I'm sure there may have been some in years past that could have been statistically better, but I'd put that defense up against any past state title team regardless of classification.

I agree. I believe West Jones was the best team in the state, no matter the classification, and by a wide margin. 

[Dubaction]

2 hours ago, Washed_Up_Athlete said:

I agree. I believe West Jones was the best team in the state, no matter the classification, and by a wide margin. 

Yea right. Much respect to West Jones their defense was great but they didn’t see an offense anywhere close to Oak Grove. 

[Chunky6617]

Oak grove was better than west Jones, but it would have been a good game. 

[maroontide06]

20 minutes ago, Chunky6617 said:

Oak grove was better than west Jones, but it would have been a good game. 

Offensively speaking Oak Grove was better than West Jones this past season, but if I could create a hybrid football team I'd take 2023 West Jones defense and our 2019 over 50ppg Maroon Tide offense.  That'd be one heck of a team right there.

[Dubaction]

1 hour ago, Chunky6617 said:

Oak grove was better than west Jones, but it would have been a good game. 

For sure. Unreal they haven’t scheduled each other yet. 

[maroontide06]

9 minutes ago, Dubaction said:

For sure. Unreal they haven’t scheduled each other yet. 

I think Merlin may have touched on it before, but I think the issue with West Jones scheduling is they've got all those Jones County obligations that they've got to meet in their schedule so it cuts down on other teams getting to schedule them in non-district.

[Dubaction]

13 minutes ago, maroontide06 said:

I think Merlin may have touched on it before, but I think the issue with West Jones scheduling is they've got all those Jones County obligations that they've got to meet in their schedule so it cuts down on other teams getting to schedule them in non-district.

Sure. But they’ve scheduled the likes of Petal several times. I guess the timing just hasn’t lined up. 

[choctawman]

I am fairly old and I have seen a lot of high school football. I lived and worked in Taylorsville in their golden years. This would be the 90's and early 2000's. My 2 sons played their and both played on state championship teams. I watched a lot of 2A football during this time and since. The best 2A team that I have seen would be the 1995 Tartars coach by Marcus Boyles. Great football team with no weaknes. They could play with any one and did. They were 15-0,averaged 43.8 pts on offense, gave up 6.3 pts on defense. Some notable wins were West Jones 48-0, Franklin Co. 41-6, Calhoun City 35-6 in championship game.

Edited March 15, 2024 by choctawman

[Chunky6617]

12 minutes ago, choctawman said:

I am fairly old and I have seen a lot of high school football. I lived and worked in Taylorsville in their golden years. This would be the 90's and early 2000's. My 2 sons played their and both played on state championship teams. I watched a lot of 2A football during this time and since. The best 2A team that I have seen would be the 1995 Tartars coach by Marcus Boyles. Great football team with no weaknes. They could play with any one and did. They were 15-0,averaged 43.8 pts on offense, gave up 6.3 pts on defense. Some notable wins were West Jones 48-0, Franklin Co. 41-6, Calhoun City 35-6 in championship game.

I had the 1995 Tville team as the best 2A team ever until the 2009 Bassfield team. That 09 Bassfield team is the best to me, followed by 1995 Tville and then probably 2005 Lumberton. 

[Washed_Up_Athlete]

5 hours ago, Chunky6617 said:

Oak grove was better than west Jones, but it would have been a good game. 

It's an academic debate, so there's no right answer. But here's where I come from: Jackson Prep played West Jones as well or better than anyone else - as is evident from the hangover WJ had the next week against Terry. The was a one score game all the way until the last minute when WJ broke open an long fourth down attempt for a score.

 

MRA took Oak Grove to OT and should have won the game. JP lost a close game to MRA in the regular season and beat MRA in the playoffs.

 

I watched all of these games. IMHO, West Jones' defense was much better than MRA's defense and Oak Grove's defense. West Jones' offense was not as good as MRA's offense or Oak Grove's offense. But at the end of the day, defense travels. West Jones is my choice.

[Dubaction]

1 hour ago, Washed_Up_Athlete said:

It's an academic debate, so there's no right answer. But here's where I come from: Jackson Prep played West Jones as well or better than anyone else - as is evident from the hangover WJ had the next week against Terry. The was a one score game all the way until the last minute when WJ broke open an long fourth down attempt for a score.

 

MRA took Oak Grove to OT and should have won the game. JP lost a close game to MRA in the regular season and beat MRA in the playoffs.

 

I watched all of these games. IMHO, West Jones' defense was much better than MRA's defense and Oak Grove's defense. West Jones' offense was not as good as MRA's offense or Oak Grove's offense. But at the end of the day, defense travels. West Jones is my choice.

You certainly don’t wanna go down that hole seeing as WJ beat Terry 2-0 (no one in the state was holding OG to 2 points mind you) and Laurel was a one score game. OG played a consistently tougher schedule week in and week out than West Jones naturally because they’re in a tougher district and also traveled to Hoover. Had the matchup happened I’d bank on OG getting more stops than WJ could keep up with on the scoreboard. 24-14ish type score.

[Pull-A-Roy]

Another really good team in 2a is the 93 Okalona team 

[Merlin]

On 3/15/2024 at 10:33 AM, maroontide06 said:

I think Merlin may have touched on it before, but I think the issue with West Jones scheduling is they've got all those Jones County obligations that they've got to meet in their schedule so it cuts down on other teams getting to schedule them in non-district.

Exactly.  3 other schools in the county at 6, 9, and like 11 miles away. Plus the rivalry with Wayne county forged since 2003 and there’s 4 out of district games.