1A 2024

[greenandgoldhawk]

As the new season approaches, who are some teams looking to take the crown as reigning champions from the Biggersville Lions?

[greenandgoldhawk]

I think some teams may be Vardaman, Simmons, and Velma Jackson. I cant remember Taylorsville squad but I believe they were young in certain areas as well. 

[BigT]

Taylorsville only graduated 5 seniors from last years team and only 4 played their best receiver that was signed with southern blew out his knee before season started!

[Hollandale Blue Devil]

Simmons.... Velma Jackson.. Taylorsville!!!

[Chunky6617]

Taylorsville has a lot of talent returning. Running back is a big question mark for them. Wouldn’t be surprised to be Beavers run the ball more this season. Also would be surprised if Trey Barnes doesn’t line up at QB more 

[Chunky6617]

Looking over Taylorsville’s roster, they are definitely my favorite to win it all this year. At least my favorite to win the south. I don’t know how much depth they will have, but their starting 11 should be loaded unless there are players that moved away since last season. They only lose one lineman that I know of, but they did lose both of their running backs. 

[pancho]

do those 11 pretty much play on both sides?

[BigT]

Some do,they've got back ups with plenty of playing time though, they only lost 5 seniors, actually 4 because one of those 5 didn't play last year because he blew out his knee before season started, not many seniors this year maybe 7  ,they played a lot of freshman and sophomores and some 8th graders 

[Chunky6617]

3 hours ago, pancho said:

do those 11 pretty much play on both sides?

In 1A ball, and even 2A ball, you usually always have a lot of players playing both ways. I would say at least 7 of them for Tville plays both ways but I’m just guessing. They should be very solid up front, returning all but one lineman I think. But again I do not believe they are very deep. They got in trouble early in the season last year because of injuries. Once they got back healthy and into their district schedule they didn’t break a sweat. Losing Cobey Craft is going to be difficult. He was their leader and their MVP on offense, and his backup was also a senior last year. They are going to have to get the QB more involved in the run game this year, imo. 

[pancho]

thx, just wondering.  theres pretty much just biggersville and baldwyn in 1A up here

[NoWammies]

Biggersville will still be decent but gonna be hard to replace Gunn and Hatch’s production. Vardaman lost a lot so I don’t see them having the same type of season as they did last year. Same goes for TCP. As of right now I’d go with Baldwyn in the north. They bring back the most of those mentioned. Unfortunately the delta teams are still in the south for some reason. If were in the north I’d pick Simmons. They return around 90% of production on both sides of the ball, returns entire RB committee that had 2 1,300 yard rushers. My money right now would be on them and Taylorsville playing for the south state championship and winner of that winning it all. I’d take Taylorsville in that matchup. 

[Hollandale Blue Devil]

On 7/21/2024 at 6:40 PM, NoWammies said:

Biggersville will still be decent but gonna be hard to replace Gunn and Hatch’s production. Vardaman lost a lot so I don’t see them having the same type of season as they did last year. Same goes for TCP. As of right now I’d go with Baldwyn in the north. They bring back the most of those mentioned. Unfortunately the delta teams are still in the south for some reason. If were in the north I’d pick Simmons. They return around 90% of production on both sides of the ball, returns entire RB committee that had 2 1,300 yard rushers. My money right now would be on them and Taylorsville playing for the south state championship and winner of that winning it all. I’d take Taylorsville in that matchup. 

I just can't figure out why the Delta teams are in the South!!! Don't make sense 

[MSSportsGuy]

18 hours ago, Hollandale Blue Devil said:

I just can't figure out why the Delta teams are in the South!!! Don't make sense 

Theoretically it makes no sense but if someone looks at the locations of where the 1A schools who play football are located, it's very heavily concentrated in the NE corner of the state. In order to spread teams out evenly across the regions and north and south halfs, they really don't have a choice but to move someone who would otherwise be in the "north" to the south half of the state. 

 

It's bad for delta schools for travel during the playoffs but with 7 classes and more teams being spread out it's probably not going to change. There just aren't many 1A size schools in South Mississippi. 

[Chunky6617]

What all does Lumberton have returning? 

[greenandgoldhawk]

5 hours ago, MSSportsGuy said:

Theoretically it makes no sense but if someone looks at the locations of where the 1A schools who play football are located, it's very heavily concentrated in the NE corner of the state. In order to spread teams out evenly across the regions and north and south halfs, they really don't have a choice but to move someone who would otherwise be in the "north" to the south half of the state. 

 

It's bad for delta schools for travel during the playoffs but with 7 classes and more teams being spread out it's probably not going to change. There just aren't many 1A size schools in South Mississippi. 

After the first district is made of northeast MS teams, there is only a few teams left to make the second north district with those remainder northeast schools in the GTA areas. The question becomes whether you put the Delta  or the central MS teams like noxapater/Nanih waiya along with them. 
 

A good number of those northeast schools are non-football playing schools also. 

Edited July 26, 2024 by greenandgoldhawk

[Hollandale Blue Devil]

11 hours ago, MSSportsGuy said:

Theoretically it makes no sense but if someone looks at the locations of where the 1A schools who play football are located, it's very heavily concentrated in the NE corner of the state. In order to spread teams out evenly across the regions and north and south halfs, they really don't have a choice but to move someone who would otherwise be in the "north" to the south half of the state. 

 

It's bad for delta schools for travel during the playoffs but with 7 classes and more teams being spread out it's probably not going to change. There just aren't many 1A size schools in South Mississippi. 

I Guess .. Still trying to figure it all out .. I appreciate u giving ur theory, I can see that. Need to go back to 6 Classes...

[Chunky6617]

Actually we probably need to go back to 5 classes 

[Hollandale Blue Devil]

On 7/27/2024 at 4:03 PM, Chunky6617 said:

Actually we probably need to go back to 5 classes 

I can agree on that

[MSSportsGuy]

On 7/27/2024 at 4:03 PM, Chunky6617 said:

Actually we probably need to go back to 5 classes 

Totally agree with this.I could somewhat accept the move to 6 and the explanation by the association but 7 was way too much spreading out of schools with tiny enrollment differences beyond the very top layer. 

 

Five classes is plenty for a state our size with a shrinking number of public schools and total enrollments across them. It would add more competition to regions and could help mitigate some travel issues. 

[RebelYell]

I bumped into Lumberton's Head Coach this past weekend. He was real positive about Lumberton this year. He did say that Taylorsville is the team to beat but feels like that Lumberton could possibly compete for the South. 

[Rebel Bert]

8 Schools per Region is better than 5 for scheduling. Put the 20 most northern schools in 1A in the North.