By Austin Bishop & Bobby Gray/ Mississippi Prep Sports Source
Now it gets serious.
While rankings and polls are fun to look at, discuss, and at times even cuss during the season, none of that matters when the playoffs come around.
The MAIS and three of the MHSAA classifications — 4A, 3A and 2A — begin their postseasons on Friday night. Playoffs for MHSAA Class 6A, 5A and 1A get kicked off the following week.
There were some big games last week, most notably in 4A and 2A, but there wasn't a whole lot of shifting in the Mississippi Prep Sports Source rankings.
Not one team moved even a spot in Class 2A, as West Bolivar held on to the top spot with a thrilling 16-9 win over Hollandale-Simmons. In another Class 2A showdown, Ackerman beat Eupora 6-0 as both teams held on to their No. 3 and No. 4 spots this week. Bassfield is No. 2, with Puckett No. 5.
In Class 4A, Itawamba AHS lived up to the faith put in it by the MPSS by knocking off previously undefeated Shannon 21-12. While IAHS remains No. 1, Noxubee County climbed up one spot to No. 2 and Shannon slipped one to No. 3, followed by Lafayette County and St. Stanislaus.
Madison Central remains on top in 6A, followed by South Panola, Clinton, Meridian and Olive Branch.
West Jones is No. 1 in 5A, with West Point second and Wayne County third. Despite falling 21-20 to West Jones, Picayune hangs on to No. 4, with New Hope holding on to No. 5 with a 35-28 overtime win over Hernando.
Four undefeated teams remain at the top of Class 3A, with Tylertown leading the way. Charleston is No. 2, followed by Perry Central and Booneville. Forest, 8-1, is No. 5.
No. 1 Durant took the week off in Class 1A last week, while Nanih Waiya, Smithville, Weir and Mt. Olive remain intact in positions 2-5.
Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep remain No. 1 and No. 2 in the MAIS overall rankings, followed by Washington School, Brookhaven and Pillow Academy.
