Parking Emergency: Umberto has flooded the visitor parking lot at Grenada Football Field.  They ask South Panola visitors to park at the True Value parking lot on Hwy 51. Shuttle busses will take fans to the stadium and will take them back to the parking lot when the game is over.  Grenada High School will provide security at the True Value parking lot.

Tiger’s stingy defense to give Charger’s explosive offense its toughest test

By Myra Bean

Even though the community and state are still talking about the South Panola 42-0 shutout of Clarksdale last Friday, Tiger head coach Lance Pogue has had to turn  his head to this week’s game against Grenada.

Pogue described Grenada’s offense as “explosive” as the Chargers downed Tupelo last Friday 45-28.

Tupelo led 21-17 at halftime. Grenada came back out a more determined team and outscored Tupelo 28-7 in the second half and avenged a 2006 Grenada 22-19 loss to Tupelo.

Against Tupelo, Grenada spread the scoring with three passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and one field goal.

Grenada senior quarterback Oliver Hughes was The Clarion Ledger’s statewide athlete of the week. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns Friday. He also rushed for 55 yards and three touchdowns.

Demarcus Tidwell was Grenada’s leading receiver for 152 yards on eight receptions. Other receivers include Ladarius Redditt and Malcom Topps.

Grenada uses the spread offense against its opponents.

“They are four or five wide and throw all the time,” Pogue said. “We had better be ready.”

The Tiger defensive line leads the attack against a throwing offense.

It is more important than ever against a strong quarterback for the defensive line to “hurry and get him out of his comfort zone,” Pogue said.

“We have to put pressure on the quarterback because those receivers will put a strain on our secondary,” he said.

Heading South Panola’s defensive line are seniors Terrance Pope, Charles Corley, Deshun Sandridge and Jarred Draper.

South Panola’s steady offensive line has allowed the backs to score 73 points this year on opponents.

Tiger offensive coordinator Trey Dickerson said any team in Mississippi would love to have this offensive line.

So far this season, the Tigers have amassed 766 total yards, with 640 rushing. Senior running back Tig Barksdale has 462 of those yards on the ground.

The Tigers continually remain in the news with their feat over opponents and the reigning longest active winning streak in Mississippi and the nation of 62 consecutive wins.

The Tigers are led in the backfield by linebackers Marvin Burdette, Josh Shipp and David Conner, along  with cornerbacks Montez Austin and Bud Barksdale.

The Tiger defense has only allowed 201 yards this season.

South Panola is ranked No. 1 in the state by The Clarion-Ledger and the Associated Press.

Nationally South Panola is ranked No. 4 by Sports Illustrated, No. 5 by National Prep High School Poll and unranked by The USA Today.

The Tony Poll is no longer in existence.

The Tigers and Chargers will kick off at 7 p.m. in Grenada.