By Myra Bean

It is the battle of the unbeaten high school universities tonight when South Panola (3-0) hosts Memphis University School (4-0) in a non-conference meeting in Robert H. Dunlap Stadium.

The No. 1 ranked Tigers and the No. 9 Tennessee ranked Owls are meeting for the seventh time at 7 p.m. South Panola (a.k.a. University of South Panola) holds a 4-2 advantage.

Tiger head coach Lance Pogue said, “Let’s pack out the stadium in red and blue tonight.”

Coming off a 24-6 win over then No. 2 Madison Central last Thursday helped the Tigers see where the future of the team was headed. The defense nearly recorded its first shut out of the season over an admittedly very tough Jaguar team with eight sacks on the night.

The pass defense will have its hands full tonight with an explosive Owls’ offense which has recorded over 1,000 passing yards this season in four games. Against two of Mississippi’s stronger teams Olive Branch and last week Grenada, MUS recorded over 650 passing yards while scoring 35 points on each team.

“They always have outstanding players,” Pogue said. “They have guys that are highly recruited every year. They always have a lot of good players, well coached.”

MUS is directed on the field by junior quarterback Steven Regis, 6’1”, 175 pounds, wearing No. 10.

“He can really throw it. He didn’t play last year so we didn’t know anything about him,” Pogue said. He has completed 60 of 106 passing attempts for 1,024 yards and 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.

One of two of Regis’ favorite targets are senior wide receiver wearing No. 15 Thomas Pickens, 6’2”, 190 pounds. He has 299 yards on 14 catches and four receiving touchdowns. He also has three rushing touchdowns on nine yards.

The other receiver is junior Jalon Love, 5’10, 165 pounds. He also did not play last year. He has 306 yards on 14 receptions and five touchdowns.

Junior running back Bradley Foley (No. 28), 5’9, 178 pounds also did not play last year has 319 yards on 61 carries and four touchdowns, which includes a punt returned for a touchdown.

South Panola is led on the field by the dual quarterback threat of seniors Donald Twilley and Tyler Pogue. Tyler Pogue is still getting his legs back under him after undergoing ACL surgery in the spring, but he has been able to give the offense some spark in the last two games with his deep threat ability to connect with the receivers for touchdowns.

“Defensively, you have to prepare for both of them,” Coach Pogue said. “They are a little bit different. Hopefully, we can continue to utilize that. Tyler is getting more and more comfortable each week. That will continue to happen.”

Twilley’s legs have been able to give the Tigers that running game that has held the team in good stead this year. He has 394 yards and four touchdowns. He has thrown for one touchdown.

Though the offense is beginning to solidify just in time for the start of the district season next week, the Tiger defense is showing signs of being iron clad.

Led up front by Drelan Porter, O’Bryan Goodson and Casey Hankins, offensive opponents are seeing a lot of in-your-contact from the defense.

“We are improving,” Pogue said. “When we started the season at Clinton, we had some kids inexperienced and all at different spots. They are starting to come on. Guys like O’Bryan Goodson, Porter, Casey Hankins, some of those guys are really starting to hit their stride. The younger guys are catching on. Secondary has been really good with Market and Rotenberry, Kenon Johnson, some of those guys. Hopefully, we will continue to improve.”

Tickets can be purchased at the high school today until 3:30 p.m. for $7 adults and $5 students.