By Angie Ledbetter

All eyes are on Robert H. Dunlap Stadium tonight as Mississippi’s No. 1 South Panola plays host to Alabama’s No. 1 Hoover in an much-anticipated rematch from last year.

The two 6A powerhouse football teams will battle for bragging rights on a Comcast television event with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Hoover Buccaneers made the MaxPreps Excellent 25 poll coming in at No. 22, ranked No. 66 nationally and No. 1 in Alabama.

The Tigers (1-0) are ranked No. 3 in Mississippi by MaxPreps and No. 86 nationally. The Buccaneers played in a jamboree on August 23 beating Florence, Ala. to prepare for their season opener with the Tigers.

Head Coach Lance Pogue said, “Hoover is ranked in the top 25 teams in the country and a really good football team. It’s a major challenge for us but I know we’re in a lot better position right now to handle this type game verses last years. Having a game under our belt we think has helped us and we utilized our open date.”

The Tigers will go into the game with a lot more experience than last year with 16 returning starters.

“We really didn’t have any experience going into last year’s game other than just a few. Now we have some guys that have played a lot of ball since then and that always helps you.”

As the top dominating programs from their states meet, the Tigers will look to recoup that 24-13 loss to Hoover last year on national television.

One word the Buccaneers will have on their mind is hungry because the senior group has not won a state championship yet.

Playing in every 6A state championship game since 2000 except 2007, the Buccaneers have won 54 of their last 60 games with four state championships. The last two years they’ve lost by one point. Prattville, the defending state champions, beat them 35-34 on December 2, 2011 ending the Buccaneer’s season with a 13-2 overall record as state runner up.

On the Tiger’s side of the field a much bigger record is held with nine state championships and one national championship.

Hoover is under the direction of fifth year head coach Josh Niblett.

“The kids are excited and looking forward to the challenge but also the opportunity,” said Niblett. “South Panola will be a measuring stick for us to try and see where we are as we get into our region play next week. I think it’s a great matchup between two great programs.

“I know it’ll be a great crowd, a great atmosphere and they’re looking forward to us getting there,” he continued. “We’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a while. We just want to get to a first game and find out where we are.”

Returning starters for Hoover include three offensive starters, five on defense and three on special teams.
Several key players return to try and attain their first championship along with many talented underclassmen including senior quarterback Connor Short, 6’0”/175-pounds.

“He didn’t start until midway of last year’s season after the starting quarterback got hurt but he’s the key to their whole operation,” Pogue said. “Short just doesn’t woe you with his athletic ability but he seems to make the right play and gets the job done. He’s a tough kid and his team believes in him.”

The Buccaneers defensive secondary is ranked top in the state with junior cornerback Marlon Humphrey and senior cornerback Devon Earl.

“Both of them are very talented, physical and can run,” Pogue said. “They’ll both be division one players.”

Also a top Hoover player is junior wide receiver Jarrett Brown.

“He’s a dangerous threat with his speed and we’ve got to find a way to keep our eyes on him at all times,” Pogue said.

Playing at the linebacker position are two key seniors Jamal Lucas and Landry Tullo.

Pogue said the entire Buccaneer team plays as a unit about as good as he’s even seen.

“They’re from top to bottom offensively, defensively, kicking game and don’t make many mistakes. One area they’re young in is the offensive line with four new starters but based on their scrimmage the other night those guys looked really good.”

While Pogue was complimentary of the Hoover team, Niblett returned the favor.

“South Panola is big, physical and has a lot of speed,” he said. “They’re bigger than we are up front and probably faster than we are on the back end of the secondary than we are at receiver so you’ve got to be able to counter that somehow. We don’t have a whole lot of four or five star guys but they are to us. We’re going to be a blue collar group that plays extremely hard.

“We can’t afford to make any mistakes because if you give them any opportunity they’re going to make the most of it,” Niblett continued. “We don’t have much control over South Panola but we have a lot of control over us. We’ve got to make sure we do what we’re supposed to do but along the way hopefully we can make a few more plays than them.”

Though this game has nothing to do with whether either team goes to their respective state championships, they both want to have a good showing.

“This week may not have anything to do with the state championship but I tell people anytime you get the opportunity to compete and play, you want to make the most of it,” Niblett said.

The South Panola team is excited to play Hoover at home, Pogue said.

“I think we’ll have a major crowd,” Pogue said. “We weren’t happy about the results last year so when you get another shot you’ve got to be ready to take advantage of it and I think the guys are going to lay it on the line tonight.”