By Angie Ledbetter
A movie that showcases Mississippi high school football–and South Panola High School in particular–will premier at a theater in Senatobia Sunday. “Mississippi Gridiron Gold: Small Towns Big Football” will be shown at the Tobie Cinema at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 11. Screenings are also scheduled for Thursday, August 15 at 7 p.m., Sunday, August 18 at 2 p.m., and Thursday August 22 at 7 p.m.

The film was produced by Jackson attorney and writer Mike Frascogna and former Mississippi High School Activities Association executive director Ennis Proctor.

The 80-minute movie recollects the importance of small towns investing hard work, dedication and faith in Mississippi football. It also honors high school football coaches who have dedicated so much of their time to the sport and the impact they have on their players. Coach Lance Pogue, who coached the South Panola Tigers to a national championship in 2010, is featured prominently in the film.

Admission is $8 with $4 going to the South Panola athletic program.

Tickets are on sale now at South Panola High School from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Any tickets not presold will be available at the theater box office.  (When purchasing your ticket in advance you must choose a date as only 208 seats are available for each showing.)

Tickets will be available today at the high school from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. in order to give fans more time to purchase them.

On Monday tickets will be on sale at Robert H. Dunlap Stadium at Batesville Tigers youth league football practice from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased Tuesday at the Pope Bulldogs youth league football practice at Pope School from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

     If you need more information on ticket sales you may contact Sherri Wilder at the South Panola bookkeeper’s office at 662-563-5187.

Judge George Carlson,  play-by-play radio announcer for the South Panola Tigers, talked about the movie.

“Frascogna wrote Y’all vs. Us, and Gridiron Gold. Proctor was executive director of the Mississippi High School Activities Association for over twenty years. These two icons of Mississippi high school athletics have teamed up to produce a dynamic movie about Mississippi high school football, starting with the first high school football game in Mississippi between Winona and Yazoo City in 1905.

“If you are a high school football fan, regardless of your high school affiliation, you will love this movie,” Proctor said. “If you are a South Panola fan, you will love this movie since South Panola is featured prominently in the movie because South Panola has won ten state titles and is the only high school football team in Mississippi to ever win a national championship.”