By Angie Ledbetter

The battle of Clarion-Ledger’s Top 10 Preseason No. 2 team South Panola Tigers and West Point Green Wave will face each other for their second game of the season at West Point.

The Tigers are coming off a huge win over White Station and Tiger head coach Lance Pogue said it gives the team a lot of confidence.

“We’ve felt all along that we had a good football team but just have to get to a point where we don’t do things to self-inflect ourselves in a negative way,” he said. “Hopefully after a jamboree and a full game, we can get to a point to get beyond that whether they are penalties, missed assignments and things like that.”  

The Tigers will try to keep tradition going by beating the Green Wave for the fourth time. Last year they had their way with West Point at home winning 55-33.

“We’re going on the road and anytime you go with some inexperience in some spots then you’re always concerned about that,” said Pogue. “They have great tradition over there and know they’ll have a big and lively crowd.”

The Tigers are prepared, according to Pogue.

“But until you actually get out there and get in the flow of the game you don’t know,” he said. “I know we need to go on the road and this is about as good of a time as any. We have a lot of respect for West Point.”

 The Green Wave barely escaped a victory over Grenada last week winning 21-16.

        “Grenada is pretty good as we know from last year. The two are similar style teams and it was just a close game that went back and forth. West Point kind of had the upper hand playing at home. It was a hard fought game.”

West Point had two great players last year and one was Clarion-Ledger’s 2013 Mr. Football. Aeris Williams is now playing at Mississippi State University. 

        “He was a phenomenal guy who’s hard to replace,” said Head Coach Lance Pogue. “I don’t know if you ever replace a guy like that.”

        “West Point is going to run the ball and they have No. 23 Lacequiu Starks who is 160 pounds,” said Pogue. “He’s a nice player but a smaller guy and quick. He’s there go to guy. I wouldn’t say he’s an Aeris Williams but he’s a really good runningback.” 

        Dason Thomas a 150 pound senior will be taking the snaps. 

        “He played against us some last year. Thomas seems to be the leader on the team. He’s a really throw the ball and run with it so he seems to be a really good athlete and quarterback.”

        West Point has a roster that includes 30 seniors, six juniors, 24 sophomores and one freshamen.

        Pregame show with Judge George C. Carlson and Pogue will start at 6:00 and kickoff is 7:00.