When it comes to winning football games, these two teams know how to do it. Hoover has won the Alabama state title six out of the last 11 years. South Panola (Mississippi) was the best football team in the country last season.
The Tigers finished No. 1 in the final Xcellent 25 Rankings presented by the Army National Guard. Though graduation hit the Mississippi school hard, it will be the top team in the Magnolia State and will again rank with the nation's elite. South Panola has a 28-game win streak and the 2010 national championship under its belt.
Last week, South Panola opened their season with a 37-17 win over West Point, Mississippi. South Panola's famous power rushing attack was led by junior Antonio Conner, who is being courted by SEC schools. Connor, a 6-foot-2, 192-pounder, took snaps at tailback, wildcat quarterback, and defensive back and finished with 85 rushing yards and a 28-yard touchdown run all in the first half of the game. Conner sat out most of the second half with bruised ribs.
Also for the Tigers running game, senior tailback Marcus Dixon was receiving significant playing time for the first time in his high school career. In crucial third-down situations last week, South Panola (1-0) let junior quarterback Tevis Flowers make some plays through the air and with his feet. South Panola, the No. 8 program in the RivalsHigh100, gained 296 yards of offense on the night with 193 coming on the ground and another 103 through the air.
Dixon paved the way for the Tigers rushing attack gaining 99 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns. Flowers completed 5-of-9 passing for 103 yards and a touchdown while his favorite target, junior Ron Taylor, hauled in three passes for 43 yards and a score. "South Panola lives and dies by the big play," said Bucs Head coach Josh Niblett. "We have to cut out the big play on defense."
The strength of the South Panola defense comes from defensive lineman Temario Strong and Issac Gross. The talented due have committed to play football at Mississippi next season and held West Point to 163 yards of offense with 143 coming on the ground. The West Point passing game was 2-of-5 for 20 yards.
If the South Panola pass defense didn't get tested last week in their opener, well they will this week. If the Hoover offense decides to forgo Strong and Gross in the run game, Hoover has the passing game to run the Tigers up and down the field. Hoover quarterback Sam Gillikin played well against Northridge in their jamboree game last week. The senior first-year starter was 7-of-11 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns in less than two quarters. Look for senior wide receiver Caleb Sims to be all in the Tigers secondary. Joshua Jackson and Brandon Sly will be a few other assets for the Hoover offense. Throw in receiver turned running back Dakota Daniels, this is a high powered Hoover offense.
Last week, the Hoover defense had some difficulty stopping the big play. Northridge scored on 80, 79, and 20 yard plays from the line of scrimmage and know that they will need to fix that this week against South Panola. The Hoover defense has playmakers of its own. Trent Dunne at defensive line along with linebacker Matt McCay and junior linebacker Jamal Lucas will need to shut down the Tigers run game.
