All Games Start at 7:30 p.m.

No. 1 West Point at No. 2 Shannon

- This week: The winner of this game will likely maintain or gain the top spot in the Daily Journal’s large schools’ rankings.

- Recent history: West Point owns a 2-1 advantage in the last three regular-season meetings. The Wave beat Shannon 21-14 in 2008, while Shannon won 36-35 in 2007. West Point beat the Red Raiders 27-18 in 2006.

SCOUTING REPORT

n West Point: The Wave like to run the ball and feature a senior FB, Xavier Hogan, who rushed for 600 yards and 10 TDs in 2008. He’ll get the majority of the carries this year along with junior TB LaKendrick Thomas.

- Shannon: Another team that likes to run the ball, the Red Raiders feature prolific TB Keon McGaughy (1,571 yards in 2008). ... Legilbert Bogan and Jake Scott could likely split some time at QB this season.

No. 3 Booneville at New Albany

- This week: Booneville, the third-ranked team in DJ’s Class 3A rankings, will kick off coach Jim Drewry’s 50th season against an emotional Bulldogs team, whose starting linebacker died in June on a missionary trip. The Bulldogs will wear No. 7 decals on their helmets in honor of Marshuan Braxton, who would have been a senior captain this season.

- Recent history: Haven’t played in last three seasons.

SCOUTING REPORT

- Booneville: The Blue Devils’ defense, led by senior LB Bo Brown (63 tackles, 2 INTs in ’08) may be a concern this season. Their offense, however, should be fine, led once again by Brown, who is a 1,000-yard rusher.

- New Albany: The Bulldogs’ defense has also been a concern for the past couple of seasons. But head coach Ron Price has put all of his best players on defense to address that problem. ... The Bulldogs feature a prominent rushing attack led by Eric Johnson and Kareem Brown, both rushed for more than 800 yards in 2008. ... Tyler Basil replaces Drew Dodds at QB.

No. 1 Aberdeen at Columbus

- This week: The Journal’s top-ranked Class 3A team travels to Columbus to take on the Class 6A Falcons.

- Recent history: Haven’t played in last three seasons.

SCOUTING REPORT

- Aberdeen: The Bulldogs certainly have the skill players to score a lot of points. RB Jamerson Love and WR Erik Buchanan are Division I prospects. ... Defensively, the Bulldogs should be pretty solid, as they have a couple of Division I-type players on that unit.

- Columbus: The Falcons are coming off a dismal 1-10 season in which they only scored 14.5 ppg., while allowing 30.5.

Tupelo Christian at Mantachie

- 2008 record: Tupelo Christian 5-6, Mantachie 1-8.

- This week: Tupelo Christian kicks off its first season as a member of the MHSAA.

- Recent history: Haven’t played in last three seasons.

SCOUTING REPORT

- Tupelo Christian: Eagles lost 10 seniors off a 17-player roster from 2008. ... They run a spread offense, led by QB Will Cockrell and multi-purpose Braxton Melancon.

- Mantachie: Andrew Aldridge will be making his debut as the Mustangs’ head coach. ... Senior Dalton McMillen will be in his first season as the starting QB.

Mooreville at Saltillo

- 2008 record: Mooreville 1-9, Saltillo 2-8.

- This week: The battle for Lee County supremacy takes place in Saltillo tonight.

- Recent history: Last two meetings were split, with Saltillo winning 30-7 last year and the Troopers beating the Tigers 28-0 in ’07.

SCOUTING REPORT - Mooreville: The Troopers will be more experienced and healthier to start the 2009 season. ... Junior QB Drew Wheeler is back after an upper body injury kept him out.

- Saltillo: The Tigers may wind up using two quarterbacks, with friends Drew Chisholm and John Michael Parker directing the offense.

Nettleton at Amory

- 2008 record: Nettleton 4-6, Amory 6-6.

- This week: Two former Division 2-3A opponents square off in a 2009 non-division game. Amory has moved up to Class 4A this season.

- Recent history: Amory is 2-1 versus the Tigers in the last three meetings. The Panthers won 31-14 last year and 48-32 in 2007. The Tigers won 40-21 in 2006.

SCOUTING REPORT

- Nettleton: Coach Jack Clark says the defense (9 returning starters) needs to carry the team for a while, as the young offense gets its legs underneath them.

- Amory: Panthers will be without QB Stephen Otey, RBs Evan Lackey and Frank Pruitt, and receivers Chris Fuse and Lashad White, who all graduated. Nonetheless, the Panthers are well-coached year in and year out.

South Pontotoc at East Webster

- 2008 record: South Pontotoc 1-9, East Webster 11-1.

- This week: South Pontotoc meets a perennial small-school power, East Webster.

- Recent history: Haven’t played in last three seasons.

SCOUTING REPORT

- South Pontotoc: The Cougars will be a little older and a little more experienced this season. ... Junior QB Wesley Barefield passed for more than 1,000 yards despite missing 3 games with an injury.

- East Webster: The Wolverines will have to reload a bit after losing several key players to graduation. But the Wolverines still have plenty of talent, including junior QB/LB Ledrick Patterson.

North Pontotoc at Lewisburg

- 2008 record: North Pontotoc 7-4, Lewisburg 3-7.

- This week: Two newcomers to Class 4A will square off, having both moved up from 3A.

- Recent history: Haven’t played in the last three seasons.

SCOUTING REPORT

- North Pontotoc: J.J. Plummer will be making his coaching debut for the Vikings. He has college coaching experience (Miss. State, Hinds Community College) and will be taking over a playoff team from last year.

- Lewisburg: The Patriots gave up a whopping 34.1 points per game last season.

Check out the High School Football preview section in today's NEMS Daily Journal. The section will be placed online later today.