Wheeler got a rude welcome in its first game as a full-fledged member of the MHSAA.

Walnut, the Daily Journal's No. 1-ranked small school, got three touchdown runs from Shaquille Perry in a 52-12 route of the Eagles on the opening night of the season.

Perry, a junior, scored on a 41-yard pass from Hunter Doyle in the first quarter, and he followed that up with a 13-run jaunt to give the Wildcats a 20-0 lead. He later scored on a 55-yard run in the fourth.

Doyle, Mark Peterson, Dominic Steele, Kenneth Finger and Scott Thornton also scored for Walnut. Jaz Shinault and Tyler Eubanks scored for Wheeler.

- South Pontotoc 21, East Webster 20: The Cougars rallied in the second half and matched last year's win total. Tailback Monta Love scored a touchdown with under three minutes left, and quarterback Wesley Barefield hit Seth Roye on the two-point conversion for the decisive points.

"We just wanted to win," said second-year South coach Mark Bray, who cited wet conditions as the reason for going for two. The Cougars had a bad snap on their previous point-after try.

The big TD was set up by Marcus Hosley's kickoff return to East Webster's 4-yard line.

- Lafayette County 24, Cleveland 13: Jeremy Liggins threw for two touchdowns for Lafayette County, which never trailed. The sophomore hit Cedric Dukes from 13 yards out for the game's first score, and he capped the Commodore's scoring with a 33-yard strike to Ontario Phillips in the fourth quarter.

Dominique Price added a 4-yard TD run, and Tyler Jackson nailed a 31-yard field goal for Lafayette, the Daily Journal's No. 3 large school.

- Hatley 60, Immanuel Christian 0: Hatley matched its 2008 win total with a shellacking of the MPSA-affiliated Rams. Seven different Tigers scored, and in a variety of ways - five were rushing touchdowns, plus Cory Long recovered a fumble in the end zone, and Dylan Minor returned an interception.

Tyler Edwards scored twice. Also finding paydirt were Cody Taylor, Grant Hawkins, Derrick Hampton and Andrew Gray.

- Eupora 40, Houston 14: Eupora did all its scoring before Houston finally got on the board in the third quarter. Five different Eagles scored, with Demarcus Pass scoring on a pair of runs.

Reggie Buchanan had both of Houston's TDs, a pair of 2-yard runs.

- Oxford 43, Grenada 12: Oxford blew open the game with 29 second-half points in a road win. Senior running back Macarell Hickinbottom scored on runs of 2 and 20 yards, the latter TD giving the Chargers a 29-12 edge.

Monterrious Gibson, Deante Smith, Elliott Miller and Nyigel Curry also scored for Oxford.

- Okolona 39, Houlka 0: The Chieftains easily handled Houlka, a fledgling program playing as an MHSAA independent this fall. Ryan Isabell scored on runs of 15 and 16 yards for Okolona. Derrick Ivy, Antwan Grady and Kentray Ware also scored.

- Center Hill 26, Tishomingo County 13: Center Hill jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Dakota Chandler and Jake Walker scored for Tishomingo County. Complete scoring information was not provided.

- Noxubee Co. 30, Starkville 0: The Daily Journal's No. 5-ranked large school fell hard on the road. No scoring information was provided.

- Alcorn Central 33, Falkner 25: Alcorn Central just missed the Class 3A playoffs last season. Friday night was a good start in their effort to reach the postseason for the first time since 1989, as the Bears knocked off Falkner on the road.

No scoring information was provided.

- Coffeeville 32, Calhoun City 7: Perry Liles' head coaching debut at Calhoun City, which reached the Class 1A state final last year, was spoiled by the Pirates. No scoring information was provided.

- Biggersville 51, New Site 0: The Lions ran over a team that just showed up on the MHSAA scene. No scoring information was provided.

- Weir 35, Hamilton 0: No scoring information was provided.