All games start at 7:30 p.m. No. 1 Aberdeen (1-1) at No. 5 Pontotoc (1-0)

- This week: Aberdeen, the Daily Journal’s top-ranked Class 3A team, takes on a Class 4A Pontotoc team that moved into the fifth spot in the large schools rankings after demolishing county rival South Pontotoc, 42-13.

- Recent history: The Bulldogs were 49-32 winners at home last year, while Pontotoc defeated Aberdeen 13-12 at home in 2007.

SCOUTING REPORT

- Aberdeen: RB Jamerson Love has rushed for 379 yards and scored 6 TDs in two games. ... Former CB Desmond Jones has taken over QB duties, and passed for 110 yards and had several long runs last week against Ray Brooks. ... The Bulldogs lost their season opener to Columbus, 27-26, in double overtime.

- Pontotoc: QB Canden Dallas was 8-of-14 passing for 187 yards and 3 TDs vs. South Pontotoc. ... RB Randall Crayton rushed 14 times for 175 yards and 2 TDs last week. ... Tonight’s game will be the home opener for the Warriors, who finished 5-6 last year.

Columbus (1-1) at No. 2 West Point (0-1)

- This week: In a battle for Golden Triangle bragging rights, Columbus will be looking to knock off another top-ranked team in the Journal’s coverage area. The Falcons beat the Journal’s No. 1 Class 3A team, Aberdeen, 27-26 in double overtime in Week 1. Columbus lost to 4A power Noxubee County, 23-12, last Friday.

- Recent history: West Point won big in Columbus, 42-7, last year, 27-7 in 2007 and 37-6 in 2006.

SCOUTING REPORT

- Columbus: RB Randy Brown has scored 4 TDs in two games. ... Falcons rushed for 168 yards in first half against Aberdeen.

- West Point: Green Wave did not play last week after losing to No. 1 Shannon, 27-20, in Week 1. ... RB Xavier Hogan rushed for 153 yards and 3 TDs vs. Shannon.

Hamilton (0-1) at No. 4 Nettleton (1-1)

- This week: Hamilton will be looking for its first win of the season against a Nettleton team, ranked fourth in 3A by the Journal, that couldn’t quite complete its comeback last week vs. North Pontotoc.

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

SCOUTING REPORT

- Hamilton: Dylan Earnest’s game-winning field-goal attempt, from 40-plus yards with 12 seconds remaining, fell short, leaving the Lions on the short end of a 13-12 Smithville win last Thursday. ... Freshman RB Deion Howard ran for 94 yards and 1 TD on 12 carries against Smithville.

- Nettleton: Surrendered 445 total yards to North Pontotoc. ... QB Anthony Franklin has thrown for 4 TDs in two games. He ran for a 25-yard TD last week. H.W. Byers (0-0) at Tupelo Christian (0-2)

- This week: H.W. Byers will be playing its first-ever varsity game against a TCPS team that dropped to 0-2 on the year following a 20-17 loss to Wheeler last Friday.

- Recent history: Have not played.

SCOUTING REPORT

- H.W. Byers: The Lions are more of a rushing/play-action passing offense that will run a little bit of the option. ... Getting most of the carries for Byers will be senior RB Mario Thompson and freshman QB Christopher Echols.

- Tupelo Christian: QB Will Cockrell is 39-of-74 passing for 427 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs in two games. ... RB/WR Braxton Melancon caught 10 balls for 119 yards and 2 TDs vs. Wheeler. He rushed for a TD vs. Mantachie.

No. 4 Itawamba AHS (1-0) at Tupelo (0-1)

- This week: Tupelo makes its home debut after suffering a season-opening road loss, 28-17, to New Hope last week. IAHS opened its new stadium last week with a convincing 49-7 victory against Amory.

- Recent history: The teams have not played the last three seasons.

SCOUTING REPORT

- Tupelo: RBs McKenzie Tyler and Chris Donald give the Golden Wave a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield. Tyler rushed for 75 yards and scored a TD, while Donald added 33 yards against New Hope. ... Look for Wave to continue its two-QB system with Nathan Wallace starting and Luke Hobson getting quality minutes. ... DE P.J. Jones recorded three solo tackles, two assisted stops, two tackles for losses and a sack against New Hope.

- Itawamba AHS: QB Maikhail Miller completed 8-of-9 passes for 98 yards and two TDs against Amory. ... TE Dillon Mitchell, who caught both of those TD passes, is the son of head coach Jamie Mitchell. ... RB Deshawn McGaughy rushed for 106 yards and scored 2 TDs, all in the first quarter last week. ... IAHS is a Class 4A school and plays in Division 1 with New Albany, North Pontotoc, Pontotoc, Shannon and Tishomingo County.

Oxford (1-1) at No. 3 Lafayette Co. (2-0)

- This week: The annual Crosstown Classic pits an Oxford team coming off a road loss to Charleston and a Lafayette team that has won both of its home games to start the season.

- Recent history: Lafayette has won the past three meetings, with the 2007 and 2006 games being decided by a combined 8 points. The Commodores hold a 21-15-2 all-time advantage over Oxford.

SCOUTING REPORT

- Oxford: This will be the third straight road game to open up the season. ... RB Ray Mitchell rushed for 119 yards on 20 carries last week. ... QB Guy Cameron Billups has completed 26-of-46 passes for 298 yards and 2 TDs. ... WR Deante Smith has 10 catches for 150 yards and 2 TDs. ... WR Stefun Gill has 7 catches for 141 yards.

- Lafayette County: QB Jeremy Liggins has rushed for 2 TDs and thrown for 2 TDs. ... QB Dominique Price has rushed for 2 TDs. ... Tyler Jackson has kicked 3 field goals this season – his longest being 36 yards.

New Albany (1-1) at No. 5 Corinth (0-1)

- This week: New Albany is coming in sky high off a 33-28 victory over rival Ripley, while the Warriors had to pick themselves up from a 48-21 loss to Senatobia.

- Recent history: Corinth has won the two last meetings, while New Albany won the 2006 meeting, 27-21.

SCOUTING REPORT

- New Albany: In two games, QB Tyler Basil has completed 29-of-49 pass attempts for 472 yards and 4 TDs. He has rushed for 5 TDs. ... RBs Kareem Brown and Eric Johnson are averaging over 70 yards per game this season. ... WR Taylor Goode has 10 receptions for 199 yards and 3 TDs.

- Corinth: WR Diante Curlee scored 2 TDs vs. Senatobia. ... Senior QB Parks Frazier scored once last week. ... The Warriors have most of their skill players back from last year’s 12-1 team, but lost four of their five offensive linemen from a year ago.

Saltillo (2-0) at Baldwyn (0-1)

- This week: Saltillo has already equaled its win total of 2008, while the defending Class 2A state champion Bearcats suffered a 14-6 setback to Booneville on the road to open 2009.

- Recent history: Baldwyn has won the last three meetings, with the 2007 game being the closest (24-20).

SCOUTING REPORT

- Saltillo: QB Drew Chisholm is 10-of-21 passing for 141 yards and 1 TD. He has rushed for 200 yards and a TD on just 18 carries. ... OLB Quad Freeman leads the team in tackles (27) and is tied for the team lead in sacks with Jalen Gaston (2.0).

- Baldwyn: QB Tanner Gaines completed 7-of-23 passes for 79 yards and was intercepted once vs. Booneville. ... LB Tyler Estes had a team-high 13 tackles last week, while fellow LB Devin Lindsey returned an interception 86 yards for a TD. ... Eric Watson and Jordan Bowdry also had picks, and Bowdry also recovered a fumble.

Compiled by John Wilbert;

Tupelo capsule by Gene Phelps