The newest team in Division 1-4A gets to face its second “two-headed monster” in as many weeks.

North Pontotoc will travel to Shannon tonight to take on the top-ranked Red Raiders (6-0) in front of a homecoming crowd.

Last week, the Vikings (5-1) had to play the Daily Journal’s third-ranked large school, Itawamba AHS, in their first Division 1-4A game. The Vikings lost 35-7 at home.

“They’re both a two-headed monster,” said first-year North Pontotoc head coach J.J. Plummer, referring to the stellar offenses and defenses both teams exhibit.

Until they play each other on Oct. 30, one can debate which is the better team: Itawamba or Shannon. Regardless, Plummer is well aware of how good Shannon is even though his team has yet to play them.

“Shannon’s going to be up for its homecoming with a 5-1 team coming in,” Plummer said. “They’ll be ready to go.

“We’ll go out there and compete and try to stay in the ballgame.”

Even though the Vikings got beat pretty badly by Itawamba AHS, they had their fair share of chances in the first half to make it a close ballgame, says Plummer.

The Vikings will try to do what very few teams have done this fall: prevent Shannon running back Keon McGaughy from taking over a game.

“Shannon’s got that one weapon back there with McGaughy,” Plummer said. “He runs so hard. He’s just a load to stop.

“They like to put the ball in his hands 30 times a game to make things happen for them. He’s their ace in the hole.”

As McGaughy makes the Shannon offense go, the same could be said for North Pontotoc quarterback Brandon Bailey.

“Their quarterback knows where the receivers are going to be and puts it on the money,” said Shannon head coach Chad Cook. “He’s not going to sit back there all day. He’s going to make his reads and throw.

“It’s kind of a cat-and-mouse game. If you blitz them, he’s going to get it out quickly. He hardly gets sacked.”

Bailey isn’t the only North Pontotoc player who executes his assignments consistently.

“One thing that stands out is they’re well-coached,” Cook said. “They don’t beat themselves.

“They don’t miss their blocks. When they run the ball they always get the first level sealed. They are not going to get tackled for a loss when they run the ball.

“For what they do, they do a good job.”

Contact John Wilbert at 678-1572 or john.wilbert @djournal.com