- JACKSON - Aberdeen earned its berth in the MHSAA Class 3A state championship football game following 15 weeks of play under the Friday night lights.

Today, when the Bulldogs kick off against Tylertown, it will be under the morning sunlight. Aberdeen (13-2) and the Chiefs (14-0) have an 11 a.m. showdown at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

To prepare his team for play under natural light, Aberdeen coach Chris Duncan planned to send them through an 11 a.m. workout on Friday.

"During the Thanksgiving week we practiced in the early mornings," he told GoreSports.net in an interview. "Hopefully we've gotten used to it. You have to be mentally prepared to do that."

Aberdeen's quest for the program's first state title in football kicks off a championship tripleheader featuring Northeast Mississippi teams.

At 3 p.m., Lafayette County (14-1) plays St. Stanislaus (13-1) for the 4A championship. The Commodores are also seeking their first state title.

At 7 p.m., West Point (13-1) seeks to win its sixth state title in a 5A game against Wayne County (11-3). The Green Wave defeated the War Eagles in 2005 for their last state championship.

Of the 30 state football titles decided since 2003, only two have gone to Northeast Missisippi teams - that 2005 West Point squad in Class 4A and Class 2A Baldwyn last year.