On South Panola success
It’s been three years since Ricky Woods left Starkville after just two seasons and a state championship in Class 6A.
The legendary high school football coach was expected to be the new head football coach at Eupora before things fell through and the hire was never made. Instead, he ended up becoming the coach at South Panola, a program that he previously had built into one of the most dominant forces in the country.
With the Tigers, Woods went an incredible 74-1 from 2002-06 and won four-straight state championships with a 60-game winning streak along the way. After he left, that winning streak would be extended with head coach Lance Pogue, but Woods set the tone. Woods went on to win two more state championships at two different schools with Peabody (Tennessee) and SHS and with his two titles at Ackerman High School, he has a total of eight championship rings.
“He’s a legend,” Starkville’s current head coach Chris Jones said. “He’s a great coach that has won a lot of games and championships and it’s fun to coach against him. It should be exciting for our guys and our community to play against the guy that won a state championship for Starkville.”
Things have since been tougher at South Panola, but the program is still doing well. They were 9-4 and 7-6 in
Woods’ first two seasons, but last season Woods had the team rolling with a 12-2 finish and the Yellow Jackets being the only regular season loss.
This season the team is primed for a run at a state championship and is contenders yet again in Region 2. The Tigers enter Friday’s home showdown with SHS with a 3-0 record and wins over Hernando, Meridian and Clarksdale.
The offense for South Panola is run-heavy with 134 carries to 37 passes. Woods lost star running back Janari Dean, but he returns some talent there with senior Martez Clark leading the squad with 49 carries, 446 yards and two scores and sophomore D’maurian Perteet rushing 37 times for 322 yards and already six touchdowns.
Tra Norwood leads the defensive front with his 14 tackles and six tackles for loss and the Tigers have had nine sacks as a unit in three games. They’ve also recovered four fumbles in the early going.
SHS quarterback Luke Altmyer has had his eyes on the group in film study this week and sees a unit that executes well and plays hard.
“They’ve brought back some defensive linemen and are really active,” Altmyer said
of South Panola. “They’ve got a lot of speed and some depth. They’re not the biggest guys, but they’re going to play hard.”
The bottom line is the Tigers will be ready for the first district game of the season and are pushing for a leg up for the district championship.
“They’ve got tons of history
and one of the greatest coaches in Mississippi history, nationally as well,” Jones said. “They’re going to have the athletes, the speed and the depth. They’re 2-0, it’s going to be a great matchup and I’m excited about it. We’re going to remember this one for a long time, just like the West Point matchup.”