Wildcats seek return of glory days
Meridian is a proud football program filled with some of the greatest tradition that the state has to offer dating back to when the sport began in Mississippi.
The Wildcats have three state championships but much more gold in the trophy cases from before the time of the title game. Additionally, they have 15 division championships over the years and just seven losing seasons in the last 40.
Unfortunately, most recently has been the program’s darkest of times.
Over the last three seasons, Meridian has three of those losing years. The Wildcats have had a couple of coaching changes and not enough stability, but the talent is still there.
Last year Meridian hired a new head coach in Martez Edwards and he was fired before he could even coach a game after an inappropriate photo of his was posted on social media. A couple of days later, the school hired Northeast Lauderdale coach John Douglass and the team went 2-10.
After watching the film, Starkville High School coach Chris Jones sees some areas that they could have success.
“Offensively, they’re a gun, wingt type team,” Jones said. “We’ve got to be disciplined and stay at home. Defensively, they’ll be a 3-4 team so we’ve got to make sure we protect well up front. It’s all about just doing your job and get better.”
This will be the third-straight week that the Wildcats have faced off against state championship contenders.
Meridian played Class 5A powerhouse Picayune and hung in the game with the Maroon Tide before falling 30-20. The Wildcats had their first home game of the season last week going up against former Jacket coach Ricky Woods and the South Panola Tigers with the Region 2 Tigers winning big at 42-14.
It’s a work in progress rebuilding a program, but Meridian has talent in spots that many teams aren’t afforded. It’s why Jones and his team will not be taking this game or any game lightly this season, especially with the uncertainty of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on a weekly basis.
“I think they’re getting more adjusted to the system,” Jones said. “They’ve got some players that look good on film, but it’s just a process. We won’t take them lightly and can’t take them for granted so we want to make sure we give 110% because they play hard.”
Game time between the two great programs on Friday night at Yellow Jacket Stadium is set for 7 p.m.