Mississippi high school football title game predictions

Every week, every game has come down to this. It's championship week in Mississippi high school football. Twelve teams are heading to Hattiesburg to play for titles. Only six will leave with gold balls. 

Here are predictions for all of this weekend's title games.

6A: Oak Grove vs. Oxford 

Details: 7 p.m., Friday at M.M. Roberts Stadium 

This is a matchup hardly anyone could have predicted. But considering how hot each of these teams have been lately, it shouldn't be that surprising. Oak Grove (11-3) has won eight games in a row after starting the season 3-3. They pulled off an emotional 35-28 win over Petal last week in which Damon Stewart threw for 251 yards and four touchdowns. 

Stewart (2,810 passing yards, 36 TDs) has thrown at least four touchdown passes in all three playoff games. He'll have to keep that production up against an Oxford (13-1) defense that held 13 of its 14 opponents to 16 points or less. 

The Chargers are coming off a big win themselves, topping rival Starkville 25-16 in the North state title game and holding the YellowJackets to their lowest scoring output all year. Starkville had beaten Oxford 45-17 in Week 2 of the regular season.

J.J. Pegues (588 rushing yards, 12 TDs; 500 receiving yards, four TDs) has been used in every way possible offensively for the Chargers. The six-foot-four, 280-pound consensus four-star recruit will give the Warrior defense all it can handle. However, Oak Grove has too many weapons offensively. 

Winner: Oak Grove 

5A: West Point vs. Picayune 

Details: 7 p.m., Saturday at M.M. Roberts Stadium

Unlike the 6A matchup, this is one that everyone should have seen coming. West Point (14-1) and Picayune (14-0) have been two of the best and most consistent teams not only in 5A but in the state. 

Fans who are looking for an old-school, ground-and-pound type game that will be over in less than two hours will love this one. These two teams couldn't be more similar. West Point only threw for the ball 144 times for 1,213 yards. Picayune put the ball in the air even less -- 73 times for 812 yards. 

Picayune's Cameron Thomas (3,371 yards, 46 touchdowns) is second in the nation in rushing yards. West Point relies on Brandon Harris (1,191 yards, 18 TDs) and Dantariyus Cannon (1,106 yards, 14 TDs) to lead its punishing ground attack. 

The defenses are stout, too. The Green Wave defense has allowed just 13.9 points per game while Picayune gives up 14.6 points per game. In a game with teams as easily matched as these two are, it'll come down to which team can stop the run and force the other into a mistake. 

West Point's tough schedule and experience in title games will tip those scales in its favor. 

Winner: West Point

4A: Corinth vs. Poplarville

Details: Saturday, 11 a.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium

If there's anything to be gleaned from Class 4A competition this season, it was that Poplarville should never be counted out of the title race. 

The Hornets (9-5) didn't look like they'd be able to make a return trip to the title game after losing four of their first five games. However, a closer look at those losses reveals they were all to quality opponents in higher classifications. 

They went on to win eight of their last nine, including a playoff win over previously unbeaten South Pike. Now they have a chance to avenge last year's loss in the title game. 

To do it, they'll have to get past Corinth (13-1), a team long-viewed as a dark horse contender for the title. The Warriors have won 12 games in a row, have a stingy defense that allows just 13 points per game and are riding high after beating a Greenwood team favored to win it all. 

Each of these teams are run-heavy. Poplarville has two 1,000-yard rushers in Chase Shears (1,034 yards, 11 TDs) and Gregory Swann (1,076 yards, 10 TDs). Tameron Patterson heads Corinth's rushing attack (1,265 yards, 19 TDs), but Cayden Betts, Nazarius Jones, Will Agnew all have over 500 rushing yards. Quarterback D.T. Sheffield (1,222 passing yards, 18 TDs; 764 rushing yards, 18 TDs) is a key contributor, too. 

This game will move quickly and Corinth will emerge from the dust victorious when it's over. 

Winner: Corinth 

3A: Noxubee County vs. Jefferson Davis County

Details: Friday, 11 a.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium

Is there any more unlikely, improbable team competing for a championship this weekend than Jefferson Davis County? No, there absolutely is not. 

The Jaguars (9-5) were already competing in the toughest division -- Region 4 -- in Class 3A. West Marion (12-2), Magee (10-4) and Columbia (13-1) are also in that division and any of them would have been favored over Jeffereson Davis to reach Hattiesburg. 

Not only that, the Jags had to overcome a slew of injuries and losing five of its first seven games. Despite all that, JDC has won seven straight and defeated West Marion and Columbia in consecutive weeks to get to the 3A title game. 

Jags head coach Lance Mancuso has made a strong case for Coach of the Year by getting his team to this point. Now he has to get them past Noxubee County (10-5) and athlete Marlon Windham. 

Windham (2,502 passing yards, 14 TDs; 1,028 rushing yards, 6 TDs) is the focal point of the Tigers offense. He also has 52 tackles, eight tackles for loss and seven interceptions on defense. 

Keyser Booth (1,430 rushing yards, 19 TDs) is the catalyst for Jefferson Davis County. The Jaguars have overcome insurmountable odds this season, which should help them win the title. 

Winner: Jefferson Davis County 

2A: Northside vs. Taylorsville

Details: Saturday, 3 p.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium

No one should be surprised Taylorsville (14-1) is back in the 2A title game. Ty Keyes (3,597 passing yards, 41 TDs) and the Tartars have been on a mission since losing last year's title game to Scott Central. They beat Scott Central twice this year on their way back to the title game. While the offense is what gets the press, the defense has been stout, too, allowing just 10.6 points per game. 

Bruising running back Jeffery Pittman (1,308 rushing yards, 20 TDs) has provided them with some balance. 

Northside (14-0) may be the toughest defensive test they've faced all year. The Gators have given up 34 points (2.42 points per game) this season. They've shut out nine opponents this year. 

Quarterback Ja'Terrance Moore (1,935 passing yards, 6 TDs) and Semaj Daniels (1,162 rushing yards, 14 TDs) are their primary offensive weapons. 

Taylorsville's experience will give them the edge. 

Winner: Taylorsville

1A: Nanih Waiya vs. Lumberton

Details: Friday, 3 p.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium 

This is another matchup everyone expected. Defending champion Nanih Waiya (13-2) is making its third straight appearance in the state championship game. They secured their first state title last year by defeating Simmons 21-18. 

Now, they'll try to knock off Lumberton (12-3) and 1A Mr. Football Robert Henry (1,831 rushing yards, 29 TDs, 1,039 passing yards, 13 TDs). Running back Shavante Toney (833 rushing yards, 11 TDs) and wide receiver K'Nylan Willis (812 yards, 10 TDs) are also players to watch for Lumberton.

Both of these teams rely on physical defense and strong rushing attacks. The Panthers allow just 13 points per game while Nanih Waiya gives up 16.6 points per game. 

Donovan Turner (1,284 passing yards, 12 TDs; 930 rushing yards, 16 TDs) is the straw that stirs the Warriors' attack. Austin Sanders (1,171 rushing yards, 17 TDs), Devean Turner (731 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and Tylan Glass (31 receptions, 569 yards, six touchdowns) are big contributors, too. 

This one will be hotly contested, but Nanih Waiya will find a way to repeat. 

Winner: Nanih Waiya