Grenada High School has played football for more than 100 years. During that span, the Bulldogs, now Chargers, have won just four district or region titles.
Thursday night, the 2023 edition of the Chargers have the chance to increase that number by one as the regular season ends at home against perennial Class 6A power South Panola for the Class 6A, Region 1 title.
It’s a place that not many people expected GHS to be this season, but first-year head coach Michael Fair said it was part of the lofty goals that he and his staff set for this year’s team.
“We set some high goals heading into this season,” Fair said. “Our guys have played hard and it has been fun to watch this bunch grow up from week-to-week.”
Grenada comes into the contest with an 8-2 overall mark and are 4-0 in region play. The Chargers’ only losses were to Winona, which is unbeaten at 10-0, and Bartlett, Tenn., which stands at 7-3.
“We have a lot of momentum right now,” Fair added. “The guys have been playing hard and during the last couple of games we have played clean football. We are in a good spot right now.”
The game will be a feature two of the stingiest defensive units in the State of Mississippi. Grenada has allowed just 118 points in 10 games for an average of 11.8 points, while South Panola has surrendered 129 points in nine games for a 14.3 points per game average.
“They are really good defensively, run to the football well and are very well coached,” Fair said. “What makes them so good is their physicalness and quickness with their upfront guys, and skilled on the back end of the defense. Their front seven will be one of the best we have faced all season.”
Facing this defense will be a challenge for the Chargers’ offense, according to Fair.
“Our approach will be like it has been all season – taking what the defense gives us,” he said. “We are going to run different formations and sets to see how they line up. It’s a game plan that we feel good about, but it could change once the game starts. Like always, we need to stay balanced. We can’t lineup and run the ball all night long nor can we line up and throw it all night. A good mix is what has us to this point and we need to continue to do that.”
A capacity crowd is expected at Charger Stadium for the first game between the two longtime rivals since 2015. Add to the fact that the game is on Thursday allowing fans from all over the area to attend, the recipe is there for a potential full house to watch the Chargers and Tigers play for the Class 6A, Region 1 title.
“With the game being on Thursday, it allows us to draw from around the area to watch,” Fair said. “Then, you add the fact that South Panola is just 40 miles away, it’s all the ingredients for a playoff-type atmosphere and crowd.”
By the Numbers
Senior quarterback Charlie Fair needs 188 yards to reach the 2,000-yard mark for the second straight season. As a junior, he threw for 2,000 yards at Lafayette. So far in 2023, Fair is 139-of-241 for 1,812 yards and 13 touchdowns, along with just four interceptions.
Fair’s top receiver has been sophomore Zayion Cotton, who has 27 catches for 526 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Jayvon Herron has 26 catches for 289 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Jayden Curry is third with 23 catches for 283 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Drudarius Barnes has 21 catches for 296 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior running back Macaleb Taylor has gone over the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season, toting the football 211 times for 1,239 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a receiver, Taylor has 11 catches for 165 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Latavien Pritchard has rushed the football 60 times for 326 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, junior linebacker Jahmani Washington leads the way with 89 tackles, five of those for losses. Senior linebacker Sema’j Avery is second on the team with 51 tackles followed by junior linebacker Jatavious Lewis with 46 tackles. Senior defensive tackle Aaron Travis has 45 tackles.
South Panola is the standard program in Mississippi, winning 10 state championships in the program’s history with the last one coming in 2014. At one time, the Tigers had one of the nation’s top winning streaks at 89 in a row. Current GHS assistant coach Ricky Woods was the head man of the Batesville school from 2002-06 winning 74 of 75 games. Fair was part of the staff for five seasons and knows all too well about the tradition of the program.
“The guys at South Panola have a lot to live up to, but this team has done an excellent job of doing that this season,” he said. “Coach Oakley and his staff do an outstanding job of making sure they are always in the right spot.”
The Tigers’ lone loss was a 26-23 decision in Week 2 to Houston High School of Germantown, Tenn. Last week, South Panola cruised to a 49-21 win over Olive Branch for their eighth win in nine games this season and are also 4-0 in region play.
Oakley came to South Panola two seasons ago after a successful stint at Senatobia High School. He knew exactly what he was getting into when he accepted the job to lead the Tigers, following in Woods’ second tenure at South Panola from 2017-21.
“I knew exactly what the expectations were in the community when I interviewed for the job,” Oakley said. “It’s a lot better than going somewhere where there are no expectations.”
South Panola came into the season with the offensive duo of senior quarterback Michael Johnson (6-foot-3, 205) and senior running back Julius Pope (6-foot, 195). Pope was lost in the opening game and underwent surgery eight weeks ago. Johnson, along with converted senior tailback Mykel Allen (5-foot-9, 180), have combined to lead the Tigers on offense.
Johnson leads the team with 130 carries for 940 yards and 15 touchdowns as a runner. Through the air, he is 74-of-117 for 975 yards and six touchdowns to go with seven interceptions. Allen has 109 carries for 703 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“Johnson is an outstanding athlete and we are going to have to do a good job of tackling him,” Coach Fair concluded. “Allen is also a quality back that is capable to taking it the distance at anytime.”
Defensively, linebackers Kaleb Bland and Willie Butler lead the way with 51 tackles apiece.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. The contest is also Senior Night with the football team, cheerleaders JROTC and band seniors being recognized beginning at 6:20 p.m.
