South Panola vs. Grenada is one of longest running football series in Mississippi having played 55 times heading into Friday’s matchup in Batesville.
The Tigers won 17 in a row at one point in the series until Grenada broke the streak with a 33-21 win in the North State 6A Finals in Batesville in 2023. Last season, the Chargers won a 21-13 decision in Batesville.
Friday’s game will have a lot at stake once again. Grenada brings a 6-1 record into the contest, while South Panola stands a 4-3. Both teams are 2-0 inside Class 6A, Region 1 play.
“The game is a little earlier in the season than it has been,” GHS head football coach Michael Fair said. “There is a lot at stake this week just like the last two seasons with postseason seeding at stake. It’s a big game.”
Routine is the key to the recent success in Batesville, according to Fair.
“I think what helps us is that we have played in big games,” he said. “This is a big game, but by no means the biggest game we have played. We have played in big stadiums, gone to bigger schools, played meaningful playoff games – here and on the road. I like our approach to things. We keep things the same – we are a routine-based operation. Our guys know what to expect when they come into the fieldhouse each day. We treat things the same way whether home or away.”
South Panola is a storied program having won 11 state championships, but it is also a place where GHS has experienced road success.
“It’s a fun week for me because I know so many people up there,” Fair said. “I spent some time coaching there and it brings back a lot of memories. Our guys play hard against them and both towns are similar, located right off the interstate. They have more tradition than we do, but I think the talent is similar. It’s a neat atmosphere every time we play those guys.”
One of the main points of emphasis for the Chargers this week is to slow down multi-threat quarterback Tristan Colenberg. A senior, Colenberg is 63-of-112 for 891 yards and 10 touchdowns to go with five interceptions. As a runner, he has rushed for 460 yards on 95 carries and scored six touchdowns.
“He is a tremendous athlete,” Fair said. “When you snap the football to one of the fastest players in the state every play, you are doing something right. He has a live arm and is making throws from one hash to the other side of the field. When he is in a three-step drop, you need to have someone with their eyes on him, while keeping the integrity of your pass rush. He will break it down and make a big play out of it. You have to play sound and you have to cover their receivers.”
Senior Carlos Robinson is the team’s leading receiver with 20 catches for 309 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Elijah Kerby and freshman James Williams both had two touchdown catches apiece.
“They have tremendous team speed and you have to be discipline when you play those guys,” Fair said. “Our defensive group will be challenged.”
Defensively, the Tigers are led by junior defensive end Johnathan Wright (6-foot-3, 260 pounds). Wright is second on the team with 43 tackles – 6 tackles for losses.
“He makes them go on their front end of the defense,” Fair said. “They have some talented guys, who are athletic and move well. It’s a group that can move – they just don’t fill up gaps. They are built a lot like we are.”
Grenada won its second straight Region 1 game, a 48-6 Homecoming decision over Olive Branch last Friday. The Chargers have shown improvement with each passing week and are showing signs of playing their best football at the right time.
“This is who we thought we could be back in the spring,” Fair concluded. “Going into the summer, we knew we could space the field out more to help our run game. We weren’t going to have to lean quite as much on our run game as we have in the past. As a coaching staff, we knew we had weapons on the perimeter and people who understand spacing and how to get open. We also have a senior quarterback, who knows how to deliver it.”
Senior quarterback Brayden Trusty is building on his solid senior season completing 85-of-138 passes for 1,242 yards and 12 touchdowns with no interceptions. His top receiver is classmate and Mississippi State commit Zayion Cotton, who has 34 catches for 611 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The running game has shown constant improvement led by junior Malik Taylor, who has 75 rushes for 509 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Christian Ewing is second on the team with 63 rushes for 401 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Defensively, senior linebacker Jereon Reed with 63 tackles and 7 tackles for losses.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
