August 17, 2006.

We have one week until football season begins, so it’s a keen time to empty the old notebook:.

A Natchez-based television production company has joined forces with St. Aloysius and Porters Chapel to cablecast via tape delay a select number of each team’s home games.

The company, not affiliated with any Natchez school, will start with the first St. Aloysius game of the year, one week from today against archrival Natchez Cathedral.

Games will be shown on Vicksburg Video Channel 17 on Wednesdays at 9 p.m., Thursdays at 9:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 9 a.m.

Sam Jones, a veteran radio host and football announcer, will handle play-by-play duties.

BCS Productions founder Paul Brooks said his company has been taping games in Natchez for the past seven years.

It has branched out to Brookhaven and McComb, as well as Warren County.

Additional St. Aloysius games to be taped include Sept. 1 against St. Andrews, Oct. 27 against Sebastapol and Nov. 3 against Pisgah.

Porters Chapel games scheduled for cablecast include Sept. 8 against Franklin, Sept. 15 against Huntington, Sept. 29 against Glenbrook, Oct. 20 against Adams Christian, and Nov. 3 against Trinity Episcopal.

Brooks said he plans to start a preseason coaches’ roundtable show next season in addition to calling local football games.

Brooks said he tried to land both Warren Central and Vicksburg games, but was unable to strike a deal.

WC and VHS begin their seasons on Aug. 25 in the Red Carpet Bowl against Memphis Kirby and Indianola-Gentry, respectively. PCA begins the same night at Heidelberg.

Almost done, Sam.

The 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days quest of Vicksburg native Sam Thompson is coming to a grueling close.

Thompson, running the 50 marathons as a way to raise awareness and money for Hurricane Katrina relief for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, will complete his unprecedented feat Saturday in Bay St. Louis.

Thompson was scheduled to run in Dallas today, where temperatures are expected to climb to triple digits.

PCA first, now WC?.

Last football season, Porters Chapel Academy had two opponents cancel scheduled games.

This year, it seems to be happening to Warren Central slow-pitch softball coach Lucy Young.

Greenville canceled a game during the opening week of the season. On Tuesday, the Lady Vikes loaded the bus for a scheduled game at Yazoo City, but when they arrived, there was no opponent to play. Yazoo City canceled the game without any notice, Young said.

Yazoo City was supposed to play in the Lady Vikes Invitational, but has been replaced with Port Gibson.