From staff reports

Hinds AHS coach Michael Fields is hoping history does, in fact, repeat itself from time to time.

The last time Fields led his War Dawgs into Taylorsville for a playoff game, they came away with a 16-12 upset of the third-ranked Tartars. Hinds (6-4) will head to Taylorsville (8-2) again tonight for a first-round Class 2A playoff game, and again the War Dawgs have upset on the brain.

“These kids were freshmen during that time, and they believe. I’ve seen the energy they’ve had this week in practice, and I can tell you we’re not going down there just to lose,” Fields said.

Injuries and a tough Region 6-2A schedule have plagued Hinds this season. All four of its losses came in region play, yet it still finished fourth and earned a playoff berth. An ankle injury limited tailback Darius Newton to just 319 yards in his last six games, after he gained 669 in the first four.

In Newton’s absence, though, the War Dawgs turned to their passing game and found another capable runner in Keeslee Stewart. Newton is back healthy now, and Fields said he felt the Dawgs were capable of making a run in the playoffs.

“This is about as healthy as we’ve been since the beginning of the season,” Fields said. “We’re not going to be afraid. If they beat us, it’s because they’re better than us.”

Tallulah at Riverfield

Tallulah Academy has re-established part of its tradition with a second consecutive winning season. Now, it’s time to take the next step.

The Trojans (6-4) head to Rayville tonight to take on Riverfield (7-3) in a first-round MAIS Class A playoff game. Tallulah is looking for its first postseason victory since 2003 — and much more beyond that.

“We’re not just happy to be there. We got that taste of it last year and we’re back,” Tallulah coach John Weaver said. “Last year, these kids had never been there before and we were a wild-card team. The kids took it upon themselves that they were going to make the playoffs again. We’re rebuilding some of that tradition that was lost for about four years there.”

Tallulah is in the playoffs for the second consecutive season. It lost a first-round game to Porters Chapel, 10-0, in 2008.

Central Hinds at River Oaks

Central Hinds traveled a tough road to the MAIS Class AA playoffs, winning its last five games to qualify as a wild card. The road is about to get even tougher.

The Cougars (7-4) head west to Monroe tonight for a first-round game against District 6-AA champion River Oaks (9-1), which has won eight games in a row. River Oaks is also averaging 33.9 points per game and giving up less than 10, but Central Hinds coach Bobby Allen felt it was a good matchup for his squad.

“If you’re going to make it to the big one, you’ve got to play them anyway. I’d rather play them than Brookhaven, to be honest with you,” said Allen, whose team lost to No. 3 Brookhaven Academy 38-7 in the regular season. “Speed-wise, they’ve (River Oaks) got speed and we do too. And we’re actually a little bit bigger than them.”

The teams are no strangers to each other, either. In 2007, River Oaks beat Central Hinds in Monroe, 21-14. Last season, the Mustangs came to Raymond and beat CHA 26-7.