PORT GIBSON — Shoot for a two. That’s the goal for Port Gibson when they head to South Pike in a key Region 7-4A game Friday night.

The Blue Waves clinched a playoff berth last week by routing Crystal Springs 54-14. It was also their sixth win to move them to 6-3 overall. Coach Lynn Lang, however, wants more, specifically a No. 2 seed that would mean a home playoff game in the first round.

“We’re going for a two,” Lang said of the two-seed. “We’ve guaranteed ourselves a playoff berth but what we really want is that home game.”

To get it, the Blue Waves must beat South Pike and then do the same to Lawrence County in the regular season finale in Port Gibson.

South Pike’s new coach Willie Brown is familiar to the Blue Waves. He coached Port Gibson for two years before Lang replaced him. Brown won just one game in his time at Port Gibson. Lang is 10-9.

“Our kids will be up for him,” Lang said of Brown’s Eagles. “He’s running the same style offense he ran here and at Hazlehurst.”

Port Gibson will counter with an offense led by sophomore quarterback Silento Sayles and a stable of backs and receivers. Sayles has passed for 1,106 yards and 12 touchdowns, and rushed for another 477 yards.

“I keep saying, Silento keeps showing some shades of (Steve) McNair,” Lang said of his former Alcorn State teammate and Tennessee Titans quarterback. “He shows so much poise and he’s still just a 10th grader.”

Another young player that is making waves is freshman defensive end Darrius Moore.

“Already 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds and he has 11 sacks this season,” Lang said. “He’s going to be good one.”

Puckett at Hinds AHS

It’s not hard for Hinds AHS coach Michael Fields to pinpoint the reason for his team’s recent struggles.

“Turnovers are killing us,” he said. “The last two ball games we’re in double figures in turnovers.”

For the season, Hinds (1-7, 0-3 Region 6-2A) has committed 30 turnovers and forced only 10. It was able to overcome the mistakes early in the season, when it was at least competitive for most of its games. The last two weeks, however, the War Dawgs have been outscored 74-16.

This week, Puckett (6-2, 2-1) comes to town in a game that’s crucial to its Region 6-2A championship hopes. Puckett is in third place in the region after losing to Madison-St. Joe two weeks ago, but rebounded to beat Loyd Star 48-0 last Friday.

“They got a loss to St. Joe and it’s kind of like a bunch of bees jumping around,” Fields said with a laugh. “I saw the film from the Loyd Star game and I’m hoping they took it all out on them.”

South Delta at Bailey

Now with a firm grip on the No. 2 seed in Region 4-3A, the South Delta Bulldogs (6-3, 2-1) head to North Jackson Field to face winless Bailey Magnet (0-8, 0-3).

Bailey has given up 368 points in eight games while scoring just 62. South Delta is coming off its best performance of the season with a 45-0 rout of Riverside.

South Delta is led by sophomore running back Hakeem Johnson who went over 1,000 yards after last week’s Riverside game. He now has 1,019 yards and seven scores. Wide receiver Brandon Smith has 26 receptions for 512 yards.

MAIS

Trinity at Tallulah

After watching Trinity (9-0) steamroll everything in its path this season, Tallulah coach Nick Evans joked about how his Trojans (4-5) could upset the Saints on Friday night.

“Their bus breaks down on the way here?” he said with a chuckle. “I really don’t know. And I’m sure there’s seven or eight other teams that would like an answer to that.”

Trinity’s resumé is well-established. Among its eight wins are victories over Class AA powers River Oaks and Brookhaven Academy, and Class AAA East Rankin. Tonight’s game is for the District 6-A championship, although both teams have clinched playoff berths since they’re the only two in the district.

Evans said trying to convince his players — and himself — that they have a chance against an elite team like Trinity is as much a challenging as pulling off the upset.

“I’ve been trying to deal with it since day one, when we found out we were playing Trinity,” he said. “Just try to be positive and use instances of what’s happened recently, like South Carolina beating Alabama. It can happen. It’s possible.”

SIA at Deer Creek

Another week, another playoff-bound opponent for Sharkey-Issaquena. Last week, SIA (1-8) had to face unbeaten and third-ranked Tri-County at home. They lost 45-8, but at least quarterback Caleb Joiner was able to toss another touchdown pass.

This week SIA heads to Deer Creek, which is leading District 2-A. The Warriors are 4-4 overall, but lost last week to Winona Christian 41-14.

LHSAA

Madison Parish

at Caldwell Parish

Madison Parish may have a good chance at its second win when its travels to face winless Caldwell Parish in Columbia, La. Caldwell Parish is 0-7 this season while Madison (1-6) at least has one win. The Jaguars lost 54-0 to Carroll last week.