There was a conspicuous silence late last Friday night in Rolling Fork.

For the first time since Oct. 26, 2012, there was no victory celebration at Sharkey-Issaquena Academy. The Confederates lost 26-22 to Marvell Academy to snap a 29-game winning streak.

“It’s been a quiet weekend in Rolling Fork. Been a quiet weekend at my house for sure,” SIA coach Hunter McIntire said earlier this week, with a touch of sadness and gallows humor in his voice. “This group of seniors, the last game they lost was their ninth-grade year. It’s going to be a different feel this week for them at practice.”

While Sharkey-Issaquena tries to begin a new winning streak — and resume its quest for a third consecutive MAIS eight-man championship — tonight at home against Central Academy (1-1), McIntire said he’s trying to remind his team that losing one early season game is not the end of the world.

Sharkey-Issaquena (1-1) doesn’t play its first district game until Sept. 25 at Fraklin Academy, so there’s plenty of time to regroup.

“It is just Week 2. It was a non-conference game. It doesn’t hurt us in the long run,” McIntire said.

“It’s a chance to feel some relief. They’re not living to anybody’s legacy anymore. They can make their own name with what they do from here on.”

 

Unity Christian at Tallulah Academy

After scoring 92 points in its season opener, Tallulah Academy caught its breath with an open date last week. The Trojans will return to action tonight when they take on Unity Christian Academy, an independent school playing an MAIS eight-man football schedule this season.

The teams played in the 2014 season opener, with Tallulah winning 56-0. That was the first football game Unity Christian had ever played. Since then, the Soldiers have won five of eight and are 2-1 this season.

Tallulah, meanwhile, has won 10 of its 12 games since switching to eight-man football at the start of the 2014 season and reached the state championship game last year.

 

Port Gibson at Lanier

Port Gibson is riding a 16-game losing streak over the past two seasons, but has had a couple of close calls already this fall. The Blue Waves carried a lead into the fourth quarter before losing 23-19 to Vancleave last week for their second consecutive four-point loss.

One more loss would equal the 17-game losing streak Port Gibson had from 2005-07.

The road doesn’t get any easier for Port Gibson. Its next two opponents are Lanier and Terry, a Class 5A and 6A opponent respectively. After that Port Gibson plays a strong McComb squad and Class 4A South Pike to finish the non-region schedule.