In the South, it’s said, there are four sports seasons — football season, football recruiting season, spring football, and preseason football.

Baseball and basketball fans might disagree, but football will always be the backbone of the sports calendar. There’s a rhythm to it, with rivalry and league games falling on the same dates every year.

That will change in 2019. Next year’s schedules have been finalized at last and they’re, let’s say, a bit different than what we’ve become used to.

Let’s start at Porter’s Chapel Academy, which took everything we knew about football scheduling and said, “Let’s get nuts.”

The Eagles have four road trips deep into Louisiana, start the season a week early, and play two eight-man games that are effectively midseason scrimmage games. The MAIS office set the Eagles’ schedule and apparently turned to them whenever there was a kink they needed ironed out.

If nothing else, it’ll be a fascinating to see how the Eagles handle the constant flow of week-to-week changes.

Things aren’t as unusual at Warren County’s three other high schools, but there is still plenty of change thanks to district realignment in both the MAIS and MHSAA.

St. Aloysius has five new opponents on its schedule, three of which are within the district. The Flashes will also be frequent visitors to Louisiana, with three games on the other side of the river.

Vicksburg High will also play a Louisiana team for the first time since 2012 when Benton (located north of Shreveport) comes to visit on Sept. 13. That will also be the Gators’ first home game at the renovated Memorial Stadium. The first three games are on the road, although two are across town at Warren Central.

Only one of Vicksburg’s first five opponents —Warren Central — is the same as last season. Warren Central, meanwhile, has three new foes on the schedule in the first half of the season.

WC will play Holmes County Central for the first time ever in the Red Carpet Bowl on Aug. 23, and renew a dormant series with Brandon. WC and Brandon have only played once since 1992.

Later on, new region opponents Germantown and South Panola add more challenge to an already difficult schedule.

It’s never too early to think about the possibilities. And, with some of the fresh matchups that are on tap, 2019 seems to have some intriguing ones to ponder.

•

Ernest Bowker is the sports editor of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at ernest.bowker@vicksburgpost.com

2019 Warren County schedules
All games start at 7 p.m. unless noted
Vicksburg High
r-Aug. 23…….vs. Madison Central 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 30…….at Velma Jackson
Sept. 6…….at Warren Central
Sept. 13…….Benton (La.)
Sept. 20…….Open date
Sept. 27…….*Provine
Oct. 4…….*at Neshoba Central
Oct. 11…….*Cleveland Central
Oct. 18…….*Ridgeland
Oct. 25…….*at Canton
Nov. 1…….*at Callaway
Nov. 8…….*Holmes County Central
r-Red Carpet Bowl, at Warren Central
*Region 2-5A games

Warren Central
r-Aug. 23…….Holmes County Central 8 p.m.
Aug. 30…….at Pearl
Sept. 6…….Vicksburg
Sept. 13…….at Brandon
Sept. 20…….Open date
Sept. 27…….*at Germantown
Oct. 4…….*Greenville
Oct. 11…….*at Madison Central
Oct. 18…….*Murrah
Oct. 25…….*at Clinton
Nov. 1…….*Starkville
Nov. 8…….*at South Panola
r-Red Carpet Bowl, at Warren Central
*Region 2-6A games

Porter’s Chapel
Aug. 16…….Benton Academy
Aug. 23…….Newton Academy
Aug. 30…….at New Orleans Saints
Sept. 6…….at Claiborne Academy
Sept. 13…….Deer Creek
Sept. 20…….Open date
Sept. 27…….Centreville Academy
Oct. 4…….at Ben’s Ford
Oct. 11…….*at Greenville Christian
Oct. 18…….*at Glenbrook
Oct. 25…….*Greenville-St. Joseph
*District 4-3A games

St. Aloysius
Aug. 23…….Hartfield
Aug. 30…….at Greenville Christian
Sept. 6…….*Central Hinds
Sept. 13…….at Parklane
Sept. 20…….at Riverfield
Sept. 27…….*Copiah Academy
Oct. 4……..*at Silliman
Oct. 11…….*at Adams Christian
Oct. 18…….Washington School
Oct. 25…….Cathedral
*District 3-5A games