POPLARVILLE — Two teams that are no strangers to each other will collide for a chance to advance to the Class 4A state championship.
Poplarville will travel to Columbia Friday night to take on the Wildcats in the 4A South State finals. Kickoff at Walter Payton Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday.
“These games are always fun,” said Hornet coach Jay Beech. “They’re the kind of games you want to play in. Both communities really support their team, and there’s going to be a ton of people there. That’s what you always want.”
Poplarville and Columbia were rivals in Region 7-4A in 2021 and 2022, and they also played an epic in the South State finals two seasons ago. The Wildcats won that one 12-7 on their way to the 4A state championship that season.
However, the Hornets won the most recent meeting, a 20-18 triumph last season. The Hornets moved to Region 8-4A in the most recent reclassification. Poplarville is making its seventh trip to the South State finals in the past eight seasons, and are 4-2 in the previous games.
“I know from our end, there’s a lot of respect for Poplarville, but there’s no love lost between the two teams,” said Wildcat coach Chip Bilderback. “That’s usually the case when you have two rival programs playing at such a high level.
“We have much respect for the job Coach Beech has done at Poplarville, and I know the kids on both sides will play extremely hard.”
Both coaches have put together phenomenal records since taking over their respective positions. Beech is 106-31 (77.4 percent) in 10 seasons at Poplarville. Bilderback is 69-11 (86.3 percent) in six years at Columbia.
“They’re a really impressive football team,” said Beech. “Coach Bilderback always has a defensive team that is usually very big and quick, and they are really fast and physical on offense this year.”
Poplarville brings a 10-3 record into Friday’s contest, while Columbia is undefeated at 13-0. The Hornets have taken flight on offense since freshman Tylan Keys was inserted into the starting lineup to begin play in Region 8-4A on September 29.
“You really don’t want to start a freshman at running back,” said Beech. “That’s like throwing a kid to the wolves, and we wanted to avoid that with him, because he’s got such a bright future.
“But we weren’t moving the ball like we wanted, and after the West Jones game (a 42-0 defeat), we had to do something. Since he’s been in there, we’ve scored a lot of points and our offense has really picked up.”
Indeed. In seven games as a starter, Keys has rushed 132 times for 1,169 yards, an 8.9-yard average and has scored 24 touchdowns.
The Hornets have won six of those seven games, the only loss coming at Greene County in the regular-season finale, when Poplarville had already secured the regional title, and held several key players out with minor injuries.
“He’s an explosive player,” said Bilderback of Keys. “He’s a great athlete and a great football player. Their offense has gotten a lot better since he’s been in there.
“Poplarville is also really good up front, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. They get behind those big guys and just wear you out.”
Columbia has plenty of weapons of its own, led by sophomore quarterback Collin Haney, who has completed 119 passes in 1,811 yards and 23 touchdown passes, and he’s run for 173 yards and three scores.
“Everything in our offense runs through our quarterback, and we’ve got two dynamic receivers who can make plays in A.J. Lewis and Jeremiah Foxworth,” Bilderback said. “Jeremiah is as electric as any player in the state of Mississippi.”
Lewis, a junior, has 49 receptions for 827 yards and 10 scores, and Foxworth, a senior, has 36 catches for 552 yards and nine touchdowns, along with three rushing scores on just nine carries.
Columbia also features senior tailback Amarion Fortenberry, who has run for 1,299 yards and 18 touchdowns on 160 carries.
“Their quarterback is really accurate, they’ve got three or four really good receivers,” said Beech. “The Fortenberry kid is a very good running back. And a lot of those kids also play defensive back, which gives them athletes in their secondary. They’re stacked.”
The Hornets will counter with junior Sidney Blackmon, who has gotten better as the season has come along.
Poplarville won’t throw the ball much – the Hornets have only attempted 61 passes this season – but they’re effective when they do throw. Blackmon has completed 23 of 57 attempts for 684 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Their offense has evolved from last year,” said Bilderback. “The quarterback this year throws the ball really well and they’ve changed their offense some to suit his talents.
“They put you in position to where your secondary has to come up to stop the run, and they put you in man coverage and their receivers will run right past you, and he’s very accurate with the ball.”
Poplarville has also gotten good work out of senior Lane Amacker, who has run 121 times for 914 yards and nine touchdowns, and he’s caught eight passes for 228 yards and three more scores.
“Sidney is accurate, and he knows where to go with the football,” said Beech. “He goes through his progressions and gets rid of the ball quickly, doesn’t try to force things.”
The game will likely hinge on whether the Hornets can control the ball, eat up the clock and limit Columbia’s possessions.
“Obviously, we can’t be punting the ball over and over,” said Beech. “We have to control the ball, make first downs and score when we have the opportunity.”
Bilderback had a similar concern on his end.
“They’re a challenge because they wear you out,” said Bilderback. “They don’t make many mistakes, and they’ll just ground and pound if you let them. So we have to find a way to get some stops, and when we have the ball, it’s important to make every possession count.”
The winner will play the survivor in the North Half final between undefeated Louisville and 11-1 Houston at noon on December 2 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on the Ole Miss campus in Oxford.
