Mississippi high school football rankings for Week 3 (9/5/2023)

Here's a look at SBLive's Top 10 and class-by-class rankings for Mississippi

1. Oak Grove Warriors (2-0)

• Last week: Beat Hoover 28-21 (OT)
• This week: at Hattiesburg (1-1)

The Oak Grove Warriors took over the top spot this week after a second consecutive strong week, this time against a perennial Southeastern powerhouse over in Birmingham. Quarterback Anthony Maddox is just one of 12 Warriors with FBS college scholarship opportunities.

2. Starkville Yellowjackets (2-0)

• Last week: Beat West Point 39-28
• This week: at Meridian (1-1)

The defending state champs may feel slighted by the slip to No. 2, but it's got more to do with Oak Grove than it does Starkville. The Yellowjackets handled a downpour and a fierce rally from the West Point Green Wave to move to 2-0 last week.

3. Tupelo Golden Wave (2-0)

• Last week: Beat Southaven 40-7
• This week: hosts Hernando (1-1)

The Tupelo Golden Wave kept rolling with another blowout win last weekend, this time against the Southaven Chargers. The defense appears to have picked up right where it left off last season, when it allowed 10 or more points in just three of its 14 games.

4. Louisville Wildcats (2-0)

• Last week: Beat Neshoba Central 31-0
• This week: at Columbus (0-2)

Some unlucky team has to face the Louisville Wildcats every week, and as West Point and now Neshoba Central know, it's not fun. Coach Tyrone Shorter's Wildcats are riding a 13-game heater going back to Sept. 23 of last year, and they've won all but one of those games by double digits.

5. Picayune Maroon Tide (1-1)

• Last week: Lost to Catholic-Baton Rouge 36-35 (OT)
• This week: at D'Iberville (0-2)

The consensus after looking at replays of the game-winning touchdown for Catholic is that the Maroon Tide got robbed. But you can't blame the refs when you give up 28 points in regulation. Ultimately, Picayune will be fine, and this week's trip to D'Iberville should give them a chance to start a new winning streak.

6. Madison Central Jaguars (2-0)

• Last week: Beat Brandon 40-26
• This week: at No. 7 Gulfport (2-0)

The Jaguars move up a spot this week after racing past then-No. 6 Brandon in "the Jungle" last Friday night. The Jaguars forced four turnovers and put up 34 points in the first half, and that's a pretty good recipe for winning a top-10 matchup.

7. Gulfport Admirals (2-0)

• Last week: Beat Vancleave 51-14
• This week: hosts No. 6 Madison Central (2-0)

They are still flying under the radar, but the Admiral offense is absolutely humming with breakout star quarterback Nico Williams. He and his favorite target — fellow senior Cameron Joseph — put on a show Friday night against Vancleave with five connections for 120 yards and a touchdown. The road gets much tougher from here, with Big Blue rolling into town this weekend.

8. Oxford Chargers (2-0)

• Last week: Beat South Panola 31-14
• This week: host Grenada (1-1)

The offense looked stagnant for much of the night, but the Chargers scored three touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second half against South Panola, then put the game on ice with a 57-yard interception return in the fourth quarter to move to 2-0. The offense will get another test this week with Grenada.

9. Pearl Pirates (2-0)

• Last week: Beat Warren Central 25-24 (OT)
• This week: hosts Brookhaven (2-0)

The 2022 season was a lost year for the Pirates, but last week's big win over then-No. 7 Warren Central is proof that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Pearl has speed to burn on defense, and sophomore quarterback Jack Durr is a budding star in his second year as the starter with capable receivers, even if the offensive line is still a work in progress.

10. Ocean Springs Greyhounds (1-1)

• Last week: Beat Scotlandville (Louisiana) 49-6
• This week: at Northwest Rankin (2-0)

The Greyhounds bounced back from a 15-14 loss to No. 6 Madison Central in Week 1 with a blowout win over Scotlandville, the largest Class 4A school in Louisiana. A road win this week against a surprise 2-0 Northwest Rankin team would go a long way to building some confidence before that Sept. 22 date with No. 5 Picayune.

MHSAA CLASS BY CLASS RANKINGS

Class 7A

1. Oak Grove Warriors (2-0)
2. Starkville Yellowjackets (2-0)
3. Tupelo Golden Wave (2-0)
4. Madison Central Jaguars (2-0)
5. Gulfport Admirals (2-0)

Class 6A

1. Picayune Maroon Tide (1-1)
2. Warren Central Vikings (1-1)
3. West Jones Mustangs (2-0)
4. South Panola Tigers (1-1)
5. Pascagoula Panthers (2-0)

Class 5A

1. West Point Green Wave (0-2)
2. Holmes County Jaguars (2-0)
3. Vancleave Bulldogs (1-1)
4. Cleveland Central Wolves (2-0)
5. Florence Eagles (2-0)

Class 4A

1. Louisville Wildcats (2-0)
2. Mendenhall Tigers (2-0)
3. Columbia Wildcats (2-0)
4. Ripley Tigers (2-0)
5. Amory Panthers (2-0)

Class 3A

1. Noxubee County Tigers (1-1)
2. Jefferson Davis County Jaguars (2-0)
3. Winona Tigers (2-0)
4. Choctaw Central Warriors (2-0)
5. North Panola Cougars (1-1)

Class 2A

1. Scott Central Rebels (2-0)
2. Union Yellowjackets (2-0)
3. Charleston Tigers (1-1)
4. Raleigh Lions (1-1)
5. Calhoun City Wildcats (2-0)

Class 1A

1. Velma Jackson Falcons (2-0)
2. Biggersville Lions (2-0)
3. Simmons Blue Devils (1-0)
4. Taylorsville Tartars (1-1)
5. East Marion Eagles (1-1)