Updated SBLive Mississippi Football Rankings for Week 6 (Sept. 18)

'Big' Louisville makes the jump from No. 4 to No. 2 after a signature win at Starkville; Northwest Rankin makes Power 10 debut

SBLive Mississippi Power 10 Rankings

1. Oak Grove Warriors (4-0)

• Last week: Beat Madison-Ridgeland Academy 45-44
• This week: Hosts Laurel (1-3)

Southern Miss quarterback commit John White and the Patriots gave the top-ranked Warriors all they wanted Friday night, but Oak Grove found a way to win, and that’s what good teams do. If there were Vegas odds on this week’s matchup against Laurel, the Grovers would be a two-or-three touchdown favorites, despite the Golden Tornadoes taking down 7A foe Meridian this past week. It’s the final non-region test for one of the very best teams in the Southeast states.

2. Louisville Wildcats (4-0)

• Last week: Beat Starkville 26-22
• This week: at Noxubee County (1-3)

With apologies to Oak Grove, nobody has put a bigger pelt on the wall than the Louisville Wildcats did last Friday night with an upset victory on the road at then-No. 2 Starkville. They benefitted from three huge second-half turnovers, but the Wildcats' monumental win was no fluke. The defending Class 4A Champions have proven they can run with the big boys, and should be favored to win all their remaining games. That includes a showdown with Noxubee County this weekend.

3. Tupelo Golden Wave (4-0)

• Last week: Beat Oxford 49-7
• This week: at Houston (Tenn.) (2-2)

After a slow start, the Wave put a 35-0 beat-down on former Region 2-6A foe Oxford in the second half Friday night. The numbers are getting ridiculous at this point — the Tupelo defense has now allowed just two touchdowns in 16 quarters of football in 2023. Next up is an intra-state matchup against the Houston Mustangs, a program that lost its only previous matchup against a Mississippi team, 28-26 to South Panola back on Aug. 25.

4. Starkville Yellowjackets (3-1)

• Last week: Lost to No. 2 Louisville 26-22
• This week: Hosts Oxford (2-2)

The Jackets slipped from No. 2 to No. 4 this week after suffering their first loss of the season at home against previously fourth-ranked Louisville. The good news is the Jackets made it through their meeting with the Wildcats relatively healthy this year, and should be just fine going forward. No team is good enough to overcome the turnover bug that bit the Jackets in the second half last Friday night but correcting those types of mistakes will be essential if the defending 6A Champions want to become the first Class 7A Champs in state history.

5. Picayune Maroon Tide (3-1)

• Last week: Beat Gulfport 28-21
• This week: Hosts No. 6 Ocean Springs (3-1)

The Maroon Tide struggled against a very good Gulfport team that came into last week ranked ninth. The two teams played to a 21-21 tie until the final minutes, when defensive back Niquis Ratcliff jumped a route and housed a 41-yard interception return to put the Maroon Tide ahead for good. There is no rest for the weary this week, as Picayune prepares to host a dangerous Ocean Springs team that already has one Top-10 road win under its belt with a 27-24, Sept. 8 win at Northwest Rankin.

6. Ocean Springs Greyhounds (3-1)

• Last week: Beat Natchez 39-14
• This week: at No. 5 Picayune (3-1)

Star tailback Will Smith had another big game, with 24 carries for 134 yards and five touchdowns, as the Greyhounds rolled over winless Natchez. They'll take a huge step up in competition this week, visiting a fifth-ranked Picayune program that hasn't lost a game to a Mississippi opponent since a Sept. 17, 2021 loss at D'Iberville. The front seven on defense has received high praise early in the season, but they are in for a huge test against the Maroon Tide's run-happy offense and feature back Chris Davis.

7. Northwest Rankin Cougars (3-1)

• Last week: Beat No. 8 Madison Central 28-21
• This week: at Brookhaven (2-2)

The previously unranked Cougars finally picked up the win they needed to crack the Top 10, beating cross-town foe Madison Central and former NWR coach Toby Collums thanks to a late, game-winning touchdown drive. Freshman receiver De'Shawn Dillion's breakout season continued with six catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Up next is a not-as-soft-as-it-looks road test against Brookhaven before Region 3-7A play begins on Oct. 6 against the ninth-ranked Pearl Pirates.

8. Madison Central Jaguars (3-1)

• Last week: Lost to No. 7 Northwest Rankin 28-21
• This week: Hosts Warren Central (2-2)

The 2021 Class 6A Champions slipped from No. 6 to No. 8 this week after taking their first "L" of the season against Northwest Rankin in Flowood Friday night. All of third-year coach Toby Collums' Madison Central teams have leaned on defense, and a home game against a good Warren Central team should provide an opportunity to quiet concerns on that side of the ball before Region 2-7A play starts on Oct. 6 with a home game against No. 3 Tupelo.

9. Pearl Pirates (4-0)

• Last week: Beat Ridgeland 45-7
• This week: at Germantown (2-2)

The Pirates slipped from No. 8 to No. 9 this week despite dismantling a rebuilding Ridgeland program 45-7 last Friday night. Second-year starter Jack Durr and the Pirate offense has now accounted for at least 25 points in all four games they've played. The Pirates can move right back up in the rankings if they can survive a short trip up I-55 and a tough matchup against the Germantown Mavericks. Winning this week would set up a huge Region 3-7A opener against No. 7 Northwest Rankin.

10. Brandon Bulldogs (2-2)

• Last week: Beat Warren Central 20-7
• This week: Hosts Gulfport (2-2)

The 2022 Class 6A South Champions are back in the rankings for the first time since Week 3 after beating a good Warren Central team at home Friday night. The defensive woes that haunted the Bulldogs in back-to-back, season-opening losses to Picayune and Madison Central have all but vanished — after giving up 68 points in those first two games, the Bulldogs have allowed just 17 in the last two. That's a good sign for a that championship-contending program that still has all of its goals on the table.

Class-by-Class Rankings

Class 7A

1. Oak Grove Warriors (4-0) 
2. Tupelo Golden Wave (4-0) 
3. Starkville Yellowjackets (3-1) 
4. Ocean Springs Greyhounds (3-1) 
5. Northwest Rankin Cougars (3-1)

Class 6A

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

Class 5A

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

Class 4A

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

Class 3A

1. Noxubee County Tigers (2-2) 
2. Winona Tigers (4-0)
3. Jefferson Davis County Jaguars (3-1) 
4. Choctaw County Warriors (2-2)
5. Kossuth Aggies (3-1)

Class 2A

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

Class 1A

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