Published: August 18, 2008 07:54 am      

30 Days

By Brandon Walker

assistant sports editor

Several area matchups stand out as marquee games in the early part of the football season, but perhaps only one will draw as much statewide interest.

With the high school season a mere 11 days away, The Star's 30 Days of Football countdown turns to a second straight showdown between a powerhouse from the ranks of the Mississippi Private School Association and the Newton County Cougars.

A season ago, Jackson Prep and Newton County made headlines by meeting in the regular season, still somewhat of a rarity between MPSA and MHSAA opponents.

Prep, which has now won 25 games and two MPSA Class AAA state championships in a row, hosted Newton County last season and stole the show with a 24-0 victory.

The shutout loss marked Newton County's only regular season setback last year, in a season that saw the Cougars roll to a 11-2 mark before falling to eventual Class 3A South State Champion Franklin County in the postseason.

This year, a boatload of returning starters on both sides of the ball give the Cougars hope heading into the 2008 season that includes a rematch against Prep. This time, that game will be held in Decatur. Following last season's loss, the Cougars averaged 31 points per game over the next 10 weeks and put together an impressive 10-game winning streak. Also impressive in their own right, the Patriots of Prep were never challenged on their way to a second-straight state crown, outscoring opponents 502-70 en route to a perfect 13-0 season.

This year, that marquee MHSAA-MPSA showdown is set for Thursday, Sept. 4.