Published: August 20, 2008 10:24 pm      

Preseason polls high on area teams

Expectations.

For some teams, they can be a burden. For others, high expectations can serve as a useful motivational tool.

For a select few area schools, high expectations simply come with the territory.

With the start of the high school football season now just eight days away, several teams around the area enter the campaign with championship goals and they sport the lofty rankings that go along with such aspirations.

As The Star continues its 30 Days of Football countdown, the focus turns to preseason accolades being garnered by area teams.

While the AP's statewide poll will not be released until after all Week 1 games are played, several outlets have issued statewide preseason polls, including Magnoliapreps.com. The website, which accordingly spotlights football throughout Mississippi, recently released its preseason Top 20 poll, which encompasses all five MHSAA classifications and the ranks of MPSA.

Like most media outlets, Magnoliapreps has high expectations of the Meridian Wildcats, placing the defending Region 3-5A champions at No. 3 in the state behind defending 5A champion South Panola and 5A North power Olive Branch.

The Wildcats, who return seven offensive starters from a unit that averaged 36 points per game last season, are looking to return to the 5A state title game for the third time in the last four years.

A pair of area 4A stalwarts also appear in MP's Top 10 as defending North champ Noxubee County enters the season at No. 5 while three-time state champion Wayne County carries a No. 8 ranking into its season opener.

On the heels of an 11-win season in Class 3A, the Cougars of Newton County will start the campaign as one of the favorites in 3A South. In the Magnoliapreps.com Top 20 poll, the Cougars enter the season ranked as the No. 14 team in the state, making the rankings as the No. 3 team in 3A.