South Panola Athletics Foundation

You must have the Adobe Flash Player installed to view this slideshow.

One Game Away From an Eighth State Title

Photos By Morehead Photography

SP vs Starkville

The South Panola Tigers, the 2007 defending 5A State Champions, ended their seventh regular season with a record of 11-0.

At the beginning of the 2008 season, many people wondered if the Tigers had what it would take to return to Jackson Mississippi, for the sixth straight title due to losing some talented players.

Head Coach Lance Pogue never doubted his team from the beginning but he knew he had some young players that had to learn and grow up fast.

SP vs Starkville

Pogue said, “If the Tigers lose a game, the sun will still come up the next morning, but if it doesn’t, then they won’t have to worry about playing a football game.”

Putting things in perceptive, Pogue would’ve taken a loss during the regular season if that’s what it would have taken to get back to Jackson, but that didn’t happen. His team proved to everyone that they could play ball with anyone and still win. Some weeks were tough, but the Tigers never gave up.

The Tigers opened their season on the road at Vicksburg on August 29 and came out with a 27-6 victory. The following week they traveled to Clarksdale to take on the Wildcats and shut them out 34-0.

Many fans waited anxiously to see their Tigers play at home on the new turf field at the Robert H. Dunlap stadium that was put down in the off season. That night came on September 15 when Grenada came to town, and the Tigers put a 40-2 whipping on them in front of a massive crowd.

The big game of the year came on September 19 when the Tigers hosted the Apopka Blue Devils from Florida on national television. A lot of media attention was given to this game because the word was that the Tigers had not played another ranked team out of Mississippi. It didn’t take the Tigers long to show all the media, the Blue Devils, ESPNU, and the rest of the country that they were for real. They defeated Apopka 28-18, and the media gave the Tigers what they well deserved.

Win number eighty for the Tigers came on September 26, and it was the first division game. The Horn Lake Eagles came to town and left with a 34-7 loss from the Tigers.

The next game was a hyped up one when the Tigers traveled to Leslie Pool Field to take on the Olive Branch Conquistadors before 12,000 fans. This game was between two powerhouse teams in the same division that usually match up for the North Half Championship. Pogue received a showering of Gatorade after his team won the battle 21-13 and remained undefeated for win number eighty-one.

The Columbus Falcons came to town next and received a 31-0 shutout by the mighty Tigers for another division game on October 10.
Week number eight proved to be the biggest test of the season so far. The Tupelo Golden Wave gave all 10,000 fans at the game their money’s worth when they fought to the very last second to be the team to beat the South Panola Tigers, but it didn’t happen. The Golden Waves went for a two point conversion to win the game with 1:28 left on the clock, but the mighty Tiger defense knocked the ball out of bounds to remain ahead by one point. The Tiger defense held strong after the Golden Wave went for an onside kick, but the Tigers got the ball and kept their winning streak going at 83. It was a nail biter down until the clock read zero.

The last home regular season game was on October 24 when the Southaven Chargers came to Robert H. Dunlap Stadium, but the Tigers sent them back with a 35-7 loss.

SP vs Starkville

The Tigers went back on the road to Starkville on Halloween night to take on the Yellow Jackets and came away with a 56-22 victory for win number eighty-five.

The regular season came to an end, and the Tigers wrapped up another undefeated season after they traveled to Southaven on Thursday, November 7 to take on the Desoto Central Jaguars. The Tigers took care of business early and left with the 55-0 shutout.
The Tigers dominated their opponents in regular season by scoring 374 points and allowing only 85 points. They racked up 4,502 in total offense yards and only allowed 1,779.

Senior quarterback David Renfroe threw for 1,584 yards for twelve touchdowns. He was 101 of 175 on completions.
Junior running back Nicholas Parker scored nineteen touchdowns and ran for 1,742 yards on 208 carries.

On the defense side of the ball, senior David Connor led the team with seventy-five and a half total tackles. He had forty-five solo, eighteen assists, three for a loss, six and a half sacks, and four on special teams. He had four pass deflections, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Marvin Burdette had seventy total tackles which included thirty-seven solo, twenty-two assists, four for a loss, six sacks, and one on special teams. He had two pass deflections, one interception, and one fumble recovery.

Excitement fills the halls and the community as playoffs start. The Tigers hope to continue their winning streak by returning to Jackson, Mississippi on December 5 to play in the 5A Class State Championship game for the seventh year in a row. Go Tigers!

The Streak Ends at 89

helmet2 The win streak may have ended, but the love for our Tigers will never stop!

Congratulations to the South Panola Tigers for their North Mississippi State title. We regret that the Tigers came up short in the State Championship game against Meridian. Thank you, Tigers, for the terrific ride these last six years! You’re still and always will be #1 in our hearts!

Congratulations, Meridian Wildcats, on a great season and winning the 2009 State Championship game 26-20.

Lady Tigers Slow-Pitch Softball Season Deemed Success

By Kim Wilson, Head Coach

The slow pitch softball team started its season on August 9th and wrapped it up with a 2nd round playoff loss at home against Tupelo on October 14th. The Lady Tigers finished with an overall 16 win—9 loss season.

Lady Tigers Slow-Pitch

The team consisted of two seniors, Jennifer Newcomb, who was a newcomer this year to slow-pitch, and Racquel Burdette, who was playing her 4th year for SPHS. There was also one junior, seven sophomores, three eighth graders, and one seventh grader to make up the roster.

Numerous players played various positions from game to game, which made us very versatile from line-up to line-up.

Considering the inexperience and youth, I was very pleased with this year. If all players return and stay focused, next season looks very promising.

South Panola Cheerleaders Ranked Sixth in the Nation

Competitive Cheerleaders

South Panola High School competitive cheerleaders are currently ranked number 6 in the country. The girls compete throughout the year for an opportunity to compete at the Universal Cheerleader’s Association National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida. This year the squad is made up of 22 young ladies. They have competed already this season in three different competitions. They have placed 1st at the Mississippi State Fair, received the highest score in the 5A varsity division for MHSAA and received a bid to state championships, and placed 3rd at the Southeastern Cheerleading Classic. The squad practices an average of 10 hours a week. The only sport they cheer for is football. They spend each Friday night on the sideline cheering on their mighty Tiger Football team. The squad is coached by Tammy Wilkinson and Trey Griffin.

South Panola Signs Two for NCAA Baseball

Seated: David Renfroe and Ethan Bright. Standing: Brad Lightsey, SP’s Assistant Baseball Coach; Laddie Renfroe and Kim Renfroe, David’s parents; Joan and Kenneth Bright, Ethan’s parents; and Patrick Robey, SP’s Head Baseball Coach

South Panola had two of its own sign national letters of intent Wednesday morning, November 11th. Wednesday marked the beginning of the early signing period for NCAA baseball. Having two players from the same high school ink with SEC schools is a rare accomplishment in college baseball.

Ethan Bright, infielder and right-handed pitcher, signed with the John Cohen led Mississippi State Bulldogs. Bright has started for the Tigers since his freshman year. Ethan has received the team’s best offensive player award the past two seasons. Ethan has put up impressive numbers at the plate and also on the mound. Last season Ethan hit .447 with 7 HRs and 38 RBIs while posting a 3-0 record in limited pitching duties. Ethan will attend MSU in August 2009 depending on the June 2009 MLB draft. Ethan has been compared to former MLB great, Larry Walker, with his size and power. Ethan was an all-state selection asa junior, along with selection to the East Coast showcase team that competed in Florida last July. Ethan was also a Team USA Baseball tryout invite.

David Renfroe inked on Wednesday morning with Mike Bianco and the Ole Miss Rebels. Recruiting Coordinator Rob Reinstetle calls this “one of the biggest recruits in Ole Miss history.” David has also had a stellar career while at South Panola. His batting average has been above .500 the past two seasons while posting a 4-3 pitching record as a junior. David was an all-state selection as a junior and chosen as an Under Armour All-American. David will attend Ole Miss next fall. Ole Miss, like MSU, will have to battle the MLB draft. These two young men are both projected to be possible high picks.

With eight returning seniors and twelve returning lettermen, the baseball Tigers look to make a run at the school’s first state baseball title. The Tigers have reached the 5A playoffs two of the past three seasons. Lastyear’s run ended knocking out Southaven before losing to Northwest Rankin.

The division schedule is always tough with Tupelo, Starkville, and Columbus. The 2009 schedule also features contests with perennial 5A power, Madison Central, Terry, and Desoto Central. The Tigers kickoff the spring season in the preseason jamboree February 9th at Madison Central.