By Dale McKee
Columnist
If you are a Mississippi State, Ole Miss or Southern Miss football fan, you may want to buy a program, for all three teams have a new cast of characters.
Mississippi State scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to down Southern Mississippi, 34-17, last Saturday in Hattiesburg. Da’Marion “Fluff” Bootwell scored twice while Davon Booth added another in the third quarter barrage. State had stumbled in the opening half, despite leading 13-10 at intermission. The Bulldogs had a couple of touchdowns called back in the opening 30 minutes and had several critical penalties that cost them points. But in the third quarter, the Bulldogs came out fast and outgained the Golden Eagles, 199-to-25, in taking a 31-10 lead into the final 15 minutes.
Bulldog quarterback Blake Shapen passed for 270 yards and one score on the day. Placekicker Kyle Ferris set a new MSU field goal record with a 55-yarder, breaking Artis Crosby's program record of 54 yards in 1985.
Southern Mississippi struggled in the running game, but quarterback Braylon Braxton passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 52 more yards on the day to lead the Golden Eagles offense.
The Bulldogs will return to Starkville this Saturday night to host Arizona State while the Golden Eagles will entertain Jackson State this Saturday afternoon.
Mississippi State is scheduled to return to Hattiesburg in 2030.
Ole Miss started slow but overcame several first quarter miscues to defeat Georgia State, 63-7. Austin Simmons, starting his first game at quarterback, finished the game 20-for-31 for 341 passing yards and three touchdowns. Simmons, who is replacing Jaxson Dart, was intercepted twice in the opening half. Wide receiver Harrison Wallace caught five passes for 130 yards and a TD while running back Kewan Lacy rushed for 108 yards and tallied three touchdowns. The Rebels defense played a solid game, according to Lane Kiffin. Ole Miss travels to Kentucky this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
In SWAC play, Ahmad Miller rushed for 176 yards on ten carries to lead Jackson State past Hampton, 28-14, in the Tigers' season opener.
Alcorn fell to Northwestern State, 20-10. Northwestern is coached by former Belhaven head coach Blaine McCorkle. It was the Demons' first win since 2022. Alcorn will travel to Alabama A&M on Saturday.
Southern University spoiled the debut of new Mississippi Valley head coach Terrell Buckley. The visiting Jaguars held on to defeat Valley, 34-29. Valley heads to Texas to take on Tarleton State this Saturday.
Delta State surprised No. 22 Central Missouri, 31-23. The Statesmen will entertain North Greenville this Saturday.
Belhaven will host Millsaps in the opener for both teams this Thursday.
Junior College Football
The Mississippi JUCO football league opened their 2025 season last Thursday with seven games. 2024 State Champ Northwest ran past Pearl River while state runner-up East Central fell to Northeast. Other winners were Co-Lin, Gulf Coast, Hinds, Jones and Southwest.
Baseball
The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel is hosting the “National Pastime” in pictures through November 16. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has organized a picture exhibition highlighting its expansive photographic archives. The Baseball Hall of Fame has over 350,00 unique images of the history of the sport from the past 150 years. “Picturing America’s Pastime” is a can’t miss for the true baseball fan.
Major League Baseball announced without much fanfare their 2026 regular season schedule. Several important days came out of the press release beginning with the Opening Day. The Yankees will visit San Francisco in the only game on March 25. The following day all the other 28 teams will be in action. The Atlanta Braves welcome Kansas City for a three-game series on March 26. Also to remember is Rivalry Weekend that will take place on the weekend of May 15-17. The Braves will host Boston during rivalry week. Philadelphia will host the playing of the 96th MLB All-Star game on July 14 as our country will be celebrating 250 years. Then, on September 11 the Yankees will host the 25th Anniversary of 9/11by hosting the Mets.
Listen to Dale and Marshall Wood on the Brouhaha Sports Show Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on WABO FM 105.5 in the Waynesboro area. This week’s guest will be Super Talk sports contributor Hunter Dawkins. To listen to the broadcast on your computer or smart phone anywhere in the world, go to Google Chrome. You may also go to The Brouhaha on YouTube and listen to archived shows.
