I've been covering high school football in Yazoo County for over a decade now, and I don't think I've seen two teams with so much potential in a single season as Yazoo County and Manchester Academy.
Yazoo County is the total package. Quarterback Kenneth Gainwell is incredibly talented, and the Panthers offense is loaded with quality receivers and running backs.
And while Yazoo County's explosive offense may get the most attention, the Panthers' defense is what may end up making the team a championship contender.
My favorite quote in our football preview magazine came from Panthers defensive lineman Austin Dees.
"I like to hit. It's what I do," Dees said.
He does it well, and he's not alone. The Panthers defense is as aggressive as it gets.
Success is nothing new to Yazoo County football in recent years. We've seen some teams make impressive playoff runs, but they've never quite made it all the way. There's certainly no shame in that; these were great teams.
But I still can't help but feel like there's something special about this team. Maybe this will make history.
I feel the same way about Manchester Academy.
This team is loaded with talent, including Blayke Dendy, who this newspaper selected as the MVP of the 2016 season. He's a fun player to watch, not just because of his abilities, but also because he's clearly having so much fun playing the game.
What really makes the Mavericks special this year from my perspective is hard to define. Perhaps "grit" would be the best word to describe it. That's the word that came to mind after MA's hard fought battle against Tri-County this season.
The Mavericks are playing in one of the toughest districts, and so far they've proven that they deserve to be in the conversation about the top teams in the state.
I don't expect that to change.
It's also worth noting that Yazoo City and Benton Academy have made significant improvements since last season, and both programs seem to be headed in the right direction.
This has already shaped up to be an exciting football season in Yazoo County, and I'm confident that the best is yet to come.
