Week 2 area high school football games at a glance
Aug. 31—THURSDAY'S FEATURED GAME
(All games kick off at 7 p.m.)
Saltillo (0-1) vs. Amory (1-0)
The Buzz
—After a tornado destroyed Amory's football facility in March, Tupelo offered to host three home games for the Panthers. The first one is tonight.
Names to Know
—Now in his third season as head coach, Brooks Dampeer is 23-6 at Amory.
—Amory's new QB, Braden Maranto, is looking to improve this week. The junior was 2 of 9 for 45 yards and two interceptions in last week's 17-0 win over Pontotoc.
Stat Leaders
—Saltillo: QB C.J. Beasley 12 of 23, 182 yards, 1 TD. ... RB K.J. Robins 20 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD; 5 catches, 34 yards, 1 TD. ... RB Coby Owens 3 carries, 26 yards; 4 catches, 52 yards.
—Amory: RB Emmanuel Randle 18 carries, 121 yards, 2 TDs. ... LB Nathaniel Walker 17 tackles. ... S Tyree Neely 10 tackles.
Game Keys
—Saltillo's defense must start better than it did last week, when it allowed 31 points in the first quarter of a 31-23 loss to New Albany.
—There shouldn't be too much pressure on Maranto, so long as Amory can establish the run game with Randle.
ALSO TONIGHT
—H.W. Byers (0-1) at Holly Springs (0-1): Byers is coming off a 34-29 loss to Byhalia, while Holly Springs fell to Mantachie, 34-12.
—Myrtle (0-1) at Potts Camp (0-1): Myrtle's defense recorded 8 tackles-for-loss in last week's 13-0 loss to Strayhorn. Potts Camp, meanwhile, got torched by Falkner, 41-0.
—Pontotoc (0-1) at South Pontotoc (0-1): Pontotoc has won eight in a row against its cross-county rival, including a 48-26 victory last season.
—Walnut (1-0) at Falkner (1-0): Walnut has won the last four Joe Bowls and leads the overall series 32-28-1. The Wildcats won 36-8 last year.
