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By Gerald Horan
As of November 30th, 2022 it has been 12,406 days from the last time the Mendenhall High school Tigers were able to hoist the gold ball and declare themselves MHSAA State Champions, the year was 1988 and third-year head coach Neil Hitchcock led the Tigers onto their third state championship in five years, posting only ten losses throughout that time span.
Like many of the Mendenhall alumni and fans around my age, we were told stories of the teams that played during the 1980s, or we walked the halls of campus, seeing their team portraits and trophies on display.
It became almost a folktale in a sense of just how dominant they, along with rival Magee were during that stretch of what some may call the greatest time in High-School football.
Everyone knew who the Mendenhall Tigers were. After the 1988 season, when the Tigers finished 15-0, I doubt any fan could have thought it would take this long for Mendenhall to get back on that same stage but here we are.
The Tigers have the opportunity to end the ever so growing count this Saturday as they will face Louisville in the 4A State Championship, coached by Chuckie Allen who is in his sixth season at Mendenhall, posting a 51-22 record and a 23-5 district record. Throughout Allen’s time at Mendenhall, there has been a new standard for the Tigers. Several of his teams have gotten close enough to make a run, yet there was always the hump that Mendenhall could not quite get over, that was until Mendenhall punched their way through this season posting a 13-1 record.
Several sports publications throughout the state ranked the Tigers at the top of their preseason poll, creating a buzz around the program that had long yearned for it. This came to an abrupt halt after the first half of the very first game as Mendenhall was down 21-0 against defending state champion the Columbia Wildcats, everything changed after that, however. The Tigers would come out in the second half and hold Columbia scoreless, they would go on to lose 21-16 but there was an obvious change from that first half that continued throughout the season.
After that game the tigers would go on the most impressive streak they’ve had since the 1988 season, posting 13 consecutive wins including a rematch against Columbia in the second round of the playoffs after a dominant second half gave them a two-possession victory.
During this 13-game span, Mendenhall has tallied an average of 32 points a game, along with a blistering 384 yards per game. This has led to several of the school’s offensive records being broken and put many on the verge of being broken.
While the offense stands out as a strong point, it has been the defense that has caught everyone’s attention, with many proclaiming the Tigers as the best defense in 4A. Allowing only 8 points per game, thanks in large part to the astronomical number of 41 posted sacks and 26 turnovers that they have forced on opponents this year the Tigers have been able to suffocate their opponents throughout the season.
Winning won’t come easy for Mendenhall, even with the impressive season they have had thus far they face one of the most storied programs in Mississippi high school football, Louisville, who will represent 4A North Saturday, has hummed along all season with a 13-1 record and their only loss being a one-point loss to Starkville who will be playing in the 6A State Championship Saturday, outside of that game no team has come any closer than within two possessions of the Wildcats, offensively and defensively they match up with the Tigers in close comparison.
The Wildcats have allowed 8 points per game while scoring an average of 34 per game. The stage is a bit more familiar for Louisville as well, with their most recent state title coming in the 2020 covid season, which increased their championship record to an astounding 10-0.
The only history between these two teams is four games, while the series is tied 2-2 the Wildcats claim the most recent victory during the 1994 season where they won 24-7 in the first round of playoffs.
While this season will be one that a lot of people remember for Mendenhall, regardless of Saturday’s outcome, the gold ball is what the community has hoped for, and with Mendenhall and Magee’s inevitable consolidation many fear this may be one of the last chances Mendenhall will get at winning it all.
The game will be held at M.M Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, official game time is slotted for 11 A.M, and tickets will be sold on GoFan for $15.
Streaming options will be available through NFHS, in the past, the game has been broadcast through local TV channels, but I have not received any word if that will be the case for this year.
I hope everyone that is able will get out and support our hometown team in a big way.
(Gerald Horan is a Mendenhall graduate who reported sports for the Tigers for several years. Thank you Gerald)
MageeNews.com is proud of the Tigers and wishes the team and coaches success. Continue to make our county proud!
Now you know they also went back in 89 but lost.
Magee beat them in South State 89 I thought.