In October, Small Town Friday started in Bruce. A week later it went to Eupora. On Friday night the two meet at Bruce, in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs, and one of them goes home for the winter.
A year ago, Bruce's season ended at 6–4 with no playoff game. This year Bruce is 9–1, and it hosts one.
Since we visited
When Small Town Friday met Bruce, it was 8–0 and headed to Myrtle. Myrtle won that game 38–27 on Oct. 22. A week later Bruce beat Strayhorn 47–12 at home.
When we met Eupora, it was 8–1 and headed to East Webster, the defending Class 2A champion. East Webster won 20–14 on Oct. 29. Eupora is 8–2. Both of its losses came on the road, at Kemper County and at East Webster.
Two towns
Bruce sits in Calhoun County, where Highway 9 crosses Highway 32, and it carries the name of E. L. Bruce, whose lumber company built its sawmill. Chuck Darbonne is in his fourth season as Bruce's head coach.
Eupora, in Webster County, was established in 1889 on a spur of the Georgia Pacific Railway. Brad Gray coaches Eupora.
Both ways
Bruce's roster names 38 players, and five are seniors. Eupora's names 49, and 11 are seniors. Both teams lean on players listed on both sides of the ball.
At Bruce, Joshua Long, a senior quarterback, has thrown 30 touchdown passes. Cayden Jones, a senior tight end and strong safety, has 12 touchdown catches and five interceptions. Jermaine Jackson, a junior receiver and cornerback, has 11 touchdown catches and three interceptions. James Fred Gaiter, a senior tailback and outside linebacker, leads Bruce with eight rushing touchdowns. Tylan Eacholes, a senior middle linebacker, leads the team in tackles per game.
At Eupora, Peyton Perkins, a senior quarterback, has run for 24 touchdowns. Connor Swindle, a junior defensive end, has six sacks and 19 quarterback hurries. Jarell Myles, a junior linebacker who is also listed at receiver, has 5.5 sacks and matches Swindle's 19 hurries. Jay'Kwan Pittman, a freshman defensive back, has six interceptions. Brendin Conley, a junior outside linebacker, leads Eupora in tackles per game and has forced three fumbles.
The numbers
Bruce is 9–1. Eupora is 8–2. The Press Coverage Power Index (PCPI) still has Eupora by 11 at Bruce, an 81% chance.
The schedules explain most of that gap. Eupora's two losses came against Kemper County and East Webster. After Week 10, the PCPI rates Kemper County 3rd in Class 2A. It rates East Webster 5th. Bruce's one loss came against Myrtle. After Week 10, the PCPI rates Myrtle 16th.
Class 2A has 39 teams. After Week 10, the PCPI rates Eupora 7th. It rates Bruce 19th. Both teams have climbed since the preseason. Eupora started 14th. Bruce started 31st.
They share two opponents:
Water Valley: Bruce won 34–26 in overtime, on the road. Eupora won 22–8 at home.
J Z George: Bruce won 46–18 on the road. Eupora won 48–12 on the road.
Been here before
Eupora and Bruce last played in 2022. In 2022, Eupora won 44–6 at home. Since 2015 they've met six times, and Eupora has won five. Bruce's win came in 2016, 22–20 at home.
Friday
In October we asked whether Bruce could finish what it started. Since then it has lost at Myrtle and beaten Strayhorn, and on Friday it gets a playoff game at home to keep going.
Around the North, Week 10
Every small school in the North, from last week's games, winner first.
Region 1-1A: Tupelo Christian 41, Smithville 0. Biggersville was off; next, Friday at Okolona in the playoffs.
Region 2-1A: Potts Camp 35, Falkner 0 · Ashland 20, H. W. Byers 18.
Region 3-1A: Calhoun City 45, West Lowndes 16 · Okolona 43, Vardaman 8.
Region 4-1A: Leflore County 40, West Tallahatchie 6 · French Camp 21, Coffeeville 14.
Region 1-2A: Baldwyn 38, Walnut 8 · Hamilton 49, Hatley 46.
Region 2-2A: Bruce 47, Strayhorn 12 · Water Valley 48, East Union 20. Myrtle was off; next, Friday against Velma Jackson in the playoffs.
Region 3-2A: Charleston 38, Palmer 0 · J Z George 16, Leland 0 · Northside 26, Port Gibson 20.
Region 4-2A: East Webster 20, Eupora 14 · Kemper County 41, Philadelphia 0. Velma Jackson was off; next, Friday at Myrtle in the playoffs.
Region 1-3A: Kossuth 29, Alcorn Central 6 · Belmont 44, Mantachie 38. South Pontotoc at Booneville: result to come.
Region 2-3A: Independence 35, Coahoma County 18 · North Panola 54, Holly Springs 8.
Region 3-3A: O’Bannon 30, Humphreys County 6 · Thomas E. Edwards 40, Yazoo County 0 · Kosciusko 56, Amanda Elzy 6.
Region 4-3A: Noxubee County 48, Aberdeen 20 · Winona 50, Nettleton 22. Choctaw County was off; next, Friday at Independence in the playoffs.
MAIS 1A, 8-man: Delta Academy 82, Delta Streets Academy 46 · Newton County Academy 20, Deer Creek 0. Result to come: Columbus Christian at Wilkinson Christian. Tunica Academy was off; next, Friday's playoff game against Kemper Academy. Calhoun Academy was off; next, Friday against DeSoto School (AR). North Sunflower Academy was off.
MAIS 2A: Regents 21, Indianola Academy 14 · Winston Academy 44, Centreville Academy 0. Results to come: Kirk Academy at Oak Hill Academy, and Manchester Academy at Winona Christian. Lee Academy, North Delta and Saint Joseph Greenville were off; each plays Friday in the playoffs. Carroll Academy and Greenville Christian were off.
MAIS 3A: Marshall Academy 60, Rossville Christian (TN) 21. Results to come: Bayou Academy at Washington School, and Lamar at Heritage Academy.
Standouts
Against our numbers after Week 9, before last week's games.
Potts Camp won 35–0 at Falkner. The model had Potts Camp by 4.
Regents won 21–14 at Indianola Academy. The model had given Indianola Academy a 65% chance.
Ashland beat H. W. Byers 20–18, and the model had Ashland by 2 at home.
Hamilton won 49–46 at Hatley. The two teams scored 95 points.
North Panola beat Holly Springs 54–8. The model had North Panola by 26.
Notes
- How the numbers work: the Press Coverage Power Index (PCPI) rates every Mississippi team from its margins and schedule, and our projection for each game comes from those ratings. Ratings and ranks are after Week 10 and don't move after that.
- Town facts: Wikipedia (Bruce, Mississippi; Eupora, Mississippi), from Small Town Friday's earlier pieces on each town. Rosters and player figures: each team's MaxPreps pages, as they showed them this week. Coaches: WCBI's preseason tour stops for Bruce and Eupora.