If you’re a sports fan in Jones County then get ready for a busy week in the sports world! For starters, take a look at the “SEC” of high school football — Region 5-4A. The region accomplished a mighty big feat this week, as they swept Region 7-4A in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs. Region champion Wayne County, the top team in the state-wide 4A ranks, defeated Forrest County AHS 41-20. Quitman, region runner-up, defeated Stone County, 10-0. No. 3 seed Northeast Jones shut out Moss Point 10-0 in a revenge game of last year’s 5 point playoff loss. And the Mustangs of West Jones got out of Gautier with a 20-13 victory over the Region 7-4A champion Gators.

Here’s a possible playoff scenario that could possibly happen, just in case you were trying to figure it out. If Wayne County beats Picayune Friday, and West Jones beats Brookhaven, then Wayne County would travel to SoSo in the third round of the playoffs. If Quitman beats D’Iberville Friday, and NEJ beats Lawrence County, then NEJ would travel to Quitman. That would mean an all Region 5-4A South State championship game Thanksgiving weekend.

College hoops gearing up

For the first time in school history, the William Carey Crusaders — my alma mater — defeated NCAA Division I Louisiana-Monroe 71-69 in an exhibition game when Marcus Span hit the game-winner with just four seconds to play.

The Crusaders will need all the experience they can get against Division I opponents as they will face Southern Miss, Alcorn State, and Troy this season.

Rugby anyone?

I had the opportunity this weekend to travel down to Mobile, Ala., to get a closer look at a sport that for the most part in college sports doesn’t get the coverage it deserves — the sport of rugby. The Southern Miss men’s and women’s rugby teams swept a tournament they we’re playing in at the annual event at Battleship Park.

Near bowl eligible

The Golden Eagles of Southern Mississippi are just two wins away from becoming bowl eligible following their victory at Central Florida Saturday. The two remaining teams left on the Southern Miss schedule are games against East Carolina, and on the road to Dallas to take on the Mustangs of SMU.

Also, look for previews on Laurel and South Jones basketball in editions of this week’s paper, along with previews for the soccer teams at the local high schools. In a side note, in Saturday’s edition of the Leader-Call, there was a scoring note that stated Shawn Myrick kicked a 22-yard field goal in NEJ’s win over Moss Point. In fact, it was a 32-yard field goal. And Devorris Stanton scored a rushing TD for Gautier in their loss to West Jones, not Justin McDonald.

John Blackledge is a sports writer for the Laurel Leader-Call. Contact him at sports@laurelleadercall.com or call 601-428-0551 ext. 30.