from staff reports
JACKSON — Marcus Boyles had already achieved twice what most high school coaches have only dreamed about before even becoming the Wayne County head coach. That dream: Winning a state championship as Boyles led Taylorsville to two state titles and one runner-up finish.
Before the Boyles era the War Eagles' program was a less than stellar 61-70 overall, a winning percentage of only 46.6 percent. However, since he has arrived in Waynesboro, the program has experienced a complete 180. In his nine seasons as head coach, Wayne County has a record of 108-14 which translates to an eye-popping winning percentage of 88.5 percent. In that span the War Eagles have played in four state title games, winning three of them.
For his entire 15 year career Boyles has 5 state championships, two state runner-up finishes, and 12 district championships to go along with eight appearances in a South State title game.
"We've got a great program," Boyles said. "We have a strong group of kids that we bring from junior high all the way up. We are doing good things."
Wayne will be playing for be playing for its fourth state championship in the Class 5A title bout Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Jackson at 7 p.m. The War Eagles will face West Point in a rematch of the 2005 Class 4A state title game. Boyles will also be vying for his 195th career win and the War Eagles will be looking to add the school's 170th win to their resume.
The other five state championship games are Durant against Mount Olive in the Class 1A game Thursday at 7 p.m., Ackerman against Bassfield in the Class 2A game Friday at 3 p.m., Aberdeen against Tylertown in the Class 3A game Saturday at 11 a.m., Lafayette against St. Stanislaus in the Class 4A game Saturday at 3 p.m., and South Panola against Oak Grove in the Class 6A game Friday at 7 p.m.
— Daniel Rigdon
HOME SOUTH HOME
The South teams were announced as the home teams Monday, and will wear the dark jerseys and sit on the pressbox side of Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The home teams are also responsible for providing the pregame invocation and national anthem.
— Jamie Wachter
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE
Tickets for the state championship games, which run from Thursday through Saturday, are available at each participating school.
The MHSAA has set the ticket prices as $10 for pre-sale tickets and $12 at the gate.
In addition to the discounted cost on pre-sale tickets, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to the games in an effort to help the schools, as each school nets 50 percent of the revenue brought in on pre-sale tickets/
MHSAA executive director Dr. Ennis Proctor also set goals for the schools with Classes 5A and 6A at 3,000 tickets each, Classes 3A and 4A at 2,000 tickets each, and Classes 1A and 2A at 1,000 tickets sold.
— Jamie Wachter
TV BROADCAST
All six championship games will once again be broadcast live on Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
MPB does have some changes in store, though. For the first time, the state championships will be broadcast in high definition, and MPB will be adding a 30-minute pregame show.
"We're delighted to just be a part of the state championships," MPB executive director Dr. Judy Lewis said, before directing her attention to the players representing the 12 schools. "You guys will be the stars (of the pregame show). This belongs to you."
— Jamie Wachter
