Meridian enjoyed homecoming last week with a 48-0 win against Jim Hill Friday, but the Wildcats have little time to celebrate as Pearl looms on the horizon.

Meridian (2-3) and Pearl (6-0) met two times last year and the Pirates outscored the Wildcats 78-19, with their last meeting coming in the second round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs.

“You have to have some Wildcat pride with this right here,” Meridian coach Calvin Hampton said. “It’s a district game; your destiny is in your own hands. We’re treating it like our (district record) is 0-0. We won last week, but we’re not thinking about last week — it’s over with. We’re thinking about 0-0. Pearl is up next, and we have to have some Wildcat pride.”

Meridian’s opponents (Tupelo, Hoover, Noxubee County, Starkville and Jim Hill) thus far have gone 16-11, and Tupelo (5-0), Hoover (4-1) and Starkville (5-1) have winning records.

Hampton hopes those early season contests prove beneficial as Meridian navigates its region schedule.

“We’ve been up against kids who have talent, and (teams) that have a lot more depth in some areas — good teams week after week after week with no letting up,” Hampton said. “We took some lumps, took some losses, but also have had success in some areas. So hopefully it boosts our boys up to the point where they understand what needs to be done to be a good football team.”

After falling in last year’s Class 6A final to Clinton, Pearl enters Friday unblemished at 6-0 and poised to make another run at the state crown. The Pirates have scored 160 points through their first six games and have held opponents to 68. Meridian, meanwhile, has scored 121 points and allowed 136.

Pirates quarterback Jake Smithhart figures to give Meridian’s secondary a difficult test as he’s passed for 884 yards and 10 touchdowns against five interceptions. He’s thrown touchdown passes to five different receivers this year. Smithhart’s top target, receiver Dylan Kelly, has 41 receptions for 358 yards and three touchdowns.

Meridian signal caller Tevarrius Adams is coming off a 13-of-22  229 yard and three touchdowns passing performance against Jim Hill, and he added another 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Adams has thrown for 1,066 yards and nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions. Hampton said he expects his junior quarterback to continue to progress.

“He’s understanding the game better,” Hampton said. “He’s understanding right now that his athletic ability is only part of it. My offensive coordinator has been working hand-in-hand with him through drill work and stuff like that, so he’s understanding the game a little bit better now.”

Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday at Pearl High School.