Sept. 3 has been a bit busier for the Tigers, but without much success. They've played four games against Ole Miss in what for years was the first game on the schedule for both teams and twice against Mississippi State. They have one win to show for it.

** In 1977 on the road, Ole Miss eked by the Tigers, 7-3.

** In 1983 in Memphis, the Tigers thumped the Rebels, 37-17.

** In 1988, Ole Miss bounced back with a 24-6 victory in Oxford.

** In 1994, Mississippi State visited and won, 17-6.

** In 2001, the Bulldogs had an easier time at home, 30-10.

** In 2006, Ole Miss won another close one, 28-25.

Check out all scores from the past at our Tigers scores database.

There are some real good matchups on the docket this week, with the headliner of course being the heavyweight matchup between visiting South Panola and Memphis University School. And I'll make a rare guarantee--someone's streak will end tonight.

South Panola has won 14 in a row since their last loss--against in the Owls last season. MUS has won the last 28 times it has stepped onto the field. Oh, and did I mention, South Panola is ranked first in the country by rivals.com and third by USA Today? Like Tigers coach Lance Pogue told me on the phone earlier today, if you have to force yourself to be motivated for this one, you're in the wrong business.

There are plenty of other interesting games though. Top-ranked Whitehaven takes on White Station. The Spartans lost a lot of talent from last year's 6A state champion but Tigers coach Rodney Saulsberry told me he is preparing his squad for a tough game. "Until somebody beats them, they're still the champs."  That one is at the Fairgrounds.

CBHS, ranked fifth in the Dandy Dozen, hosts Clarskdale-Miss., which brings a 2-0 record into Tom Nix Stadium. No. 7 Wooddale looks to go 2-0 against Kirby, while No. 8 Briarcrest travels to Melrose Stadium to take on Kingsbury.

An intriguing matchup will be at Houston, where No. 11 Ridgeway tangles with the host Mustangs, while No. 9 ECS cranks up its no-huddle offense against visiting SBEC.          

Highpoint Church is planning a "Blue-Out" at Friday's Overton High football game. Church members are planning deck out in blue and descend on Halle Stadium to show their support as the Wolverines take on Southwind. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Highpoint first partnered with Overton a year ago, with church members helping out students at the school with everything from donating school supplies to helping them prepare for the ACT test. The initiative is known as "Love Works."

There will be pre-game tailgating, so get there early and help show your support for a very worthy initiative.
     

If you're going to be watching the Memphis-MSU football game on television Saturday, come join a live chat right here on thememphisedge.com. I'll be perched high atop my sofa watching the game and reading everyone's comments.

So bring your snacks, your drinks and your computer. Let's talk football!

A couple of stories from State beat reporter Kyle Veazey as we lead up to Saturday's Memphis-Mississippi State game:

** Mississippi State's defensive coordinator and co-coordinator got to know each other well over the past five months, by living together while they looked for more permanent residences.

** In a sign the Bulldogs may be stockpiling talent in Dan Mullen's second year on the job, he said he expects no freshmen to start against Memphis. Veazey reminds readers that six true freshmen started a cumulative 22 games last year and a freshman wide receiver threw a pass on a reverse on the first play of the 2009 season.

Devoted reader and travel guru Dallas Minner sent this photo he took as he passed through the Madison, Wis., airport on Wednesday. He said Badger fans just look confused.

Four times the Tigers have taken to the field on this date. The only victory, oddly enough, was their only game against a ranked team.

** In 1989, Ole Miss came to Memphis and left with a 20-13 victory.

** In 1991, in one of the biggest victories in the program's history, the Tigers went to the West Coast and upset 16th-ranked Southern Cal, 24-10.

** In 1995, the first two two games against Mississippi State, the Tigers went to Starkville and lost, 28-18.

** In 2000, in Memphis, the Bulldogs scored a 17-3 victory dominated by defenses.

Check out all scores from the past at our Tigers scores database.

We heard from Angela Counce today, who--among many other duties--is the athletic secretary at Memphis University School. She wanted us to get the word about various rumors concerning Friday's clash of the titans between the Owls and South Panola.

She said the game is NOT already sold out and that she doesn't expect it to before kickoff. There are plenty of tickets available at a cost of $7 apiece and they can be purchased at the gate Friday. Counce said the school will open the gates two hours prior to the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

I'll be doing a double shot of prep football this weekend, starting with Thursday's game at legendary Crump Stadium between Mitchell and Central.

Mitchell is 2-0 and ranked sixth in The Dandy Dozen and is a good example of that old adage that goes "a team shows its most improvement between week one and week two." The Tigers struggled in their opener against Hillcrest but performed a lot better in last week's 41-6 victory over Kirby. The Tigers will again be without star running back Artaves Gibson, who has yet to play this season. I spoke to coach Nathan Cole this week and he told me that Gibson is awaiting the final medical clearance before getting back on the field (Cole said the University of Memphis commitment tweaked a knee back in the spring).

Mitchell, though, won't be short on talent tonight. Quarterback Terrance Ayers threw for five touchdowns against Kirby and he operates behind a big, strong offensive line. On defense, linebacker/defensive end Tim Pearson was all over the place against the Cougars on the way to earning defensive player of the week honors.

Central, meanwhile, is off to an 0-2 start but there is plenty of reason for optimism. The Warriors have been in both games this season, losing by seven points to Wooddale and by eight to Collierville last week. And in Cameron Clear, their 6-6, 265-pound ace, they have one of the top players in the state.

Should be a great game with lots of talented players on the field. Hope to see you there.            

Griz general manager Chris Wallace presented the President of Israel Shimon Peres (left) with a personalized Grizzlies jersey today at the 87-year-old's residence in Jerusalem.

Wallace, who is in Israel for a basketball camp, was joined by former NBA players Jerome Williams, David Wood, Allan Houston and Dwight Howard Sr.

Sacramento Kings forward and Israeli national team member Omri Casspi was on hand as well.

The trip was planned by American pro-Israel lobby AIPAC with the purpose of strengthening American-Israeli relations by introducing leading figures in American sports to Israel and its unique challenges.

The Grizzlies game jersey Wallace was presented with was No. 18, which has great significance in Hebrew and Jewish numerology.

The letters of the word life add up to 18.