Friday night lights in Mississippi aren't just a tradition. They're a religion. If you spent any time on the sidelines this past fall, you know the atmosphere was different. The 2024 season wasn't just another year of powerhouse programs dominating; it was a year of absolute chaos, historic "firsts," and some of the gutsiest performances we've seen in a decade.
People look at the final scores and think they know the story. They see a ranking and assume the team at the top had it easy. Honestly? They're wrong. The Mississippi high school football rankings 2024 tell a story of grit that a simple W-L column can't capture.
The Golden Wave’s Perfect Storm
Tupelo didn't just win; they suffocated everyone. Finishing 14-0 is hard enough in the lower classifications, but doing it in Class 7A? That’s almost unheard of. The Golden Wave hadn't touched a state title since 1992, which is basically an eternity in a town that eats, sleeps, and breathes football.
The 28-16 win over Brandon in the state title game was the exclamation point. JJ Hill, a junior who played like a grown man all season, was the workhorse. He didn't just run the ball; he punished defenders. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, you could see the Brandon defense was just gassed.
Why the 7A Title Mattered So Much
- The Drought: 32 years. That's how long Tupelo fans waited.
- The Defense: They held a high-powered Brandon offense to just 16 points.
- The Perfection: 14-0. No flukes. No close calls they didn't earn.
Brandon (12-2) shouldn't hang their heads, though. They’ve been runners-up four times now since 2012. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but they are consistently the "gatekeepers" of 7A.
The Green Wave Record-Breaker
West Point is a machine. There’s really no other way to put it. While other teams are trying to reinvent the wheel with fancy spread offenses and "air raid" schemes, West Point just runs the ball down your throat. And it works. Every. Single. Year.
💡 You might also like: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
They picked up their 13th state championship by beating Gautier 28-21. Think about that number: 13. That’s a state record. Shamane Clark was the hero here, rushing 26 times for 168 yards. It wasn't flashy. It was just 4 yards, 6 yards, 5 yards, then—boom—a 69-yarder that breaks your heart.
Gautier's Trey Irving played his tail off, passing for 229 yards, but you can’t win when you’re getting sacked four times by that Green Wave defensive front. They're just too physical.
Grenada’s First Taste of Glory
If you want a "feel good" story from the Mississippi high school football rankings 2024, look at Grenada. They basically bullied Hattiesburg in the 6A final, winning 43-14.
Hattiesburg came in undefeated. They had the hype. They had the home-crowd energy in the Pine Belt. Then Macaleb Taylor happened. 211 rushing yards. Four touchdowns. It felt like every time he touched the ball, the Grenada stands went wild. This was the Chargers' first-ever state title. For a school that opened in 2013, that’s a massive milestone.
Small Town, Big Dreams: The Lower Classes
Down in 2A and 1A, the games were arguably more intense. Heidelberg (14-1) avenged a heartbreaking loss from the previous year by absolutely dismantling Charleston 38-6. Sophomore QB Chase Craft is a name you need to circle for the next two years. 257 yards and four touchdowns? As a sophomore? That’s elite.
📖 Related: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
Then there’s Baldwyn. They survived a 21-20 nail-biter against Simmons. At halftime, Baldwyn had... wait for it... 12 yards of offense. Total. They were down 12-0. Most teams would have packed it in. Instead, Aiden Stewart (the linebacker and MVP) basically willed them back into the game with an interception return for a touchdown.
The 2024 State Champions at a Glance
- 7A: Tupelo (28) vs. Brandon (16)
- 6A: Grenada (43) vs. Hattiesburg (14)
- 5A: West Point (28) vs. Gautier (21)
- 4A: Poplarville (29) vs. Louisville (28)
- 3A: Choctaw County (34) vs. Noxubee County (27)
- 2A: Heidelberg (38) vs. Charleston (6)
- 1A: Baldwyn (21) vs. Simmons (20)
The Private School Powerhouse: Hartfield Academy
We can’t talk about rankings without mentioning the MAIS. Hartfield Academy (12-2) finished on top after a 19-14 revenge win over Jackson Prep. Prep is usually the gold standard, but Hartfield proved that the gap has closed. They are fast, they are well-coached, and they aren't intimidated by the "Patriot Mystique" anymore.
What Most People Miss About the Rankings
Rankings are mostly a math equation, right? Strength of schedule, margin of victory, all that. But what MaxPreps or SBLive can't show is the injuries.
Take Starkville, for example. They finished 7-5. On paper, that looks "okay." But they lost 35-34 to Tupelo—the eventual undefeated state champs. If a couple of plays go the other way, Starkville is sitting in the top 3. This is why you have to look past the record.
Madison Central is another one. They finished 10-3, but both of their meaningful losses came against Tupelo. They were essentially the second-best team in the North, but the bracket didn't let them prove it in the finals.
👉 See also: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
Actionable Insights for the 2025 Season
If you're a fan, a scout, or just a parent looking at these Mississippi high school football rankings 2024, here is what you need to take away for the coming year:
- Watch the Sophomores: Chase Craft (Heidelberg) and Tylan Keys (Poplarville) are going to be absolute superstars. Keys finished with over 3,000 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns. That's video game numbers.
- 7A is a Meat Grinder: Don't expect Tupelo to go 14-0 again. The parity in 7A is too high. Madison Central, Brandon, and Oak Grove are all retooling.
- The "Ground and Pound" is Alive: West Point and Poplarville proved that even in 2024, you can win titles by running the ball 50 times a game.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal—yes, even in high school, it’s becoming a thing. Coaches are moving, players are shifting, and the 2025 rankings will likely look nothing like the 2024 final list.
The best thing you can do right now is check the returning rosters for your local 5A and 6A teams. Schools like Grenada and Poplarville are returning a massive chunk of their championship talent, which usually signals a "dynasty" run in the making.
Next Steps:
- Follow the official MHSAA scores page for updated spring practice schedules.
- Review the 2025-2026 reclassification moves, as several schools are shifting divisions which will completely change the strength-of-schedule metrics for next year’s rankings.