HS Game of the Week: Hattiesburg vs Laurel

LAUREL, Miss. - Hattiesburg will be traveling to Laurel Friday to take on the Golden Tornadoes.

Both teams are (1-0), and are looking to win two in a row, and claim this year's Lil' Brown Jug.

Hattiesburg head coach, Tony Vance said, "Anytime Laurel and Hattiesburg play, it's going to be an interesting matchup. We matchup very well. Me and Coach Breland talk all the time. It's like playing yourself."

"Our community is fired up for it, as well as there's. It should be another classic. It'll be athlete for athlete. We'll both play a bunch of them on the field. Both teams are going to play hard. Both teams are going to play fast. And both teams want to win the game," said Laurel head coach, Todd Breland.

Hattiesburg has two great running backs, and a good receiving core. And that helps quarterback, Jarod Conner lead the Tiger offense.

"It makes it way more easier. They focus on the receivers. And we got a good D-1 running back (Fabian Franklin). And Drexlan Allen, he's good too. And it just keeps pressure off me. And I still can do what I can do," said Conner.

Laurel's running back, Zias Perryman ran for 113 yards on just 15 carries last week against Callaway, and he is looking to improve his numbers this week.

"Some people call it tunnel vision. I mean just a God-given gift I guess," said Perryman.

Both teams are playing with a chip on their shoulder, and want to prove their doubters wrong by not only winning this game, but a state championship as well.

"Everybody's not expecting big things out of Laurel. But we're still the same Laurel. We bring the same pressure we bring every year," said Laurel’s defensive lineman, Kason Chinn.

"It's very important to let them know that we're here, because people always count us out. They say Hattiesburg this and that. Dedicating it to Coach Vance. I think he'll be real excited about that. Just because you never know when it's time for him to do what he's got to do, and take care of his family and whatever. So, we'll dedicate this one to him, and go as far as we can," said Hattiesburg cornerback, Ray’Kell Ducksworth.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Laurel High School.