Lions, Cardinals will be district foes

Marshall County rivals H.W. Byers and Potts Camp, both remaining in Class 1A, will be district opponents as part of the Mississippi High School Activities Association reclassification for 2025-2027.

Joining them in Class 1A Region 2, for football, will be Ashland and Falkner. For basketball, Falkner will shift to Region 1, while non-football schools Blue Mountain, Hickory Flat and West Union will join Byers, Potts Camp and Ashland in Region 2.

In the previous athletic alignment, Byers was in 1A Region 2 and Potts Camp in 1A Region 3.

The largest 1A school in the state is East Marion with 156 students, grades 9-11. Potts Camp’s enrollment in those three grades is 149, while Byers’ number is 137.

Byhalia is the largest high school in Marshall County. The Indians stay in Class 4A but will shift from Region 2 to Region 3. Competition in their district will be Clarksdale, Ripley, Rosa Fort and Senatobia.

The largest 4A school in the state is Caledonia with 499 students, grades 9-11. Byhalia is in the middle of the pack in that classification with enrollment in those three grades at 391.

Holly Springs, a longtime member of Class 3A, remains in that classification. Region 2 opponents for the Hawks will be Coahoma County, Independence, North Panola and newcomer Thomas E. Edwards, formerly Ruleville Central. Thomas E. Edwards replaces Rosa Fort, which moved up to 4A in the new alignment.

The largest 3A school in the state is Mooreville with 342 students, grades 9-11. Holly Springs’ number for those three grades is 254.

The reclassification takes effect in August 2025.