By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Item Sports Editor

Pearl River Central will be without quite a few players tonight when the Blue Devils invade Poplarville for a Region 8-4A date with the homestanding Hornets.

Eleven PRC players have been suspended for this week’s game by the Mississippi High School Activities Association for their involvement in a bench clearing brawl against Bay High last week. The game was called off with 27 seconds to play when the incident took place. Bay High won 14-7.

PRC Superintendent Dennis Penton confirmed the suspensions to the Picayune Item on Thursday. The Item has also learned that six of the players possibly will be suspended for the rest of the season.

Each school met in Jackson with MHSAA officials earlier this week and the ruling was made Thursday morning.

Two players from Bay High were also suspended for this week’s game against D’Iberville.

No other sanctions, such as probation or fines, are expected.

The PRC-Poplarville game is just one of three highly anticipated games taking place in Pearl River County this weekend.

In Picayune, one of the biggest prep games in the state kicks off tonight as the Maroon Tide hosts unbeaten St. Stanislaus.

The winner of the game will remain on pace to capture the Region 8-4A title, with hopes of a championship for the loser heavily damaged as both still have to face league leading D’Iberville later in the year. Picayune is 5-1 overall and SSC 6-0, and both teams are 2-0 in region play. The winner of tonight’s game will virtually assure themselves of at least second place in the league and the right to host a first round Class 4A playoff game in four weeks.

Then, on Saturday, Pearl River Community College hosts Co-Lin for Homecoming in a big South Division juco match-up as well.

The Wildcats are right back in the race for the league title as well as a possible shot at the national title game after a big win over Jones last week and with Co-Lin’s upset of Gulf Coast. Jones and Gulf Coast meet in two weeks.

Wildcat running back Rashod Henry of Lumberton High had a coming out party in his first start in last week’s Jones game, as the freshman rushed for 153 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.

“Rashod would’ve gotten even bigger numbers if he hadn’t sprained his ankle in the third quarter,” PRCC head coach Hatten said. “But he’s recuperated and will be back in the line up.”