The Cleveland Central Wolves and Clarksdale Wildcats will square off in the first round of the 2023 Mississippi (MHSAA) 5A Football Championships on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 7pm ET in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

What it is: Mississippi High School Football
Matchup: Cleveland Central Wolves vs. Clarksdale Wildcats
Time: Friday Nov 10, 2023, 7pm ET
Game Type: Playoffs
Bracket: 2023 Mississippi (MHSAA) 5A Football Championships
Round: First Round
Locations: Wildcat Stadium – Clarksdale, MS
Live stream: Watch here

The Wolves enter the playoffs with a 7-4 record, while the Wildcats have a 7-3 record. Cleveland Central is ranked 6th in the division, while Clarksdale is ranked 3rd. In the state rankings, Cleveland Central is ranked 57th and Clarksdale is ranked 34th.

Cleveland Central has a balanced offense that averages 29.9 points per game. The Wolves are led by senior quarterback Isaac Johnson, who has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Johnson also has a solid rushing attack, as he has rushed for over 400 yards and five touchdowns.

Clarksdale has a more explosive offense, averaging 26.5 points per game. The Wildcats are led by senior running back David Miller, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Clarksdale also has a dangerous passing game, led by senior quarterback Matthew Schuette, who has thrown for over 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Both teams have good defenses, but Cleveland Central has the better unit. The Wolves have allowed just 20.7 points per game this season, while Clarksdale has allowed 22.8 points per game.

This should be a close and competitive game between two evenly matched teams. Cleveland Central has the better defense, but Clarksdale has the more explosive offense. Ultimately, the game will likely come down to a few key plays.

Prediction: Cleveland Central Wolves 28, Clarksdale Wildcats 21

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