What the Wildcats Say About Oak Grove...

Oak Grove may not be able to beat you based on pure athleticism, but their coaching staff does an amazing job of preparing those kids and putting them in a position to be successful. The results speak for themselves.
Jermaine Brown
Meridian Athletic Director

Their stadium is very nice, and it’s set up so you feel like they are looking down on you. It’s a pretty intimidating place to play.
Olivia Chisolm
Meridian Cheerleader

Oak Grove has that wide-open offensive attack. You can never relax against them.
Ray Matheny
Voice of the Wildcats

So many of the games against Oak Grove are high-scoring contests decided by razor-thin margins. They are wonderful games for the fans.
John Robert Smith
Mayor of Meridian

To think that Oak Grove ever considered dropping football is incredible. You can talk yourself into some dumb things sometimes. They were obviously selling themselves short, because that’s a darn good program.
Larry Weems
Meridian Head Football Coach

You would think our defense would be prepared for their offense since they see us run the same type plays everyday at practice, but Oak Grove always finds a way to put in a new wrinkle that makes their offense very hard to stop. They have some very smart coaches.
Tyler Russell
Meridian Football Player

Oak Grove has a great new stadium, especially their home stands. I love when our team plays in their stadium.
Demetrius Hill
Meridian Assistant Football Coach

Fans from both schools travel strong. If the home crowd doesn’t come to the game ready, they will get out-yelled by the visitor’s stands.
Ray Matheny
Voice of the Wildcats

Oak Grove people are pretty cocky, but, then again, so are we.
Olivia Chisolm
Meridian Cheerleader

 Meridian has been playing football for almost 100 years and established a name that others want to say they have beaten. We get everyone’s best shot every week, and our kids have to fight their rear ends off every game. We don’t get an off week.
Larry Weems
Meridian Head Football Coach

What the Warriors Say About Meridian...

Meridian and Oak Grove started out as opposites. We were the finesse team and they were smash mouth and physical.
Nevil Barr
Oak Grove Head Football Coach

Meridian is huge and they have talent galore. When we get together and play, you are going to get your money’s worth.
Bob Byrd
Oak Grove Assistant Football Coach

My freshman year we were marching off the field and the Meridian fans were booing us and throwing stuff on the field.
Katie Folkes
Oak Grove Band Member

Football at Meridian is all about power running. They always have some big boys in the backfield.
Travis Payton
Former Oak Grove Football Player

The first time we played Meridian our kids had big eyes. I had never coached against them and I had big eyes. We knew all about their tradition and long history of success.
Jeff Waits
Oak Grove Assistant Football Coach

People at Meridian probably think every student at Oak Grove drives a Lexus.
Stan Caldwell
Hattiesburg American

They’re big and strong and they have numbers. The only way to beat them is to outwork them and take their spirit away. Otherwise, they will pound you.
Mitchell Williams
Sports Director, WDAM

Meridian has a great team, but Oak Grove is better. Meridian is definitely overrated.
Currie Fletcher
Oak Grove Cheerleader

I’m going to say this as nicely as I can. They are not very gracious winners.
Bob Byrd
Oak Grove Assistant Football Coach

We don’t have to do much to get our guys focused for the Meridian game. They already know it’s going to be a four-quarter battle. They know they are in for a war.
Nevil Barr
Oak Grove Head Football Coach

Ray Stadium is one of those great old rustic stadiums in the state. When we go to Meridian, even as a broadcaster, I’m pumped.
Kelly Sanner
Oak Grove Radio Play-By-Play Announcer

There is non-stop head butting between these two teams. They both have great athletes and want to be the best in the district.
Sam Thomas
Former Oak Grove Football Player

Oak Grove has always had a lot of interest in beating Hattiesburg, because they are right next door; but the measuring stick of whether or not you’re going to the playoffs is Meridian.
Mitchell Williams
Sports Director, WDAM

You just want to beat Meridian in everything. It bothers me when we lose to them. We got beat by them in softball yesterday and it bothers me.
Katie Folkes
Oak Grove Band Member

My ideal scenario is to beat Meridian in the south state championship game in the final seconds. I don’t want to beat them bad, just by a point at the very end. That way it will hurt worse.
Bob Byrd
Oak Grove Assistant Football Coach

If you can’t get excited about an Oak Grove-Meridian game, then you just don’t like high school football.
Stan Caldwell
Hattiesburg American