Orley Hood: Big Friday, huge Saturday

Big, big night for some big, big schools in the last games of the high school regular season. Think of it as moving day, like Saturday in major championship golf. A win tonight could mean two victories. A loss may equal two losses and a quick adios from the state tournament.

Example: Brandon plays at ever improving Hattiesburg tonight. A Bulldog victory and they get a home game in the first round next week against the No. 3 from the Coast. A loss and they come in fourth, which gets them a road game at the Coast No. 1.

So … Far more than a single game could be at stake tonight.

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Big, big start to the sporting calendar Saturday morning. Manchester United-Arsenal at 7:30 on ESPN2. A&M at State at 11 on ESPN. Ole Miss at Georgia at 2:30 on CBS.

The plan: Throw your steaks in the marinade at halftime of the Ole Miss game. Light the grill after the game. Prepare beverages. Gear up for Alabama at LSU at 7 on CBS. During commercials, switch to Oregon at USC on Fox.

And don’t forget the Tylenol and eye drops.

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And now for our post-post season awards:

Austin Davis, quarterback, Southern Miss. The Ex Post Facto Heisman Trophy. The Golden Eagles could hardly lose in 2011. In 2012, without Davis, they can’t win.

On the pro level, Peyton Manning. With him in 2010, the Colts were great. Without him in 2011, they were helpless. So, the Ex Post Facto MVP to Peyton.