There really is no better time of year.

The air is turning cold, the leaves are changing colors and college and prep football is coming to the final stretch.

With the cold air comes the winds of championships and one of our local teams will have a chance to complete the goal that was set back when they were practicing in the 100 degree heat of July and August.

Centreville has fought valiantly throughout the entire season and one more game decides whether it is a great season or a truly magical one for the Tigers

It was a great year all around for area football teams, with eight of the 14 in The Democrat’s coverage area making the playoffs and four advancing to at least the quarterfinal round.

Congrats to all the high school teams that have put in so much effort throughout the last five months in order to compete at the highest level and have such a great season.

While the high school football season is almost over, the college football year seems to get crazier and crazier.

Two thrilling SEC games on Friday just keep the crazy trend going.

This year’s Egg Bowl will go down as about the wildest one since at least the 1999 version.

The games were very similar.

Ole Miss dominated the game for more than three quarters but somehow Mississippi State managed to score two touchdowns late in the game, get the ball back and make a long field goal in the final seconds.

This one was even more unexpected, because MSU kicker Adam Carlson’s season long was only 39 yards before he nailed a 48-yarder to give the Bulldogs the win.

It was an important win for MSU coach Sylvester Croom, whose team had to win in order to lock up a bowl bid for the first time since 2000.

For Ole Miss’ Ed Orgeron, he has become the latest victim to be “croomed” after the loss to the Bulldogs.

After going 3-9 overall and winless in the SEC for the first time since 1982, Ole Miss fired Orgeron Saturday morning.

The Rebel coach has had so many opportunities during his three years in Oxford.

Two or three times a year, the Rebels have a chance to pull a big upset, but they never have been able to come up with the winning plays when they needed them.

As the Rebels go into next season with a new coach and staff, they must start to win some of those games to let fans know progress is being made.

As for LSU, the dream finally died.

Trying to win every game by the skin of their teeth finally came back to bite them as the Arkansas Razorbacks vanquished LSU’s national title dreams with a 50-48 win in triple overtime.

Apparently the way to beat the Tigers is take them to triple OT.

The Kentucky Wildcats scored a 43-37 win on the Bluegrass last month.

After close calls against Florida, Auburn and Alabama, one final one was just too much for the Tigers.

LSU will have to settle for the consolation prize of the SEC Championship. They will face Tennessee in Atlanta for the title next week.

The winner goes to the Sugar Bowl.

And speaking of Arkansas, if Darren McFadden doesn’t win the Heisman Trophy after his performance Friday, 207 yards, three rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown, they should just throw the award away.

McFadden has rushed for over 1,700 yards this year, which, in the SEC is almost impossible to do.

But if McFadden doesn’t win it, it would be the latest twist in a college football season full of surprises.

Jeff Edwards is the sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached at jeff.edwards@natchezdemocrat.com or 601-442-3632.