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FAYETTE — The Jefferson County High School Tigers will play host the Tylertown High School Chiefs this Friday night in the second round of the 2024 MHSAA Class 3A South State Playoffs.

Kickoff between Region 8-3A No. 2 seed Tylertown (6-4) and Region 7-3A champion and No. 1 seed Jefferson County (8-2) is slated for 7 p.m. The Chiefs held on for an 18-17 win over Region 5-3A No. 3 seed Enterprise Clarke High School while the Tigers pulled away for a 38-14 win over Region 6-3A No. 4 seed Hazlehurst High School in first-round action last Friday night.

Tigers head coach Roderick Holmes said practice went on as scheduled on Monday despite it being the Veterans Day holiday. However, Wednesday may different with the forecast of rain and thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front possibly moving in as early as the morning and going off and on throughout the day.

“It (Veterans Day holiday) didn’t. We were still in school and we still practiced. It didn’t affect us at all,” Holmes said. “I haven’t really paid much attention to (the weather forecast). We’ve really got to get after it today (Tuesday). We have to have an extensive practice. I’m tired of this summer weather in the fall.”

Jefferson County will be preparing this week for a Tylertown team that Holmes said is very aggressive.

“Tylertown, they play aggressive, so we have to counter their aggressiveness. Like last week’s opponent (Hazlehurst), they can throw the ball. So, we have to be able to defend the pass and the run,” Holmes said.

As for what kind of offense and defense the Chiefs run, Holmes said, “They’re spread on offense. They do have some athletes on both sides of the ball. Defense, they switch it up. They’ll run multiple defense.”

When asked who will need to have a big game for the Tigers to come out victorious and advance to the Class 3A South State semifinals, Holmes said, “Last week, the defensive line played big. This week, our receiving corps will have to have a big game.”

For that to happen, senior quarterback Royale Shelvy will need to get the receivers more involved in the passing game. In last week’s win over Hazlehurst, Shelvy had over 200 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

Holmes added that he expects there to be a packed crowd for this home playoff game.