Three months ago, Centreville Academy head football coach Bill Hurst said his team would be lucky to win two games in the 2000 season after winning three straight state championships.

Despite sporting a team that has more sophomores than seniors, the Tigers finished the regular season at 7-4 overall and 2-1 in MPSA District 4-3A and won its fifth straight district championship, but that record was enhanced because Silliman was using an ineligible player for most of the season.

Centreville begins defense of its state championship today when it hosts Copiah Academy at 7 p.m. in a first-round game of the MPSA&160;Class 3A state playoffs.

Copiah Academy, located in Gallman, was the runner-up in MPSA&160;District 3-3A at 2-1, but had an overall regular-season record of 3-7.

&uot;We’ve played some good teams real well and we’ve played some good teams real bad,&uot; said Copiah head coach David Gregory. &uot;You don’t know what to expect. We have some good little players.&uot;

Gregory said he starts seven sophomores on both sides of the ball, but the Colonels will have their work cut out for them on the road in this playoff contest.

&uot;It’s tough anytime you go down there,&uot; he said. &uot;Centreville has a good program down there.&uot;

Copiah runs a 5-3 defense and a multiple set offense with the base being a pro-set, Hurst said.

&uot;They’re good enough to beat us,&uot; he said.