Tigers to Play East Webster, Water Valley in Preseason Tune-up

Written with artificial intelligence assistance.

According to Tippah Sports, the 2024 MHSAA High School Football season officially begins next week, but several teams will face of under the lights tonight and over the weekend in preseason jamborees.

The Ripley Tigers will be one of those teams. Fifth-year head coach Perry Liles will guide his varsity and JV squads in a pair of matchups against East Webster and Water Valley, tonight at Water Valley High School. Ripley’s varsity team will play East Webster varsity for one quarter at 6 p.m. Following a short break. Ripley’s varsity team will scrimmage Water Valley varsity for one quarter.

A one-quarter scrimmage between Water Valley JV and Ripley JV will finish off the night. Liles definitely wants his team to stay healthy in the tune-up. But he’s also looking forward to seeing how both sides of the ball respond to going up against teams with different colored jerseys.

“I just hope we can execute well and give our defense some time to go up against somebody good Our younger guys (JV) are gonna be good…They’re a good little team, it’s hard to get a good picture sometimes,” said Liles. “So I’m looking to see how our defense handles that. “Offensively, we’re just looking to execute, take care of the ball and see what we look like going up against some guys bigger and better.” One of those “bigger and better” players that the Ripley offense will have to account for tonight is Water Valley defensive lineman Donalvin Wilson.

The 6-4, 250-pound senior was rated one of the state’s top defensive linemen by The Clarion-Ledger. Last season, Wilson had over 100 tackles, 30 of which were tackles-for-loss. He also accounted for 10 sacks and forced three fumbles. Last season, Liles guided Ripley to a 9-2 record and the school’s first Class 4A Region title.

The Tigers lost to Caledonia in the first round of the playoffs. You can find out more about Ripley and its upcoming season, along with the Falkner Eagles and Walnut Wildcats with the release of our preseason football previews. Be on the lookout for those next week.

Photo byTippah Sports