The 2020 Kosciusko football schedule has 10 games, including the Whippets' five Region 4-4A opponents, and possibly a jamboree game, in Casey Orr's first year as coach.
The opener against Yazoo County on Aug. 20 is a Thursday night. All other games are Friday evening. The last five are 4-4A games.
Kosciusko has an open date Sept. 25.
“It’s kind of a cliché, but every game is going to be big for us to make sure we are getting better every week. That we are performing to an expected standard,” Orr said.
Based upon 2019 results, it is a formidable schedule, with a combined record of 74-52. Seven of the 10 opponents had winning records and eight of 10 made the MHSAA playoffs.
Louisville is the defending region champion and reached the third round of the 4A playoffs. “Louisville is always going to be the one at the forefront,” Orr said. Louisville, a perennial power, finished 11-3, fifth ranked in 4A according to the website MaxPreps.
He added, “West Lauderdale returns a lot. They had a really good year.” West Lauderdale finished second in the region and defeated Clarksdale in the opening round of the playoffs before suffering a 9-7 loss to Coahoma Early College.
Kosciusko was 3-8, but third in the region with a 2-3 mark. The Whippets lost to Rosa Fort 28-17 in the opening round of the playoffs. Leake Central was fourth and lost to Greenwood in the opening round.
Kosciusko is scheduled to play in a jamboree at East Mississippi Community College hosted by New Hope, either Aug. 13 or 14. Orr does not know who the Whippets will play, if the jamboree is held.
“I don’t know if there will be restrictions on what East Mississippi can do because of COVID-19.”
Orr moves to Kosciusko after a successful run as Noxapater coach. The Tigers had five straight winning season, including 12-3 last year. Two of the three losses came against 1A state champion Nanih Waiya, including 21-20 in the North State final.
2020 Schedule
Aug. 20 – at Yazoo County
Aug. 28 – Newton County
Sept. 4 – at Winona
Sept. 11 – Grenada
Sept. 18 -- Choctaw County
Oct. 2 – Choctaw Central
Oct. 9 – at West Lauderdale
Oct. 16 – Leake Central
Oct. 23 – at Northeast Lauderdale
Oct. 30 – at Louisville
