PONTOTOC — The Warriors answered their first loss with a region win. Caledonia used its region opener to get back to .500. Thursday night, they meet with the same next step in reach: a 2–0 start in Region 1-5A.
Pontotoc welcomes the Cavaliers for a 7 p.m. kickoff, bringing together two teams that gave themselves something to build on last Friday. The Warriors beat West Point 23–6 to improve to 5–1. Caledonia handled Columbus 27–8 and comes in 3–3.
For fans around Pontotoc and those making the trip from Lowndes County, that gives this Thursday game a little more weight. Each side has an early region victory to protect, and the winner will carry an unbeaten league record into the final three games of its regular season.
Watch NMSN’s Caledonia at Pontotoc hype video, then settle in for coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. Central.
Pontotoc found its footing again
Two weeks ago at Shannon, the Warriors were one defensive stop from keeping their perfect start intact. Danelius Conner’s late fourth-down touchdown changed that, giving the Red Raiders a 38–35 win in a game NMSN carried from Mike Scott Field.
Pontotoc’s answer came at home against West Point. The Warriors allowed six points and won by 17, putting the disappointment at Shannon behind them as region play began.
Sophomore Nolan Ashley handled quarterback duties in that win. He completed five of nine passes for 74 yards and ran for two touchdowns. Markavion Jones added 80 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Those are useful details for Caledonia’s defense. Jones gives Pontotoc an established runner to feed, while Ashley showed last week that the quarterback can finish a possession on the ground, too. The Cavaliers will have to account for the ball after the handoff look as well as the runner taking it.
Tim Jones also made his presence felt against West Point. He intercepted two passes and led the Warriors’ receivers with 40 yards on two catches.
That combination of a steady rushing contribution and extra possessions helped Pontotoc open the region schedule on its terms. Repeating it would put the Warriors in a strong position before next week’s trip to New Hope.
Caledonia has more behind its record
The Cavaliers’ 3–3 mark includes a pair of losses that stayed close. They fell 35–28 to New Albany and 27–24 to East Webster before their open week. Last Friday’s win over Columbus stopped that two-game skid and gave Caledonia a fresh start in region play.
The running game deserves Pontotoc’s attention. Through October 12, junior quarterback Tyler Long averages 75.5 rushing yards per game and has eight rushing touchdowns. Junior Gary Smart adds 68.8 rushing yards per game.
Long’s touchdown against Columbus extended his streak to five straight games with a rushing score. That makes him a player to find when the Cavaliers get near the goal line, even on a night when someone else may be gaining more ground between the 20s.
Caledonia also has a busy defender in senior linebacker Jack McDowell. He averages 10.8 tackles per game and has five sacks. Against a Pontotoc offense that got contributions from both its quarterback and running back last week, his ability to diagnose the play and finish the tackle will matter.
The Cavaliers do not need to chase the game from the opening possession. A productive first down, a sustained drive and a clean punt when a drive stalls would all help them keep a road game manageable. Giving Pontotoc short fields would make that work considerably harder.
A familiar opponent, a different opportunity
Pontotoc won last year’s meeting 26–13 at Caledonia. The site changes tonight, and the Cavaliers have already exceeded their one-win total from 2025.
That is part of the interest in this rematch. Caledonia arrives with evidence of progress and a region win already secured. Pontotoc has won five of six and just delivered a convincing response to its only defeat.
The common-opponent results offer another point of reference. Both beat Amory. Pontotoc defeated New Albany 35–7; Caledonia lost its meeting with the Bulldogs by seven. Those results help describe the teams’ routes here, but tonight’s possessions will supply a much better comparison.
Watch how Caledonia handles Pontotoc’s rushing threats early, and whether the Warriors can make Long give up the ball without losing track of Smart. Then watch the response after the first score. Both teams earned a little breathing room last week. Thursday’s test is whether either can create it against another region winner.
How to watch tonight
Caledonia Cavaliers at Pontotoc Warriors kicks off Thursday, October 15, at 7 p.m. Central from Pontotoc High School. NMSN pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m.
Watch free on WatchNMSN.com/watch, Facebook or YouTube. The broadcast is also available on NFHS Network with a subscription. NMSN coverage is presented by Impact Health Clinics.
Get ready with the full hype video, or catch the vertical edition on Facebook.
