By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

FOREST — Just like that annual tradition of going shopping the day after Thanksgiving, Poplarville is playing in the Class 4A South State championship game once again on Black Friday as well.

The Hornets are on the road to Forest Friday night in the Class 4A South State championship game with a trip to the upcoming Class 4A state title tilt on the line. Forest is an impressive 12-1, while Poplarville stands 11-2 coming into the big battle.

This is just the second all-time meeting between the two teams, and the first in 43 years since a 36-12 thumping by the Bearcats in 1981 which came in the second round of the state playoffs in the inaugural season when a state-wide playoff system was implemented in Mississippi. The winner of this game will face either Louisville (12-1) or West Lauderdale (10-3) for the Class 4A state

Here is the MHSAA North and South State Championship schedule for Friday night:

MHSAA Football Playoffs

Semifinal Round

CLASS 7A

North State

Madison Central (10-2) at Tupelo (12-0)

South State

Brandon (11-1) at Ocean Springs (8-4)

CLASS 6A

North State

Grenada (12-1) at Warren Central (9-3)

South State

Hattiesburg (12-0) at Picayune (11-2)

CLASS 5A

North State

West Point (9-3) at Cleveland Central (12-0)

South State

Brookhaven (11-1) at Gautier (11-1)

CLASS 4A

North State

Louisville (12-1) at West Lauderdale (10-3)

South State

Poplarville (11-2) at Forest (12-1)

CLASS 3A

North State

East Webster (11-1) at Choctaw County (12-1)

South State

Noxubee County (10-2) at Magee (12-0)

CLASS 2A

North State

Northside (10-3) at Charleston (11-2)

South State

Raleigh (12-1) at Heidelberg (12-1)

CLASS 1A

North State

West Lowndes (7-5) at Baldwyn (12-1)

South State

Simmons (12-0) at Velma Jackson (11-1)