Friday in Tippah County means three home football games under the lights, a Homecoming court at Ripley, a job posting from South Tippah Schools, and a stretch of dry, sunny weather to enjoy it all in. Here’s what’s happening today, Sept. 25.
Ripley’s Homecoming Under the Lights Against Booneville
Ripley High School crowns its Homecoming court at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Tiger Stadium, with kickoff against the Booneville Blue Devils set for 7 p.m. It caps a week that started with Thursday’s downtown parade, the first Ripley has held since the 1980s, and a pep rally at the football field.
The matchup is a lopsided one on paper. Ripley enters at 1-3 in Class 4A Region 3 after losses to Grenada, Lewisburg and East Webster, with a 34-23 win over Mooreville as the lone bright spot. Booneville comes in unbeaten at 4-0 in Class 3A Region 1, having outscored North Pontotoc, Baldwyn, North Panola and Biggersville by a wide margin, according to Tippah Sports. But the two programs go back decades, with Ripley holding a 37-29-2 series edge overall and a 21-3 win the last time they met in Booneville. Recent meetings in the series have often come down to a field goal or a single score, a reminder that this year’s records don’t always tell the whole story. For a Tigers team looking for a reset after three straight losses, Homecoming night against an old rival is as good a place as any to find one.
Falkner and Walnut Also Host Friday Night Games
Ripley isn’t the only Tippah County team playing at home tonight. Falkner hosts East Union, and Walnut welcomes Myrtle for a local rivalry matchup, both kicking off at 7 p.m., per Tippah Sports. It’s a full slate for the county’s three programs, and anyone who can’t make it to all three fields can follow live updates through Tippah Sports’ coverage. For a look back at how the county’s teams have fared this fall, the latest Tippah County sports roundup has the volleyball standings alongside the football picture.
South Tippah Schools Looking for Cafeteria Substitutes
South Tippah School District’s Child Nutrition department is recruiting substitutes to help keep meal service running smoothly across its six schools, which serve roughly 2,500 students. The posting doesn’t list pay or hours, so interested applicants should contact the Child Nutrition office directly at 662-837-8779 or gravesa@stsd.ms, or reach the district office at 402 Greenlee Street in Ripley, 662-837-7156. The district says the role suits retirees, parents of South Tippah students, or anyone looking for flexible, on-call work, and asks applicants to note which days and schools they’re available for.
Weather: Dry and Warm Through the Weekend
Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high near 84 with light north-northeast wind, according to the National Weather Service in Memphis. Saturday and Sunday stay mostly dry with highs in the mid-80s, and temperatures climb into the upper 80s and near 90 by Monday and Tuesday. Rain chances don’t return until late next week, with a 20 to 40 percent chance of showers building Tuesday through Thursday. Expect patchy fog before sunrise Saturday morning, but no hazardous weather is in the outlook for the period, which means clear conditions for tonight’s three home games.
Looking Ahead: Chili Cook-Off Registration Open
If tonight’s games have you thinking about what’s next on the calendar, sign-ups are open for the Spirit of Ripley Festival and Chili Cook-Off, set for downtown Ripley on Oct. 30, with spots for chili cooks, booth vendors and trunk-or-treat participants. It’s one more sign the county’s fall calendar is filling up fast between football, festivals and Homecoming season.
For more on what’s happening around the county, visit Tippah News’ Tippah County News and Ripley News category pages.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
