OLIVE BRANCH | Coming into tonight's game at Lewisburg High School, Olive Branch was off to a hot start to the season, and Lewisburg had just tasted defeat for the first time this season the previous week against Lake Cormorant.

The Conquistadors remained undefeated on Friday night, defeating the Patriots 34-7 in a game that was decided in the first quarter. They will attempt to focus on Grenada next week, before heading to West Point in a battle they have circled on their calendar all season. Coach (Tyler) Turner was glad the team got the win on Friday night, but was not pleased.

"That's the worst game we've played all season," he said. "The good part about that is we still won 34-7."

When I first decided this was the game I was going to attend this week, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Lewisburg is one of the DeSoto County schools that have been growing lately, and are now at 5A. Olive Branch dropped down to 5A this season, and pundits of them this season claim that as a factor for their success. Lewisburg is known for their academics and marching band, and Olive Branch is known for their athletics.

That trend continued on Friday night.

Coming into the game, Lewisburg starting quarterback and future MSU baseball player Bryce Brock had already been ruled out after reggravating a knee injury last week. For a team with the weapons they had at wide receiver, it was very hard for HC Matt Gehrke to establish a balance in the offense. Following the two early interceptions that led to immediate points, the game plan shifted quickly into trying to control time of possession, and to force turnovers on defense.

2019 three-star ATH Hakeem Vance was targeted only three times, and only actually touched the ball twice.

I have been very private with the games I go to since week one, partially in hopes that I will finally attend a game that comes down to the fourth quarter. That has yet to happen, as I have not been to a close game yet. Here's to hoping my out-of-state venture next week results in a close game.

2018 Olive Branch LB/S Jerrick Reed

In a five-minute span on Friday night, Reed scored more points than Lewisburg would the entire game. Reed could see his recruitment take off, and no one would blame a D1 school for offering an athlete like Reed.

He may only be 5-foot-9, but he's proven on several occasions that he can be counted on. Reed's postgame interview can be found below, as are his two touchdowns.

2018 Olive Branch CB Jaylon Reed

Reed, a guest on this week's Soft Verbal Podcast, continues to impress whenever he steps on the field. Reed has been close to becoming a four-star on several occasions, and showed that on Friday night. Reed is currently committed to Mississippi State, and is planning to take as many official visits as his schedule allows him to. Ole Miss is still in the picture here.

2018 Lewisburg DL Darius Shipp

Other than Vance, Shipp is the only potential division one athlete I saw on the field for Lewisburg, at least within the next two classes. Shipp has good size at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds. He also squats close to 700 pounds, and has a 30-inch vertical. Shipp has interest from ULM, Austin Peay, and Southern Miss among others.

2018 Olive Branch RB Demarcus Ware II

Ware has worked tirelessly all season to show that when healthy, he's the most dangerous player in all of DeSoto County. He furthered that claim last night, rushing for nearly 300 yards on 23 carries. Sanford is close to offering him, and he will be in Birmingham today for a visit.

2018 Olive Branch DL Fabien Lovett

Lovett, another player from the Olive Branch defense currently committed to Mississippi State, was impressive all game. Lewisburg would attempt to cut block him, but he was consistently in the backfield. Lovett also holds offers from Ole Miss, Memphis, and Alabama, and could see a shift in his recruitment between now and NSD 2018.