Every week we’re spotlighting a program from around Pike County for our Team of the Week, presented by Casey Carter, Farm Bureau Insurance.

Saturdays in the South are usually meant for college football, but in Southwest Mississippi, the best day of the week is also being used to grow the sport of youth football.

The amount of youth football programs in this part of the Magnolia State continues to grow and expand.

One longtime program on the circuit, the Southern Mississippi Titans, are once again fielding multiple teams in multiple age groups and playing other youth football teams from around the state.

The Titans were founded by the husband-and-wife combo of Daniel and Florence McGaffeny.

The program fields four teams at the 6U, 8U, 10U and 12U levels. They compete in the Central Mississippi Youth Association (CMYA) based out of Jackson.

Some of the teams in the league include the South Jackson 49ers, Jackson Dolphins, Mississippi Thundercats, Jackson Rams and Jackson Bears. The organization also has competitions for youth cheer as well.

The CMYA has a strong social media presence and presents a polished product on Saturdays filled with competition in Jackson.

The Titans have been playing since 2017 and members of the CMYA since 2022.

Since 2022, they’ve won six league championships and seven youth bowl championships. Their 2017 12U team was once ranked 12th nationally.

The Titans are currently competing in the CMYA playoffs, with the goal of brining more championships back to Southern Mississippi when the postseason finishes.

(Photos courtesy of Southern Mississippi Titans)