In very short order, everything people thought they knew about Region 4-1A has been turned upside down.

The longtime rulers are struggling, as are their most recent challengers. Those that seemed poised to rise up one week, stumble the next. Four new teams that were thrown into the mix created some uncertainty, and with it, an atmosphere of chaos. Just two weeks into the grueling nine-game region schedule, it truly feels like anyone has a chance to make a run at the playoffs.

“A bunch of teams came in and shook things up. Resurrection has a good ball club, University Christian is good. It’s going to be a wild race,” St. Aloysius coach B.J. Smithhart said.

The biggest surprises in the region have been Dexter and Mount Olive, and hardly in a good way. The teams that met for the Class 1A South State championship a season ago are a combined 0-7 overall so far. That’s hardly a new situation for either team. Dexter lost three of its first four games last season before making a remarkable playoff run. Mount Olive has a 3-7 record in August and September the last two seasons, but somehow rallied to win the Class 1A championship both times.

This time around, Mount Olive is dealing with the loss of more than a dozen seniors from the 2010 squad. Even so, given their track record, Smithhart wasn’t writing off the Pirates yet.

“Anybody is going to have a dropoff, and I think that’s what’s happened to Mount Olive,” Smithhart said. “They’re playing a bunch of young kids. Even South Panola has dropped off, but nobody’s counting them out for December.”

At least for now, however, the struggles of the two preseason favorites in the region have opened the door for everyone else. Most teams have at least poked their head through for a moment.

Salem, which beat Mount Olive on Sept. 2, seemed ready to grab the ring until it was obliterated by St. Al 41-16 last Friday. St. Al was beaten a week earlier by Hinds AHS, which in turn lost to Stringer (2-1, 1-0 in region play).

Stringer plays Cathedral (3-0, 1-0) this Friday, meaning by the end of the night there won’t be more than two teams in the 10-team region without a loss in the league standings. Frontrunner Bogue Chitto (4-0, 2-0) plays Resurrection.

In the middle of the pack, St. Al (1-3, 1-1) and Hinds AHS (2-2, 1-1) are two teams staring opportunity in the face this week. St. Al hosts Dexter and Hinds plays at Mount Olive, giving both Vicksburg-area teams a chance to land a staggering blow to the preseason favorites while they’re down. More importantly, it’s a chance to stay a step ahead of everyone else.

“We have a stretch right now where we’re in a must-win situation. We’re in a situation where we need to go on a run,” said Hinds AHS coach Michael Fields. “They’re (Mount Olive) at home and they’re hungry.”