The Skuna River cuts through Calhoun County like it owns the place.
On a map, it looks small. Just a tributary of the Yalobusha River. In real life, it is a lifeline. A piece of history. A symbol of pride. And for two towns, it is the backdrop for something bigger than life. High school football. Every year, the Bruce Trojans meet the Calhoun City Wildcats in a matchup that stops the county. Stops the streets. Stops hearts.
The river runs about 75 miles, starting west of Pontotoc and twisting southwest through Chickasaw and Calhoun counties. Its name comes from the Choctaw language. It means entrails. Guts. You can see why. The Skuna twists, turns, and shifts constantly. Its banks erode. Debris floats along. The river refuses to stay still.
In the 1800s, it was more than a backdrop. Old Town, the first county seat of Calhoun, sat on its banks. Flatboats carried hundreds of bales of cotton. This river tied a small town to the world. When the county seat moved to Pittsboro in 1852, the Skuna lost some of its commercial clout. But it never lost its importance.
Industry came next. Engineers straightened parts of the river, and people started calling it the Skuna River Canal. In 1926, the Mississippi & Schoona Valley Railroad ran along it, hauling hardwood for the E. L. Bruce Company mill. The trains rumbled for decades. Then a bridge failed in 2008, and the line went quiet. Today, it’s a walking trail. You can hike it. Fish it. Imagine the history beneath your feet.
The river today is a mix of beauty and caution. It flows into Grenada Lake. Anglers chase crappie. Boats roar across the water. Hunters and hikers find their peace along its banks. But the Skuna bears scars. Even so, it remains central. A place to fish, explore, and connect.
And then there’s the football.
The Skuna River has shaped life in Calhoun County for centuries. It carried commerce, powered industry, supported recreation, and stoked rivalries. Its twists and turns mirror the history of the towns it touches. And every fall, when the Wildcats and Trojans clash, the river reminds everyone why football in Calhoun County is more than a game.
It is a way of life.
Come back each Wednesday. We’ll dive deeper into this rivalry, break down the history, the players, and the moments that make the Skuna River clash one of Mississippi’s most unforgettable high school football traditions.
GORESPORTS.net 
Leave a comment