Jackson Free Press logo

This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

The Bandits are back this weekend at the Big Barn at the Fairgrounds. Sure it seems like they play a lot now, but wait until their 2-month vacation. You will miss ’em when they’re gone …

The Bandits say:

It’s all about God and Country this weekend as the Jackson Bandits make another two-game home stand on Friday and Saturday nights.

On Friday, Nov. 8, the Bandits are hosting “Youth Faith Night” for area churches. Groups of 20 or more receive special pricing discounts. After the game, all youth (and adults, of course!) are invited to stay and hear Bandits Head Coach Derek Clancey give his testimony. This will be a very personal experience for all who attend. Also, live music will be provided after the game by the high school/college Praise & Worship Band from Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, it’s “Made in the USA” as the Bandits players wear special Patriotic Jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game. These jerseys are white with red and blue striping and the logo on the front features the Bandit dressed up as Uncle Sam with a white beard and a tall, red-white-and-blue striped hat. The Bandits have partnered with the Mississippi Veterans of Foreign Wars for this auction, with proceeds going to benefit the VFW. The auction will be held immediately after the game. Minimum bid on all jerseys will be $100.

Mississippi native Donna Ladd and partner Todd Stauffer founded the Jackson Free Press in 2002 in the capital city. The heavily awarded local newspaper did many investigations heralded across the state and nation and served as a paper of record due to its diversity, inclusion, in-depth reporting and deep connection to readers and dedication to narrative change in and about Mississippi. In 2022, the nonprofit Mississippi Free Press, founded by Ladd and JFP Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin in 2020, purchased the journalism assets and archives of the Jackson Free Press. A Google grant through AAN Publishers enabled Newspack's integration of the JFP archives into the Mississippi Free Press website to become part of a more searchable archive of recent Mississippi history and essential journalism.