2013 High School Football Preview

2013

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All fall sports coaches are reminded to report their game results to The Dispatch.

Coaches, scorekeepers, parents and/or players can call 662-327-1297 or email information to [email protected] or [email protected].

Our deadline is 8:30 a.m. Please give us the final score, where the game was played, the team records, leading performers, the team’s next game and any other notable information.

Since The Dispatch is an afternoon paper, we will try the next morning to track results of all games not called in to the newspaper. We will try to call at a reason-able hour and don’t mean to disrupt any coach, teacher or professional at work, but our goal is to recognize the performances of as many student-athletes as possible.

If you are a coach, scorekeeper or parent who reports information, please give us the best time and the best number to reach you. If the result of a game

isn’t in The Dispatch, please work with us to encourage that coach to contact us so we can provide the best pos-sible coverage to this area. If you have any questions, call 662-327-1297.

Prep Football ResultsHigh school foot-

ball coaches who don’t speak to a reporter from The Dispatch are asked to email information the sports department infor-mation from their games.

The Dispatch will include its prep football coverage in Sunday’s edition, so we will contact coaches Friday night or Saturday to get details from the last game. Coaches, please let us know what is the best time for us to contact you.

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com2 sunday, august 18, 2013 high school football preview

huddle up: Thanks to the players; Good luck for 2013

Located at the corner of Gardner Blvd. & Tuscaloosa Rd.212 Tuscaloosa Road • Columbus, MS

662-328-5105 • Deli Hours: 7 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

A winning lineup for any tailgate party!

UNITED DELI & GROCERY• Sandwiches• Authentic Gyros• Burgers• Salads• Delicious Sides• Baklava

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Special thanks to Stacy Clark and Micah Green for their work on the photo, and to the players and the coaches for making it to Columbus High to be a part of the picture.

FOOTBALL 2013

A publication of

The DispaTchP.O. Box 511

Columbus, MS 39703(662) 328-2424Publisher

Birney Imes

Managing EditorSlim Smith

SportsAdam Minichino

Matt StevensScott Walters

Cover DesignStacy Clark

PhotographersLuisa PorterMicah Green

Graphic ArtistsJackie TaylorErnest Rogers

ProductionTina Perry

Anne Murphy 2013

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22ABOUT THE COVER

WHAT’S INSIDEAberdeen Bulldogs........................22Caledonia Confederates .................5Central Academy Vikings ..............17Columbus Falcons ..........................3East Oktibbeha Titans ..................15Hamilton Lions ..............................23Hebron Christian Eagles ...............21Heritage Academy Patriots .............4Immanuel Rams ..............................8

New Hope Trojans ..........................6Noxubee County Tigers ................18Oak Hill Academy Raiders ............20Starkville Academy Volunteers .....14Starkville Yellow Jackets ..............13Victory Christian Eagles ..................9West Lowndes Panthers ...............10West Oktibbeha Timberwolves .....16West Point Green Wave ...............19

OUR pREp COVERAgE

Miicah Green/Dispatch StaffSome of the area’s top players were asked to participate in The Dispatch’s annual cover shoot. Featured here are Columbus High’s Trace Lee and Corey Brown, Heritage Academy’s Mark Thatcher, New Hope’s Javontay Lewis (14) and Matt Barnes (60), West Point’s Aeris Williams (22) and Dvanta Randle (4), Noxubee County’s Eric Hunt (5) and Jessie Bryant (11), Starkville High’s Darius Grayer (25), and Starkville Academy’s Tripp Janssen (54).

coaches have prepared us, and we know what the task is. It is our job to make it happen.”

Last season, in his second season as quar-terback, Lee played an integral role in leading Columbus (7-5) back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. In 2011, he split time at quarter-back with Cedrick Jack-son, finding his way in an offense centered around running back Damian Baker. There was no ques-tion Lee had the arm to fuel a passing game, but he needed time to grow comfortable in the system and to act and to speak like the leader a quarter-back has to be.

This year, Lee has found that voice. He has learned he isn’t going to throw the ball every down. He is OK with that because he understand he sets the tempo regard-less whether he is chuck-ing the ball down field or turning around and hand-ing the ball off Kendrick

QUARTERBACKTrace Lee (Sr.),

Kiren Sharp (Soph.)n Lee returns for his

second year as the starter and third year at the position. He understands the offense and Columbus coach Tony Stanford’s pen-chant for using a running game to control the game.

“We’re trying to work some of our secondary peo-ple into the throwing game because they’re a little bet-ter of an athlete than some of the ones we have, which is why you see Walker and Lipscomb and some of the defensive players when we get into the passing game,” Columbus coach Tony Stan-ford said.

RUNNING BACKKevin Jackson (Sr.),

Kendrick Conner (Sr.)n Jackson was injured

early in the season, which paved the way for Conner to emerge.

“In practice, we have looked good,” Stanford said. “I’d like to say we have two running backs back, but we really have one — Conner — back. Kevin Jackson would have been the starter last year, but he broke his ankle after the first game. It is like having two of them back, which is why we’re going to put both of them in the backfield sometimes because we think we can run the football.”

RECEIVERS Meunta Verner (Sr.), Donsha Walker (Jr.),

Alex Lipscomb (Jr.), Da-monta Kidd (Soph.),

Keshawn Adams (Sr.),

Corey Brown (Sr.), Jalen Stewart (Sr.),

Chris Deloach (Soph.), Kris Reliford (Sr.)

n Stanford said Lee has a good an arm as any quar-terback he has coached in nearly 40 years. He said he would throw the ball 40 times a game if he was blessed to have four receiv-ers like Jimmy Cockrell, who

was a senior last season. Brown, Stewart, and Reli-ford will see time blocking and in the passing game.

“Our plan when we’re in our tight game is to play the front people,” Stanford said. “When they need rest, we will put the secondary people in the game so they can get the rest on offense.”

OFFENSIVE LINELaQuintis Brooks (Soph.),

Jermiah Caine (Jr.), Tremarcus Monroe (Sr.),

Kenneth Miller (Sr.), Darius Poindexter (Sr.)n The Falcons return

four starters in a group Stanford feels is one of the team’s strongest.

“We hated to lose Jake Thomas to Mississippi

State, but we hope he is going to represent us well there,” Stanford said. “They have a year behind them and they had to struggle for a solid year, but they got better each week. They have looked real good at practice.”

DEFENSIVE LINEKris Reliford (Sr.), Corey Brown (Sr.), Jalen Stewart (Sr.),

Ryan Ezell (Jr.)n The Falcons return

three starters on the oppo-site side of the ball, which should give the team a chance to control the point of attack.

“We think both fronts ought to be pretty good,” Stanford said.

LINEBACKERJohn Neal Stanback (Jr.), Jarcquarius Clark (Sr.), Quavis Sherrod (Sr.), Damian Moore (Sr.)

SECONDARYAlex Lipscomb (Jr.), Donsha Walker (Jr.), Kiren Sharp (Soph.)

n Stanford is concerned how much the members of the secondary will be able to go both ways early in the season, but he feels they will be ready to play bigger roles once district play comes.

“We have to pace our people, and some of our other people, they’re not bad athletes. They will have to do a better job than what we expect,” Stanford said. “We will play a lot of people early because of that.”

SPECIALISTSMichael Sturdivant (Sr.),

Anthony Maleta (Fr.)n Sturdivant will handle

kickoff and punts, while Maleta will handle extra points and field goals.

— Adam Minichino

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com Sunday, auguSt 18, 2013 3high School football preview

Columbus FalConsMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 6A, Region 2; 2012 Record 7-5 (4-3)

2013 ScheduleAug. 23 Open DateAug. 30 At Noxubee Co.Sept. 6 NEW HOPESept. 13 At West PointSept. 20 At LouisvilleSept. 27 STARKVILLEOct. 4 CLINTONOct. 11 At Northwest

RankinOct. 18 GREENVILLE-

WESTONOct. 25 At Madison

CentralNov. 1 At MurrahNov. 8 WARREN

CENTRALHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 21-0 ABERDEENAug. 24 Open DateAug. 31 L, 19-26 WEST POINTSept. 7 W, 9-6 At New HopeSept. 14 W, 21-13 LOUISVILLESept. 21 W, 14-0 At TupeloSept. 28 L, 7-17 SOUTHAVENOct. 5 L, 14-21 At South PanolaOct. 12 W, 14-0 DESOTO CENTRALOct. 19 W, 14-0 At Horn LakeOct. 26 L, 7-16 OLIVE BRANCHNov. 2 W, 41-21 At GrenadaNov. 9 L, 7-41 At Madison

CentralHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 6ARegion 2Columbus

Madison CentralNW RankinStarkvilleClinton

GreenvilleMurrah

Warren Central

NOTE: Top four qualify for playoffs

CoaChing staFFHead coach

Tony Stanford

n Jim Hamiltonn Chris Childressn Brandon Haynes n Joshua Pulphusn Zach Leechn James Richardson n Lawrence Hilln Cody Radern Lee Davis

a Closer look

Micah Green/Dispatch Staff Columbus High School seniors Trace Lee, left, and Corey Brown will part of a group of leaders that hopes to help the program build on a trip to the Class 6A playoffs last season.

“A true leader does not fall to the standards of others but yet sets a standard and brings people up to it.” —Unknown

By AdAm [email protected]

Listen.Trace Lee has some-

thing to say.Early on in his Colum-

bus High School athletic career, Lee was content being a supportive, hus-tling teammate. Wheth-er it was on the football field, the soccer field, or the baseball diamond, Lee could be counted on to be a team player and do what-ever he could to help the Falcons win.

Typically, you didn’t have to listen, you only had to watch because Lee would let his actions do the talking.

But Lee has gotten stronger each year in high school. He has been on teams with vocal leaders and quiet leaders. He has persevered with his team-mates through the ups and

Dispatch File PhotosTOP: Columbus High School quarterback Trace Lee surveys the field before the ball is snapped in the team’s game against Aberdeen last season. BELOW: Lee stands in the center of a team circle to lead the team in a moment of prayer.

LEE GIVES VOICE TO LEADING FALCONS AS SENIOR

downs of wins and losses, all while growing stron-ger in his faith and more confident in his ability to be a leader.


thing to say. As he enters his senior

year, primed to begin a journey that will help de-

termine the next phase of his life, Lee realizes this is the time to speak up. He doesn’t want to steal the spotlight or to take control of the Colum-bus High School football team. Instead, he wants to be a galvanizing voice that brings the Falcons’ seniors together so the

program can have a sea-son to remember.

“It is time for me to be a leader with these other se-nior guys,” Lee said. “It’s our last go-around, and we have a lot of potential. At the same time, it has to come to fruition, so we have to be leaders and do what we have to do. The See columbus, 11


Reminders of 2012 are every-where in Barrett Donahoe’s of-fice, and rightfully so.

With the season on its last breath at 2-5, the Heritage Acad-emy football team came together in a magical way to win its last five games and capture the Missis-sippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, Division 2 state title at Mississippi College’s Robinson-Hale Stadium.

The trophy greets you as you walk into the lobby of the school and enter the main office area. Festooned with a “State Champi-ons” framed sign with the names of the players and a champion-ship plaque commemorating the 10-3 victory against Magnolia Heights, Donahoe feels right at home with all of University of Mississippi paraphernalia add-

ing coziness.But don’t get

too comfortable because Donahoe won’t let you settle in.

“That’s old news,” the sec-ond-year football coach says when asked how he has treated the aftermath of the program’s first state championship since 1986, when Ray Wooten’s team beat Wilkinson Christian Academy 17-10 to cap the program’s first undefeated regular season since 1972.

Donahoe can afford to jostle you out of your stroll down mem-ory lane because many of the key performers — Cade Lott, Parker Dunaway, Miller Puckett — from the 2012 state title team have their names on the sign behind

Donahoe’s desk. While they will forever be linked with that accom-plishment, the vic-tory ended their senior years on the best note possi-ble. It also opened the door for a new

group of Patriots to follow in their footsteps.

Mixing a core group of return-ing players with a promising ar-ray of newcomers is Donahoe’s task as his team prepares to open its 2013 season with games against Lowndes County foes Caledonia and West Lowndes, of the Mississippi High School Ath-letic Association.

“Regardless of how many new faces we have on this team this year, Heritage Academy football is the defending state champions

for Division 2, AAA,” Donahoe said. “Because of that, we talk to our guys that there is a lot of responsibility that comes with that.”

Last season, it took the Pa-triots several weeks to adjust to Donahoe’s offense and to find the right pieces to the puzzle. Losses at Jackson Academy and at Magnolia Heights signaled heritage Academy was close. They also pushed the Patriots to the brink of elimination, but the team responded by cranking up the defense and allowing only 39 points in its final five games. In the title game, Dunaway, Hunter Anderson, Matthew Morrison, Taylor Fields, and Puckett were part of a group that bent but held strong to force a fourth-and-goal from the Heritage Academy 12-yard line. True to its swarming


heritage academy patriotsMississippi Association of Independent Schools: Class 3A, District 1AAA, Division II; 2012 Record: 7-5 (3-3)

CHAMPIONS OF CHIROPRACTIC

Each year, cheerleaders, professional athletes, and other sports enthusiasts experience repetitive movements that cause disabling injuries. Hamstring injuries — typically the result of a pull, strain or tear to the muscle — are amongst the most common injuries affecting cheerleaders.

But there’s good news: New research published in the authoritative Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (March 2011), found that specific hamstring exercise intervention provided by a Doctor of Chiropractic may result in significant relief of hamstring injury-related pain. The season-long research involved 43 professional football cheerleaders who all received exercise intervention.

“After the season closed, we found that those who had reported hamstring injury-related pain between June and September showed a significant decrease in pain after receiving treatment,” says Dr. Jay Greenstein, the lead author in the study. “Doctors of Chiropractic have extensive training in treating a variety of sports injuries through spinal adjustments, soft tissue techniques and rehabilitation — without the use of drugs or surgery.” So whether you’re a professional athlete, a weekend warrior, or anything in between, you too can experience the benefits of Chiropractic.

““

As a professional athlete, I am highly competitive —only accept the best. When it comes to healthcare, chiropractic is an essential service. It keeps my on-field performance at its highest level and contributes to the success of the entire team. REGGIE BUSH Running Back, Miami Dolphins

www.saumchiropractic.com

111 Alabama StreetColumbus, MS662-327-6586

Drs. Saum, Sullivan & Pokorney

2013 ScheduleAug. 22 CALEDONIAAug. 30 At West LowndesSept. 6 At Winston Aca.Sept. 13 JACKSON ACA.Sept. 20 At Hillcrest

ChristianSept. 27 OAK HILL ACA.Oct. 3 WASHINGTON

SCHOOLOct. 11 At Pillow Aca.Oct. 18 At Leake Aca.Oct. 25 STARKVILLE ACA.Nov. 1 MAGNOLIA

HEIGHTSNov. 8 At Madison-

RidgelandHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 L, 23-36 LAMARAug. 24 W, 19-6 At StarkvilleAug. 30 L, 7-20 At CaledoniaSept. 7 L, 10-37 MADISON-

RIDGELANDSept. 14 W, 35-14 LEESept. 21 L, 35-42 At Jackson Aca.Sept. 28 L, 13-14 At Mag. HeightsOct. 5 W, 42-0 OAK HILLOct. 12 Open DateOct. 19 W, 28-12 WASHINGTONOct. 26 W, 35-7 At PillowNov. 2 W, 21-17 At East RankinNov. 9 W, 10-3 At Mag. HeightsHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 3ADistrict 1AAA,

Division IIJackson Academy

MRAWashington SchoolHeritage AcademyHillcrest Christian

Magnolia Heights SchoolPillow Academy

Starkville Academy


Micah Green/Dispatch StaffHeritage Academy defensive coordinator Tate Marsh returns to the coaching staff this season hoping to find a way to help his defense duplicate the dominating efforts it delivered in the team’s five-game winning streak to end the season.

coaching staffHead coach

Barrett Donahoe

n Ryan Deern Mickey Allenn Tate Marshn Bruce Branch

Micah Green/Dispatch StaffHeritage Academy football coach Barrett Donahoe hopes a mixture of old — returning players — and new — players joining the program after the 2012 state championship — can help the Patriots find a new title formula.

DonAhoe hopeS to ConCoCt tItle mIx out of olD, new

Kilarski Thatcher

See patriots, 5

QUARTERBACKAustin Fitch (Sr.), Dillon Barker

(Soph.) n Fitch, a transfer from New

Hope, is back on the football field for the first time since ninth grade. He also plays golf at the school.

“Austin hasn’t played in a couple of years, but he has good speed and I am really pleased with his development,” Dona-hoe said. “He knows that we’re hanging our hat on what he can do for us.”

RUNNING BACKParker Short (Sr.),

Hunter Anderson (Sr.), Blake Ballard (Sr.)

n Short saw action at running back last season in place of the injured Miller Puckett. Donahoe

said Anderson also could see time as tailback as the season progresses. He said Ballard has been the biggest surprise of train-ing camp.

RECEIVERSLogan Bell (Sr.),

Mark Thatcher (Sr.), Cody Mordecai (Sr.), Walker Brown (Jr.), Cayden Upton (Jr.)

n Bell will be a possession re-ceiver. Thatcher is a slot receiver who Donahoe said probably is the most athletic player on the team.

“(Thatcher) has the ability to stretch the field,” Donahoe said. “Mordecai also will get a lot of touches. Brown probably has the best hands on the team.”

OFFENSIVE LINELuke Ellison (Sr.),

Douglas Kilarski (Sr.), Thomas Glenn (Sr.),

Brady Clark (Jr.), Hunter Ferguson (Sr.)

n Donahoe is pleased with the way Ellison has come on. Kilarski started four or five games last season, Glenn is a first-time starter, and Clark and Ferguson, who played on the right side last year have good chemistry, as do Ellison and Kilarski.

“We have put it together and we’re going to need to stay healthy,” Donahoe said. “This is the biggest depth problem.”

DEFENSIVE LINEHunter Ferguson (Sr.),

Brady Clark (Jr.), Josh Foxworthy (Sr.),

Cayden Upton (Jr.)n Ferguson has played defen-

sive end, and Clark has played inside. Donahoe said Clark has a lot of potential.

“(Clark) has the ability to be a great defensive lineman,” Donahoe said. “When he puts his effort into it he is very good.”

LINEBACKERHunter Anderson (Sr.),

Jace Caldwell (Sr.), Logan Bell (Sr.)

n Anderson will play the SAM spot, while Caldwell, a transfer from New Hope, will play the MIKE spot. Bell will move from corner-back to linebacker.

SECONDARYMark Thatcher (Sr.), Parker Short (Sr.),

Cody Mordecai (Sr.),

William Hardy (Jr.), Walker Brown (Jr.),

Mattox Heredia (Jr.), Michael Ledbetter (Soph.)Donahoe said the Patriots

will rotate a bunch of players at this position. Thatcher will play free safety, while Short, Hardy, Mordecai, and Brown compete for playing time at cornerback.

SPECIALISTSGraham McCain (Sr.)

McCain will handle the kicking and punting duties. He showed he could make a pressure kick last year in the state title game.

“We’re looking forward to having some experience there,” Donahoe said. “We’re working on getting that part of our team (spe-cial teams) in better shape.”

— Adam Minichino

a closer look

By DAVID MILLERSpecial to The Dispatch

CALEDONIA — Coaches de-mand intensity and physicality from their players.

It starts from the inside out. First-year Caledonia High

School football coach Andy Crotwell inherits a program that doesn’t have the depth of dis-trict heavyweights like Noxubee County. To compensate, he wants his players to win the battle of will.

It starts with his offensive and defensive fronts, where Danial Cunningham and Cody Cliett enter their junior seasons as two-way players.

“Cliett and Cunningham are big kids that get off the ball quick,” Crotwell said. “They have the right mind-set. I don’t know if we’ll be able to spread it out and sling it around, but if we all adopt that same mind-set we’ll be suc-cessful.”

Crotwell arrived in the spring after 11 years as an assistant coach at Tupelo High. His play-ers are excited about the tutelage and experience he’ll provide from coaching at the Class 6A level, and they’ve been impressed with how much progress the team has made since spring ball.

The progress has been key for the Confederates, which had four wins in 2012 and 2011, to switch gears to an up-tempo offense. It can’t happen if the offensive line isn’t the most intense group on

the field, Cliett said.“It’s something we’ve never

done,” he said. “But when you can go all summer knowing what to prepare for, it makes it easier to condition your body. It’s been a rough road, but we’re all working

hard.”Cliett will anchor the interior

of both fronts; he’ll start at cen-ter and will rotate at defensive tackle with Cunningham, who is penciled to start at left tackle on offense.

Cunningham said he feels stronger and quicker than he did last season due to Crotwell’s con-ditioning plan and coaching.

Like many of his teammates, though, there are plenty of points


caledonia confederatesMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 4A, Region 4; 2012 Record: 4-7 (0-5)

2013 ScheduleAug. 22 At Heritage Aca.Aug. 30 HAMILTONSept. 6 SMITHVILLESept. 13 At New HopeSept. 20 EAST WEBSTERSept. 27 At Choctaw Co.Oct. 4 At HoustonOct. 11 WEST

LAUDERDALEOct. 18 KOSCIUSKOOct. 25 At Noxubee Co.Nov. 1 LEAKE CENTRAL HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 50-7 At NettletonAug. 24 W, 66-12 At West LowndesAug. 30 W, 20-7 HERITAGESept. 7 W, 27-10 At East WebsterSept. 14 L, 0-35 NEW HOPESept. 21 L, 24-44 At AckermanSept. 28 L, 27-28 CARTHAGEOct. 5 L, 21-55 At HoustonOct. 12 L, 13-33 LOUISVILLEOct. 19 L, 18-42 At KosciuskoOct. 26 L, 7-34 NOXUBEE CO.HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 4ARegion 4CaledoniaHouston

KosciuskoLeake Central

West LauderdaleNoxubee County


Patriotscontinued from Page 4

the defense converged on running back Fernando Van Hook, who took a di-rect snap out of the Wild-cat, met him at the left corner, and stopped him 1 yard short to preserve the 10-3 lead.

Van Hook rushed for 153 yards on 32 carries, but he had only five runs for 10 or more yards, and only one potentially game-changing play — a 38-yard run in the fourth quarter when the game was still on the line.

While the defense emerged late in the sea-son, the offense did just enough. Hudson Bean’s 3-yard touchdown and Graham McCain’s 30-yard field goal was all Heritage Academy needed on a day it overcame its mistakes and rivaled in its gritty, blue-collar nature.

Donahoe hopes the players who were part of the championship run can show newcomers like Aus-tin Fitch, Walker Brown, Cody Mordecai, Josh Fox-worthy, Jace Caldwell, and Mattox Heredia the con-sistency the Patriots need to maintain their success. It took only a few days of training camp for Dona-hoe to recognize his team was significantly ahead of where it started a year earlier. He attributes the team’s fast start this sea-son to consistency.

“There is a lot of con-fidence in our program right now,” Donahoe said. “They see we can do things in a positive way and we can have success and win games. As easi-

ly as that confidence was built up, it can be taken down if you don’t have suc-cess early. That consisten-cy comes from every-day actions that we try as a staff to put in line for our kids to respond to.”

That consistency also comes from returning players like Mark Thatch-er, Douglas Kilarski, Hunter Anderson, and Parker Short. Donahoe said that group has been “phenomenal” because

they are doing all off the little things right. Even though Donahoe said the team doesn’t have a lot of vocal leaders, he feels the Patriots have a nice blend of old — returners — and new —newcomers — to mix together to find a ti-tle formula. He feels the 2013 will be similar to the 2012 squad in that it should have a number of players capable of scoring and contributing. Ideally, he said he would like to

find individuals who will emerge as go-to players to provide scoring in tough situations.

Fitch, who will play quarterback, is a stand-out on the school’s golf team. He hasn’t played football since he was a ninth-grader. He stopped playing football to con-centrate on his golf game. Fitch attended some of the football team’s games last season and saw how the squad persevered and

came on late. This season, he acknowledges outsid-ers will doubt the team given its graduation loss-es. But Kilarski believes the new players can offset the missing players.

“I think everybody is going to have to step up their game and make plays that they have nev-er made before,” Kilarski said. “They have to be dedicated in practice, try hard, and believe they can do it.”

Brown, a junior wide receiver/defensive back, knows it will take time for the newcomers and meld with the returning group to develop as strong a chemistry as the 2012 team. He enjoyed the en-ergy he saw from the team and felt excited about re-turning to play football.

“They just stuck togeth-er and realized what they had to do and that they had to meet the expecta-tions,” Brown said. “They just kept truckin’ along and winning when they had to. They never kept their heads down and kept fighting back and played really good defense.”

Thatcher hopes those are lessons the team can embrace and relive this season, as opposed to rev-eling in the tangible pieces that remain from the run to the title. With one sea-son under Donahoe and defensive coordinator Tate Marsh, Thatcher feels the team is “10 times” ahead of where it was at the start of the 2012 season. By the end of that year, though, the Patriots blossomed, as had their crowds. Now it’s up to the 2013 team to mix the old and new to relive those memories in a dif-ferent way.

“We have put a lot of urgency in (winning the title) becoming a sense of pride for them,” Donahoe said. “The division we play in has a lot of good teams, and we are very fortunate to have had success last year. We are just working very hard to continue the success this year.”


Andy Crotwell

n Brian White — Defensive Coordinatorn Jason Forrester — Offensive, Defensive Linen Curtis Cook — Defensive Backs, Running Backsn Murray Woody — Running Backs, Wide Receivers

Micah Green/Dispatch Staff Senior quarterback Austin Fitch takes a snap at a recent Heritage Academy football team practice in Columbus. Fitch, a member of the school’s golf team, is back playing football for the first time since his ninth-grade year. He takes over for Cade Lott, who graduated after leading the Patriots to a state title.

David Miller/Special to The DispatchCaledonia High School offensive linemen Danial Cunningham, left, and Cody Cliett will spearhead the Confederates’ up-tempo attack under new coach Andy Crotwell.

SuCCeSS in CRotwell’S SCheme StARtS up fRontQUARTERBACK

Ben Marchbanks (Sr.), Garrett Taylor

n Marchbanks threw for 548 yards and rushed for 536 last season.

“Ben and Garrett had good springs and have improved dra-matically,” Caledonia coach Andy Crotwell said.

RUNNING BACKBuck Henry (Jr.),

Onterrio Lowery (Sr.), Sage Kangas (Jr.), Quavis Betts (Sr.)

n Lowery ran for a 361 yards last season.

“We’re still trying to lock down a starter, but each guy will fill a dif-ferent role for us in the run game,” Crotwell said.

RECEIVERSJoshua Betts (Sr.), Jonathan Comer,

James Longmire (Jr.)n Perimeter running backs like

Lowery also will be featured at wideout, but Betts and Longmire have the lead.

“A lot of guys are vying for reps,” Crotwell said. “Jordan Ander-son and Comer are in mix, too.”

OFFENSIVE LINECody Cliett (Jr.),

Danial Cunningham (Jr.), Tristan Nessell (Jr.), Bobby Rushing (Jr.)

n The starting spots aren’t settled, but Cliett and Cunningham are favorites to start at center and left tackle, respectively. “Cliett gets off the ball well and is big and aggressive,” Crotwell said.

DEFENSIVE LINEDanial Cunningham (Jr.),

Cody Cliett (Jr.), Stone Bufton (Soph.),

Jeremy Reedwood (Sr.), Jeffery Gore (Soph.), Ian Hartmaan (Jr.)

n Cliett will be the anchor at nose tackle. “We’ll have Cliett and Cunningham split reps at nose,” Crotwell said. “We expect them to create a lot of push.”

LINEBACKERBen Marchbanks (Sr.),

Buck Henry (Jr.), Bubba Brauer (Sr.), Josh Livingston (Sr.)

n Henry and Brauer have start-ing experience and are the most versatile players at this position.

“We want those two to be athlet-ic and play in space, but also fit in a hurry against the run,” Crotwell said.

SECONDARYSage Kangas (Jr.),

Jordan Anderson (Sr.), Austin McNeally (Sr.), Onterrio Lowery (Sr.),

Quavis Betts (Jr.), James Longmire (Jr.)

n Betts and Longmire are pen-ciled in as starters at cornerback.

“Sage can get downhill in a hurry,” Crotwell said. “He’s very physical player that likes contact.”

SPECIALISTSJeremy Reedwood (Sr.),

Cole Gillet, James Longmire (Jr.)Reedwood and Gillet are battling

to handle punts, while Longmire and Gillet are vying to take kickoffs and to attempt field goals and extra points.

“It’s a good competition so far,” Crotwell said.

BY THE NUMBERS0

n Number of region wins last season.

14n Number of team-leading

touchdowns scored by Ben Marchbanks in 2012.

14n Years of experience of new

coach Andy Crotwell.— David Miller

a closer look

See CALEDONIA, 8

BY ADAM [email protected]

Shawn Gregory’s hands move with a fl ash in front of his body. As quickly as Gregory start-ed, he stops and stands poised, ready to watch his offense stir.

Brady Davis reads the movement and process-es his instructions. As intently as he stared at Gregory, he resolutely

turns and deciphers the wishes of his coach.

In seconds, the ball is snapped. Davis surveys the scene, reads his op-tions, and makes a throw to the left side.

It might have taken the New Hope High School football team 10 seconds to complete that process. As fast as it happened, Gregory’s plan is to have it happen even faster so his offense can dictate the

tempo and, he hopes, light up the scoreboard with a balanced attack that leaves opponents wishing for a break in the pace.

“We are going at a high

rate of speed,” Gregory said. “We try to get a lot of tempo practice in, a lot of reps, because we want to be able to change it up and then we want to be able to slow it down. What it does is help our guys think a little faster and not have to think about it as much and still be able to execute that play. We’re trying to get them to learn fast.”

Gregory, who is from Columbus and who gradu-ated from New Hope High in 1986, has simplifi ed the offense the Trojans used last season under coach Michael Bradley in an attempt to give his play-ers less to think about in the heat of the mo-ment. The plan has been in place since March, when Gregory was

THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com6 SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

NEW HOPE TROJANSMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 5A, Region 1; 2012 Record 3-8 (1-6)

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2013 ScheduleAug. 23 Open DateAug. 30 ABERDEENSept. 6 At ColumbusSept. 13 CALEDONIASept. 20 At AmorySept. 27 At ClarksdaleOct. 4 CENTER HILLOct. 11 At Lake

CormorantOct. 18 OXFORDOct. 25 At LewisburgNov. 1 WEST POINTNov. 8 At SaltilloHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 43-26 LOUISVILLEAug. 24 Open DateAug. 31 L, 14-60 At Noxubee

CountySept. 7 L, 6-9 COLUMBUSSept. 14 W, 35-0 At CaledoniaSept. 21 L, 22-42 SALTILLOSept. 28 L, 17-29 At OxfordOct. 5 L, 0-19 HERNANDOOct. 12 W, 8-7 At Lake

CormorantOct. 19 L, 22-29 CLARKSDALEOct. 26 L, 0-41 At Center HillNov. 2 L, 7-38 WEST POINTHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 5ARegion 1Center HillClarksdale

Lake CormorantLewisburgNew Hope

OxfordSaltillo

West Point


Adam Minichino/Dispatch Staff New Hope High School fi rst-year head football coach Shawn Gregory talks to his players following practice Tuesday afternoon in Columbus.

GREGORY WANTS TROJANS TO PUSH TEMPO

See NEW HOPE, 10

Davis Hamilton

Former New Hope High quarterback believes faster pace will help players think faster, build stamina for late in games


places to be

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLteams to see

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Aberdeen HigH ScHool100 Bulldog Blvd., Aberdeen662-369-8933

Aliceville HigH ScHool417 3rd St. SE, Aliceville205-373-6378

Amory HigH ScHool1006 Sam Haskell Circle, Amory662-256-5753

cAledoniA HigH ScHool111 Confederate Drive, Caledonia662-356-2001

centrAl AcAdemy300 Hale Street, Macon662-726-5846

columbuS HigH ScHool215 Hemlock Street, Columbus662-241-7200

eASt oktibbeHA county HigH ScHool178 Moor High Road, Crawford662-272-5603

eASt WebSter county HigH ScHool195 Old Cumberland Road, Maben662-263-5321

HAmilton HigH ScHool40201 Hamilton Road, Hamilton662-343-8307

Hebron cHriStiAn ScHool6230 Henryville Road, Pheba662-494-7513

HeritAge AcAdemy625 Magnolia Lane, Columbus662-327-5272

immAnuel center for cHriStiAn educAtion6405 Military Road, Steens662-328-7888

lAmAr county HigH ScHool43880 Hwy. 17 S, Vernon205-695-7129

louiSville HigH ScHool200 Ivy Avenue, Louisville662-773-3431

neW Hope HigH ScHool3419 New Hope Road, Columbus662-244-4701

noxubee county HigH ScHool16478 Hwy. 45, Macon662-76-4428

oAk Hill AcAdemy800 N. Eshman, West Point662-494-0301

pickenS AcAdemy225 Ray Bass Road, Carrollton205-367-8144

pickenS county HigH ScHool205 4th Ave. SE, Reform256-375-2344

SoutH lAmAr ScHool300 Sls Road, Millport205-662-4411

StArkville AcAdemy505 Academy Drive, Starkville662-323-7814StArkville HigH ScHool603 Yellowjacket Drive, Starville662-324-4130

Sulligent HigH ScHool661 Elm Street, Sulligent205-698-9254

victory cHriStiAn AcAdemy374 Mill Road, Columbus662-327-7744

WeSt loWndeS HigH ScHool644 South Frontage Road, Columbus662-244-5070

WeSt oktibbeHA county HigH ScHool2459 Holland Street, Maben662-263-8106

WeSt point HigH ScHool950 S. Eshman Avenue, West Point662-494-5083

WinSton AcAdemy111 Richardson Road, Louisville662-773-3569

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STEENS — KC Cun-ningham’s smile could mean big things for the Im-manuel Christian School football team in 2013.

A year ago, Cunning-ham split time at quarter-back with eighth-grader Steven Good. The Eagles used two quarterbacks in an effort to mix their looks and to balance the offense.

For Cunningham, the duty was challenging be-cause he is a natural runner who has played running back most of his football career.

The transfer of JJ Swan-agin from Columbus High School paved the way for Cunningham to return to the kind of work he loves. It’s the kind of work that involves a lot of carries and shifting through defenses to find a route to pay dirt.

Cunningham figures to get plenty of those oppor-tunities — and just as many chances to smile — this season with the 6-foot-3 Swanagin taking over at quarterback. Swanagin’s arrival and Good’s and move out of the area means Cunningham will be the Rams’ primary ground threat this season.

“I was pretty happy af-ter (football coach Greg Watkins) told me,” Cun-ningham said. “I am not going to lie. I really didn’t like quarterback. It is re-ally hard and it was a big change for me. I am glad Swanagin came over. It is really going to help us this year.”

The Rams, who finished 3-8 and went winless in Class 2A, District 2, also should benefit from a re-turn to health by senior wide receiver/defensive back Jaelin Bankhead, who broke his ankle in the second game of the season against Leake Academy.

In addition to the play-er movement, Immanuel Christian did some mov-ing of its own, dropping to Class 1A, District 2 in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools’ latest round of reclassification. Instead of playing perenni-al powerhouses like Leake Academy and Winston Academy, Immanuel Chris-tian will be paired with Car-roll Academy, Deer Creek School, and Greenville

Christian School.Watkins welcomes all

of the news, especially the player changes because they likely will add a differ-ent dimension to the team’s offense, in part because Cunningham is an ideal fit at running back.

“KC is a hard runner,” Watkins said. “He can run the option and make a whole lot of things happen. Out of the quarterback po-sition last year, he was limit-ed, unless we were running the option, so we will get to utilize KC a whole lot more out of the backfield and at slot receiver. I think KC is happy with that. He is a real good team player and has worked hard all summer. He is really excited about the start of the season.”

Watkins imagines the possibility with Swanagin at quarterback, Cunningham in the backfield, and the 5-8, 155-pound Bankhead at wide receiver. He said Swanagin and Cunningham could be paired in the back-field out of the shotgun. He said they also could rotate at quarterback if the Rams spot a size mismatch that they want to try to capitalize on with Swanagin.

As much as he doesn’t like to play quarterback, Cunningham likely won’t mind if he goes back to his old position a few times if it will help the team score. Under the current spots in the lineup, Cunningham is looking forward to his chance to do the scoring.

“It boosts your spirits

and gives you confidence in the season because you know what you’re going to do because you know how to do it,” Cunningham said.

Like Cunningham, Bankhead is motivated to have a bounce back season. He said he notices a differ-ence in the team’s strength and confidence after work-ing out in the CrossFit program. Initially, Watkins said the team didn’t use many, if any, weights to do the exercises. The work-outs were so tough, Wat-kins said that the players wanted to go back into the weight room. The diligence of the players in the work-outs has carried over to training camp.

“Last year, we had two or three guys in the weight room at the beginning who were in here and were work-ing hard and you could feed off,” Watkins said. “That is one good thing about this year. We have come in and everybody has had that hard-work attitude.”

Watkins said Cunning-ham and Bankhead epito-mize that approach. While Cunningham is giddy to be at what he feels is his true position, Watkins feels Bankhead has surpassed where he was last year be-fore h got hurt, which is a promising sign for this sea-son.

“Today we do what others can’t so tomorrow we do what others won’t,” Bankhead said. “We say it every day. I have noticed a difference. We have come a long way since last year. We are faster and stronger and everything.”


immanuel CHRiSTian SCHOOl RamSMississippi Association of Independent Schools: Class 1A, District 2A; 2012 Record: 3-8 (0-5)

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That’s what we do.

We hope all our area teams (and their fans) enjoy a great season!

2013 ScheduleAug. 23 DELTA ACA.Aug. 30 At Winona

ChristianSept. 6 CARROLL ACA.Sept. 13 At New SiteSept. 20 At Heidelberg Aca.Sept. 27 At Greenville

ChristianOct. 4 PARK PLACE

CHRISTIANOct. 11 At West Memphis

ChristianOct. 18 NEWTON CO. ACA.Oct. 25 DEER CREEK ACA.HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 L, 0-37 At WinonaAug. 24 L, 12-50 LEAKEAug. 31 L, 0-48 At MarshallSept. 7 W, 82-80 7OT NEW SITESept. 14 L, 26-62 At CantonSept. 21 W, 42-0 At Park PlaceSept. 28 W, 22-12 CARROLLOct. 5 L, 14-58 At Potts CampOct. 12 L, 12-41 MANCHESTEROct. 19 L, 28-64 At WinstonOct. 26 L, 19-20 OAK HILLHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 1ADistrict 2A

Carroll AcademyDeer Creek SchoolGreenville ChristianImmanuel Christian


CaledoniaContinued from Page 5

to address with his game when they hit the film room.

“Coach told me we’re strong physically, but we have a lot mentally to work on,” Cunningham said. “(It’s) mainly help-ing guys out while we’re playing, tell them when they’re wrong and make sure they get it. I’m in that role now, and to get guys up to speed quicker.”

Cliett said senior quar-terback Ben Marchbanks, who led the team in touch-downs (14) and passing

and rushing yards last season, has embraced the same role bestowed upon he and Cunningham.

“He’s ready to have a break-year,” Cliett said of Marchbanks.

Improving the team’s offense is paramount. The Confederates averaged just 17 points per district game last season.

The team should get a boost from the return of running back Onter-rio Lowrey, who had 361 rushing yards last season.

With Louisville drop-

ping to Class 3A, Noxubee County is the favorite to repeat as district champi-ons. But teams like Hous-ton and Kosciusko aren’t “weak sisters” of the divi-sion, Crotwell said.

His team has a little more than 30 players on the roster and can ill-af-ford injuries.

“That’s why the work this summer and right now is so crucial,” Crot-well said. “We must be prepared for a long, physi-cal season. That’s the big-gest thing for us.”

COaCHing STaffHead coach

Greg Watkins

n Rob Barronn Antwann Richardsonn Dickie Peralto

n A move from Class 2A, District 2 likely will be a wel-come change for Immanuel Christian School. The Rams were 1-9 against district opponents the past two sea-sons. They lost those games by an average of more than 25 points a game.

a new HOme

1A

n Columbus High School transfer JJ Swanagin stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 195 pounds. Coach Greg Watkins believes he has the potential to be a game-changer.

a new PlaYeR

6-3

Micah Green/Dispatch Staff TOP: Immanuel Christian School junior running back KC Cunningham goes low to get leverage to flip a big tire as part of a workout during a recent practice. Pushing tires is part of a CrossFit workout program the team adopted to improve its core strength and conditioning. BELOW: Immanuel Christian School senior Jaelin Bankhead gives a tire a final push after getting it upright.

ChAngeS ShoulD mAke RAmS fASteR, StRongeRCunningham moves from QB to RB as team welcomes Columbus high transfer Swanagin, gets healthy Bankhead back

From kids to pros ...We cover the field.

The Commercial Dispatch Sports


Desire and preparation sounds like a simple formula.

Each year, a group of leaders sets the tone for a team and helps determine how hard a team is going to work. Some don’t mind working out every day in the summer months in Mississippi because they know it is going to put them ahead of the game when it’s time for the season to begin.

But preparation is only part of

the equation.The second part involves a

commitment that continues into the season and lasts through the ups and the downs.

The Victory Christian foot-ball team hasn’t played a game this season, but Hunter Austin is confident the 2013 Rams have prepared for what is ahead. The senior tight end/linebacker also believes the even though Victo-ry Christian is small in numbers with 14 players, it has the desire to re-claim its place as the best

team in the Christian Football Association.

“We had pretty much the whole team come in four days a week in the gym or down (at the field in the summer),” Austin said. “You could tell there is a desire there to win and get better and get it back where it is sup-posed to be.”

It has been four years since Victory Christian held the title of CFA champion. The champi-onship in 2009 was the school’s second in as many years and was

part of 3-game winning streak that ended with a 24-20 loss to archrival Tuscaloosa Christian in the CFA title game on Nov. 5, 2010. Since then, Victory Chris-tian hasn’t been able to live up to those lofty standards, but that doesn’t mean the Eagles have quit trying.

Austin is one of three seniors on this year’s team who wants to help the program return to the glory days. He said waking up at 6 a.m. for summer work-


victory christian eaglesAlabama Christian 8-Man League; 2012 Record: 3-6 (3-2)

2013 ScheduleAug. 23 At HebronAug. 30 NEW LIFESept. 6 At EvangelSept. 13 At TabernacleSept. 20 EZEKIEL

ACADEMYSept. 27 At TuscaloosaOct. 4 At New LifeOct. 11 At First

AssemblyOct. 18 TUSCALOOSAOct. 25 CFA PlayoffNov. 1 CFA

ChampionshipHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 L, 42-68 At Clinton

ChristianAug. 24 L, 20-48 HEBRON

CHRISTIANAug. 31 W, 43-32 New LifeSept. 7 Open DateSept. 14 L, 14-52 At TabernacleSept. 21 L, 6-35 EVANGELSept. 28 W, 61-0 FLINT HILLOct. 5 Open DateOct. 11 W, 49-6 NORTH RIVEROct. 19 L, 22-41 At TuscaloosaOct. 26 L, 42-52 At TuscaloosaHOME GAMES IN CAPS

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Chris Hamm

n Kevin Harrell — Defense, Special Teamsn Todd Dyer — Defensen Ronnie McDaniel — Offensen Andrew Pace — Offensive, Defensive Linen Jerry McCrary — Strength and Conditioningn Rodney Sullivan — Trainer

Adam Minichino/Dispatch Staff From left: Victory Christian Academy’s Cody Bolton, Anthony Sharp, and Hunter Austin will play key roles this season as the Eagles try to bounce back from a 3-6 finish in 2012.

VCA hopeS deSiRe, pRepARAtion pAVe title RoAd

See VICTORY, 19

approved to become the school’s new head coach. Last season, Gregory served as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for Bradley, who went 3-8 last season and resigned in January after seven seasons. Brad-ley, who was head football coach at Mooreville High (six years) and Pearl River Central (three years) be-fore coming to New Hope, was 41-40 in seven seasons. He inherited a program stuck in a seven-year run of losing seasons. He led the team to a 1-9 finish in his first season in 2006, but he helped the program go 6-4 in 2007.

New Hope had its best seasons under Bradley the next three years. In 2008, New Hope went 8-5 in Class 4A before moving up to Class 5A the following season. In 2009, New Hope went 11-2 and lost to West Point in the North State fi-nal. The Trojans went 8-5 in 2010. They slipped to 4-7 in 2011. They haven’t quali-fied for the postseason the past two years.

Gregory, who was a member of New Hope High’s football, boys bas-ketball, baseball, and track and field teams, plans to change that. Gregory went on to be a standout quar-terback at Jackson State University (1987-1990). As a senior at JSU, he earned first-team All-Southwest-ern Athletic Conference

honors after leading the team with 2,762 passing yards. That season he also set an NCAA record for most yards gained per completion (33) in a 52-14 victory against Southern University. Gregory had 14 completions for 462 yards in the victory. In 2009, he was elected to JSU’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Gregory’s coaching journey began in 1996, when he served as offen-sive coordinator/quarter-backs and running backs coach at Redan High (Ga.). The coaching road took him to the college level — Morris Brown College, Tuskegee University, Mis-sissippi Valley State Uni-versity, Samford University — to the pros — he worked as an intern with the San Diego Chargers wide re-

ceivers in 2004-05 and as an intern with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarter-backs in 2006 — and back to the high school level for several stops in the state of Alabama before he re-turned to his alma mater.

Since taking over the program, Gregory has an-swered some questions and still has others to re-solve. One thing is for cer-tain: New Hope will play with tempo. Gregory feels a faster pace will help get his players into better shape and will help them think faster on the field —on both sides of the ball.

“I don’t want them to have to catch up to the speed of the game,” Greg-ory said of his defense, which faced the up-tempo approach in the summer and is going against it ev-ery day in training camp. “I want them to already be accustomed to the speed of the game.”

Returning starting quarterback Brady Davis, a junior, has taken the major-ity of the snaps in practice and has grown comfortable digesting Gregory’s hand movements and figuring out which play is being called in seconds. He said Gregory’s attack is based on similar concepts the team used last season. The difference is the Trojans are moving faster and us-ing hand signals to send the play in from the side-lines. Last year, New Hope

used numbered cards to signal in its plays.

“I have to get everybody set as quick and off the ball as quickly as we can and try to catch the defense off guard,” Davis said. He said the Trojans’ goal is to have a balanced offense that mixes the run and the pass. In training camp, Davis has used his athleticism to direct a read-option attack, a play-action attack, and a quick-passing attack that is predicated on short drops and fast deliveries.

Davis said he is com-fortable in the offense and ready to go, thanks in large part to Gregory, who he said has helped him im-prove in a number of ways.

“He is a genius when it comes to football,” Davis said. “The biggest change I have had is I am able to get the ball out a lot quicker with him.”

Gregory likes what he has seen from Davis in the summer and in train-ing camp. He is confident Davis will be able to direct the passing game, but he knows the Trojans will have to run the ball to keep defenses honest. A year ago, New Hope struggled to establish a consistent ground game, which Greg-ory said could be a problem if it happens again this year.

“If we can’t run the ball, a lot of things are going to be limited to what we re-ally want to do,” Gregory said. “I am not a guy who

is going to rely on the pass. I don’t want to rely on the run. I want to be balanced, but I want to have the ca-pability to do both. We are going to try to establish the run because if we don’t show physicality in this of-fense it ain’t going to work.”

Senior Javontay Lewis believes New Hope can develop that balance. He hopes a faster pace will help the offense confuse defenses and give the Tro-jans opportunities to ex-ploit Davis’ faster release. Lewis has seen plenty of those throws come in his direction playing safety, cornerback, and outside linebacker. He said the new tempo has changed the at-mosphere at practice.

“Coach is really turning it up,” Lewis said. “We are full speed everywhere we go. We are just going to play together and get after it much faster.”

If Lewis has tried to defend the offense, senior wide receiver DeAngelo Hamilton also has had to adjust. He said the pace has forced all of the Trojans “to bring it every day” in prac-tice to ensure they don’t fall behind. He said the team has come a long way in a short time, but he knows they still have a ways to go.

“It is a mind thing,” Hamilton said. “We have the athletic ability to do anything we want to. ... We need to rely on each other. When one person is down,

you can’t let them be down. You have to pick them up on your shoulders and tell them, ‘C’mon, let’s go. We have a state championship to win.’ ”

Hamilton said the Tro-jans believe in Gregory and his faster tempo. He doesn’t shy away from say-ing the Trojans can play for a state title if they get over their “mind thing.”

Davis’ ability to led the attack also will play a big role in determining New Hope’s fortunes. If the Tro-jans believe in Gregory, it’s safe to say they have to feel good about their chances with Davis at quarterback.

“Brady is a bright, young kid,” Gregory said. “Football is what he can do. He is always picking my brain, which I like. I like for a guy — I don’t care what position, especially quarterback — to pick my brain. He has taken the of-fense and pretty much ran with it. He is very special. A lot of quarterbacks never have had the opportuni-ty — or capability — to do that, even on the college level. That speaks highly about what he is doing and what he is capable of doing from an IQ standpoint in the offense, but his athlet-ic ability speaks for itself. I am looking forward to him turning it around. He has already shown he can do it. We just have to rally around him and I think we will be fine.”


west lowndes panthersMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 1A, Region 3; 2012 Record: 5-7 (4-4)

2013 ScheduleAug. 23 At Montgomery

CountyAug. 30 HERITAGE

ACADEMYSept. 6 Open DateSept. 13 PELAHATCHIESept. 20 At French CampSept. 27 ETHELOct. 4 At West

OktibbehaOct. 11 NANIH WAIYAOct. 18 At East

OktibbehaOct. 25 SEBASTOPOLNov. 1 Open DateNov. 8 NOXAPATERHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 33-6 MONTGOMERY CO.Aug. 24 L, 12-66 CALEDONIAAug. 31 L, 0-55 ShannonSept. 7 W, 27-14 At EthelSept. 14 Open DateSept. 21 W, 14-0 EAST OKTIBBEHASept. 28 L, 0-28 At NoxapaterOct. 5 L, 6-40 PELAHATCHIEOct. 12 L, 8-44 At West OktibbehaOct. 19 L, 14-28 NANIH WAIYAOct. 26 W, 14-7 At WeirNov. 2 W, 36-22 SEBASTOPOLNov. 9 L, 36-57 At Bogue ChittoHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 1ARegion 3

East OktibbehaEthel

French CampNanih CampNoxapater

PelahatchieSebastopol

West LowndesWest Oktibbeha


CoaChing staffHead coach

Shawn Gregory

n Dale Hardin — Defensive Coordinatorn Mike Bailey — Linebackersn Joel Cosgrove — Defensive Linen Eric Guerrero — Running Backsn Bob Reeves — Special Teams Coordinator / Offensive Linen Greg Hunt — Offensive Linen Bryan Walker — Quarterbacks

New HopeContinued from page 6


Anthony King

n Eddie Chapman — Defensive Backs / Linebackersn Gregory Stephenson — Offensive Linen Fredrick Magee — Quarterbacks


Anthony King knows expectations — and eye-brows — will raise when he says his team is the most talented he has had as a coach.

One may think the sec-ond-year West Lowndes High School football coach is gassed off last season’s playoff berth — the Mis-sissippi Department of Ed-ucation disqualified Gold-en Triangle rival West Oktibbeha County High — when he gushes about his team’s athleticism and experience and the im-provement it made in the summer. But it’s sincere; King hasn’t had a winning season in his previous four seasons as a head coach. The former East Oktibbe-ha County High coach and Noxubee County High as-sistant knows what level of talent and commitment he has been missing.

“We were young last year, and it showed,” King said. “Now all we’re wor-ried about is youth at de-fensive line. Even then, that group has great ath-leticism. This year’s team should make a big dent in the district.”

Creating dents in op-posing teams’ backfields will be a pair of tenured linebackers: Phytrell and JeVontrae Williams.

Cousins and starting varsity linebackers for the past three years, Phytrell and JeVontrae combined for more than 200 tackles and three interceptions last season. Phytrell, the starting middle lineback-er, led the team with 143 stops.

Both players are strong, versatile, and keen to seek out contact. Each prefers a primary method of play.

For “Tre,” it’s to cover slot receivers and backs in man coverage. For Phy-trell, it’s to blitz and to shoot gaps. Tre said his greatest offseason gains came in seven-on-seven drills in the summer, when he learned more route combinations. Phytrell said he’s stronger, more precise in reading keys, and ready for his coach to give him more than the 12 blitzes per game he called in 2012.

“I prefer to blitz, always

QUARTERBACKJustin Stephenson (Sr.),

Daniel Davis (Jr.)n Stephenson enters his

second year as the starter after throwing eight touch-downs and 1,200 yards in 2012. “His strength is pass-ing and his command of the offense,” West Lowndes coach Anthony King said.

RUNNING BACK Eric Harris (Soph.), Tyshon Rogers (Jr.), Trey Williams (Jr.)

n Harris led West Lowndes with 532 yards on 88 carries last season.

“He’s our leader on of-fense,” King said. “We have to stay balanced in how we use him.”’

RECEIVERSAnthony Liddell (Sr.),

Danial Davis (Jr.), Dearia Douglas (Sr.),

Joshua King (Jr.)n Liddell will be the

team’s No. 1 wide out and deep-ball threat.

“Anthony has height, can fly, and catch the ball,” King said. “He’ll open up a lot for other players.”

OFFENSIVE LINETaras Woodson (Soph.),

Desi Givens (Sr.), Tory Evans (Sr.),

DeVonte Porter (Soph.), Denzell Beckwith,

Karyon Harris (Soph.)n Woodson and Givens

are returning starters and the line’s biggest players at 270 and 250 pounds.

“Having depth here will keep us from playing a lot of guys both ways,” King said.

DEFENSIVE LINETyrese Wells (Fr.),

Jamarquis Jefferson (Soph.), Lamaron Fair (Fr.),

Kendrick Sanders (Sr.), Javarious Ellis (Jr.)

n The Panthers run a five-man front and are bank-ing on athleticism to trump inexperience.

LINEBACKERPhytrell Williams (Sr.),

JeVontrae Williams (Jr.), Tyshon Rogers (Jr.)

n Williams is the team’s leading tackler from a year ago. He runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and can blitz and play coverage.

“This group gives me a lot of flexibility because they each can run,” King said.

SECONDARYRoy Miller (Jr.),

Dearia Douglas (Sr.), Anthony Liddell (Sr.)

Liddell is the ball hawk of the group.

SPECIALISTSJavarious Ellis (Jr.)

The Panthers lost start-ing kicker Mike Williams from 2012.

— David Miller

a Closer look

WilliAmS CouSinS WAnt to CAuSe hAvoC

David Miller/Special to The DispatchLinebackers Tre Williams, left, and his cousin, Phytrell Williams, will be two key cogs of the West Lowndes High School defense this season.

have,” Phytrell said. “Last year, I’d say about 80 per-cent of the blitzes I had ended up being a negative play (for the opposing team).

“It’s not just me. Our linebackers are really good. I don’t expect any-one to run the ball on us.”

King agrees, and his confidence outpaces that of his middle linebacker.

“They can all fly,” King said. “Now these guys are calling out plays before it happens. I don’t expect a lot of teams to score on us this year.”

The Panthers finished 5-7 and 4-4 in Class 1A, Region 3 in 2012. They lost 57-36 to Bogue Chit-

to in the first round of the playoffs. With Bogue Chitto, French Camp, and Noxapater considered fa-vorites for the top three spots, West Lowndes is in good position to return to the playoffs if it can fend off the rest of the district for fourth place.

The “dent” King hopes to make in the district will be felt only by the di-vision’s top three teams, and Tre is keen to see it happen.

“We’re better, so we should expect to play bet-ter against those teams,” he said. “We feel like we can take it to the next lev-el.”

While King will lean

on his linebackers and speedy secondary to pace the team, he also is keen to see running back Eric Harris get more touches per game. Harris scored eight touchdowns and ran for more than 500 yards last season, but there were too many moments when he was shut down in the run game or unable to get passes from Justin Stephenson, who returns with new pistol read op-tion plays and improved passing skills.

With 15 returning starters, King may just have what he needs to make a dent in 1A-3.


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MHSAA, MAIS ClASSIfICAtIonS ColumbusContinued from Page 3

Conner or Kevin Jackson. Either way, Lee knows

he has to be “on” because he is a beacon that lights the way for Falcons.

“I always have to have my guard up,” Lee said. “I have to be my toes be-cause, I say this in a hum-ble way, the Lord has put me in a leadership posi-tion where people look to me. If I falter or fall, people see that. I am not going to say I don’t make mistakes, but I have to be on my game. I have to be all the time. Luckily, the Lord is with me.”

The strength in Lee’s voice comes from God. A member of Fairview Bap-tist Church all his life, Lee has followed a path set by his mother, Tammy Nor-dquist. He understands that his ability to throw a football or a baseball or to kick a soccer ball comes from God, as does the power and the wisdom to speak up and be a team leader.

“I can’t do anything without God because without Him I wouldn’t be able to play,” Lee said. “He keeps me humble. It is nothing that I do. He is giving me the platform to be a leader for Him. If I don’t do that, it is use-less. Its is something that I have had to realize that everything that I have — everything I will have — is because of Him.”

Lee’s message is de-signed to uplift his team-mates and to bring them together. He realizes he needs to be a leader who pushes the Falcons to aspire to greatness. He recently tried to convey that notion by tweeting out the quotation, “A true leader does not fall to the standards of others but yet sets a standard and brings people up to it.”

Columbus High foot-ball coach Tony Stanford has watched Lee mature into a leader. This year, he

has seen a change in his quarterback.

“He is more of a vocal leader than he has been in the past,” Stanford said. “This year, you still see how he works and every-thing, but now he is a little more vocal out there and is trying to get hyped up and working a little hard-er.”

Stanford said Lee didn’t have to change that much to become a more vocal leader. In past years, he said Lee was more of a lead-by-example type who deferred to others. Lee has listened to the coach-es’ preaching that seniors need to be leaders, and he believes this is his and the team’s chance to shine.

It’s only natural for Lee to use his most powerful weapon — his faith — as his instrument to bring everyone together.

“I think everybody looks up to him on the team because of his faith,” Stanford said. “They know he is very religious. Anytime I ask somebody to pray, he is one of them who is always willing to pray in front of the team.”

Stanford said he has brought more prayer into the team because he feels his “mission” is that football field and that the Lord put him out there to teach them how to believe in the Lord. He said Lee’ mother instilled the right values in Trace, his sister, and his older brother, Ty-son.

“His momma did a tre-mendous job,” Stanford said. “You know the way he acts that his momma made him go to church, and now it is just a regular thing.”

In fact, Stanford said Lee recently “got onto” him one day because the team went late at practice on a Wednesday. As a re-sult, Lee was late getting to church. The next day, he made sure Stanford

knew about it.“Today, he is telling

me, ‘It is Wednesday to-day, coach,’ ” Stanford said. “I said, ‘All right, we will get out of here about 5:30 p.m.”

Some leaders might not have said anything to the coach for fear of up-setting him. But Lee has learned there are times players need to speak up and call teammates out when they think some-thing isn’t going the right way. He said speaking up isn’t meant to show one player is better than an-other. A leader speaks up, Lee said, to make sure all of the players are held accountable when they ar-en’t pulling their weight.


thing to say.“We have to be one.

We have to be a unit,” Lee said. “If we’re not, it is all going to fall apart on the field.”

Years in the making, Lee feels he has the re-spect of his teammates and the confidence to challenge his teammates to reach their potential and go beyond it. If he and his classmates can demand that from each other and the rest of the Falcons, there is no tell-ing what they can accom-plish.

ListenThe Columbus High

football team has some-thing to say.

“He teaches me exam-ples every day,” Lee said. “It is not about me. That is the main thing because once and for all, people do follow me, but I point them to Him. It is not what I do. It is what He does through me. It af-fects me to know I know He is going to be there for me and he is going to give me the strength to go on. I have to give Him my best and He will do the rest of the work.”

Mississippi Association of Independent

Schools11-Man Football

Class ADistrict 1A

DeSoto County AcademyLee Academy (Ark.)Marshall AcademyTunica AcademyWest Memphis Christian School (Tenn.)

District 2ACarroll AcademyDeer Creek SchoolGreenville Christian SchoolImmanuel Christian School

District 3ABenton AcademyCentral Holmes Christian SchoolHeidelberg AcademyNewton County AcademySylva-Bay Academy

District 4AChamberlain-Hunt AcademyPorter’s Chapel AcademyTallulah AcademyTrinity Episcopal Day SchoolWilkinson County Christian Academy

District 5ACenla AcademyClaiborne AcademyRiverdale AcademyUnion Christian Academy

Eight-Man FootballDistrict 6

Delta AcademyHumphreys AcademyMarvell AcademyNorth Sunflower AcademySharkey-Issaquena Academy

District 7Calhoun AcademyCentral AcademyHebron Christian SchoolKemper AcademyStrider Academy

District 8Briarfield AcademyClinton Christian AcademyFranklin AcademyMt. Salus Christian SchoolTensas Academy

District 9Calvary Christian SchoolChristian Collegiate AcademyRebul AcademyThe Veritas Academy

Class AADistrict 1AA

Bayou AcademyIndianola AcademyKirk AcademyLee AcademyNorth Delta SchoolWinona Christian School

District 2AACanton AcademyLeake AcademyManchester AcademyOak Hill AcademyTri-County AcademyWinston Academy

District 3AAGlenbrook SchoolPrairie View AcademyRiver Oaks SchoolRiverdale Academy

District 4AAHartfield AcademyLaurel Christian SchoolPark Place Christian AcademySimpson AcademyWayne Academy

District 5AAAdams County Christian AcademyAmite School CenterBrookhaven AcademyCentral Hinds AcademyPrentiss Christian School

District 6AABowling Green SchoolBen’s Ford SchoolCentreville AcademyCentral Private SchoolSilliman Institute

Class AAADistrict 1AAA

Jackson Academy (Division I)Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Division I)Washington School (Division I)Heritage Academy (Division II)Hillcrest Christian (Division II)Magnolia Heights School (Division II)Pillow Academy (Division II)Starkville Academy (Division II)

District 2AAAJackson Prep (Division I)Parklane Academy (Division I)Presbyterian Christian (Division I)Columbia Academy (Division II)Copiah Academy (Division II)East Rankin Academy (Division II)Lamar School (Division II)Oak Forest Academy (Division II)

Mississippi High School Activities

AssociationClass 1ARegion 1

BiggersvilleCoffeevilleColdwaterFalknerHamiltonHoulkaSmithvilleThrasherVardaman

Region 2Broad StreetDurantJ.F. KennedyMcAdamsMontgomery County

Ray BrooksShawSt. AloysiusSt. Joseph-Greenville

Region 3East OktibbehaEthelFrench CampNanih WaiyaNoxapaterPelahatchieSebastopolWest LowndesWest Oktibbeha

Region 4Bogue ChittoCathedralDexterHinds AHSLumbertonMount OliveResurrectionSacred HeartSalemStringer MSD (Eight-Man)

Class 2ARegion 1

BaldwynEast UnionHatleyMantachieNew SiteWalnut

Region 2Coahoma AHSCoahoma CountyH.W. ByersPotts CampStrayhornWest Tallahatchie

Region 3J.Z. GeorgeHollandale SimmonsLelandRiversideSouth DeltaWest Bolivar

Region 4BruceCalhoun CityEast WebsterEuporaOkolona

Region 5ClarkdaleEnterprise-ClarkeLakeNewtonScott CentralUnion

Region 6Leake CountyPisgahPuckettS.V. MarshallSt. Joseph-MadisonWilliams-Sullivan

Region 7Amite CountyBassfieldEast MarionEnterprise-LincolnLoyd StarWest Lincoln

Region 8Bay SpringsMizeNorth ForestRichtonTaylorsvilleHeidelberg

Class 3ARegion 1

Alcorn CentralBelmontBoonevilleKossuthMoorevilleNorth Pontotoc

Region 2CharlestonHolly SpringsIndependenceM.S. PalmerNorth PanolaWater Valley

Region 3East SideHumphreys CountyJ.J. McClainLeflore CountyO’BannonRuleville

Region 4AberdeenKemper CountyLouisvilleMSMSNettletonSouth PontotocWinona

Region 5Choctaw CentralForestChoctaw CountyPhiladelphiaRaleighSE Lauderdale

Region 6CollinsMcLaurinMortonPrentissSt. Andrew’sVelma Jackson

Region 7Crystal SpringsFranklin CountyHazlehurstJefferson CountyWessonWilkinson County

Region 8Our Lady AcademyPerry CentralSeminarySt. PatrickSumrallTylertownWest Marion

Class 4ARegion 1

AmoryCorinthItawamba AHSPontotocShannon Tishomingo County

Region 2ByhaliaLafayetteNew AlbanyRipleyRosa FortSenatobia

Region 3Amanda ElzyClevelandGentryGreenwoodYazoo CityYazoo County

Region 4CaledoniaHoustonKosciuskoLeake CentralWest LauderdaleNoxubee County

Region 5Forrest AHSGreene CountyNE JonesNE LauderdaleNewton CountyQuitman

Region 6Florence MageeMendenhallPort GibsonRaymondRichland

Region 7ColumbiaLawrence CountyMcCombNorth PikePurvisSouth Pike

Region 8BayMoss PointPass ChristianPoplarvilleSt. StanislausVancleave

Class 5ARegion 1

Center HillClarksdaleLake CormorantLewisburgNew HopeOxfordSaltilloWest Point

Region 2CantonGermantownNeshoba CentralRidgelandCallawayLanierPearlVicksburg

Region 3LaurelSouth JonesWayne CountyWest JonesBrookhavenNatchezPearl River CentralWingfield

Region 4Long BeachPicayuneStoneWest HarrisonEast CentralGautierGeorge CountyPascagoula

Class 6ARegion 1

DeSoto CentralHorn LakeOlive BranchSouthavenGrenadaHernandoSouth PanolaTupelo

Region 2ColumbusMadison CentralNorthwest RankinStarkvilleClintonGreenvilleMurrahWarren Central

Region 3BrandonMeridianPetalOak GroveForest HillJim HillProvineTerry

Region 4GulfportHancockHarrison CentralHattiesburgBiloxiD’IbervilleOcean SpringsSt. Martin


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MHSAARegion 1-6A Division Overall W L W L PF PASouth Panola 7 0 13 2 445 248Olive Branch 6 1 11 2 428 291Southaven 5 2 8 4 318 223Columbus 4 3 7 5 188 161DeSoto Central 2 5 6 5 263 228Grenada 2 5 4 7 241 217Tupelo 2 5 4 7 214 244Horn Lake 0 7 2 9 79 308

Playoff resultsMadison Central 42, Columbus 7

Region 1-5A Division Overall W L W L PF PAWest Point 7 0 11 3 478 182Oxford 6 1 11 2 334 193Saltillo 4 3 7 5 296 269Center Hill 4 3 5 7 208 300Lake Cormorant 3 4 6 5 222 167Clarksdale 2 5 4 7 183 292Hernando 1 6 3 8 173 231New Hope 1 6 3 8 174 300

Playoff resultsWest Point 38, Canton 0West Point 56, Ridgeland 21Starkville 29, West Point 28, OT

Region 2-5A Division Overall W L W L PF PAStarkville 7 0 12 3 433 185Ridgeland 6 1 9 4 303 248Provine 3 4 6 6 263 237Canton 3 4 5 7 200 212Yazoo City 3 4 6 5 177 176Callaway 3 4 5 6 228 228Neshoba Central 3 4 5 6 200 184Lanier 0 7 0 11 46 488

Playoff resultsStarkville 45, Saltillo 7Starkville 28, Oxford 7Starkville 29, West Point 28, OTStarkville 28, Pascagoula 11

Region 4-4A Division Overall W L W L PF PANoxubee County 5 0 16 0 545 122Louisville 4 1 10 5 487 337Houston 3 2 11 3 445 237Kosciusko 2 3 4 8 238 341Leake Central 1 4 3 8 212 348Caledonia 0 5 4 7 273 307

Playoff resultsNoxubee County 42, Shannon 6Noxubee County 14, Lafayette County 0Noxubee County 16, Itawamba AHS 3Noxubee County 41, Louisville 21Noxubee County 16, Greene County 6Louisville 42, Corinth 19Louisville 38, New Albany 13Louisville 46, Houston 21

Region 2-3A Division Overall W L W L PF PAAberdeen 5 0 11 3 467 299Water Valley 4 1 10 3 486 195Mantachie 2 3 5 7 261 330Mooreville 2 3 5 7 240 337Nettleton 2 3 2 9 190 455South Pontotoc 0 5 1 10 148 356

Playoff resultsAberdeen 54, Winona 42Aberdeen 46, McClain 16Charleston 49, Aberdeen 22

Region 2-2A Division Overall W L W L PF PAEupora 5 0 14 2 508 216Ackerman 4 1 9 4 318 152East Webster 3 2 9 4 313 145Hamilton 2 3 4 8 247 302J.Z. George 1 4 2 9 179 390Williams-Sullivan 0 5 2 9 142 391

Playoff resultsMound Bayou JFK 40, Hamilton 10

Region 3-1A Division Overall W L W L PF PANoxapater 8 0 10 3 447 146Pelahatchie 7 1 10 3 493 275West Oktibbeha 6 2 8 3 444 242Nanih Waiya 5 3 6 6 290 342West Lowndes 4 4 5 6 158 308Sebastopol 3 5 4 7 264 331Weir 2 6 3 8 124 369East Oktibbeha 1 7 2 9 181 359Ethel 0 8 2 9 224 334

Playoff resultsBogue Chitto 57, West Lowndes 36

MAISDistrict 1-AAA Division Overall W L W L PF PA

Division IJackson Acad. 6 0 11 2 431 240Mad-Ridgeland 5 1 9 3 331 177Pillow Acad. 0 6 0 9 59 303

Division IIMagnolia Hts. 4 2 8 4 305 224Heritage Acad. 3 3 7 5 278 207Washington 2 4 6 4 268 151Lee Academy 1 5 4 6 211 249

Playoff resultsHeritage Academy 10, Mag. Heights 3

District 2-AAA Division Overall W L W L PF PA

Division IJackson Prep 6 0 13 0 482 95Presbyerian Chr. 5 1 9 3 413 245Parklane Acad. 4 2 8 3 315 155

Division IIEast Rankin Ac. 3 3 7 5 369 272Starkville Acad. 2 4 5 7 305 243Copiah Acad. 1 5 1 10 147 342Hillcrest Chr. 0 6 1 10 41 388

Playoff resultsMagnolia Heights 40, Starkville Acad. 28

District 2-AA Division Overall W L W L PF PALeake Academy 5 0 8 4 399 282Canton Acad. 4 1 7 4 264 231Oak Hill Acad. 2 3 6 6 205 317Manchester Ac. 2 3 5 6 230 225Winston Acad. 2 3 4 6 253 252Immanuel Chr. 0 5 3 8 257 472

Playoff resultsNorth Delta Acad. 42, Oak Hill Acad. 14

Eight-Man District 1 Division Overall W L W L PF PARussell Chr. 7 0 13 0 601 132Calhoun Acad. 6 1 11 2 521 162Marvell Acad. 7 2 7 3 299 243Kemper Acad. 4 4 5 5 314 241Delta Academy 4 4 4 7 263 310Calvary Chr. 3 6 3 7 182 358North Sunflower 1 7 1 9 128 476Central Academy 0 8 0 10 46 374NOTE: Hebron Christian (8-2) is compet-ing as an independent in the MAIS this season. The Eagles’ season is complete.

ACFAEight-Man Division Division Overall W L W L PF PATabernacle 5 0 10 1 570 276Tuscaloosa Chr. 4 1 6 4 399 312Victory Christian 3 2 3 6 299 334New Life Chr. 2 3 2 5 271 250North River Chr. 1 4 2 7 148 400Flint Hill Chr. 0 5 0 8 98 449

AHSAARegion 4-2A Division Overall W L W L PF PAOakman 7 0 11 2 449 259Lamar County 6 1 9 4 442 340Aliceville 5 2 7 5 445 326Hale County 4 3 4 7 212 216Hatch 3 4 4 6 316 285Sulligent 2 5 3 7 175 215Cold Springs 1 6 3 7 172 281Marion 0 7 0 10 88 424

Playoff resultsAliceville 42, Elba 25Sweet Water 54, Aliceville 7Lamar County 39, New Brockton 24Lamar County 41, Long 19Sweet Water 55, Lamar County 20

Region 5-1A Division Overall W L W L PF PAMarion County 7 0 13 2 700 253Pickens County 6 1 11 4 622 268Berry 5 2 8 5 426 402Hubbertville 4 3 9 4 420 339Parrish 3 4 5 5 260 287Lynn 2 5 5 5 207 221Brilliant 1 6 3 7 201 352South Lamar 0 7 0 10 90 433

Playoff resultsPickens County 63, Falkville 0Pickens County 34, Cedar Bluff 0Pickens County 53, Berry 32Marion County 42, Pickens County 41

AISARegion 2-1A Division Overall W L W L PF PAPickens Acad. 6 0 10 3 503 315Marengo Acad. 4 2 7 5 303 193Sparta Acad. 4 2 5 6 243 287Sumter Acad. 4 2 4 7 205 313Jackson Acad. 2 4 3 7 216 318Meadowview Ch. 1 5 3 7 261 321Eastwood Chr. 0 6 1 10 92 460

Playoff resultsPickens Academy 34, Lakeside Acad. 21Pickens Academy 46, Ashford 33Restoration 48, Pickens Academy 14

2012 STANDINGS / A look AheAD2013 TeAm roSTerS

The final standings for the 2012 season are listed below.

This season, The Dispatch will have standings and a full recap of the week’s action every Monday during the prep football season.

Coaches who don’t speak to a reporter from The Dispatch are encouraged to have statistics ready or to have their scorekeepers call us at 662-327-1297, leave the information on our voicemail, or email us at: [email protected] and [email protected] so we can have your

information for a roundup in Sunday’s paper.

We also will have a correspondent call coaches/scorekeepers Friday night and/or Saturday to get information for a roundup of games we don’t attend. If you have any questions, call sports editor Adam Minichino at 662-327-1297.

The Dispatch also will feature a prep player of the week every Tuesday. To nominate players, call or email your nominations by 5 p.m. Saturday.

Aberdeen1-Chris McMillian2-G.G.Blanchard3-Tamarkus Payne4-Jerrick Orr5-Josh Williams6-Josh Ewing7-Tyreke Gates8-Tramonte Prather9-Sammie Burroughs10-Lamontae Thompson11-Jarvis Eckford12-Damian Curry13-Josh McMillian14-Isiah McMillian15-Tay Carothers16-Parish Cratic17-C.J. Williams18-Dorian Fears19-B.J. Williams20-Quincy Crump22- Kemar Sims23-Mathaius Herron24-Chris Hunt25-Cameron Blaylock26-Zarrius Williams27-Deonta Carter28-Tyler Fields29-Marquellus Atkinson30-Daruis Haughton31-Jarvez Morrow32-Josh Hadley33-Sam Garth50-Bryson Swindle51-Justin Drake52-Tavoris Eckford53-James Randle54-Devonta Walker55-Devante Smith56-Shavez McMillian57-Jamarkus Tallie58-Tykee Smith59-Jamarkus Irons60-Bryson Doss61-Theo Boyd62-Johntae Everett64-Jordan Doss65-Jordan Gladney66-Terrance Smith67-Dejuante Willis72-Jimize Walker74-Dontae Bailey84-Demaree Dobbins Caledonia1-Onterrio Lowery3-Ian Hartmann4-Ben Marchbanks5-Danny Warner 6-Cole Gullette7-Jose Tate8-Brandon Henry10-Jonathan Comer11-Austin McNeely12-Garrett Taylor13-Spencer Unruh14-Jacob Rhodes15-Sage Kangas16-Joshua Betts18-James Longmire21-Josh Anderson22-Quavis Betts23-Nathan Brauer24-Jordan Anderson25-Stefan Williams30-John Livingston31-Henry Lewis33-Zach Weathers35-Kristian Mott40-Kody White46-Anthony Brewer48-Jeremy Reedwood56-Kaleb Morris57-Cody Cliett58-Phillip Taylor59-Ryan Denney61-Stephen Sykes64-Bobby Rushing67-TJ Jones68-Jacob Sudduth72-Tristan Nessell77-Carrlon Byrd78-Daniel Cunningham79-Stone Bustin80-Jantsen Glasgow88-Daniel Longmire97-Jeffrey GoreCoaches:Andy CrotwellBrian WhiteJason ForresterMurray WoodyCurtis Cook

Columbus1-Damonta Kidd2-KevinJackson3-Meunta Verner4-Kiren Sharp5-Christian Petty6-Rod Hogan7-John Neal Stanback8-Charlie King9-Kenyatta Ousley10-Hezekiah Manigo11-Marqyavious Mitchell12-Keshawn Adams13-Corey Brown14-Jarrelle Peterson15-Chris Cockrell16-Trace Lee17-Quavis Sherrod18-Anthony Maleta19-Jarcquarius Clark20-Donsha Walker21-Joshua Pusha22-Joshua Hibbler23-Kendre Conner24-Justingtate25-Alex Lipscomb26-Damian Moore27-Reginal Prince28-Kendrick Conner29-KJalen Stewart30-Malik Moore31-Jeffrey Cooper32-Paul Short33-Issac Williams34-Jabari Taylor36-Darrion Fisher37-Mario Harrison38-Darrell Welch39-Kylin Hill40-Derrick Beckom41-Bylonn Johnson42-Ira Boyd43-Tyree Calvert

44-Ziree Butler45-Quention Williams46-Marc Lashley47-Issac Lacy48-Clint Docher49-Chris Dent50-QuanSalter51-Timothy Outlaw52-Chance Griffin53-Greg Sykes55-Yusuf Karriem56-LaQuintis Brooks57-Nick McKinley58-Jarvis Glenn60-Kenneth Miller62-Jeremiah Caine63-Kylin Butler64-Tyreke Prude65-Stephen Wilkerson66-Austin Glorioso68-Leon Payne70-Tyrus Brooks72-Shaunase Stallings73-Josh Sherrod74-Tremarcus Monroe75-Jaruis Ross76-Darius Poindexter77-Kyle Harris78-Devagus Jenkins81-Gerald Bigbee83-Sybois Pippens84-Kenneth Webb85-Chris Deloach86-Tahj Sykes87-Michael Sturdivant88-Kris Reliford89-Joseph Gregory90-Darrell Dismuke91-Ryan Ezell92-Bryan Ezell93-Lakim Wilson94-Cameron Williams95-Jermiah Harris97-Andrae Gathings99-Michael Bailey

East Oktibbeha1-Destin Covington2-Ladavion Cannon3-Tyshon Spencer4-Justin Williams5-Octavis Rodgers6-Zack McCarter8-Jamario Thomas14-John Kincaid20-John Neal21-Quiten Carter22-Savion Thomas24-Zandin Jenkins25-Charles Rice32-Bill Jenkins38-Clark Allen45-Zack Williams50-Jocoby Jones60-Clayton Carr62-Ricky Armstead65-Robert McCarter78-Anthony HunterHead Coach:John DavisCoaches:Kylin TippetBo Williams

Hamilton1-Samuel Peloquin2-Byron Butler3-Pallas Fair4-Tanner Dement5-Quinshay Heard7-Todd Prillhart8-Maximilion Garvette9-Sequintis Coleman11-Chantal Saul12-Bricowski Bankhead15-Keshon Heard18-Aaron Fontenot20-Jamarcus Fields22-Michael Roberts24-Branson Shields32-Caleb Williams33-Austin Lancaster50-Davis Hankins54-Dominique Dobbs55-Westley Fikes60-Blake Pritchett65-James Melton66-Cole Williams68-Nick Owens71-Walker Plunket73-Reed Dyess75-AustinMyers76-John Vaughn79-David Logan88-Austin Bishop95-Elijuan TrimbleHead Coach:Ray WeeksCoaches:Jon HartleyVictor BuchananTrey Spencer

Hebron ChristianSeniors: Taylor SimmonsNic McCaryJustin GordonTroy ArnoldHayden CantyJoey ArdJuniors:Andrew MyattDustin HolmesCollin MooreCameron SmithSophomores:Channing TapleyJessie MooreLucas FosterBrian EaddyEmerson ShinnPayton GriffinTrevor ReedJohn WingerJosiah ParrishDaniel CogginsHead Coach: David FosterCoach: Hearne Foster

Heritage Academy1-Stephen Cornwall2-Cody Mordecai5-Mark Thatcher10-Austin Fitch12-Parker Short

13-Mattox Heredia15-Dylan Barker16-Logan Bell21-Walker Brown22-Jace Caldwell23-William Hardy2-Blake Ballard27-Michael Ledbetter33-Cayden Upton34-Graham McCain43-Jimbo Killebrew44-Hunter Anderson51-Brady Clark52-Josh Foxworthy56-Douglas Kilarski58-Drew Wallace61-Thomas Cooper62-P.J. Ridilla63-Thomas Glenn70-Hunter Ferguson71-Hunter McMillan72-Luke Ellison74-Tanner Johnson81-Tinsley Brooks85-Devin ClarkeHead Coach:Barrett DonahoeCoaches:Ryan DeerMickey AllenTate MarshBruce Branch

Immanuel2-JJ Swanagin5-Nate Parker7-BJ Shirley8-Reed Williams10-KC Cunningham11-Dearius Young12-Jaelin Bankhead15-Dawson Shaw17-Koby Bailey22-Turner Kilpatrick44-Peyton Peralto50-Andrew Sparks51-Zach Johnwick52-Grant Wyatt53-Tyler Beaird56-Maurice Dantzler58/9-Zack Wright61-Kimarri Whitfield65-Luke Hudson74- John Michael Randazzo79-Christopher Randazzo85-Deonthra DoughtyHead Coach: Greg WatkinsCoaches: Rob BarronAntwann RichardsonDickie Peralto

New Hope2-Brenton Spann3-Jaylon Bardley4-Ryan Dye5-Howard Petty6-Victor Deloach7-Tyler Stapes8-Lee Brandon9-Javoris Jones10-Brady Davis11-Jeremy Newton13-Jerrod Bradley14-Jovantay Lewis15-Johnny Swanigan16-Brett Perry17-DeAngelo Hamilton18-Ryan Forrester19-Stone Sisson20-Trey Rickman21-Cornell Gandy22-Bryson Ellis23-Jahill Gray24-Gavin Salter25-Brandon Spann26-D.W. Williams27-Willie Guyton28-Shontae Miller29-C.J. Clay30-Oscar Lewis31-Tretavion Townsel32-Sterling Clay35-Dylan Tribolet36-Quentin Odom37-Asher Bateman38-Javonte Ellis40-Darron Temple41-Ty Craddieth44-Brandon McKay45-Patrick Johnson46-Tim Nickoles48-Payton Lane49-Tim Jones50-Joseph Hreish51-Jalen Baldwin52-Blake Harden54-Austin Dodson55-Melvin Brownlee56-Devin Bartley57-Wesley Roland58-Brodi Owens59-George Perkins60-Matt Barnes63-Rodney Tate64-Nathan Garrett65-Matt Alderson66-Lance Atkins67-Bailey Long68-Austin Talley70-Allen Harvey71-Trey Samuel73-Drew Hoyt74-Cobee Mitchell75-Darius Jamison76-Bradley Hendrix77-T.J. Davis78-Tristan Lett79-Zach Duncan82-Jason Dickerson83-Clay Clemmons84-Jarrius Gillespie86-Jeffrey Stewart92-Joe Sayer93-Dalven BrooksHead Coach:Shawn GregoryCoaches:Dale HardenMike BaileyJoel CosgroveEric GuerreroBob ReevesGreg HuntBryan WalkerNoxubee County1-Tamorris Conner

2-Anzarius Taylor3-Lavincente Ashford4-Devonte Scott5-Eric Hunt6-Kevarkian Brewer7-Curtis Randle8-Javarcus Walker9-Tarmarcus Silvers10-Dewitt Clark11-Jessie Bryant12-Kendrick Cheatham13-Janerio Cunningham14-Ladarius Thompkins15-Jataquist Sherrod16-Daveon Ball17-Montreze Jones18-Jaylon Hodges19-Anthony Brewer20-Ladaveon Smith21-Antonio Boyd23-Antraveon Jamison24-Edrion Rice25-Mahlon Robinson26-Daquaveon Jones27-Roderick Patterson28-Darrell Brandon29-Denzell Clemons30-Shannessy Sherrod31-Terrian Dora32-Brian Joiner33-Douglas Triplett34-Qendarrion Barnett37-Victor Carr40-Ty’Quintion Ramsey42-Kalmorris Robinson43-Trayveon Jynes44-Zackery Kauffman46-Jaylon Davis52-Traon Young54-James Mason55-Curtis Gulley56-Bryce Turner57-Melvin Lewis60-Tamarcus Williams61-Cortez Webb67-Michael Brown68-Tyler Dooley69-Christian Jones73-John Harris74-Eddie Wells75-Bobby May76-John Cheatham77-Quincy Stokes84-Raakein Pippin85-Nathan Cobb86-Timothy Jackson87-Deboris Jones88-Kynbotric Mason89-Keith Sanders90-Ronnie Gray91-Jose Moran92-Jamarrius Bradford93-Shannderius Conner94-Jeffrey Simmons95-Jarvis Bardley96-Eddison Rice97-Trinity Conner98-Eddison Little99-Kenterius TurnerHead Coach:Tyrone ShorterCoaches:Michael AshfordMontez MillerEd SquareKenny BledsoeTerry DoraJames PattersonHeyward AshfordJoey SandersGary NaylorCurtis Bush

Oak Hill Academy2-Heath Ford3-Chase Nash4-Curt Huffman5-Kaleb Darnell6-Powell Tabor7-John Willis Stevens8-Steve Dragoo9-John Carver Middleton10-Paxton Trull11-Tyler Dragoo12-Ken Dill13-Dakota O’Bryant15-Blake Thomas18-Riley Pierce20 Chance Wilson21-Bradley Allen23-James Peavy24-Drake Riley26-Lane Clark28-Drew Riley30-Collins Brown32-A.J. Iseley34-Samuel Harrell35-Jacob Knowles38-Macon McBrayer41-Wills Hay44-Matthew Gwathney52-Brandon Crump54-Preston Hall55- Joseph Caskey56-Bryan McClellan57-Murry Falkner67-Robert Walker70-Caleb Roberson72-Clark Hays75-Cody Pearson81-Ben Holcombe

Starkville Academy2-Ben Morehead3-O’Shea Kemp4-Pierce Fondren5-Logan Locke7-Drake Gordman8-Blake Slaughter10-Billy McGee12-Houston Clark13-Grant Wolf17-Hunter Peeples18-Colt Crestman20-John McReynolds21-Joel Ray22-Alex Vaughn28-Dylan Dempsey30-Noah Heflin32-Kirby Cox33-Drew Harrell36-Houston Massey37-Jake Griffen44-Josh Crittenden47-Morgan Robertson52-Zach Mixon54-Tripp Janssen57-Harper Arnold

58-Colin Atwell59-Johnathon Black63-Tyler Richardson64-Johnathan Burton65-Sky Robinson71-Carter Wood72-Earl Sloan75-Seth Watson77-John Foster78-Bo Ford80-Andrew Richardson82-Reed GreenHead Coach: Jeff TerrillCoaches: Chase NicholsonBrad ButlerSam WrightAndrew PylateJody Britt

Starkville High2-Matt Fuller3-Derion Ford4-Haratio Williams5-Fontavious Smith6-Jaquez Horsley7-Princeton Jones8-Dakaven Townsend9-Terrance Grayer10-Raphael Leonard11-Tyler Rogers12-Taylor Johnston13-Jay Nelson14-Antonio Hinton15-AJ Brown16-Marlow Rogers17-Montario Montgomery18-Willie Gay19-Malik Sanders20-Quandirious Larry21-Juwon Mullins22-Jay Henderson23-Chris Rogers24-Tyler Moore25-Darius Grayer26-Jerry Johnson28-Avery Brown30-Ladorrious Pittman31-Tiriq Scott33-Shytraille Spruell34-Jordan Bowlin35-Isaiah Thompson36-Jeremy Skinner37-Jontavious Gardner38-Deontay Rogers39-Jack Spencer40-Cory Thompson41-Vincents Epps42-Alonzo Flowers43-Tyrell Harris44-Justin Ware45-Kevin Yang46-Jacorey Douglas47-Trumichael Johnson48-Cameron Johnston49-Marvell Tabb50-Jacory McCarter51-AJ Smith53-David Duck54-Ladarius Robinson55-Sedrick Brown56-Terrell Dailey57-Kobe Jones58-Tyler Barnes59-Sterling Buckner60-Tarius McNair61-Zavist Pastor62-Quez Roberts63-Tyler Cane64-Ben Griffith65-Austin Brown66-Bradley Roberson67-Lorenzo Dantzler68-Maleke Bell69-Donye Cannon70-Nautica Petty71-Isaiah Knox72-Maurice Reed73-David Usher74-Tyler Oliver75-Sirjiau Roby76-Cory Vaughn77-Evan Ware78-Michael Outlaw80-Jimpson Young81-Brandon Sparks82-Quenton Evans84-D’Angelo Lucious85-Trent Scales86-Parker Lemm87-Artavious Hendrix88-Bryon Senerrer89-Greg Hemphill91-Michael Godley93-Michael Sullivan94-John HainseyHead Coach:Jamie MitchellCoaches:Randy CarlisleTate FischerWillie GillespieCarlos KempPreston LeatherJack MurphyBrooks OakleyChris WaltersTate RogersCollin WaltersKyle WalkerDillon Mitchell

Victory Christian1-Austin Richardson2-Will Jones5-Reed Fulgham12-Hunter Austin21-Anthony Sharp22-Cody Bolton23-Burkley Jernigan24-Richard Pace42-Jordan Payne48-Chase Austin55-Bo McCrary56-Brandon Shaw69-Shane Bradford88-Cody AnthonyHead Coach:Chris HammCoaches:Kevin HarrellTodd DyerRonnie McDanielAndrew PaceJerry McCraryRodney Sullivan

West Lowndes1-Tyshon Rogers2-Daniel Davis3-Tre Williams4-Michael Williams5-Dartavious Clark6-Tyzavious Harris7-Javariou Ellis8-Justin Stephens10-Eric Harris11-Anthony Liddell12-J.T. Selvis13-Henry Brewer14-Phytrell Williams15-Marcus Farmer21-Roy Miller23-Dearia Douglas24-Kendrick Sanders27-Lamaron Fair50-Krayvon Harris51-Jalon Wright52-Desi Givens54-Denzell Beckwith55-Tyress Wells56-Jamarquis Jefferson57-Taras Woodson58-James Thomas60-Devonte Porter62-Wendell Reives64-Troy Evans66-Quantavis Mon74-Jeremy Hairston77-Marquise Given80-Joshua King88-Vicent Harris

West Oktibbeha1-Bradirick Reed2-Charles Mullins3-Demarcus Smith4-Davarius West5-Deshun Brown6-Zane Watson7-Eddie Johnson8-Kardarius Yates9-Lysanius Ford10-Tykendris Smith11-Ryan Hughs12-Justin Jones13-Zack Watson14-Jummie Bond15- Donterrious Cunningham16-Trynel Baker17-Qwainaine Henry18-Ronnie Cooper19-Murray Graise20-Braylon A. Fisher21-Kenyon Higgins22-Joseph Johnson23-Quantae Belle24-Donavon Hogan25-Dontavious Bell

West Point1-Kaelon Collins2-Josh Ewing3-Ariontae Warren4-Dvanta Randle5-Tyler Logan7-Jayson Burnett8-Jeffrey Drake9-Dason Thomas10-Nick Melton11-Donquenta Ewing12-Lagaris Wordlaw13-Javontae Harris15-Kaelan O’Neal16-Reshard Deanes17-Rashad Jones18-Steffon Moore19-Davion Bradshaw20-Tony Rush21-Shaquille Spears22-Aeris Williams23-Lacequiu Starks24-Roger Thomas25-Jammie Neal26-Davin Webb27-Thomas Williams28-Kenny Coleman29-Everett Quinn30-Demontae Rush31-Jauquinnton Brownlee32-Desmond Chandler33-Roger Price34-Devasquez Ford35-Traveon Williams36-Tyler Witherspoon38-Anias Walker39-Kjalil Smith40-Miller Keys43-Jalen Lee44-Jaylan White45-Kyle Gordon48-Tavaris Hawkins50-Josh Birchfield51-Jaylon Ewing52-Kadarius Forside53-Anthony Bluitt55-Deion Shelton57-Justin Nance58-Michael Cannon59-Devin Morton60-Lexus Ware61-Ericson Marble62-Jesse Sullivan63-Josh Collins64-Josh Coggins65-Gemario Shelton66-Tamarcus Myers67-Andre Morton68-Willie Owens69-Omar Lemus71-Lexus Price72-Nile Murunga73-Kevin Johnson76-Donald Wesley78-Scott Lashley79-Chris Humphries80-Ronald Carter81-Dettrick Shelton88-Jamario Bell90-Ladarius GallionHead Coach:Chris ChamblessCoaches:Lee J. GrishamFloizell WilsonKendall PickensRickey MeltonCasey WelchBrett MorganRoger BurtonMatt Snow

By MATTHEW [email protected]

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School football coach Jamie Mitchell had an interest-ing debate last spring and a couple weeks ago when training camp for the 2013 season started.

Mitchell had two op-tions. He could tell his team it still was defend-ing state champion but with no shot of winning another Class 5A title, or he tell his players last year was in the past and that it wouldn’t earn them any points this year.

Mitchell decided to tell his team both things.

“Every Friday night you’re going to have to play your heart out to win, and I think both players and coaches want that mentality every week,” Mitchell said. “We’ve al-ready told them this is not state championship winning football in this room yet. We carry that pressure of the legacy of Starkville’s past already, and we want to be a foot-ball team that goes to Jackson every year.”

Starkville enters the season in the unique po-sition of being the defend-ing Class 5A state cham-pions but not being able to defend its title because the Mississippi High School Activities Associ-ation’s reclassification in the offseason bumped it back to Class 6A for the first time since Mitchell’s first season at the school in 2010. The veteran coach feels his program

is much more prepared to play at the state’s highest level three years later.

“I feel like we’re a strong contender in our region to win the whole thing, and our expec-tations are no different than that,” Mitchell said. “My first year here in 6A was a year our program just wasn’t there. Our kids didn’t know how to win and compete. We’ve crossed that bridge.”

After winning the school’s first state title in 11 years, Mitchell is counting on his players to be excited about play-ing power programs liked Madison Central and Clin-ton and up-and-coming programs like Columbus every week.

“Class 6A is where the real football has been played for years in the state of Mississippi,” Starkville senior Princ-eton Jones said. “I still want a championship no matter who we play, and at Starkville, let’s face it, you’re judged on what you can do against the best in 6A.”


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2013 ScheduleAug. 23 At Noxubee Co.Aug. 30 OXFORDSept. 6 At West PointSept. 13 SOUTHAVENSept. 20 Open DateSept. 27 At ColumbusOct. 4 NORTHWEST

RANKINOct. 11 At Greenville-

WestonOct. 18 MADISON

CENTRALOct. 25 At MurrahNov. 1 At Warren CentralNov. 8 CLINTONHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 L, 8-29 NOXUBEE CO.Aug. 24 L, 8-24 At Madison Cent.Aug. 31 W, 28-0 At TupeloSept. 7 L, 22-47 WEST POINTSept. 14 Open DateSept. 21 W, 48-0 At LanierSept. 28 W, 23-6 At ProvineOct. 5 W, 23-0 RIDGELANDOct. 12 W, 42-0 At CantonOct. 19 W, 46-0 YAZOO CITYOct. 26 W, 34-16 At CallawayNov. 2 W, 21-10 NESHOBA CENT.Nov. 9 W, 45-7 SALTILLONov. 16 W, 28-7 OXFORDNov. 23 W, 29-28 OT WEST POINT Dec. 1 W, 28-11 Vs. PascagoulaHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 6ARegion 2Columbus

Madison CentralNW RankinStarkvilleClinton

GreenvilleMurrah

Warren Central


Dispatch StaffStarkville High School football coach Jamie Mitchell shudders from the effects of a Gatorade dousing from his players in the waning moments of the Yellow Jackets’ 28-11 victory against Pascagoula in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state title game.

SHS embRACeS move to 6A

“class 6a is where the real football has been played for years in the state of Mississippi.”

Starkville High School senior Princeton Jones

See STARKVILLE, 16

rill said. “Our strength this season is that we have more talent than we have had since I have been here. The weakness is that that talent is young. Our atten-dance during our summer program was good.

“We had some good 7-on-7 camp experienc-es and also had a good strength and conditioning program. However, noth-ing replaces live action.”

The Volunteers return three starters on offense and six starters on de-fense. Even returnees with vast playing time are few and far between. Thus, the leadership of the seniors is paramount for such a youthful squad.

“I want to have a really good final year,” Janssen said. “It is been hard for me getting used to being a leader on the team. I am used to being the small guy. However, with so many new guys, it is up to the seniors to lead by ex-ample.

“We really feel like we have accomplished a lot but we also want to leave the program in good shape.”

The Volunteers num-bers were bolstered by an influx of talented kids from the junior high pro-gram.

“Chad Peterson did such a great job with the junior high program when he was here,” Terrill said. “Those guys are used to two years of winning. They have a great work ethic. I feel like we are a team that will get better each week.

“Even though it is a year with a lot of question marks, I think it can be a year with a lot of fun.”

Sophomore Houston


Starkville academy volunteerSMississippi Association of Independent Schools: Class AAA, District 1AAA, Division II

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SchoolSept. 13 HILLCREST

CHRISTIANSept. 20 At Mag. HeightsSept. 27 WINSTON ACA.Oct. 4 MADISON-

RIDGELANDOct. 11 At Tupelo

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2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 13-0 At St. Andrew’sAug. L, 6-19 HERITAGEAug. 31 L, 14-25 At Mag. HeightsSept. 7 W, 45-0 LEAKESept. 14 W, 42-0 HILLCRESTSept. 21 L, 21-49 JACKSON PREPSept. 28 W, 40-0 At CopiahOct. 5 L, 12-35 At ParklaneOct. 12 W, 41-7 WINSTONOct. 19 L, 29-34 At East RankinOct. 26 L, 14-34 PRESBYTERIANNov. 2 L, 28-40 At Mag. HeightsHOME GAMES IN CAPS

coaching StaffHead coach

Jeff Terrill

n Chase Nicholsonn Brad Butlern Sam Wrightn Andrew Pylaten Jody Britt

QUARTERBACKHouston Clark (Soph.), Logan Locke (Jr.)

n The Volunteers will look for a pair of newcomers to lead the offense. Locke is a transfer in his first year with the program.

RUNNING BACKO’Shea Kemp (Sr.), Grant Wolf (Soph.)n Kemp is the lone returnee in the

offensive backfield.RECEIVERS

Colt Crestman (Soph.), Drake Gordman (Soph.), Andrew Richardson (Jr.),

John McReynolds (Jr.)n According to coach Jeff Terrill, Rich-

ardson has emerged as one of the bigger surprises of training camp. John McReyn-olds also saw playing time in the passing game last season.

OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE LINEMENTripp Janssen (Sr.), Colin Atwell (Sr.), Harper Arnold (Jr.), Jake Griffen (Sr.),

Zach Mixon (Jr.), Tyler Richardson (Jr.), Sy Robinson (Jr.), Earl Sloan (Jr.),

Bo Ford (Jr.)n Janssen and Atwell are returning

starters and will be asked to provide leadership on the offensive and defensive lines. Each earned postseason honors a season ago. While there is youth on both lines, Terrill feels like the progress that has been made in camp and believes both units should be ready to perform.

LINEBACKERDrew Harrell (Jr.), Josh Crittenden (Jr.),

Jonathon Black (Jr.)Of the Volunteers’ six returning starters

on defense, three are in this group. SECONDARY

Kirby Cox (Sr.), Reed Green (Jr.), Blake Slaughter (Jr.), Joel Ray (Jr.),

Hunter Peeples (Jr.)n Youth will be served in this group.

However, players on this side of the ball had slightly more playing time than on offense. Terrill and his senior leaders indi-cate the defense improved in the summer. The Volunteers will look to build on a strong October run from that side of the ball when the new season begins.

— Scott Walters

a cloSer look

Every Tuesday, The Dispatch will rec-ognize a standout prep performer.

If you would like to nominate a prep player of the week, call us at 662-327-1297 or e-mail us at sports@cdispatch.

com before 5 p.m. Saturday.Be sure to give us a reason why you

are nominating the player, and be sure to give us as many statistics from the past week’s action.

Prep Player of Week

SENIORS WANT TO KEEP PUSHING VOLS AHEADBY SCOTT [email protected]

STARKVILLE — While it seems simplistic, one of the best moves Jeff Terrill has made in his four seasons as Starkville Academy’s football coach may have been the easiest.

“He taught us to set goals,” Starkville Acade-my senior lineman Colin Atwell said. “Suddenly, we had something to play for week in and week out. That is the biggest change in the program. We always know what we are fighting for and what we are trying to accomplish.”

After a lengthy and successful run at Itawam-ba Community College, Terrill retired and later became football coach at Starkville Academy. The last squad before his arriv-al at Starkville Academy didn’t win a game.

“The first season was about mind-set,” Starkville Academy senior lineman Tripp Janssen said. “We learned how to compete. We slowly learned how to win. We went from win-ning three games one year to 10 the next. All of a sud-den, all of the expectations changed for everybody in-volved with the program.”

In 2011, Starkville Academy advanced to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, Division II state championship game. Even though the cham-pionship game was a loss to Greenville Washington, this group of Volunteers was still in unchartered waters, having last played for the state title when winning it in 2005.

The Volunteers did return to the playoffs in 2012, before losing in the

Dispatch File PhotoStarkville Academy’s Tripp Janssen celebrates after making a play against Heritage Academy last season. Janssen figures to play a key role on the Volunteers’ lines.

first round to finish 5-7.“The program has

come to the point where when we don’t reach all of our goals, we are dis-appointed,” Janssen said. “Even though we don’t have a lot of seniors, the seniors really want to go

out on a high note. We feel like we are the class that helped bring the football program back. We take a lot of pride in that.

“So from our stand-point, there is still a lot of work left to be done.”

There are only six se-

niors on the Starkville Academy 37-player roster. Terrill cautions the av-erage fan to not confuse “young” with “lack of tal-ent.”

“We are giving our kids whole milk to drink instead of Gatorade,” Ter- See VOLUNTEERS, 15

Clark and junior Logan Locke are battling for the quarterback job in fall camp. Running backs include senior O’Shea Kemp and sophomore Grant Wolf. Wide outs include sophomore Colt Crestman and sophomore Drake Gordman.

Returning center Atwell will anchor the of-fensive line.

“Even though the of-fense is younger,” Atwell said. “I think we have a bunch of talent on the offense. The offense will have to grow and make strides. We are set at quarterback and we have some good players in the backfield and on the of-fensive line, too.”

Defensively, the team will be led by its line-backers, where junior Drew Harrell, junior Josh Crittenden, and junior Jonathon Black return. Janssen and junior Harp-er Arnold will anchor the defensive line.

Last season, the Volun-teers posted four shutouts defensively and allowed only one touchdown in another win. Starkville Academy will look to better those defensive numbers this season. The question is - How quickly can the new-look offense join the party?

“The first couple of weeks, the offense is re-ally going to be a work in progress,” Janssen said.”On the defensive side of the ball, our job is to lead and help get the season off to a good start. When you have three starters back on offense, you naturally are worried. But I am not. I know we have some good players on that side of the ball.”

Senior Jonathan Bur-ton will handle punting

and place-kicking duties. Terrill will be assisted by Brad Butler (defensive coordinator), Chase Nich-olson (offensive coordina-tor), and Colin Johnson (line). Junior high coach-es include Sam Wright, Andrew Pylate, and Jody Britt. Student coaches in-clude Alex Maxwell and Brooks Roberts.

“The fall practices are a little more important this year, as well as the scrimmage games,” Ter-rill said. “You always have a player or two who come through and surprise you. It is always different when the lights come on for real. We like what we have. It is a just a matter of putting it altogether and growing as a team.”

With the blueprint for success now in its fourth season of implementation, the goal process contin-

ues to churn and new ex-pectations are realized on a weekly basis.

“We have a good en-thusiasm level and every-body has worked really hard during the off-sea-son,” Atwell said. “For the seniors, we don’t want to have a bad season. You always want to do bet-ter than you did the year before. We have set our goals to do just that.”


east oktibbeha titansMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 1A, Region 3; 2012 Record: 2-9 (1-7)

2013 ScheduleSept. 13 At Nanih WaiyaSept. 20 SEBASTOPOLSept. 27 At NoxapaterOct. 4 FRENCH CAMPOct. 11 At West

OktibbehaOct. 18 WEST

LOWNDESNov. 1 At PelahatchieNov. 8 ETHEL

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 L, 6-40 At Leake CountyAug. 24 W, 55-0 At McAdamsAug. 31 L, 13-52 At North

PontotocSept. 7 L, 20-44 At SebastopolSept. 14 W, 33-24 ETHELSept. 21 L, 0-14 At West

LowndesSept. 28 Open DateOct. 5 L, 6-48 NOXAPATEROct. 12 L, 16-56 At PelahatchieOct. 19 L, 6-34 WEST

OKTIBBEHAOct. 26 L, 6-28 At Nanih WaiyaNov. 2 L, 20-21 WEIRHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 1ARegion 3

East OktibbehaEthel





Class 3ADistrict 1AAA,

Division IIJackson Academy

MRAWashington SchoolHeritage AcademyHillcrest Christian

Magnolia Heights SchoolPillow Academy

Starkville Academy


VolunteersContinued from Page 14

Dispatch File PhotoStarkville Academy coach Jeff Terrill hopes his team’s new-look offense doesn’t take too long to find its rhythm at the beginning of the season.

QUARTERBACKTyshawn Spencer, John Kincade

n Kincade is in the lead to win the starting job due to his commit-ment to learn the system.

“He’s able to take control of the team, and he works extremely hard,” East Oktibbeha County High School coach John Davis said.

RUNNING BACKJustin Williams, Dustin Covington

n Williams was the Titans’ lead back a year ago. He will reprise that role this season.

“Justin is a big, strong runner,” Davis said. “I’m expecting him to be the workhorse back, playing a lot of fullback, break arm tackles and pick up 3 yards.”

RECEIVERSTyshon Spencer, Octavius Rogers,

Mario Thomas, Zach McCarter

n Spencer is one of the team’s most versatile athletes; he’ll be the team’s go-to wide out if he doesn’t win the starting quarterback job.

“Tyshon has pretty good hands, as does Octavious. Mario is a smaller guy, but he can catch,” Davis said.

OFFENSIVE LINEClayton Carr, Robert McCarter, Jacobi Jones, Ricky Armstead,

Anthony Huntern Carr started last season and

is the team’s top lineman.“We’re going to start two

ninth-graders (Jones, Armstead), but the other three have experi-ence,” Davis said.

DEFENSIVE LINECharles Rice,

Robert McCarter, Ricky Armstead, Anthony Hunter

n Rice is a returning starter

at defensive end who can slide to tackle.

“We spend a lot of time running and hitting the sled to make sure those guys can last both ways,” Davis said.

LINEBACKERJustin Williams, Zach McCarter,

John Kincaden The Titans will run a 3-4 base,

with an onus of pressuring the quarterback consistently.

“It’s what we ran at West Point, and I have more linebacker types than linemen,” Davis said.

SECONDARYJohn Kincaid, Tyshon Spencer, Oc-tavius Rogers, Dustin Covington,

LaDavion Cannonn Kincaid will be a hybrid line-

backer/defensive back.“He played a lot of DB last

year,” Davis said. “He’s versatile

enough to play at the line and in space.”

SECONDARYJohn Kincaid, Tyshon Spencer,

Tavious Rogers, Dustin Covington, LaDavion Cannon

n Kincaid may be in a lineback-er/defensive back role

“(Kincaid) played a lot of DB last year,” Davis said. “He is versatile. His position, you have to be able to play up on the line, back off, and cover. He’s strong enough and quick enough.

SPECIALISTSJustin Williams

n Williams handled kicking duties last season.

“We have some time to sort that out, but it’s Justin for now,” Davis said.

— David Miller

a CLoseR Look


CRAWFORD — When members of the East Oktibbeha High School football team found out in the spring that their weights had been stolen from their field house, players felt like more dirt had been thrown on a team that already had so much working against it.

The Titans, who haven’t had a winning season since 2007, won’t play a full schedule this year due to the fact the Mississippi Department of Education has the school under conservatorship.

But before that move was an-nounced last fall, the Titans felt short-changed every Friday night. Outfit-ted in worn-out, tattered jerseys and dated equipment, the Titans never felt like they had the community’s support. Having their weights stolen was rock bottom for the players — emotionally and physically.

“It got to me a little bit,” offensive lineman Clayton Carr said. “For someone to break in and steal the weights, that slowed us up a little bit. We’ve been losing, and for someone to break in and steal our weights ... what else is gonna happen?”

The team also had to adjust to a new coach: John Davis. The former Starkville High lineman and West

Point assistant coach takes over for Randy Brooks, who coached the team the past three seasons.

Davis, thorough and stern, also brought the commitment and atti-tude the players needed, Carr said.

“He’s looking out for us,” Carr said. “We weren’t sure if we’d get weights, but coach made it happen. Coach is trying to get junior high

new helmets and get us new jerseys. We’re looking forward to that. We’ve wanted some new home uniforms for a while.”

Carr said the county’s administra-tion has been supported his efforts to have his players “look like a football team.”

“Starting with our players, we’re making sure we get rid of the attitude

that it’s OK to not win,” Davis said. “Instilling confidence will be the hardest part of the job.”

Davis takes over a team that has languished at the bottom of Class 1A, Region 3 for the past six years. The Titans won two games last season and five in 2011.

Davis has a little more than 20 players on his roster, about 10 fewer than Brooks had in his final season.

After stints at Lawrence County, where he served as offensive coor-dinator, Grenada, and West Point, Davis could have held out for his first head coach job.

“It’s definitely a challenge, but I wanted to see if I could take the pro-gram to the next level,” Davis said. “I want this team to make playoffs year in and year out. I’ve heard about tal-ent and size at the school. I want to see where I can take them.”

The players are aware East Ok-tibbeha may not have been the most appealing job to coaching candi-dates, but Carr said the players have reciprocated Davis’ commitment to the team. “We’re all feeling like win-ners,” said Carr, who’ll play offensive and defensive line this season. “That attitude, that feeling ... we just haven’t had anything like it around here. You’ll play hard and come to work ready to learn everyday for a guy like (Davis).”

DAvIS bRIngS CommItment, AttItuDe to eoCHS

David Miller/Special to The DispatchFormer West Point High School assistant coach John Davis is trying to change the culture as a first-year head coach at East Oktibbeha County High.


MABEN — Like many families on Thanksgiving Day, fraternal twins Zane and Zachery Watson were traveling the state’s high-ways, visiting family, and enjoying turkey, fun, and fellowship.

Traveling with their mother, the Watsons’ holiday was halted by an event every family prays never happens: a car ac-cident.

Zane suffered a bro-ken hand and dislocated shoulder; Zach’s injuries were far worse. Their mother, according to the duo, suffered minor in-ternal injuries. Zach, two minutes younger than Zane, suffered a facial lac-eration and carries a scar near his chin from the accident. He also had his biceps muscle torn from the bone. Zach’s repaired arm, nearly two years lat-er, looks like meat after it has been tenderized with a mallet.

For the first few months following the ac-cident, he was unsure if he’d be able to straighten his arm, much less earn a starting spot on the West Oktibbeha County High School football team’s re-built offensive line. Phys-ical therapy resulted in so much pain he ended it ahead of schedule in favor of working at home and lifting weights at school.

“It was stiff, really stiff,” Zach said. “It’s amazing I didn’t break any bones. The doctors didn’t want me to play. When I went to the bone doctor, he told me, ‘If you get out there and break a bone, come on back and I’ll fix you up.’”

Zach and Zane were freshmen when the car accident happened. Zane made it back to speed quicker, earning play-ing time on both sides of the ball in 2012. Zach played a limited role on

special teams. He hopes his increased effort in the weight room will help him contend for a starting spot this season.

“(Zach) worked really hard,” Zane said, “and I know it wasn’t easy for

him. We’d lift together, and I’d take my weight off to put his on until he caught up.”

Surprisingly, Zach has little to no feeling in his right bicep. For a line-man, who is required to control defensive players with quick, strong hands, playing without feeling in half an arm presents chal-lenges.

Zane has the answer, though.

“Chop blocking,” he said. “You gotta have great technique and be quick to do it right.”

First-year West Oktib-beha coach Danny Craw-ford, who also serves as athletics director and boys basketball coach,

replaces Adam Lowrey as coach. He said the Watsons have helped the team transition from a pass-oriented offense to a run-heavy system.

“They acknowledged the fact we had to switch things up and had to change to be productive,” Crawford said. “With Zane and Zach, we feel extreme-ly confident we can run be-hind them consistently.”

The Timberwolves went 8-3 and 6-2 in Class 1A, Region 3 last season, the team’s best mark un-der Lowrey. The record was good enough for third in the district and a spot in the 1A playoffs. However, the school was placed under conserva-

torship by the Mississippi Department of Education, which disqualified it from postseason play. The Timberwolves are in the same situation this year, and will play only district games. While most teams open the season Aug. 24, the Timberwolves will have to wait until the sec-ond week of September.

The schedule will give the Timberwolves valu-able time to find replace-ments for quarterback Von Smith and running back Tiberias Lampkin, who combined for more than 4,700 yards of of-fense in 2012. It also will give Zach a few more weeks to work on his blocking technique.

The team’s biggest question mark is at quar-terback. After Chris Wil-son left the Mississippi State University football staff to take the job as de-fensive line coach at the University of Georgia, his 16-year-old son, Caleb, left with the family and is now playing football at North Oconee High in Buford, Ga. Caleb Wilson backed up MSU signee Gabe Myles at quarter-back and had 288 yards passing in two starts last season for the injured Myles.

The same day Mitchell knew the Wilson family was moving, senior-to-be Jones had a meeting with the coaching staff. Suddenly the starting quarterback at Starkville High was in the hands of a converted wide receiver with four pass attempts in his high school career.

“I was kind of shocked, but I knew the day after Caleb moved away I was ready to go to work know-ing I was the next in line at quarterback,” Jones said.

Jones, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound athlete, will be asked to run a slower version of the run-based spread look made famous recently by the University of Oregon. The offense features a quarterback with speed who can make quick decisions with the ball. Jones is expected to deliver the football to what Mitchell calls the deepest talent at skill positions he has had at Starkville.

“It’s really based off Oregon’s system where I have about three seconds to get somebody the foot-ball and let them do the

work,” Jones said. “When you have so many weap-ons around you, it makes your role so much less.”

The athletes behind

Jones are senior Lador-rious Pittman and junior Jaquez Horsley. In a back-up role last year, Horsley had 777 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Pittman returns after a severe ankle injury took him out of all but two games last year.

On the outside, senior Darius Grayer played most of the season with a cast on his thumb but still managed 746 all-purpose yards as one of the fastest members of the team.

“We think (Jaquez) will have a breakout year because he just looks great in practice,” Mitch-ell said. “We’re really pleased with our skill guys in terms of their skill set and playmaking ability.”

The Yellow Jackets re-

turn eight starters from a defense led by coordi-nator Brooks Oakley that allowed just 32 points in Class 5A region play last season. The defen-sive front is highlighted by 255-pound sopho-more Maleke Bell, who by sheer will and work ethic forced Mitchell to do something he doesn’t care to do: play freshman on the varsity. On the line with Bell is 255-pound senior Justin Ware, who had three sacks and three tackles for loss last sea-son. The linebacker duo of Taylor Johnston and Marlow Rogers combined for 105 tackles and will be asked to fly around the field in numerous angles and spots this season.

“In our inside seven players on defense, we

have six returning, and those are big boys that have done some special things for us in games,” Mitchell said. “Hopeful-ly we can control some things up front to allow our secondary to grow.”

Mitchell may violate his code about playing freshmen again when he puts Willie Gay into the game. Mitchell he calls Gay one of the most im-pressive athletes he has seen.

“If things don’t change, we may start Willie after he had a great spring, and he’s not your typical ninth-grader,” Mitchell said. “He’s 6-foot-1, 180 pounds already. Without any question he will be a phenomenal player for us before it’s all over.”

When Mitchell took the job at Starkville High in 2010, he had two objec-tives. He accomplished the first last year by win-ning a state champion-ship. The second will be determined starting Sept. 27 when Starkville will face Columbus. That’s when Mitchell will see if his program is prepared to compete in Class 6A.

“Leadership is going to be a key because we have new people stepping up and showing they can get the job done,” Jones said. “That’s what the future of Starkville football is about. Next man and next group up and show every-body how it’s done.”


west oktibbeha wolverinesMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 1A, Region 3; 2012 Record: 8-3 (6-2)

2013 ScheduleSept. 13 At SebastopolSept. 20 NOXAPATERSept. 27 At French CampOct. 4 WEST LOWNDESOct. 11 EAST OKTIBBEHAOct. 25 PELAHATCHIENov. 1 At EthelNov. 8 At Nanih WaiyaHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 66-6 SV MARSHALLAug. 24 W, 56-6 At Montgomery Co.Aug. 31 Open DateSept. 6 L, 10-41 At EuporaSept. 14 W, 52-20 NANIH WAIYASept. 21 W, 54-6 At WeirSept. 28 W, 46-24 SEBASTOPOLOct. 5 W, 50-14 At EthelOct. 12 W,44-8 WEST LOWNDESOct. 19 W, 34-6 At East OktibbehaOct. 26 L, 6-57 NOXAPATERNov. 2 L, 26-54 At PelahatchieHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 1ARegion 3

East OktibbehaEthel





StarkvilleContinued from Page 13

QUARTERBACKPrinceton Jones (Sr.),

AJ Smith (Soph.)n Jones, a two-year

starter at wide receiver, will take over for Mississippi State University football signee Gabe Myles. He slid into the role after Caleb Wilson’s family moved from Mississippi to Georgia.

RUNNING BACKLadorrious Pittman (Sr.),

Jaquez Horsley (Jr.), Matt Fuller (Jr.)

n Pittman is coming off a injury that kept him out of most of last season. He also will be used as a slot receiver. Horsley averaged more than 7 yards a carry last season.

RECEIVERSDarius Grayer (Sr.),

Fontavious Smith (Sr.), Raphael Leonard (Jr.),

AJ Brown (Soph.)Starkville coach Jamie

Mitchell calls this his best group of receivers. Grayer

is the fastest player on the roster. Smith has returned after missing his junior sea-son with a injury. Leonard and Brown look the part at 6-foot-1 athletes, but they are inexperienced.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN/ DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

AJ Smith (So.), Kobe Jones (Soph.), Tyler Barnes (Jr.),

Quez Roberts (Soph.) Antonio Hinton (Jr.),

Derion Ford (Jr.), Justin Ware (Sr.),

Maleke Bell (Soph.)n Mitchell said he has

the most athletic fronts he has had at Starkville. The coaches are excited about the chances Jones and Bell have to play Division I football in two years.

LINEBACKERTaylor Johnston (Sr.), Marlow Rogers (Sr.), Jordan Bowlin (Jr.), Chris Rogers (Jr.),

Alonso Flowers (Jr.), Tyrell Harris (So.)

Johnston and Rogers combined for 105 tackles last season. They will be asked to fly around the field in numerous angles and spots this season.

SECONDARYJerry Johnson (Sr.), Tyler Rogers (Jr.),

Horatio Williams (Jr.), Jacorey Douglas (Jr.),

Willie Gay (Fr.)The back of the de-

fense worries the coaches because of its youth and inexperience, but Gay, a ninth-grader, could surprise.

SPECIALISTSMichael Godley (Jr.)

n Godley will likely handle the punt and kicking duties. Mitchell calls him the best field goal kicker he has had since arriving at Starkville. Mitchell said Godley might be the area’s best kicker.

— Matt Stevens

a Closer look


Danny Crawford

n Calvin Robinson — Defense, Special Teamsn Donald Norman — Offense

WAtSon tWinS plAy key Role in WoCHS tRAnSition

David Miller/Special to The DispatchWest Oktibbeha County High School twins, Zane, left, and Zach Watson, have overcome a holiday car accident to earn starting positions on the Timberwolves’ offensive line.

QUARTERBACKRyan Hughes (So.),

Jimmy Bond (Jr.)n Hughes backed up

four-year starter Von Smith last season and received limited reps.

“What I like about Ryan is his strong arm and his ability to tuck and run,” West Oktibbeha coach Danny Crawford said.

RUNNING BACKEddie Johnson (Sr.),

Ty Smith (Jr.)n Neither player logged

a carry last year. Johnson is playing his first year in Maben.

Tyrone Stevens (Jr.)Offensive Line

Zane Watson (Jr.), Zach Watson (Jr.), Davarius West (Sr.)

n The Timberwolves return more experience here than any other position.

DEFENSIVE LINEZane Watson (Jr.), Zach Watson (Jr.), Davarius West (Sr.)

n Like previous seasons, many of the Timberwolves’ linemen will play both ways.

LINEBACKERRyan Hughes (Jr.),

Ty Smith (Jr.), Eddie Johnson (Sr.)

n Hughes is the most athletic of the group. He also is the starting point guard for Crawford’s basket-ball team.

SECONDARYTy Smith (Jr.),

Charles Mullins (Fr.), Eddie Johnson (Sr.), DeShun Brown (Sr.)

None of the Timber-wolves’ 12 interceptions were recorded by current members of the secondary.

“Smith is our most versa-tile players and will be our captain,” Crawford said.

SPECIALISTSRyan Hughes (Jr.)

Hughes will be the kicker and punter for the first time in his career.

— David Miller

a Closer look at woChs

“with Zane and Zach, we feel extremely confident we can run behind them consistently.”West Oktibbeha County

High School football coach Danny Crawford

“in our inside seven players on defense, we have six returning, and those are big boys that have done some special things for us in games.”

Starkville High School football coach Jamie Mitchell


MACON — Better for-tunes are ahead.

That’s the only way T.J. Coleman knows how to approach the 2013 foot-ball season.

A year ago, Coleman was a junior on a Central Academy eight-man foot-ball team that suffered key graduation losses from the previous sea-son. Losing nine seniors, including leaders Drew Pearson and Cole New-man, having a roster of less than 20 players and without any seniors, and adjusting to new coach Bobby Bowman were the first hurdles the Vikings had to navigate.

That’s when things started to get rough.

An 11-man team would have had trouble over-coming the number of injuries Central Acade-my suffered last season. Junior Steven Lane tore an anterior cruciate liga-ment in his knee, backup quarterback Lee Sciple broke his collarbone, and Coleman broke his leg in a Homecoming game loss to archrival Kemper Academy.

“It was rough,” Cole-man said. “Coming out, we thought we might have a chance and we got blowed away and every-body starting keying on me and keying on Russ (Taylor). We kind of got our hopes down after the first three games. It was just rough. We just dread-ed Friday night. This year, I believe we’re going to be back where we need to be.”

Coleman and Taylor are part of a five-player senior class that will help make up for the lack of leadership in 2012. The seniors also will help the program adjust to Steve Ball, its third coach in as many years. Ball, who is from Louisville, is a first-time head coach and a newcomer to eight-man football. His coaching ex-perience includes stints at Louisville High School and at Grace Christian School in Louisville, where he helped out both programs.

Ball was named head coach at Central Acade-my about a month ago. He said he has helped with the football teams at Lou-isville High School and other places, including Grace Christian, which also is in Louisville. Ball

heard the job was open by word of mouth. Last season, Central Acade-my battled key gradua-tion losses and suffered through an injury

“I wanted an opportuni-ty to see what we could do with it,” Ball said. “They have a good attitude. They are trying hard and will do anything you ask them to do. We just don’t have a lot of size.”

Matt Taylor ad Mi-chael Dawkins will serve as assistant coaches for a program that started the school year with 13 players on the roster. Ball said he hoped to go through the school and find more players to build depth and avoid the di-lemma the team faced in 2012 when the injuries left the Vikings with an inexperienced and un-dersized group made up largely of eighth-graders.

Coleman said he has tried to forget last sea-son’s 0-9 finish. The Vikings were shut out five times and lost by an average of more than 36 points per game. They scored in double figures only once, a season-end-ing 40-14 loss to Calvary Christian.

“Those eighth-grad-ers really dreaded Friday night. They were terri-fied,” Coleman said. “I just try to look forward to better things. This year, we have it spread out and a lot of different people are getting the ball and running a lot of different plays. We’re spreading it out. I am not as nervous about this year as I was about last year.”

Coleman’s optimism stems from Ball’s inclu-sive nature and a return to some of the style the Vikings used under for-mer coach Ronnie Sciple. Taylor, who will be offen-sive coordinator, said his work as assistant coach is like going back to school because he is incorporat-ing some of Sciple’s plays. Taylor was a part of Cen-tral Academy teams that had plenty of size up front and could control the line of scrimmage and then use their speedy running backs — including some that would be hard to see behind the linemen — to get to the edges.

This season, Lane and Colby Robbins will be the team’s biggest of-fensive linemen, but they don’t weigh more than 190 pounds. Taylor was part of an offensive line

that he said averaged 280 pounds.

“It is a lot different,” said Taylor, who is a stu-dent at Mississippi State University working to-ward his degree in chem-ical engineering. “The players can’t say I don’t know what they’re doing or what they have been through because I ran the same hill for three years and they’re running the same plays I ran for three years.

“I see a lot of effort out there to make them-selves better and to do better than last year. They seem hungry. They want it more this year. They have five seniors this year who last year didn’t win a game. They had to be the leaders last year. I think they are re-ally trying to push the team forward.”

Ball, who said Taylor is “the brains behind the operations,” has im-mersed himself in the nuances of eight-man football by watching plenty of film with Tay-lor, who played on the offensive line for Sciple. In 2010, Taylor was part of the Central Academy team that lost to Kemper Academy 56-18 in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Eight-Man title game in Jackson.

Ball also will lean on Dawkins, who has two sons, William and Pres-ton, on the team. His goal is to have a coaching staff that relies on input from the players and uses sug-gestions from anyone to make things work.

“I have enjoyed it,” Ball said. “It has been a pret-ty easy transition with all of the support I have received, especially with people like Matt and Mi-chael Dawkins. I couldn’t do it without them. Work-ing with them makes the job easy.”

Ball said has learned from a lot of coaches, including two — Bobby Hall and Mike Justice — he spent a lot of time with. He respects both coaches and acknowledged each man had his style. He en-visions his style will be closer to Hall’s style — who he agreed is similar in style and demeanor to former Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden — instead of Justice’s, who Ball said is more like longtime NFL coach Bill Parcells.

“Mike is more of an

old-school coach,” Ball said. “Bobby Hall’s style is a better fit with my coaching style.”

Coleman likes the fact the Vikings have a former player back in the fold. He also senses a different dy-namic from the coaches from last season.

“Both coaches are open to discussion is what I like,” Coleman said. “They will ask you questions about what you think you need to run, what is open, what is not. Matt played under (coach Sciple). I played under (coach Sciple). We both know the plays. We’re go-ing back to old plays that worked at one time and see what happens.

“I really like having (Ball) here. He is open to discussion. He push-es us to do better, he compliments us when we do good. He gives us a lot more confidence than what we had last year. Last year when we messed up there wasn’t no, do this to get better. It was run. It really got our confidence down when our coach did that. I real-ly like it.”

Taylor said the coach-es want the players to have fun this season. He knows the younger play-ers suffered too many physical manhandlings in 2012 and he hopes he can tailor an offense that helps them avoid those mismatches. The pres-

ence of junior Lashaun Hill should give the Vi-kings a different dimen-sion at running back.

“Lashaun Hill is one of the fastest players I have seen in eight-man foot-ball,” Taylor said. “Russ Taylor doesn’t back down from anyone. T.J. is real smart at quarterback.”

Darrell Tate, Tanner Dinsmore, and Lane round out a senior class that also hopes to get contributions from junior Dalton Outz, sophomores Dylan Manning and Ja-cob Sellers, and fresh-men Jack Vandevender.

“They can do whatever they want to,” Taylor said. “A lot of the bigger teams are going to have size on us, so that is going to be difficult for us to handle. What they don’t have in size they make up for speed and heart.”

Coleman, who will play quarterback, hopes the Vikings can be more bal-anced so teams don’t key on one or two players. If that happens, he likes the prospects for the season. If there is anything he hopes to take from last year it is toughness.

“They’re all ready to play,” Coleman said. “They have a little grit and got experience last year. Now I believe we’re going excel. They are really showing improve-ment, in the weight room, out there, endurance. They are all improving.”


central academy vikingsMississippi Association of Independent Schools: Eight-Man Football Class 1, District 7A; 2012 Record: 0-9

Proud Supporter of theCentral Academy Vikings

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2013 ScheduleAug. 23 MT. SALUSAug. 30 At StriderSept. 6 At VeritasSept. 13 KEMPERSept. 20 At RebulSept. 27 CALVARY

CHRISTIANOct. 4 Open DateOct. 11 CALHOUNOct. 18 HEBRON

CHRISTIANOct. 25 At Calvary

ChristianNov. 1 At KemperHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 L, 0-24 CALVARYAug. 24 L, 6-46 At CalhounAug. 31 L, 0-26 DELTASept. 7 L, 0-62 At MarvellSept. 14 L, 6-46 KEMPERSept. 21 L, 0-30 HEBRON

CHRISTIANSept. 28 L, 0-45 At Russell

ChristianOct. 5 L, 8-42 NORTH

SUNFLOWEROct. 12 Open DateOct. 19 L, 14-40 At CalvaryHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Eight-ManClass A, District 7A

Calhoun AcademyCentral AcademyHebron AcademyKemper AcademyStrider Academy


n Number of times Central Academy was shut out last season en route to an 0-9 final record.

By the numBers

5

34n Total points the team scored last season. The Vikings scored a season-high 14 points in their last game, a 40-14 loss to Calvary Christian.

13n Number of players Central Academy had for its first practice of the season. First-year coach Steve Ball said he hoped to build depth by going through the school to find more players in hopes of preventing injuries from decimating his roster, like what happened last season.

Adam Minichino/Dispatch Staff Central Academy will look to seniors (from left) Tanner Dinsmore, Darrell Tate, Steven Lane, T.J. Coleman, and Russ Taylor to help the program rebound from an injury-plagued 0-9 finish in 2012.

SEnioRS hopE to hElp VikingS REVERSE foRtunES


MACON — Jessie Bryant and Eric Hunt have heard the talk. They also feel the stares from people in Macon and Noxubee County.

Everyone has an opin-ion if Bryant and Hunt will be up to the task. They also want to know how the Nox-ubee County High School football team is going to replace 23 seniors from its 2012 Mississippi High School Activities Associa-tion Class 4A state champi-onship squad.

Bryant and Hunt don’t have all of the answers, but they have the confidence and experience as seniors to know they will be part of the answer.

“It feels like everybody is looking up to you and watching how you set an example and how you lead,” Bryant said. “If you work hard, they feel like they have to work hard and they will push themselves like you are pushing your-self. It is a lot of responsi-bility to carry and you have to do right by that respon-sibility.”

Said Hunt, “Coach (Ty-

rone) Shorter always says immature. We need to grow up. (The younger players) have started to come along a little better, but our se-niors have to come togeth-

er and be leaders.”A year ago, Noxubee

County defeated Greene County 16-6 to cap the pro-gram’s first 16-0 season and win its second state

title. Coming on the heels of a state championship in 2008, Noxubee Coun-ty has 109 victories since 2003, which is tied with West Point and Lafayette

for fourth in the state of Mississippi. Only South Pa-nola (140 victories), Wayne County (114), and Meridi-an (110) have more wins in that span. Noxubee County has won at least 10 games in eight of the past 10 sea-sons.

Success like that would suggest the Tigers are used to reloading, not re-building. But whether you use the word regroup or re-form to illustrate the mag-nitude of the Tigers’’ grad-uation losses — players like Darrell Robinson, The Dispatch’s Large Schools Player of the Year and de-fensive stalwarts Dylan Bradley and Javancy Jones — it is also apparent that Shorter and his coaches have plenty of talent. The unanswered questions are how quickly will the Tigers’ young players respond and how will they hold up in tight games when plays need to be made.

“This group coming back, even though they were a part of the team last year, they weren’t starters,” Shorter said. “I keep telling them every team is different. They realize and understand


noxubee county tigersMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 4A, Region 4; 2012 Record: 16-0 (5-0)

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2013 ScheduleAug. 23 STARKVILLEAug. 30 COLUMBUSSept. 6 LOUISVILLESept. 13 At AberdeenSept. 20 WEST POINT Oct. 4 KOSCIUSKOOct. 11 At Leake

CentralOct. 18 WEST

LAUDERDALEOct. 25 CALEDONIANov. 1 At Houston

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 29-8 At StarkvilleAug. 25 W, 45-13 CRAIGMONTAug. 31 W, 60-14 NEW HOPESept. 7 W, 45-0 At AberdeenSept. 14 W. 6-0 At West PointSept. 21 W, 45-0 KEMPER CO.Sept. 28 W, 29-0 KOSCIUSKOOct. 5 W, 42-3 At Leake CentralOct. 12 W, 40-13 HOUSTONOct. 18 W, 41-28 At LouisvilleOct. 26 W, 34-7 At CaledoniaNov. 2 W, 42-6 SHANNONNov. 9 W, 14-0 LAFAYETTENov. 16 W, 16-3 At Itawamba AHSNov. 23 W, 41-21 LOUISVILLEDec. 1 W, 16-6 Vs. Greene Co. HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 4ARegion 4CaledoniaHouston

KosciuskoLeake Central

West LauderdaleNoxubee County



Tyrone Shorter

n James Patterson — Offensive Coordinatorn Ed Square — Defensive Coordinatorn Michael Ashford — Offensive Linen Montez Millern Kenny Bledsoen Terry Doran Heyward Ashfordn Joey Sandersn Gary Naylorn Michael Johnson — Team Chaplain

by the numbersn Number of seniors Noxubee County will have to replace from last season’s team.

23 n Number of seniors Noxubee County has on this year’s team. 17 n Number of

shutouts the Tigers had last season. The team allowed only 36 points in five playoff games.

5 n Number of all-purpose touchdowns Darrell Robinson scored last season. It was a state record for a single season.

50 n Number of wide receivers 6-foot-2 or taller Noxubee County has on the roster this season.

4

Micah Green/Dispatch Staff Noxubee County High School seniors Jessie Bryant, left, Eric Hunt, and the rest of the Tigers will be decked out in new uniforms this season as they try to repeat as Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A state champions.

TigeRS hAve ReloAded in queST foR AnoTheR TiTle

Dispatch File Photo Noxubee County High School coach Tyrone Shorter holds the 2012 Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A state championship trophy last season.

See NOXUBEE CO., 24

VictoryContinued from Page 9

showed the desire was real. The smaller num-bers may have helped bring the team closer together because the Ea-gles realized they needed everybody on deck all of the time to ensure they continue to move forward.

“Some years you kind of have to round them up and stay on them,” Hamm said. “This year, they have taken it upon themselves, and we really seem to have a close-knit group. Even in some of our championship years the entire team didn’t want to hang out with each other. This group, it seems like the majority of them are friends on and off the field. It is going to help some because of the unity factor. The bottom line is going to be prepa-ration and some goof for-tune with no injuries.”

Austin needs only to point to the team’s final games of the 2012 sea-son to prove the team made progress after a bumpy start. One week after losing to Tuscaloosa Christian 41-22 in a lack-luster performance, Aus-tin said Victory Christian responded the following week with one of its best efforts in a 52-42 loss in the rematch. Although it ended the team’s sea-son, Austin pointed to the loss in training camp as a positive he took from last season. He feels the team gained confidence in the loss and learned that it could persevere and survive injuries if ev-eryone stayed together, prepared, and remained committed to the goal.

Victory Christian coach Chris Hamm said the determination the

team showed at the end of the 2012 season has carried over into training camp. He said he talked a little bit about the fact the program has won champi-onships and had undefeat-ed seasons in the recent past. This year’s team is different than those teams, though, primar-ily because of its roster size. He said a key is the amount of preparation the players invest in training and in practice. He said if they stay committed they have the potential to carve their own identity.

“It is going to be ob-vious we don’t have the numbers we have in the past, and people proba-bly aren’t going to expect too much from us, from the other teams we play to maybe even our fans,” Hamm said. “If they will go ahead and prepare and do what is necessary, what they do accomplish is go-ing to be not just another championship or unde-feated season or whatever is in the cards, it is going to be memorable.”

With the return of a healthy Anthony Sharp, a junior running back/defensive end, Austin be-lieves the team can stay on the path if it stays pos-itive. He doesn’t claim to be a “rah-rah” leader who will shout and slap backs to get teammates fired up. Instead, he prefers

to set the example in a quiet manner and to talk things through to ensure the Eagles are going to do things the right way. From what he has seen, he believes the Eagles are off to a good start.

Sophomore quarter-back Reed Fulgham will lead the attack. Junior Cody Bolton, who helped set that example in the season finale with some hard-nosed play.

Seniors Austin Rich-ardson and Brandon Shaw and juniors Shane Brad-ford and Bo McCrary also return to provide valuable leadership.

“I think we’re going to be OK, especially with the experience we have with essentially the same team,” Austin said. “If we listen to the coaches even when we’re tired and they say do something we have to get in there and do it again.”

That’s the kind of de-sire and preparation that leads to championships.

n n n High school football

coaches who don’t speak to a reporter from The Dispatch are asked to call the sports department Friday night with infor-mation from their games.

All fall sports coaches are reminded to report their game results to The Dispatch.

Coaches, scorekeep-ers, parents and/or play-ers can call 662-327-1297 or e-mail information to [email protected].

Please give us the final score, where the game was played, the team re-cords, leading perform-ers, the team’s next game and any other notable in-formation.

BY SCOTT [email protected]

WEST POINT — Tradition.

While many schools don’t possess or don’t embrace tradition, the opposite holds true at West Point High School. The Green Wave remains one of the state’s premier Class 5A football pro-grams. The ability to up-hold that tradition and to build on it motivates West Point players and coaches every time they step on the practice field.

“We enjoy playing (at West Point) a lot,” West Point senior tight end Roger Price said. “Every time we play we feel like we have to put on a show because West Point loves its football. As seniors, not only are we trying to carry a team, it’s like we are trying to carry a pro-gram and a town.

“This means a lot around here. You have to relish that and embrace that. That is what makes it all fun.”

West Point owns sev-

en state championships. Most recently, it won Class 5A state champion-ships in 2009 and 2010. Last season, West Point finished 11-3. The season ended with a heart-break-ing overtime loss to archrival Starkville in the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s North State champion-ship game.

“The end to last season was devastating,” West Point senior offensive tackle Deion Shelton said. “You work so hard to play that one game and then it gets away. Now, we are ready to go. As seniors, you want to win a state championship. That is our goal, and I think we have a team that can do that.

“When you play West

Point football, you have a target on your back, and we know that. We want the other team to play their best against us be-cause that is how you win championships.”

West Point coach Chris Chambless likes the at-titude and togetherness of this year’s team. For several seasons he has


west Point green waveMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 5A, Region 1; 2012 Record: 11-3 (7-0)

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2013 ScheduleAug. 24 Open DateAug. 29 At South PanolaSept. 6 STARKVILLESept. 13 COLUMBUSSept. 20 At Noxubee Co.Sept. 27 At OxfordOct. 4 CLARKSDALEOct. 11 At Center HillOct. 18 LAKE

CORMORANTOct. 25 SALTILLONov. 1 At New HopeNov. 7 LEWISBURGHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 18 L, 10-12 At South PanolaAug. 24 Open DateAug. 31 W, 26-19 At ColumbusSept. 7 W, 47-22 At StarkvilleSept. 14 L,0-6 NOXUBEE CO.Sept. 21 W, 23-17 LAKE

CORMORANTSept. 28 W, 49-14 At HernandoOct. 5 W, 42-0 CLARKSDALEOct. 12 W, 31-7 At SaltilloOct. 19 W, 55-7 CENTER HILLOct. 26 W, 35-21 OXFORDNov. 2 W, 38-7 At New HopeNov. 9 W, 38-0 CANTONNov. 16 W, 56-21 RIDGELANDNov. 23 L, 28-29 OT At StarkvilleHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 5ARegion 1Center HillClarksdale

Lake CormorantLewisburgNew Hope

OxfordSaltillo

West Point


Micah Green/Dispatch Staff West Point High School football coach Chris Chambless will count on senior running back Aeris Williams, left, who has given a verbal commitment to play football at Mississippi State, and senior defensive back Dvanta Randle to help get the Green Wave back to the state title game.

TogeTheRneSS Could help ReSToRe TRAdiTion

See WEST POINT, 20

Alabama Christian8-Man league

First AssemblyNew Life

TabernacleTuscaloosa

Victory Christian


By SCOTT [email protected]

WEST POINT — Oak Hill Academy senior tight end/defensive end Brad-ley Allen always looks forward to the football season.

The difference this season is there are many more people waiting to see the Raiders play.

“At the beginning of last season, the students and our fans had the same expectations as always,” Allen said. “They think we will win a game here or there but not really do anything special. We kind of felt the same way.”

Amazing what a new season, new coach, and new attitude can do.

“This year, it is totally different,” Allen said. “I think the first game (this

season) may be the most fun I have ever had play-ing football. We play Hart-field Academy at home and everybody is ready. The day is going to be un-real from early that day until the game.

“We have had some terrible seasons around here. Everybody knows now (that) things are dif-ferent.”

With a desire to be closer to home, Daniel Merchant took over the program in 2012. His first mission was far greater than winning or losing football games. The first task was instilling confi-dence in a program that went winless in 2011.

“We had not had good records in the past,” Oak Hill senior center Pres-ton Hall said. “Now we


Oak HIll academy raIdersMississippi Association of Independent Schools: Class 2A, District 2AA; 2012 Record: 6-6 (3-3)

2013 ScheduleAug. 23 HARTFIELD ACA.Aug. 30 At Marshall Aca.Sept. 6 TRI-COUNTYSept. 13 WINSTON ACA.Sept. 20 At Newton Aca.Sept. 27 At Heritage Aca.Oct. 4 At Manchester

Aca.Oct. 11 INDIANOLA ACA.Oct. 18 At Canton Aca.Oct. 25 LEAKE ACA.HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 13-6 At Newton

County Aca.Aug. 24 W, 27-21 WINSTONAug. 31 L, 20-36 INDIANOLASept. 7 L, 6-27 At ManchesterSept. 14 W, 21-6 WINONASept. 21 L, 15-48 CANTONSept. 28 L, 0-42 At LeakeOct. 5 L, 0-42 At HeritageOct. 12 W, 37-14 NEW SITEOct. 19 W, 32-14 KIRKOct. 26 W, 20-19 At ImmanuelNov. 2 L, 14-42 At North DeltaHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 2ADistrict 2AACanton AcademyLeake Academy

Manchester AcademyOak Hill Academy

Tri-County AcademyWinston Academy


cOacHIng staffHead coach

Daniel Merchant

n Chris Craven — Linebackersn Carl Middleton — Defensive coordinator, Defensive line)n Cody Allen — Offensive, Defensive Linen Drew Dance — Offensive Line n Dave Matusiak — Offensive, Defensive Linen Freddie Brister — Offensive coordinatorn Colby Brister — Wingbacks, Tight Ends

Micah Green/Dispatch Staff From left: Oak Hill Academy football players Preston Hall, Drew Riley, Bradley Allen, and Drake Riley will try to help the Raiders build on a 6-6 season that saw them get back to the playoffs. With a solid cast of returning players, Oak Hill Academy feels good about its chances.

QUARTERBACKRiley Pierce (Jr.),

Kaleb Darnell (Soph.), Ken Dill (Fr.)

n Pierce was pressed into service last year due to injury. He started the final three games. The Raiders will look to be more diverse on offense.

FULLBACKSDrake Riley (Jr.), A.J. Iseley (Jr.),

Drew Riley (Soph.), John Willis Stevens (Soph.)

n Drake Riley ran for a team-high 675 yards and eight touchdowns last season. All of the primary fullbacks/tailbacks/run-ning backs return. With a firm grasp of the offense, Merchant looks for more diversity.

WINGBACKS/ TIGHT ENDSSamuel Harrell (Jr.),

Kaleb Darnell (Soph.), Bradley Allen (Sr.), Mathew Gwathney (Jr.), Curt Huffman (Sr.)

n Allen had a team-high 10 catches last season. Oak Hill Academy coach Daniel Merchant likes the depth and pass-catching ability of this group. With a comfort level established and solidified in the spring, the Raiders will look to pass more.

OFFENSIVE LINEPreston Hall (Sr.), Clark Hays (Soph.),

Caleb Roberson (Soph.), Robert Walker (Soph.), Brandon Crump (Jr.),

Joseph Caskey (Sr.), Murry Falkner (Jr.),

Lane Clark (Jr.), Bryan McClellan (Sr.)

n Caskey anchors a veteran line. He, Hall, and McClellan will be expected to anchor a unit that matured in the second half of last season.

DEFENSIVE LINECaleb Roberson (Soph.),

Joseph Caskey (Sr.), Brandon Crump (Jr.),

Matthew Gwathney (Jr.), Lane Clark (Jr.), A.J. Iseley (Jr.),

Bradley Allen (Sr.)n The team’s most experienced po-

sition, as each spot has seen time as a starter. During a three-game winning streak late in the season, Oak Hill Academy only allowed seven touchdowns on defense. The run helped the Raiders reach the playoffs.

LINEBACKERDrake Riley (Jr.), Dakota O’Bryant (Jr.), Paxton Trull (Sr.), Bryan McClellan (Sr.),

Drew Riley (Soph.), Chance Wilson (Soph.),

Steve Dragoo (Sr.)n Drake and Drew Riley each had 57

tackles last season. Merchant likes his depth and speed at linebacker. The primary goal for this unit is to increase its intercep-tion numbers from last season.

SECONDARYKaleb Darnell (Soph.), Blake Thomas (Jr.),

Chase Nash (Sr.), Curt Huffman (Sr.), John Willis Stevens (Jr.)

n Without question, the biggest area of concern entering the season. Only two starters return from this group, but Mer-chant likes the talent. It is just a matter of putting the right person in the right place.

SPECIALISTSPunter Paxton Trull (Sr.)

n Trull will solidify the punting game. He most likely will handle the place-kicking chores. Kick return duties will be handled by committee, with both Rileys playing a large role.

— Scott Walters

a clOser lOOk

See OAK HILL, 21

RAIDERS BUILDING ON PLAYOFF RUNAfter guiding program back to postseason, Merchant wants to accomplish even more

QUARTERBACKSJosh Ewing (Jr.),

Dason Thomas (Jr.)n Ewing is the projected starter. He will be

asked to fill a void left by Tez Lane, who shifted to starter last season and is now at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

RUNNING BACKAeris Williams (Sr.), Lacequiu Starks (Jr.),

Roger Thomas (Sr.)A Mississippi State University commitment,

Williams ran for 1,704 yards and 22 touch-downs as a junior. Starks and Thomas are ex-pected to provide depth and play-making ability.

RECEIVERSKaelon Collins (Jr.), Jayson Burnett (Sr.),

Lagaris Wordlaw (Sr.),Javontae Harris (Jr.), Steffon Moore (Jr.), Roger Price (Sr.),

Miller Keys (Jr.)

The Green Wave will break out several new names in the receiving corps. The group has potential, but it is young. Price emerged as a leader in the offseason program. He and Keys are expected to have big seasons at tight end.

OFFENSIVE LINEJosh Birchfield (Jr.), Kadarius Forside (Jr.),

Deion Shelton (Sr.), Josh Coggins (Jr.), Donald Wesley (Jr.), Chris Humphries (Jr.)Forside and Shelton anchor a fairly veteran

group.DEFENSIVE LINE

Ladarius Gallion (Sr.), Tamarcus Myers (Soph.), Willie Owens (Sr.), Lexus Price (Soph.), Lexus Ware (Jr.), Tavaris Hawkins (Sr.),

Everett Quinn (Sr.), Jeffrey Drake (Soph.), Nick Melton (Soph.)

The Green Wave will look for some new con-tributors .Coach Chris Chambless has applaud-

ed this group’s work ethic in training camp.SECONDARY

Dvanta Randle (Sr.), Donquenta Ewing (Jr.), Rashad Jones (Sr.)

Randle at strong safety and Jones at free safety will provide leadership and anchor a unit looking to build off last season’s success.

LINEBACKERTyler Logan (Jr.), Davion Bradshaw (Sr.), Davin Webb (Jr.), Tyler Witherspoon (Sr.)Bradshaw has emerged as one of the go-to

guys. This group will have some new faces, but Chambless said it has excellent communication skills and is making great strides.

SPECIALISTSOmar Lemus (Jr.)

Lemus will handle punting and place-kicking duties.

— Scott Walters

a clOser lOOkcOacHIng staffHead coach

Chris Chambless

n Lee J. Grishamn Floizell Wilsonn Kendall Pickensn Ricky Meltonn Casey Welchn Brett Morgann Roger Burtonn Matt Snown Gerry Freminn Blake Hutchinsonn Adam Lowreyn Steve Cannonn Keith Manningn Charles Herronn Daniel Henderson

West Pointcontinued from Page 19

has applauded his team’s work ethic and its desire to avoid com-placency by fighting to become a better unit.

“The chemistry on this year’s team is outstanding,” Chamb-less said. “We have a lot of guys working hard. We having guys step up every day in practice. That is what you want in a team. We are now getting back into the routine. There is no lack of effort. The guys have goals and they are working hard to achieve them. If each player reaches individual goals to get better than the team goals fall right into place.”

Offensively, it starts with 6-foot-1, 205-pound tailback Aeris Williams. Already committed to Mississippi State University, Wil-liams ran for 1,704 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior. Williams also is dominant in the kick re-

turn game.Projected to start at quarter-

back is junior Josh Ewing, who will be asked to fill the void left by Tez Lane, who is at Northeast Mississippi Community College. Typically, the Green Wave has a run-oriented quarterback, with the option being a main staple.

Wide outs include seniors Jayson Burnett, senior Lagaris Wordlaw, and junior Javontae Harris.

West Point’s offense typical-ly starts with strong line play. Kadarius Forside and Shelton re-turn to the anchor the line.

“Everyone knows what West Point football is all about,” Cham-bless said. “We like to run the football. It is all about technique and blocking schemes. It is all about our line moving the other’s line off the ball. We have some

players who can do that.”Defensively, West Point will

rely on speed and a hard-nosed, brand of ball. A year ago, the Green Wave posted two shut-outs, held eventual Class 6A state champion South Panola to field goals in a 12-10 defeat and al-lowed only one touchdown to four other opponents.

The three West Point defeats came to South Panola, Class 5A champion Starkville, and Class 4A champion Noxubee County. Starkville won’t factor in this year’s playoff run. The Yellow Jackets have moved to Class 6A.

“We go into each game want-ing the shutout,” West Point se-nior linebacker Davion Bradshaw said. “We try to go hard on each play because you never know which play will be the turning point in a game. We try to protect

our turf and give our offense the best field position possible.

“We are looking for a state championship. I have faith in my teammates. I think we can get there. It has been a couple of years, so we need to get back.”

Senior strong safety Dvanta Randle and senior free safety Rashad Jones will help anchor the defense. Bradshaw paces a veteran linebacking corps, while senior Ladarius Gallion is a veter-an starter on the line.

“God has blessed us with a really good team this year,” Price said. “There is more together-ness. It is much more like a broth-erhood. There is no arguing and no dissension. It is fun to come to practice every day.

“We have the type of things you need inside to be a state championship team. Now we

have to go out there and play the games and get better.”

West Point always has taken its focus very seriously. A non-re-gion schedule that includes games against South Panola, Starkville, Columbus, and Nox-ubee County should make West Point more than ready for the rig-ors of Class 5A, Region 1 play.

“These players think a whole lot about getting better,” Chamb-less said. “We have some real pos-itive leaders. That is what helps get a team over the hump. When you are tired and second-guess-ing yourself, you have players working hard to help reach a team goal. The goal is simply to make the playoffs.

“We treat each season the same way. The goal is to make the playoffs. Then you take it round by round from there.”

BY SCOTT [email protected]

PHEBA — Hebron Chris-tian School begins the new football season with a pur-pose.

For the past two seasons, the Eagles have competed as an independent in the Mis-sissippi Association of Inde-pendent Schools and were ineligible for the playoffs.

With the most recent realignment, Hebron Chris-tian will play the next two seasons of eight-man football in MAIS District 7. The top two teams in the five-team district will advance to the playoffs.

“We have really high ex-pectations this season,” He-bron Christian junior Collin Moore said. “Our main goal is to make the playoffs. We thought we were as good as a lot of the teams in the play-offs last season, if not better, so being able to make the playoffs this year would be really huge.”

Hebron Christian dropped from 11- to eight-man football two seasons ago. The change came right before the school year began and didn’t allow the team enough time to earn eligibil-ity for the eight-man playoffs. The long wait to become eli-gible for the playoffs is finally over, and now the Eagles are one of the state’s 19 Class A teams with postseason aspi-rations.

“We have a really good group of seniors, and our whole focus this year is on making the playoffs,” He-bron Christian senior Troy Arnold said. “We weren’t able to do that last year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t build on last season. We won a lot more games than any other team had around here in a long time last season.

“We were really hyped for every game. Each Friday night, we went into the game and expecting not to lose. It was the most fun I had play-ing football in my entire life.”

Hebron Christian won its first eight games last season and finished 8-2. Coach Da-vid Foster saw an attitude and desire he really liked from that club. He feels the Eagles competed hard and

helped establish a precedent for future years.

“We are not going back-wards. Our intention is keep this thing rolling like we were,” Foster said. “New po-sitions are our main concern. When you are dealing with a small team and players playing both ways, you have to change a lot of positions around from year to year.

“We have a good class of seniors. We have some ju-niors we will be counting on, but those are the main ones who will be playing new posi-tions. Then, we have a large sophomore class. It is our job to get them up to speed on what we want to do.”

Hebron Christian lost its backfield from last season.

Still, Foster likes the replace-ments. It is a matter of get-ting the new players playing time and helping the group learn how to play together.

“We have a lot more depth than last year,” Arnold said. “The main thing is put-ting it all together. I think we have some really good young players who will surprise some people. A few of the sophomores are going to be big-time players.”

Sophomore Channing Tapley will be quarterback. Tapley will be joined in the backfield by Moore and senior Justin Gordon. Top receiving targets include senior Hayden Canty and backup quarterback junior Andrew Myatt.

The line will be anchored by returning starters Arnold and classmate Joey Ard and sophomore Jessie Moore.

“Jessie played up as a ninth-grader last year and really learned a lot,” Foster said.”Our line play was re-ally good last year, and in eight-man football, the line of scrimmage is even more im-portant. Containment is im-portant. Being able to make that initial play is important.”

Defensively, the Eagles will rely on Arnold and Jes-sie Moore on the line and Collin Moore at cornerback. Seniors Nic McCary and Dustin Holmes have im-pressed in training camp and should play larger roles.

“The field is wider (in

eight-man football),” Arnold said. “The biggest key is con-taining on the outside. You can’t let the other team get to the outside or you are go-ing to have a long night. You play a lot more man-to-man defense instead of zone. You have to keep up with your man.

“That is what we have been working on the most during practice. We are hav-ing to teach some guys on de-fense some new positions.”

Hebron Christian posted some gaudy defensive num-bers last season. Typically, eight-man football is high scoring. A year ago, Hebron Christian posted one shutout and held three other oppo-nents to one touchdown.

“The main thing is that it is still football,” Collin Moore said. “You still have to make tackles. You still have to catch the ball when it is thrown to you. The main thing about last season is we built a lot of confidence. It started with one win. Then, each time we won, we played with even more confidence.”

Two seasons ago, Hebron Christian struggled to put to-gether a seven-game sched-ule. Now, eight-man football has become the norm. Suc-cess has followed and now the numbers are back up in the program.

A 20-man roster includes 10 sophomores. Foster also is pleased to report a large group of seventh-graders on the junior high football team. Still, large numbers are needed in each class if the school is to consider a return to 11-man football.

“We have two years to de-cide if we are going to move back up,” Foster said. “We are locked into (eight-man football) for this year and next. Being back in the play-off consideration is a very big plus for this group of kids. They have been waiting a long time for this.

“Our sophomore class makes 11-man football a pos-sibility down the road. The school continues to grow from an enrollment stand-point. We just have to keep increasing the number of football players we have in school. If we can do that, the future will be even better.”


hebron christian eaglesMississippi Association of Independent Schools: Eight-Man Football Class 1, District 7A; 2012 Record: 8-2 (0-0)

2013 ScheduleAug. 23 VICTORY

CHRISTIANAug. 30 At Humphreys

AcademySept. 6 SHARKEY-

ISSAQUENASept. 13 At Calvary

ChristianSept. 20 Open DateSept. 27 At Delta Aca.Oct. 4 STRIDER ACA.Oct. 11 KEMPER ACA.Oct. 18 At Central Aca.Oct. 25 FRIENDSHIP

CHRISTIANNov. 1 At Calhoun Aca.HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 W, 20-6 STRIDERAug. 24 W, 48-20 At Victory

ChristianAug. 31 W, 46-6 CALVARY

CHRISTIANSept. 6 W, 38-28 At Clinton

ChristianSept. 14 W, 36-8 ST. SALUSSept. 21 W, 30-0 CENTRALSept. 28 W, 28-16 KEMPEROct. 5 W, 58-14 At Flint HillOct. 12 L, 12-40 At CalhounOct. 19 L, 12-36 HUMPHREYSHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Eight-ManClass A, District 7A

Calhoun AcademyCentral AcademyHebron AcademyKemper AcademyStrider Academy


QUARTERBACKSChanning Tapley (Soph.),

Andrew Myatt (Jr.)n Tapley will take over after Will

Corben-Rogers led the Eagles the past two seasons.

RUNNING BACKCollin Moore (Jr.), Justin Gordon (Sr.)

n The Eagles will have all new faces in the backfield. Coach Foster likes the talent level and looks for-ward to this group working together to improve.

RECEIVERSHayden Canty (Sr.), Andrew Myatt (Jr.)

n The Eagles look to pass the ball more, with several different pass-catching targets in the mix. The receiving corps should be paced by Canty and Myatt, who has made great strides since the start of training camp.

OFFENSIVE LINEMENJessie Moore (Soph.),

Troy Arnold (Sr.), Joey Ard (Sr.)This season’s most returning

experience is on the offensive line. Arnold and Ard have been two-year starters on the line, while Moore blossomed last season as a ninth-grader.

DEFENSIVE LINEMENNic McCary (Sr.), Dustin Holmes

(Jr.), Jessie Moore (Soph.), Troy Arnold (Sr.), Joey Ard (Sr.)n Foster will continue to

experiment with rotations here in training camp. Defensive line play last season was one of the Eagles’ main strengths.

SECONDARYCollin Moore (Jr.),

Brian Eaddy (Soph.), Justin Gordon (Sr.), Hayden Canty (So.)

n Eaddy and Canty have impressed in training camp, and should fit nicely with the veterans Moore and Gordon.

SPECIALISTSTaylor Simmons (Sr.)

n Simmons returns to handle all of the kicking duties.

— Scott Walters

a closer look

Oak Hillcontinued from Page 20

start the season and we feel like we can do some-thing special. It’s a good feeling knowing you have a chance when you leave the locker room.”

One of the area’s big-gest surprises last season, Oak Hill finished 6-6 and advanced to the Missis-sippi Association of Inde-pendent Schools Class AA playoffs, where it lost to North Delta Academy in a first-round game. The loss was the Raiders’ first playoff berth since 2007. It was the program’s first winning regular season since 2005.

“Last season, we laid the foundation,” Merchant said. “I think we reached our full potential last sea-son. That is satisfying as a coach. We have eight starters returning on of-fense and defense, so now we want to build on last season. We don’t want to stay put. We want to keep going forward.”

Brothers Drake and Drew Riley will help Oak Hill Academy move for-ward. A junior, Drake plays fullback on offense and linebacker on defense. Drew, a sophomore, plays tailback on offense and is a blocking back for his brother. He


David Foster

n Hearne Foster

Dispatch File PhotoHebron Christian’s Collin Moore reaches for a Central Academy runner in a 30-0 victory last season in Pheba.

EAglES ExCitED About poStSEASon poSSibilitiES

Dispatch File PhotoHebron Christian’s Andrew Myatt can’t corral a pass as a Central Academy defender wraps him up around the waist in their game last year in Pheba.

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By Don RoweSpecial to The Dispatch

ABERDEEN — It has been said that good things come in small packages.

But as far as football recruiters are concerned, that’s not always a truism.

Aberdeen High School quar-terback Josh Williams and wide receiver Sammie Burroughs will try to make those recruiters take notice, even though they are both a couple of inches shy of 6 feet and tip the scales in the 175- to 180-pound range.

Williams, a junior who has start-ed under center the past two years, helped lead the Bulldogs to an 11-3 record, a spotless 5-0 division mark, and a trip to the third round of the Mississippi High School Ac-tivities Association Class 3A state playoffs. He was 95 of 181 (52.5 per-cent completion percentage) for 2,134 yards and 28 touchdowns. He had a quarterback rating of 185.99.

But Williams was much more than a passer, rushing for 684 yards on 153 carries and scoring 11 touchdowns. All told, he accounted for a team-high 2,818 yards, an average of 201.3 yards per game, and was responsible for 39 of Aber-deen’s 64 touchdowns.

Burroughs is a versatile two-way senior starter who is a threat to “take it to the house” as a receiv-er, a defensive back, or as a return specialist.

As a junior, he had 26 catches for 656 yards (25.23 per catch) and nine touchdowns, rushed for 66 yards on 19 carries and one touch-down, returned seven punts for 203 yards (long of 78 yards), and picked up 160 yards on nine kick returns to finish with 1,085 offen-sive all-purpose yards and a team-high 72 points.

As a defensive back, Burroughs had 24 tackles (22 solo), five inter-ceptions for 79 return yards, and one fumble recovery.

“Josh and Sammie are two of our team leaders,” Aberdeen coach Mark Bray. “They are two of the hardest working kids on the team, and they never fail to do everything we ask them to do.”

Bray said Williams improved his arm strength in the offseason and the offensive staff expects big things from him this year.

“Statistically, he had a good year throwing the ball as a sopho-more, but truth be known that in addition to having a rocket for an arm, he may be our best running back, too,” Bray said.

Burroughs, no matter which side of the ball he’s on, is like a coach on the field, according to Bray.

“Position-wise he can play run-ning back, quarterback, wide re-ceiver, defensive back, or return specialist,” Bray said. “But no mat-ter where he lines up on the field, he knows where everybody else is

supposed to be, and he keeps ev-erybody straight.”

Offensive coordinator Alex Wil-liams said quickness makes Bur-roughs so dangerous.

“Put Sammie in a closet and he’d be hard to tackle,” Williams said. “He’s tough to deal with in a small area.”

Impressive statistics, quick-ness, versatility, and personal at-tributes aside, college recruiters aren’t beating down the door to recruit Burroughs or Williams. The recruiting websites haven’t assigned three or four stars to ei-ther player — a sign that today’s big-time football programs still re-cruit with a “bigger-is-better” phi-losophy.

“It’s kind of sad that if a skill player isn’t 6 feet tall or more and can’t run a 4.4 40-yard dash college recruiters won’t take a chance for the most part nowadays,” Bray said. “Sammie’s really going to have to have a big year to prove himself to get the opportunity to play big-time college football.”

On the plus side, Williams and Burroughs have good blood lines as the sons of former Aberdeen High football standouts Terry Wil-liams and Sammie Burroughs, re-spectively. Terry Williams suited

up for the Bulldogs in the 1970s and his brother, Jeff, is a 1989 in-ductee to the Tuskegee Athletic Hall of Fame. Sammie Sr. played collegiately at Mt. San Antonio Ju-nior College in California, Portland State University in Oregon, and professionally in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts for three years and for the Miami Dolphins for one season.

“Sammie’s drawn some interest from UAB, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana Monroe, Colorado State, where my old linebacker coach is now coaching, and from my alma mater Portland State,” Burroughs Sr. said. “He doesn’t have any of-fers in hand, but at least there’s some interest out there.”

Burroughs said he watches col-lege and pro football closely and has noticed the so-called “little guy” seem to be coming back at both levels.

“It’s too bad the smaller players have so much more to prove that they can play, but I know what he’s capable of because I’ve watched him play football since he was 7 years old,” Burroughs Sr. said. “He’s a smart kid with a 3.5 GPA, and football just comes natural to him. All it’s going to take is some-one to give him a chance.”

Terry Williams also knows how tough it is to impress the recruiters and the scouts when “physically challenged.”

“My brother, Jeff, was a star football player in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but he never got a shot at the NFL because he was a 5-foot-6 running back,” Williams said. “He was fast and a powerful runner, but they said he wasn’t big enough to play at the next level.”

Williams was an All-South-ern Intercollegiate Athletic Con-ference first-team selection as a junior and a senior and was named one of the school’s All-Time Greatest Football Athletes. He helped Tuskegee post a 24-6 record from 1968-70 and played a big role in three consecutive SIAC “B” Division champion-ships. His 1,288 yards rushing in 1969 is one of the top individual totals in school history and his 14 touchdowns scored the same year is one of the top five all-time.

“You would think with a ca-reer like that he would have a least received a tryout,” Williams said. “But all they looked at was his height and it didn’t measure up to what they thought an NFL back needed in order to make it in the league.”

Josh Williams still has two more years to prove his worth, but like Burroughs, he’s going to have to increase his offensive production to get a look.

“I wish the recruiters could see what I see every day,” Terry Williams said. “Josh is dedicat-ed to playing quarterback, and he comes home from practice every afternoon still in the prac-tice mode. He literally eats and sleeps with a football in his hand, and I’ve never seen anyone who is so passionate and who loves the game of football like he does.”

If Williams and Burroughs are to have big years, Aberdeen’s veteran offensive line will have to match last year’s performance, when the Bulldogs averaged more than 5 yards per carry and 22.46 yards per pass reception.

Two full-time starters return at guard, Tavoris Eckford and James Randle, along with part-time starters Jamarkus Tallie at center, and Jordan Gladney and Devonta Walker at tackle.

Burroughs leads a young and inexperienced receiving corps that could turn out to be one of the best groups to play at Ab-erdeen High, but the tight end and running backs positions are question marks entering the sea-son.

Defensively, Bray will look for leadership from down line-men Deonta Carter and Devonta Walker, outside linebackers G.G. Blanchard and Jack Hadley, and safeties Tamarkus Payne and Burroughs — all of whom start-ed last year.


aberdeen bulldogsMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 3A, Region 4; 2012 Record: 11-3 (5-0)

2013 ScheduleAug. 23 SHANNONAug. 30 At New HopeSept. 6 At AmorySept. 13 NOXUBEE CO.Sept. 20 At Itawamba AHSSept. 27 CORINTHOct. 4 At NettletonOct. 11 KEMPER CO.Oct. 18 At LouisvilleOct. 25 At WinonaNov. 1 SOUTH PONTOTOCHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 L, 0-21 At ColumbusAug. 24 W, 26-13 At ShannonAug. 31 W, 27-22 AMORYSept. 7 L, 0-45 NOXUBEE CO.Sept. 14 W, 45-28 At West BolivarSept. 21 W, 32-21 LOUISVILLESept. 28 W, 52-14 At MantachieOct. 5 W, 52-6 NETTLETONOct. 12 W, 52-6 MOOREVILLEOct. 19 W, 20-13 WATER VALLEYOct. 26 W, 39-3 South PontotocNov. 2 W, 54-42 WINONANov. 9 W, 46-16 MCCLAINNov. 16 L, 22-49 At Charleston HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 3ARegion 4Aberdeen

Kemper CountyLouisvilleMSMS

NettletonSouth Pontotoc

Winona


QUARTERBACKJosh Williams (Jr.)

n Williams had a breakout year as a sophomore and has gotten stronger in the offseason. He completed more than half his pass attempts last year, but he must improve on his interception total (15). Backup help will come from Tramonte Prather, a 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore transfer from Shannon High School.

“As Josh goes, so goes our offense,” Aberdeen coach Mark Bray said.

RUNNiNg BACKg.g. Blanchard (Sr.),

Josh Ewing (Sr.)n Aberdeen lost the services

of Chico Harrison, who rushed for 1,246 yards and scored 10 touchdowns last season as a junior, along with senior Justin Lucas, who scored nine times and averaged nearly five yards a carry. I’s up to Blanchard, who started at outside linebacker a year ago, and Ewing, who didn’t play last season, to fill their shoes.

“A definite question mark heading into the season based on the fact there’s little to no experi-ence returning,” Bray said.

RECEivERSSammie Burroughs (Sr.),

Tyreke gates (Jr.), B.J. Williams (Soph.), Jerrick Orr (Soph.),

Tay Carothers (Soph.), Deonta Carter (Soph.),

C.J. Williams (Fr.)n Aberdeen’s biggest loss

was Aaron “Cap” McMillian, who had 24 receptions for a team-high 685 yards and 11 touchdowns. Burroughs led the way with 26 catches for 656 yards and, although Gates didn’t play last year, he is expected to pick up on the inside where McMillian

left off. Backups include seniors Chris McMillian and Tyler Fields. On the outside, Williams was the first off the bench last season as a freshman. Orr picked up 91 yards rushing in six games as a late-game replacement at running back. Juniors Parish Cratic and Damian Curry provide backup help. Carothers, Carter, and Williams will compete for playing time at tight end. Carter started on defense at nose guard.

“Our inside and outside receiv-ers are probably the best group of receivers I’ve ever coached,” Bray said. “They have great speed, good hands and they’re all hard workers — everything you look for in a receiver.”

OFFENSivE liNEJamarkus Tallie (Jr.), Tavoris Eckford (Sr.), James Randle (Sr.), Jordan gladney (Jr.), Devonta Walker (Sr.)

n Eckford and Randle started a year ago, while Tallie, Gladney and Walker all saw considerable playing time. Devante Smith (Jr.), Jamarkus Irons (Sr.), Shavez McMillian (Soph.), Justin Drake (Soph.), and Theo Boyd (Soph.) will spell the starters.

“I feel our offensive line is one of our strong points,” Bray said. “I am comfortable with the starters and the backups.”

DEFENSivE liNEDeonta Carter (Soph.), Terrance Smith (Fr.), Devonta Walker (Sr.), Theo Boyd (Soph.),

Tavoris Eckford (Sr.), Jordan gladney (Jr.)

n Carter and Walker started last season.

“We played a lot of people along the line so we have some returning experience,” Bray said.

liNEBACKERC.J. Williams (Fr.),

Tay Carothers (Soph.), Shavez McMillian,

B.J. Williams (Soph.), g.g. Blanchard (Sr.),

Josh Hadley (Sr.), Chris McMillian (Sr.), B.J. Williams (Soph.)

n Blanchard and Hadley start-ed on the outside a year ago and will be relieved by McMillian and Williams (Soph.).

“One of our two biggest question marks on defense,” Bray said of the inside linebackers. “Two solid returning starters (Blanchard and Hadley) are a plus.”

SECONDARyJerrick Orr (Soph.), Tyreke gates (Jr.), Tyler Fields (Sr.), Josh Ewing (Sr.),

Sammie Burroughs (Sr.), Tamarkus Payne (Sr.),

Tramonte Prather (Soph.), Parish Cratic (Jr.)

n Orr and Gates (Jr.) will start ahead of Fields and Ewing at cornerback. Burroughs and Payne return as starters to provide expe-rienced leadership at safety.

“Another question mark for our defense based solely on the inex-perience factor,” Bray said. “Two solid returning starters (at safety) is another plus.”

SPECiAliSTSJosh Williams (Jr.),

Demaree Dobbins (Jr.), Sam garth (Sr.).

n Williams will handle the punting chores, while the kickoff and field goal duties are up for grabs between Dobbins and Garth.

“Josh and Demaree are back, so we have some experience at both spots,” Bray said.

— Don Rowe

a closer look


Mark Bray — Running Backs

n Alex Williams — Offensive Coordinatorn Eric Spann — Defensive Coordinatorn Sammie Burroughs — Linebackers n Thomas Clay — Wide Receivers, Defensive Backsn Jeff Coggin — Offensive Linen Kyle Davis — Defensive Line

Don Rowe/Special to The DispatchAberdeen High School offensive coordinator Alex Williams and linebackers coach Sammie Burroughs Sr. have a vested interest in the success of junior quarterback Josh Williams and senior wide receiver Sammie Burroughs Jr. Alex Williams is a cousin of Josh, while Sammie Sr. is the father of Sammie Jr.

WilliAmS, BuRRoughS out to AttRACt Attention

Don Rowe/Special to The DispatchAberdeen High School quarterback Justin Williams, left, and wide receiver Sammie Burroughs will try to show they belong with the state’s top players even though their size may prevent them from being placed with the state’s top recruits.

QUARTERBACKQuinshay Heard (Sr.)n Heard is coming off

shoulder surgery bigger and stronger. Backups are sophomores Byron Butler (5-foot-11, 150 pounds) and Samuel Peloquin (5-8, 140).

“I look for Quinshay to pick up where he left off before he was injured last year,” Hamilton coach Ray Weeks said.

RUnning BACKKeshon Heard (Soph.)n Quinshay’s little broth-

er, Keshon (5-11, 180), will be the feature back in Weeks’ spread offense, with relief help from senior Pallas Fair (5-10, 180), ju-nior Michael Roberts (5-11, 205), and sophomore Aaron Fontenot (5-9, 170).

“It’s going to be hard to replace Deion Howard’s 1,230 yards rushing, but with Heard, Fair, Rob-erts (who’s kin to former Hamilton and Mississippi State University running back Kenny Ray Roberts)

and Fontenot, we should be pretty deep at the running back spot,” Weeks said. “Heard is probably the most athletic of the three broth-ers and he can fly (he post-ed a time of 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Tupelo Combine earlier this year, which was the third fastest overall). He still has some maturing to do, and I don’t think he realizes just how good he can be.”

RECEivERSTanner Dement (Jr.), Austin Bishop (Jr.),

Austin Lancaster (Soph.)n Dement (6-0, 175)

started a year ago and will be joined by Bishop (6-2, 190) to provide rangy targets. Junior Sequintis Coleman (6-4, 205) and Peloquin are also in the mix. At tight end, Lancaster (6-4, 190) is another rangy receiver. Coleman will be ready to step in with relief help.

By Don RoweSpecial to The Dispatch

HAMILTON — The Hamilton High School football team’s Homecoming game is scheduled for Oct. 18 against Biggersville, but the Lions will celebrate two other homecomings of sorts with the return of quarterback Quinshay Heard and a move from Class 2A in the Mississippi High School Activities Asso-ciation to Class 1A.

Heard, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarter-back/safety, injured his shoulder in the third game against Kossuth last year and was lost for the season.

Down by a touchdown early in the game, Kossuth’s quarterback rolled to his right on what appeared to be a pass play but then decided to run. Heard came up from the secondary to make the stop, hit him low and the rest, as they say, is history.

“We lost our quarterback when he tried to tackle the opposing team’s quar-terback while playing on defense,” Ham-ilton coach Ray Weeks said.

Heard was coming off a solid sopho-

more season at fullback and had shown promise at quarterback.

“Quinshay’s older brother, Zarrat Sims, was our starting quarterback when Quinshay was a sophomore, so we played him at fullback and then moved him to quarterback his junior year be-cause of his athleticism and because he could run and throw so well,” Weeks said. “He had two really good games un-der center against Smithville and Houl-ka and got off to a good start in the Kos-suth game before he was injured.”

Heard underwent surgery, completed his rehabilitation sessions, and hit the


hamilton lionsMississippi High School Activities Association: Class 1A, Region 1; 2012 Record: 4-8 (2-3)

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2013 ScheduleAug. 23 POTTS CAMPAug. 30 At CaledoniaSept. 6 At HatleySept. 13 VARDAMANSept. 19 At FalknerSept. 27 Open DateOct. 4 HOULKAOct. 11 At ThrasherOct. 18 BIGGERSVILLEOct. 25 At ColdwaterNov. 1 SMITHVILLENov. 8 At CoffeevilleHOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012 ResultsAug. 17 L, 12-21 At SmithvilleAug. 23 W, 54-14 At HoulkaAug. 31 L, 27-35 KOSSUTHSept.7 W, 52-8 HATLEYSept. 14 L, 7-37 HOUSTONSept. 21 L, 0-6 At WalnutSept. 28 W, 43-14 At Williams-

SullivanOct. 5 L, 15-55 At EuporaOct. 12 W, 27-6 J.Z. GEORGEOct. 19 L, 0-24 EAST WEBSTEROct. 26 L, 7-42 At AckermanNov. 2 L, 10-40 At KennedyHOME GAMES IN CAPS

Class 1ARegion 1BiggersvilleCoffeevilleColdwaterFalkner

HamiltonHoulka

SmithvilleThrasherVardaman

nOTE: Top four qualify for playoffs


Ray Weeks — Offensive, Defensive Coordinator

n David Hartley — Quarterbacks, Linebackers, Special Teamsn Victor Cunningham — Running Backsn Emanuel Buchanan — Offensive, Defensive Lines, Special Teamsn Trey Spencer — Wide Receivers, Defensive Backs

Don Rowe/Special to The DispatchTOP: The Heards, Keshon and Quinshay, will play key roles for the Hamilton High School football team’s offense this season.RIGHT: Coach Ray Weeks doesn’t want his team to think things will be easy with it dropping from Class 2A to Class 1A.

See HAMILTON, 24

LIONS HOPE TO ROAR IN CLASS 1A“i’ve told the team that just because we’re back in 1a doesn’t mean we’re going to have it any easier.”

Hamilton High School football coach Ray Weeks

See LIONS, 24

a Closer look

the tradition we have at Nox-ubee County. I talk about the people before them and who started all of this, the uncles and cousins and dads. They realize we are one of the elite teams in the state, so it is not hard to motivate them because people in this com-munity don’t care if we lost 23 seniors. They expect us to be there again next year.”

Shorter sees a motivated group of players that will compete for playing time at a variety of positions. Even though the team returns only four starters on defense and two on offense, he feels the team has built on a great spring and a great summer to prepare for a challeng-ing non-district schedule that features games against Starkville, Columbus, Lou-isville, Aberdeen, and West Point. Louisville, which moved down to Class 3A to join Aberdeen, are the only

schools smaller than Noxu-bee County.

With 17 seniors, Shorter has players to lean on. But he isn’t sure if he will have anyone who be make an impact like Robinson, who rushed for 2,686 yards and had 50 all-purpose touch-downs last season to break the state’s single season re-cord. His exploits behind a dominant and experienced offensive line helped power the Tigers to their first 16-0 finish and enabled them to secure their second state championship.

This season, Shorter will look to a stable of 11 running backs to share the burden of replacing Rob-inson, who has moved on to Pearl River Community College. Devonte Scott and Victor Carr are the only up-perclassmen in that group, so Shorter knows anyone could emerge to contribute.

“I think we’re going to be a little more balanced,” Shorter said. “With the of-fensive line that we had last year and with a running back like Robinson, there was no doubt we were going to run the ball 80 percent of the time. This year, I think our strength will be at the receiver position. It is hard to tell, but I think we will still be able to run the ball.”

Tamorris Conner, a sophomore, quarterbacked the team in the spring and in the summer and will be the team’s starter. His brother, Termarcus, won a state title in 2008 at Noxu-bee County. He is a cousin to former Mississippi State University standout quar-terback Omarr Conner.

“He is a very good ath-lete,” Shorter said. “He is not big in stature, but he has a big heart and a very good arm.”

Despite Conner’s poten-tial, Shorter acknowledges the bigger question marks are on offense. He said the wide receiver group — led by Bryant — has four play-ers who are 6-foot-2 or taller. Bryant moved from quarter-back to wide receiver and will be Conner’s backup.

Bryant said Shorter has told the seniors he wants them to be a good group that provides leadership. He said the seniors came together in the spring and figured out how they want-ed to lead this year’s team.

“It is kind of easy be-cause the underclassmen are not hard-headed. They do what you ask them do to,” Bryant said. “If you ask them to work hard, they work hard. They are hun-gry. They want another ring.”

It is not going to be easy, but we have put in a lot of work to regroup. I feel like we are going back to state.”

A week before the team’s scrimmage against North-west Rankin at MSU, Short-er said he felt comfortable with eight to nine starters on defense. On offense, he laughed before saying the Tigers “feel comfortable” with their offensive line, quarterback, and running backs. He said there is so much depth at wide receiv-er he isn’t sure who will emerge. He said there prob-ably were seven starters he could pencil into the lineup if he had to.

In addition to losing 23 seniors, Noxubee County had to replace defensive co-ordinator George Richard-son. Ed Square takes over for Richardson. The rest of the staff remains solid, Shorter said, especially at offensive line, where he said Michael Ashford is one of the best in the business.

On defense, Hunt (line-backer), Jose Moran (defen-sive lineman), and defensive backs Antraveon Jamison and Mahlon Robinson re-turn as starters.

“(Eric) brings experi-ence,” Shorter said. “He is a three-year starter. We have moved him to the middle this year. He knows the de-fense and he is putting kids in the right positions and is making the correct calls. His work ethic is unbeliev-able, so he will get on the other kids. The kids look up to him. Everybody on defense knows it is his de-fense.”

Hunt knows he will have to play a bigger role this season because the 2012 de-fense had five shutouts, in-cluding a run of four consec-utive games, and allowed only 36 points in five playoff games.

“I knew coach Shorter was going to be on my back and pushing me to work harder because he knew I had it in me,” Hunt said. “It is a lot of pressure because it is up to me to get the defense where it is supposed to be. I don’t have any choice. I have to be there.

“We have a lot more speed than we did last year. I think we will be better than last year’s group. We have more talent than we did last year on defense. All we have to do is work harder and I think we can be better.”

Bryant echoes that senti-ment. He said the offensive linemen have helped set the tone by being the hard-est working group. He said everyone is helping each other, which has eased the younger players’ transition. He hopes he, Hunt, and the rest of the leaders learned something from the seniors on last year’s team and can push the team down the same path — and get the same result.

“They had a desire to win,” Bryant said of last year’s team. “They refused to lose. Losing wasn’t even a question.”

“Once I looked at the team, it was like, we don’t look as bad as people think we’ll look after losing 23 seniors. It has made myself and everybody else hungry to be in Jackson again hold-ing up another state cham-pionship trophy.”


Noxubee Co.Continued from Page 18

HamiltonContinued from Page 23

weight room in the offsea-son.

“The surgery went well and he seems completely recovered,” Weeks said. “He’s bulked up some and improved his strength, and he doesn’t seem to suffer any ill effects from the surgery.”

Heard’s injury opened the door for Seth Dement.

“We had two other quarterbacks on the ros-ter, senior Seth Dement and freshman Byron But-ler,” Weeks said. “We went with Seth because he had played quarterback sever-al years ago and because, as a senior, he was more mature, as most seniors would be.”

The Lions were 1-1 go-ing into the matchup with Class 3A Kossuth and, de-spite Heard’s injury early in the game, nearly pulled off the upset before drop-ping a 35-27 decision after leading 20-16 at halftime.

The smallest Class 2A school in its division, Hamilton went on to post a 2-4 record against its non-division opponents and then finished the reg-ular season 2-3 against the likes of Eupora, East Webster, and Ackerman — all much larger division schools.

A 40-10 loss to J.F. Ken-nedy in Mound Bayou in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs dropped the Lions to 4-8.

“Losing Quinshay was a big blow to our team, and it totally changed our offensive concept,” Weeks said. “But Seth Dement stepped up to fill the void and did a good job. He hadn’t played quarterback since the ninth grade, but he did everything we asked him to do.”

Playing in Class 1A is nothing new for Hamilton. The Lions were slotted in the state’s smallest clas-sification from 2005-2007 shortly after Weeks took over as coach.

This year, thanks to the state’s reclassification, the Lions have gone from one of the smallest Class 2A schools to one of the largest Class 1A schools. It’s a move Weeks wel-comes.

“I’ve told the team that just because we’re back in 1A doesn’t mean we’re go-ing to have it any easier,” Weeks said. “Class 1A is a brutal league, and we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game every night.

“But now at least we’ll be playing schools our size and our opponents won’t have a number ad-vantage on us. When you’re a small school playing bigger schools, you have to play a lot of players both ways and it takes its toll on the team physically when the oppo-nent has greater numbers to call on and can run in substitutes to give their starters a rest.”

If Weeks is to improve the Lions’ 4-8 record in his 10th year at the helm, he’ll have to find replacements for 10 senior starters, in-cluding: Jeremy Lindsey, Cole Richardson, Dusty Bryan, Silas Gill, Dement, and last but not least, De-ion Howard.

“We lost some good ones off last year’s team, but we’ve got some good, young talent I feel will step up and do a good job,” Weeks said.

Hamilton still will play larger schools in its non-district schedule — Class 2A Potts Camp, Class 4A Caledonia, and Class 2A Monroe Coun-ty rival Hatley — before moving into district play against Vardaman, Falk-ner, Houlka, Thrasher, Biggersville, Coldwa-ter, Smithville, and Cof-feeville.

“We’re going from five division opponents to eight,” Weeks said. “It’s going to be an interesting year.”

LionsContinued from Page 23

“Dement and Bishop give us a solid 1-2 punch at wide receiver,” Weeks said. “They both have good hands, good speed, run good routes, and are smart, and I feel confident throwing to either one of them.

“Austin works hard and has good fundamentals. We’re also counting on him to provide some extra blocking along the offensive line.”

Offensive lineWestly fikes (Jr.), nick Owens (sr.),

Cole Williams (Jr.), Dominique Dobbs (sr.),

Reed Dyess (Jr.)n The front five average

225 pounds per man, with Dobbs the biggest at 6-2, 270 and Owens the small-est at 6-0, 180. Everyone except Owens are returning starters. Owens started at center as a sophomore and has more than adequate-ly handled the move to guard. Owens (center), John Vaughn (Soph.), and Blake Pritchett (Sr.) at guard, and Davis Hankins (Sr.) and Da-vid Logan (Soph.) at tackle are the backups.

“We’ve got a lot of experience on the offensive line and we expect them to block for the run game as well as protect Quinshay at quarterback,” Weeks said.

Defensive lineelijuawan “Rudy” Trimble

(sr.), Dominique Dobbs (sr.),

Blake Pritchett, Austin lancaster (soph.),

Tanner Dement (Jr.)n Weeks’ three down

linemen average 280 pounds, with Trimble, Dobbs, and Dement the returning veterans. Relief will come from nose guards Chantan Saul (Jr.) and Walk-er Plunkett (Soph.), tackles Reed Dyess (Jr.), Cole Wil-liams (Jr.), and David Logan (Soph.), and ends Davis Hankins (Sr.) and Sequintis Coleman (Jr.).

“We’ve got good size and strength inside as well as at the ends,” Weeks said.

lineBACkeRnick Owens (sr.),

Michael Roberts (Jr.), Michael Roberts (Jr.),

Aaron fontenot (soph.), Caleb Williams (soph.),

Pallas fair (sr.), Branson shields (fr.)n Owens gets the nod

over Roberts in the middle. Roberts and Fontenot have stepped ahead on the inside and outside.

“Nick is a good tackler, plays physical and has a nose for the ball,” Weeks said. “He’s going to be a leader on the defensive side of the ball. Michael has good speed and can defend the run or the pass, while Fontenot is a hard-nosed, physical defender.”

seCOnDARykeshon Heard (soph.),

Austin Bishop (Jr.), Quinshay Heard (sr.)n Heard and Bishop are

new to the secondary, but capable of big things. Heard is back at safety looking to stay injury-free this season. Sophomore Byron Butler is in reserve. Austin Bishop and Pallas Fair will step in when needed.

“(Keshon and Austin) are two of our best athletes, both are smart and very athletic and I think they will turn out to be good cover guys,” Weeks said. “Having Quinshay (at safety) reading the offense is a big plus for us. He’s an unquestioned leader on the defensive side of the ball.”

sPeCiAlisTsTanner Dement (Jr.), Austin Bishop (Jr.),

keshon Heard (soph.), Pallas fair (sr.)

n Dement will handle the punting and kicking chores, while Bishop, Heard, and Fair are the return specialists.

“Tanner really works at the kicking game and does a good job,” Weeks said. “Bishop, Heard, and Fair give us three return men with vision and good speed.”

— Don Rowe

2013 High School Football Preview

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