2 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.

com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

About the cover: Front:

WHAT’S INSIDE
Heritage Academy’s John
Laws Ferguson, New Aberdeen Bulldogs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 New Hope Trojans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Hope’s Zak Thrasher, and
West Point’s Tommy Keys.
Back: Starkville’s Jaquez
Johnson, New Hope’s Aliceville Yellow Jackets . . . . . . . . . . 27 Noxubee County Tigers . . . . . . . . . . 17
Earnest Lang, Columbus’
Chris Richardson,
Noxubee County’s Corey
Williams, West Point’s Amory Panthers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Oak Hill Academy Raiders . . . . . . . . 16
Justin Cox, and Columbus’
Drew Jordan. (Kelly
Tippett photo) Caledonia Confederates. . . . . . . . . . . 5 Pickens Academy Pirates. . . . . . . . . 25

FOOTBALL 2010 Central Academy Vikings . . . . . . . . . 18 Pickens County Tornadoes. . . . . . . . 26

A publication of
THE DISPATCH
P.O. Box 511 • Columbus, MS 39703 Columbus Falcons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 South Lamar Stallions . . . . . . . . . . . 28
(662) 328-2424
Editor and Cover Design
Publisher Jackie Taylor East Oktibbeha Titans . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Starkville Academy Volunteers. . . . . 11
Birney Imes
Photographers
Sports Luisa Porter
Adam Minichino Kelly Tippett East Webster Wolverines . . . . . . . . . 22 Starkville Yellow Jackets. . . . . . . . . . 10
Henry Matuszak
David Miller Graphic Artists
Jackie Taylor Hamilton Lions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Sulligent Blue Devils . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Holona Yarber
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places to be
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FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
teams to see 1

9 13
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17
10 27
12 20
8 26
11 6 24
22 25
21
15
19
7
18
16
14 28 2
5

1
ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL
100 Bulldog Blvd., Aberdeen
8 EAST WEBSTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
195 Old Cumberland Road, Maben
15 NEW HOPE HIGH SCHOOL
3419 New Hope Road, Columbus
22 STARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
603 Yellowjacket Drive, Starville

2 9 16 23
662-369-8933 662-263-5321 662-244-4701 662-324-4130

ALICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL NOXUBEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SULLIGENT HIGH SCHOOL
417 3rd St. SE, Aliceville 40201 Hamilton Road, Hamilton 16478 Hwy. 45, Macon 661 Elm Street, Sulligent

3 10 17 24
205-373-6378 662-343-8307 662-76-4428 205-698-9254

AMORY HIGH SCHOOL HEBRON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OAK HILL ACADEMY VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
1006 Sam Haskell Circle, Amory 6230 Henryville Road, Pheba 800 N. Eshman, West Point 374 Mill Road, Columbus

4 11 18 25
662-256-5753 662-494-7513 662-494-0301 662-327-7744

CALEDONIA HIGH SCHOOL HERITAGE ACADEMY PICKENS ACADEMY WEST LOWNDES HIGH SCHOOL
111 Confederate Drive, Caledonia 625 Magnolia Lane, Columbus 225 Ray Bass Road, Carrollton 644 South Frontage Road, Columbus

5 12 19 26
662-356-2001 662-327-5272 205-367-8144 662-244-5070

CENTRAL ACADEMY IMMANUEL CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PICKENS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL WEST OKTIBBEHA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
300 Hale Street, Macon 6405 Military Road, Steens 205 4th Ave. SE, Reform 2459 Holland Street, Maben

6 13 20 27
662-726-5846 662-328-7888 256-375-2344 662-263-8106

COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL LAMAR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH LAMAR SCHOOL WEST POINT HIGH SCHOOL
215 Hemlock Street, Columbus 43880 Hwy. 17 S, Vernon 300 Sls Road, Millport 950 S. Eshman Avenue, West Point

7 14 21 28
662-241-7200 205-695-7129 205-662-4411 662-494-5083

EAST OKTIBBEHA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL LOUISVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STARKVILLE ACADEMY WINSTON ACADEMY
178 Moor High Road, Crawford 200 Ivy Avenue, Louisville 505 Academy Drive, Starkville 111 Richardson Road, Louisville
662-272-5603 662-773-3431 662-323-7814 662-773-3569
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 3

COLUMBUS FALCONS
MHSAA Class 6A, Region 1; 2009 Record 3-8

Kelly Tippett/Dispatch staff

Columbus 2010 team: 1-Jimmy Cockrell, 2-Damian Baker, 3-Rashad Meeks, 4-Cedric Jackson, 5-Jalen Buchanan, 6-Keith Brooks, 7-Randy Brown, 8-Sharkee Robinson, 9-
Jabari Edwards, 10-Jamarcus Jones, 11-Martavious McKinney, 12-Demarcus Vancy, 13-TJ Robinson, 14-Jarius Chatman, 15-Deontae Jones, 16-Trace Lee, 17-James Gunter,
18-Gemriah Williams, 20-George Lowery, 21-Tyler Sanders, 22-Jamie Taylor, 24-Quan Latham, 25-Byerson Cockrell, 26-Willie Porter, 27-Jason Davis, 28-Roydrick Bailey, 29-
Eric Roberts, 31-Chris Richardson, 32-Josh Thomas, 33-Steve White, 34-Ramadus Beasley, 36-Larry Williams, 37-Wesley Petty, 38-Ian Williams, 39-Ronald Gore, 40-
Emmanuel Edens, 41-Brent Petty, 42-Jarvis Ellis, 43-Devontress Harris, 44-Corey Brown, 45-Tevin Oglen, 46-Martell Railey, 47-Chris Conner, 48-Tyler Calvert, 49-Tyler
Davis, 50-Wymon Mixon, 51-Brendon Harris, 53-Drew Jordan, 54-Orlando Taylor, 55-Jamel Grant, 56-Kenny Averhart, 57-Jaymarcus Sherrod, 58-Tim Hudgins, 59-Jeremy
Morgan, 60-Chris Wolfe, 62-Brodrick Trimel, 64-Jerome Monroe, 65-Cedric Jones, 66-Lyndon Johnson, 67-Jamal Robertson, 68-Ryan McDonald, 70-Austin Andrews, 71-Kyler
Ward, 72-Bryant Hudgins, 74-Justin Verner, 75-Martavious Mitchell, 77-Tyshawn Carter, 78-Jake Thomas, 80-Tyler Brock, 81-Anturio Brooks, 82-Dalon Moore, 83-Deon
Taylor, 84-Iziah Jones, 85-Jarcquarius Clark, 86-Greg Giles, 87-Michael Sturdivant, 88-Vidal Harris, 89-Martin Sherrod.

Richardson, Jordan plan to change course

BY ADAM MINICHINO
aminichino@cdispatch.com

To establish a tradition, a
team needs leaders.
The Columbus High
School football team has
had its share of athletes the
past few years attempt to set
the example required to
help the Falcons recapture
their winning ways.
It has been since 2004
since a Columbus High foot-
ball team has had a winning
season.
Chris Richardson and
Drew Jordan plan to make
this the season that
changes.
On a team with 13 sen-
iors and a talented group of
juniors, first-year coach
Tony Stanford said the play
and leadership of
Richardson and Jordan will
help determine if the
Falcons change their
course.
“I think the biggest thing
they want to do, and we
have talked a lot about it, is
they want to get a tradition
started,” Stanford said.
“They want to be the class
that makes the playoffs and
do something in the playoffs
instead of every year we get
close and don’t make it. ...
They don’t have anything to
build off of. The only thing
we have to build off is we
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
have lost, we have lost. You
Columbus center Drew Jordan (53, left) and running back and outside linebacker Chris Richardson, (31, left) are willing to fight to lead the
have to start somewhere. Falcons to a winning season.
We hope this class will be it
and you can say, ‘So and so mer on molding themselves a lot of excuses last season trained like they were said. and work in the weight
was the leader of that team.’ into better football players. for his performance. He “going to battle,” and he is Jordan replaced Billy room to transform his
The kids all knew it. We They feel they are ready and thought he had a lot of time trying to carry that mind-set Autrey at center last season. game. The result is a
need that type of tradition willing to accept the daunt- to make his mark but real- forward this season. He sensed a year ago that stronger, more confident
here, and we hope the sen- ing challenge of transform- ized many players only have “I believe this season his footwork and his hand- player who is anxious to
ior class will be the ones ing a program that has won one chance to play the should be very successful work needed to improve, so lead by example.
who start it, and these two four games in the past two game. It hit him that if he because we have worked he focused in the offseason “I have learned seniors
young men are part of that years into a contender. didn’t take his opportunity super hard,” Richardson on ladder drills, cone drills, See COLUMBUS, 19
class.” “I didn’t step it up like I he might miss it. As a result,
In their third year on the was supposed to,” said Richardson has positioned
varsity team, both players
worked hard in the offsea-
son to position themselves
Richardson, who saw the
majority of his action on spe-
cial teams and at linebacker
himself to earn playing time
at running back and seeing
more action at outside line-
O% FOR 60 MONTHS*
as leaders. They weren’t
standouts in their first two
last season. “This year, I am
stepping up to the highest
backer.
“I have to give glory to
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4 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

NEW HOPE TROJANS

MHSAA Class 5A, Region 1; 2009 Record: 11-2

Credit?
New Hope 2010 team: 2-Trae Collins, 3-Tanner Ryals, 4-Daniel Gregory, 5-Horace “Roc” Carr, 6-Curtis Shirley, 8-Kris Douglas, 9-Franklin Richardson, 10-Darius Petty, 12-
Desmond Psalms, 14-Justin Dayhoff, 15-Zak Thrasher, 16-Ryan Lee, 17-Dylan Hawkins, 18-Lonnie Stephenson, 19-E.J. Jenkins, 20-Johnny Beamon, 21-Jameel Johnson, 22-
Devin Walton, 23-JoJo Reeves, 24-Todd Harris, 25-Dylon Pritchett, 26-Terrance Dentry, 27-Ryan Lowe, 28-Ben Saint, 30-Austin Oswalt, 31-Fred Harrison, 32-M.J. Shirley,
34-David Richardson, 35-Dalton Hodges, 36-Jeremy Washington, 37-Ben Veazey, 38-Terance Taylor, 42-Jarmar Payne, 44-Terrence Payne, 45-Tyler Warnat, 49-Dustin
Owens, 50-Mike Love, 52-Quentin White, 53-Zack Graves, 54-Kearick Patterson, 55-Q Newby, 56-Derek Pierce, 57-Justin Sherrod, 58-Thomas Fisher, 59-Charles Thompson,
60-Trever Weeks, 61-Eric Romans, 62-Nate Saint, 64-Dalton Gray, 70-Christian Thornton, 72-Park Stevens, 74-Shawn Gray, 75-Lee Pegram, 76-Earnest Lang, 78-Marcus
Johnson, 79-Corey Council, 80-Leebo Davis, 82-Tavoris Crowell, 86-Lawrence Brown. Head coach: Michael Bradley. Assistant coaches: Dale Hardin, Jacob Owen, Matt
Keith, Bob Reeves, Tony Odom.

Three-headed monster set to make things go

BY ADAM MINICHINO
aminichino@cdispatch.com
The scariest monster
comes off the screen with
a tenaciousness that
makes you squirm in
your seat.
But your parents told
you time and time again
there are no such things
as monsters, right?
If you believe that, you
better make a point to
attend a New Hope High
School football game this
season.
The attraction won’t
be under a carnival tent,
and it won’t have neon
lights illuminating the
way to a once-in-a-lifetime
oddity.
Instead, the Trojans’
three-headed monster
will appear on a green
field every Friday night
this fall and will try to run
past you or over you,
depending on who is car-
rying the ball.
On the first carr y,
Terrance Dentr y might
bulldoze you into the
turf.
On the second, Johnny
Beamon is likely to dance
past you, setting the
stage for Franklin
Richardson Jr. to jet past
Have a
Great
Season!
GO !
O JANS
TR
1120 Gardner Blvd
Columbus, MS
328-5776
From left: New Hope High School seniors Terrance Dentry, Johnny Beamon, and
Franklin Richardson Jr. will try to terrorize teams when they are on the field at the
same time on offense.
you on carry No. 3 just
when you’re tr ying to
catch your breath.
Now that’s an attack
that is bound to scare any
defense.
Those will be just
three of the weapons at
the disposal of New Hope
coach Michael Bradley.
The Trojans showcased
all three on the field at
the same time occasional-
ly last season. But oppo-
nents figure to get a big-
ger taste of the senior trio
this year.
“We’re going to try to
have all three of them on
the field quite a bit this
year,” Bradley said.
“Frank is a very valuable
member of our defense,
and we have basically
kept him of f of fense
because we really didn’t
have anybody to take his
place on defense. We
have some younger play-
ers who have come along
and maybe can give him
some relief on defense.
"He is a very versatile
player. He runs well and
he catches the ball well.
Putting him on the field
with Johnny and
Terrance will definitely
make us more of a threat.
It will open up things,
hopefully, for the other
two to have more room.”
Dentry, Beamon, and
Richardson Jr. are just
three pieces in a multi-tal-
ented offense that also
includes senior quarter-
back Zak Thrasher, a
three-year star ter, run-
ning back Darius Petty,
and tight end Lawrence
Brown.
But the three-headed
monster figures to give
New Hope, which is com-
ing off a program-best 11-
Adam Minichino/Dispatch Staff
2 season in 2009, some-
thing most teams in the
state don’t have: Three
experienced players who
can change a game with
one touch.
“We say we’re mon-
sters,” said Dentry, a 5-
foot-9, 175-pounder. “We
tell any other team that is
looking at us they better
be ready and bring all
they have.”
Dentry is the leader of
the group after rushing
for a team-best 1,279
yards and 12 touchdowns
last season. He led the
Trojans in rushing every
game except one, a sea-
son-ending 41-21 loss to
eventual Class 5A state
champion West Point.
The defeat was one of two
New Hope suf fered to
West Point. The losses
served as motivation for
Dentr y, Beamon, and
Richardson Jr. in the off-
season and pushed them
to train with each other
nearly every day.
"When you lose to a
team twice and you have
lost to them every year,
plus your eighth grade
year, something has to
click,” Beamon said. “We
have something on our STAFF
chest. Every time we take
the field this year it is n HEAD COACH:
coming from our heart.” Michael Bradley
Beamon had 54 car- (fifth season, 26-20)
ries for 384 yards, an
average of 7.1 yards per
carr y. He also led the n ASSISTANT
team with 24 catches for COACHES:
388 yards and four touch-
downs. Dale Hardin, Bob
At. 5-7, 160, Beamon is Reeves, Jacob Owen,
the smallest of the three Matt Keith, Tony Odum,
playmakers, but that
doesn’t mean he is any Bill Ford
less dangerous. He uses
his shiftiness and his
quick feet to make people NUMBER’S GAME
miss and to stretch
defenses for his team-
mates.
Beamon admits he
16
isn’t fond of monster Number of returning
movies. After all, Beamon starters, including nine
spends most of his spare on offense.
time watching ESPN, and
the network hasn’t
branched out to that
genre yet.
Still, Beamon named
NEW HOPE
more than a few names SCHEDULE
when asked who he con-
siders monster athletes.
Aug. 20 Open
Aug. 27 At Tupelo
He said Ray Lewis, Sept. 3 At Amory
Warren Sapp, Terrell
Owens, Donovan
Sept. 10 Open
Sept. 17 At Caledonia
McNabb, Brett Favre, Sept. 24 OXFORD
Jerr y Rice, and Chad
Oct. 1 At West Point
Ochocinco are players Oct. 8 LAKE CORMORANT
whose work ethic made Oct. 15 SALTILLO
them monsters in his Oct. 22 CLARKSDALE
eyes. Oct. 29 At Hernando
Nov. 5 INDIANOLA GENTRY
That’s the mind-set — HOME GAMES IN CAPS
See NEW HOPE, 23

Next to Belk • Columbus • 327-3332

DID OU KNOW?
www.monogramsplusgifts.com Tyson Lee (former quarterback for MSU)
Show your team pride! and the YMCA will offer Flag Football
All Area High School &
College Cheerleader Outfits Ages 6 thru 10
Hairbows Registration August 9-30, 2010
Bloomers Downtown Y only
Socks MUST Bring Birth Certificate
Pompoms YMCA Members $40.00
Program
Pr Members $50.00
Blankets & More
In
Interested in coaching??
Make An Initial Pleas call Perry at the YMCA.
Please
© The Dispatch

Impression That Lasts! 662-328-7696

© The Dispatch

www.columbus-ymca.com
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Caledonia High School offensive lineman Alex Reed works on his blocking technique with the help of Noe Estrada, right. Reed will be one of the senior leaders up front
who will try to use his speed and quickness in the Confederates’ new offense, a hydrid Wing-T installed by new coach Ricky Kendrick.
Senior offensive linemen to lead charge in Wing-T
BY ADAM MINICHINO
aminichino@cdispatch.com
CALEDONIA — Change can be
an ideal remedy.
But when that change involves
scrapping an offense that was put in
one year earlier for something com-
pletely different, the transformation
can slow to a crawl.
But Ricky Kendrick’s decision to
do away with the
spread offense
coach David Boykin
installed last year
and bring in the
Wing-T appears to
be a god fit with
Kendrick offensive linemen
Hunter Foster, Alex
Reed, and Tres Peacock and the
rest of the Caledonia High School
football team.
“The way coach Kendrick intro-
duces it is very powerful,” said
Reed, a 6-foot-1, 190-pounder. “He
has done it for a long time, and
other teams have won champi-
onships with it. South Panola won
quite a few championships with the
Wing T, so maybe in the years com-
ing we can hopefully reach those
standards.”
Reed’s comment reflects the
positivity Kendrick has fast-tracked
into the program. After a 1-9 season
in 2008 and an 0-10 finish last sea-
son, a positive approach likely is the
only one that would work.
Kendrick appears to be ready to
stick around for a few years to make
sure it sticks. If he does, he would
end the revolving door nature to the
Caledonia football job. Boykin
replaced Jack Hankins after the
2005 season and coached two years
before leaving. Jason Forrester
QUARTERBACK
n RICHARD KEENE, TREY
LANCASTER, GARRET WINSTON
Keene, who also plays baseball,
didn’t play football last season.
He played two years ago. He
came to summer workouts and
Kendrick encouraged him
to stick with it.
n COACH KENDRICK SAYS:
“Our quarterback has to be a lit-
tle different athlete than the
spread,” Kendrick said. “(Keene)
has come on and done a fine job
of running (the Wing-T). Even
though he didn’t play last year he
shows some poise, which is what
you look for in the position.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
n BREEN (PUNTING),
JOSH AND KEVIN KUGEL
n COACH KENDRICK SAYS:
“I have been pleasantly sur-
prised,” Kendrick said.
THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com
CALEDONIA CONFEDERATES
MHSAA Class 4A, Region 4; 2009 Record: 0-10
CALEDONIA 2010 TEAM
1-Randy Randle, 2-Jon Jon
Phinezee, 3-Jarrett Winston, 4-
Eric Douglas, 5-Tyrus Hill, 6-
Kevin Kugel, 7-Trey Lancaster,
8-Ben Marchbanks, 10-Jonathan
Pagaduan, 12-Caleb Roebuck,
13-Joshua Kugel, 14-Ryan
Unruh, 15-Richard Keen, 16-
Joshua Betts, 18-Lucas Eads,
20-Onterrio Lowery, 21-Chris
Griffin, 22-Quavis Betts, 23-
Nathan Brauer, 24-Tyler Lowe,
25-Peter Pagaduan, 30-William
Breen, 31-Tyler Armistad, 32-
Colton Gilbreath, 33-Cole Reed-
Wood, 45-Dario Marques, 53-
Tres Peacock, 55-Hunter Griffin,
guided the team for one year before
Boykin returned last season
Now it’s Kendrick’s turn to try to
transform Caledonia into a winner.
The former head coach at Nettleton
coached most recently at Amory
High, a Class 4A Region 4 rival of
Caledonia’s. Amory’s 28-0 victory
against Caledonia last year gave
Kendrick a glimpse of what he
would eventually inherit. Seeing the
Confederates made Kendrick real-
ize a Wing-T might be a better fit for
their personnel.
Reed won’t disagree. He is
expected to team with Hunter
Foster, Tres Peacock, Cole Carter,
Hunter Griffin, and tight end Ryan
Unruh up front to help the
Confederates erase the memory of
last season that saw them score
only 34 points. Caledonia was shut
out five times, including four games
in a row in the middle of the season.
Reed is confident the
Confederates will be able to excel at
the Wing-T because it is easier to
understand than Boykin’s spread
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CONFEDERATES
RUNNING BACK
n TYLER ARMISTAD (FULLBACK)
COLE REED-WOOD (FULLBACK),
TYLER LOWE (TAILBACK),
CALEB ROEBUCK
Kendrick likes the grittiness of
Armistad and Reed-Wood and the
speed of Lowe.
n COACH KENDRICK SAYS:
“That’s what you look for in some-
one in the Wing-T, somebody who
has a little sand to them,” Kendrick
said. “They both get after you pretty
good.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
n FOSTER, REED, PEACOCK,
CARTER, GRIFFIN, UNRUH, NOE
ESTRADA, NICK MOORE:
Kendrick said the Confederates
will run a 3-4 and try to rotate
players in to keep them fresh.
n COACH KENDRICK SAYS:
“All three of the guys up front
have to be interchangeable,”
Kendrick said. “We have got some
young kids who will be able to
help us.”
56-Noe Estrada, 57-Will
Mainka, 60-Tyler Blain, 61-
Michael Ward, 63-Lane Greggs,
64-Jarrett Hopper, 67-Zachery
Harrell, 70-Alex Reed, 71-
Garrett Wester, 74-Reed
School, 75-Jaylon White, 77-
Cole Carter, 78-Nicholas Moore,
79-Hunter Foster, 80-Jonathan
Comer, 83-Tyler Schultz, 84-
Hunter McBride, 85-Jason
Bryant, 86-Xavier Hill, 88-Tyler
Treece. Head coach: Ricky
Kendrick. Assistant coaches:
James Moore, James Reed,
Larry Wright, Mark Hysaw.
concepts. He also said Kendrick has
brought a sense of pride to the pro-
gram and a desire to get things
done that has renewed everyone’s
enthusiasm.
“He keeps us together as a fami-
ly,” Reed said. “He treats us like a
coach should and coaches us as
hard as he can.”
Foster agrees that the Wing-T
has been easier to pick up. He said
the Confederates are having more
fun with the offense and that they
look pretty good through the first
part of the preseason.
“We’re using our speed to get
people sealed really quick and to
get the ball upfield,” Foster said. “It
is all about working the ball
upfield.”
Kendrick said the Wing-T’s
pulling and trapping of linemen dis-
guises the Confederates’ lack of size
up front. He said Reed, Peacock,
and Foster have good mobility and
are able to get out and move to cre-
ate running lanes.
More importantly, Kendrick said
RECEIVERS
n ERIC DOUGLAS,
JONATHAN COMER
Kendrick doesn’t disguise the fact
that Caledonia will run the ball. But
don’t be too eager to stack the box
because he said the Confederates
will burn you if you forget.
n COACH KENDRICK SAYS:
“They better be able to block, too,”
Kendrick said. “Everybody on our
team needs to be able to block.”
LINEBACKER
n BREEN AND ARMISTAD
(INSIDE), LANCASTER AND
UNRUH (OUTSIDE)
Size also isn’t a priority at the
position. Kendrick likes the atti-
tude these players have shown in
the preseason.
n COACH KENDRICK SAYS:
“They are as big as nothing but
they like to mix it up and get
after you,” Kendrick said.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 5
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
they have bought into the new sys-
tem and encouraged their team-
mates to do the same.
“Coming in new, you don’t
expect to see such leadership,”
Kendrick said. “Off a team that was
0-10 last year these guys are fired
up about football. They love the
game, they enjoy the team, and they STAFF
are excited about the team, and it is
n HEAD COACH:
carrying over to the younger folks.
“It seems like they’re buying in Ricky Kendrick
and really accepting things. They
(first season at school)
are very attentive at practice, and
we’ve had some of the best prac-
n ASSISTANT
tices I have been involved with.
They have been eating it up.” COACHES:
Kendrick plans to have the pro- James Reed, Mark
grams that feed into Caledonia Hysaw, James Moore
High run the Wing-T, too. The abil- (defensive coordinator),
ity of younger players to run the
Larr y Wright
offense earlier in their careers will
make the transition to high school
even easier. NUMBER’S GAME
Reed and the other four seniors
on this year’s team likely won’t be
around to see those classes mature
into Wing-T experts. That’s OK,
11
Returning Starters:
though, because Reed and his 6 –offense; 5 – defense
teammates intend to enjoy being
the first class to run the offense that
helped transform the Caledonia
High football program.
19
The number of games
“It will be a challenge this year,
but we’re going to rise to the chal- the Confederates have
lenge,” Reed said. “We have really lost in a row, dating
had that embroidered into our back to the 2008
brains so it will run smoothly and season.
that we can take each step forward
and no steps back
“I think this year is really going
KEY IN 2010
n RICKY KENDRICK:
to change some things, and it is
going to be a change for the better.
With a new coaching staff and “I realize they have had
coach Kendrick, it is time for some good coaches, and
Caledonia to step forward instead of I am not sure I am as
taking a step back.” good or better than any-
body they have had here,
but nobody has been
willing to endure the
storm. To me, it is going
to take somebody who
OFFENSIVE LINE makes a commitment to
n HUNTER FOSTER, ALEX REED,
the kids and to the com-
munity and is going to
TRES PEACOCK, COLE CARTER,
see a ninth-grade group
HUNTER GRIFFIN, RYAN UNRUH graduate.”
This group makes up for what it
lacks in girth with athleticism and
quickness.
CALEDONIA
SCHEDULE
n COACH KENDRICK SAYS: Aug. 20 At Ruleville
“ We don’t have big kids, but we Aug. 26 At Saltillo
have decent size,” Kendrick said. Sept. 3 At West Lowndes
Sept. 10 At Nettleton
“In the Wing-T we can utilize the
Sept. 17 NEW HOPE
speed and quickness of the small- Sept. 24 HAMILTON
er linemen.” Oct.1 AMORY
Oct. 8 At Houston
Oct. 15 LOUISVILLE
SECONDARY Oct. 22 At Kosciusko
n ROEBUCK, TYRUS HILL,
Oct. 29 NOXUBEE CO.
RANDY RANDLE, JON PHINIZEE, HOME GAMES IN CAPS
BEN MARCHBANKS
A blend of youth and experience Have a
that includes decent speed.
Great
Season!
n COACH KENDRICK SAYS:
GO S!
ATE
“The safeties will be asked to fill DER
FE
the lanes, and we feel they will be CON
pretty solid,” Kendrick said.
1120 Gardner Blvd
Columbus, MS
328-5776
6 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN RAMS

MAIS Class A, District 3; 2009 Record: 1-9

Rams look to have turnaround season

BY JAN BLAINE
Special to the Dispatch

STEENS — The Immanuel

Christian football team has
struggled the past few years.
STAFF Most recently, the Rams fin-
ished 1-9 season in Shawn Gates’
n HEAD COACH:
first year as a head coach.
“There were a lot of growing
Shawn Gates pains we had to go through,”
(Second year, 1-9) Gates said. “We did struggle
n ASSISTANT with various aspects of our per-
COACHES: formance and execution on the
Daniel Merchant field, but our biggest weakness
was our lack in depth.”
(Defensive Coordinator),
Gates believes the Rams have
Greg Gates remedied that major hindrance
(Quarterbacks), thanks to the return of several
Bubba Davis (Offensive players returning from last sea-
Line and Special Teams), son in key positions and the
addition of some newcomers
Will Sullivan (Wide
who will bring add to the talent
Receivers), pool.
Aaron Lee (Linebackers) “We got eight guys returning
that gave me a good effort last
NUMBER’S GAME season,” Gates said. “We were
also able to add a couple of kids,

8 which puts our roster to 20 play-

ers. That is a major boost for us.”
One of the newcomers is jun-
Returning Lettermen
ior tailback and linebacker
Norris Harris. Gates is ver y
high on Harris’ ability to help
8 the Rams this season. Although
Harris is a newcomer to
Returning Starters:
Immanuel, he is well aware of
Offense – 8; Defense – 8 the Rams’ recent struggles and
doesn’t want to see the same out-
KEY IN 2010 come this season.
“My goal is for us (Immanuel)
n COACH GATES: to make the playoffs,” Harris
“ We have more players said. “If we get there, I feel we
this season (20 on the
will have confidence and be able
to do something special.”
roster). That is a major Gates said Harris brings
improvement from last speed and power and will be a
season, when our num- major boost for the rushing
bers seemed to be a attack. Harris also will play a
huge issue. We have huge role as a linebacker. Gates
hinted Harris’ speed and power
also been able to
might help him find his way into
improve our strength and the return game.
speed and gain a better Harris’ versatility and quick-
knowledge of the game. ness also has caught his the eyes
Hopefully that all adds of his teammates.
“We added speed this year
up to a turnaround next Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
season.” See IMMANUEL, 9 Immanuel Christian’s Norris Harris (2) and Michael Tate will lead the Rams’ ground attack this season.

Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff

Immanuel 2010 team: 2-Norris Harris, 4-Brendan Bailey, 5-Josh Dantzler, 8-Jacob Rhodes, 10-Joel Meek, 12-Michael Tate, 14-Sam Mayo, 19-Ross Moore, 23-Wesley Lake,
25-Justin James, 33-Zach Stricklin, 40-Bradley Briggs, 53-James Wriley, 54-Josh Davidson, 57-Zach Kimbrell, 65-Ryan Watkins, 66-Wil Harmond, 74-Jeremy Davidson, 75-
Luke Hudson, 79-Christopher Randazzo, 81-Dustin White.

IMMANUEL A CLOSER LOOK AT THE RAMS

SCHEDULE
QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
Aug. 20 At Hatley
Aug. 27 At Central Aca. n ROSS MOORE, JR. n MICHAEL TATE, JR.; n JOSH DANTZLER, SO.; n JAMES RILEY, JR.;
Sept. 3 CARROLL ACA. The Rams hope an improved NORRIS HARRIS, JR. JUSTIN JAMES, SR. JEREMY DAVIDSON, JR.;
Sept. 10 At Calhoun Aca. Moore, who was the starter last The Rams return experience with The height of James, who is DUSTIN WHITE, SR.
Sept. 17 At Winona Chr. Immanuel Christian has much-
season, will provide solid Tate and have added a speedster 6-foot-5, and the speed of Dantzler
Sept. 24 N. RIVER, ALA.
leadership. in Harris to bring an extra punch should give the Rams two needed experience at the position
Oct. 1 HOULKA
Oct. 8 At Heidelberg to the running attack. valuable weapons to help move this season.
n COACH GATES SAYS:
n COACH GATES SAYS:
Oct. 15 HEBRON CHR. the ball.
Oct. 22 CENT. HOLMES “Ross (Moore) is looking much n COACH GATES SAYS:
n COACH GATES SAYS:
Oct. 29 NEW SITE “By adding Norris we have defi- “Jeremy (Davidson) was all-area last
better with his passes and tech-
HOME GAMES IN CAPS nitely improved our speed. We are
niques. He definitely turned out a “Justin (James) is a big target for season as a sophomore, so having
definitely stronger with the two him return is huge for our
good summer.” us with his height, and Dantzler
backs, and they have done a good experience,” Gates said. “James
has done a great job improving his
job of gaining good weight this (Riley) was honorable mention. They
speed this offseason.”
offseason.” will definitely be a boost for us.”

DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER SECONDARY SPECIAL TEAMS

n JEREMY DAVIDSON, JR.; n NORRIS HARRIS, JR.; n WESLEY LAKE, SR.; n DUSTIN WHITE, SR.
ZACH KIMBRELL, SO.; JAMES RILEY, JR.; JUSTIN JAMES, SR. Dustin White was an all-area
DUSTIN WHITE, SR. MICHAEL TATE, JR.; With two seniors returning, the selection as a punter last season
Running a 3-4 defensive scheme has Rams could be threats when and is bidding for the kicking job
Have a JOSH DANTZLER, SO.
its challenges, but the Rams These appear to have the speed opposing teams want to throw the as well. With the addition of
Great Harris, Immanuel Christian could
possess speed in the trenches, necessary to contain the rush and football.
Season! which could be a plus in their ability have a secret weapon next
to drop back in coverage in select
GO to rush the passer this season. schemes. n COACH GATES SAYS: season in the return game.
S!
RAM n COACH GATES SAYS: “The one thing this unit has above n COACH GATES SAYS:
“ We are very quick upfront, which n COACH GATES SAYS: any other is stamina. Those two “It is good to have Dustin (White)
is necessary for us so the other “Our linebackers are a very strong (Lake and James) don’t get tired back as a punter. We are still
guys can drop back in coverage unit. We have experience and often. Add their speed and trying to figure out who our kicker
1120 Gardner Blvd and not worr y about much speed. I am looking forward to strength to the mix and they and returners might be, but I have
Columbus, MS
328-5776 scrambling.” seeing what they can do.” could be dangerous.” my eye on a couple of guys.”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Victory Christian 2010 team - 8 Marcus Sims, 10-Brandon Foster, 12-Ben Williams, 20-Will Pitts, 21-Landon Ellis, 22 -Tyler Jones, 23-Tayler Frye, 24-Hunter Austin, 32-Jay
Pace, 33-Charlie Price, 34-Kaleb Holliness, 48-Paul Blair, 50-Bo McCrary, 52-Joshua Foxworthy, 55-Destin Edwards, 56-Brandon Shaw, 62-Joey Shirah, 64-Aaron Ott, 67-
Hunter Johnson, 70-Clinton Spencer, 80-Nick Hairston, 88-Sam Fisher
Seniors look to maintain Eagles’ streak
BY JAN BLAINE
Special to the Dispatch
A winning streak is something
any team wants to conjure.
But when the streak reaches
22, winning almost appears to
have transformed into habit.
The Victory Christian football
teams enters this season riding a
22-game win streak thanks to con-
secutive Christian Football
Association championships. The
Eagles’ five senior leaders have
been there for every one of those
victories.
“We have special leadership on
this team, and it will be important
for this season,” said Victor y
Christian coach Chris Hamm,
who is in his 14th year. “This
group of seniors works hard and
are good leaders for the younger
guys. I believe the mark on this
season’s team is the senior lead-
ership.”
Many believe leadership is a
trait that is untaught. If that is
true, Victory Christian is blessed
to have five senior leaders who
have all played with each other
since junior high.
“That is a good thing for us,”
said senior lineman Destin
Edwards, “because we know
how to play with each other and
know what to expect from one
another.”
That familiarity, plenty of hard
work and determination and yes,
some talent has helped the Eagles
remain unbeaten for so long.
With such an impressive mark
standing, one might assume the
leaders of would feel added pres-
sure. But senior fullback Ben
Williams said they shy away from
any pressure.
“There is no pressure on us,
we just have one goal,” Williams
said. “That goal is to win another
championship. Coach Hamm
does a great job of keeping us
complacent and not letting us get
caught up in the win streak.”
The seniors are replacing a
stellar group of seniors from last
season’s team, but the variety that
exists among this year’s group
could be a formula for another
QUARTERBACK
n MARCUS SIMS, JR.
The Eagles look to replace
three-year starter Parker Eaves,
but Hamm is confident Sims is
up for the challenge.
n COACH HAMM SAYS:
“Marcus has got the size to play
the position and is still growing.
Add a great arm to that and all he
lacks is
experience.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
n BEN WILLIAMS, SR.; PAUL
BLAIR, JR.; HUNTER JOHNSON,
SR.; NICK HAIRSTON, JR.
With all four starters returning
the first wave will be
strong again.
n COACH HAMM SAYS:
“The defense did a good job last
season shutting people down. I
especially see big things from the
front line
this season.”
THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com
VICTORY EAGLES
Christian Football Association; 2009 Record: 10-0 (CFA champions)
Front row, from left: Victory Christian will look to Ben Williams, Landon Ellis, Tyler Jones and back row,
from left, Destin Edwards, Joey Shirah, and Hunter Johnson to help the team contend for a third
consecutive Christian Football Association title.
successful season for Hamm.
Edwards, Williams, tailback /
cornerback Landon Ellis, receiver
/ defensive lineman Hunter
Johnson, and receiver / line-
backer Tyler Jones are friends
who have taken control of their
roles as leaders.
“As seniors we can’t goof off
during workouts,” Ellis said. “It
is OK to be fun, but there is a
time to be serious, and it is up to
us to be there and lead the
younger guys when they need
it.”
This leadership role the sen-
iors have seized goes beyond
wins or losses. The seniors see
their influence expanding past the
gridiron and past this season.
“As seniors, our goal is a cham-
pionship, but it is also to be the
best leaders we can be,” Johnson
said. “It is up to us to show the
younger guys how to carry them-
selves, not only on the field but
off it as well, and, hopefully, it will
carry on into the future.”
Those quality characteristics
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EAGLES
RUNNING BACK
n BEN WILLIAMS, SR.;
LANDON ELLIS, SR.
Victory Christian is experienced
and solid in the backfield and with
Ellis leading the attack.
n COACH HAMM SAYS:
“Ben (Williams) is hard-nosed and
loves to hit, and does it well.
Landon (Ellis) returns as our
starter, and we are very glad to
have him back.”
LINEBACKER
n TYLER JONES, SR.;
JAY PACE, JR.
Jay Pace gets the nod to replace
Daylon Hairston. The return of
Jones should bolster the unit.
n COACH HAMM SAYS:
“Tyler will bring the experience to
the position, but Jay has the
chance to be really good there as
well.
are just part of the formula that
has helped Hamm and the
Eagles be so successful.
“The kids work hard,” Hamm
said. “They love to win and they
know that is impossible without
giving it their all during work-
outs.”
This of fseason, hitting the
weight room three times a week
and tossing in a dash of condi-
tioning helped the Eagles build
strength and improve stamina,
both weaknesses according to
the five seniors.
“We all needed to add some
muscle and size to our bodies,”
Ellis said. “But also, we all play
both ways so it was important
for us to keep our stamina up in
the offseason.”
Normally, a major concern for
a program that has experienced
so much success is apathy or
complacency hindering a team’s
mentality, preparation, or effort.
That doesn’t appear to be a fac-
tor for Victory Christian.
“We want to win them all. We
RECEIVERS
n TYLER JONES, SR.;
HUNTER JOHNSON, SR.
Jones is Victory Christian’s most
experienced receiver, while
Johnson will attempt to prove
himself as he moved from lineman
to a tight end.
n COACH HAMM SAYS:
“Tyler has good hands and knows
how to use his size. Hunter has
always been a big guy, but he is
also capable of catching some
passes.”
SECONDARY
n LANDON ELLIS, SR.;
KALEB HOLINESS, JR.
Ellis has been the anchor at this
position for a couple seasons, but
Holiness looks to ride the momen-
tum from a great championship
game last year into this season.
n COACH HAMM SAYS:
“Landon does a good job in cover-
age, but also is great at contain-
ing the outside rush. Kaleb is
smaller but has worked hard and
continually keeps improving.”as
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 7
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Chris Hamm
(10-0 in 2009; 14 years)
n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
Kevin Harrell
(Defense/Special
Teams)
Todd Dyer (Defense)
Ronnie McDaniel
(Offense)
NUMBER’S GAME
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
13
Returning Lettermen
want a three-peat,” Jones said.
10
Returning Starters:
Williams interjected to make
Offense – 4; Defense – 6
the claim that the championship
was more impor tant than an
undefeated season, shortly after
Edwards comically admitted an
undefeated season wouldn’t be a
bad thing.
The camaraderie between the
seniors proves why the Eagles
have been so successful. They
share a special bond that has
existed since they were in junior
high and has turned them into
what Edwards described as a
family.
“We all hangout with each
other, even away from football,”
Edwards said. “We hang out
after the games and enjoy being
around each other. We are a
very tight-knit group.”
With the challenge of the
upcoming season and with the
KEY IN 2010
n COACH HAMM:
opportunity to defend its win-
ning streak and its champi-
onships, Victor y Christian “We have special senior
appears to be in good hands led leadership on this team,
by a special senior unit. and it will be important
this season. This group
of seniors works hard
and are good leaders for
OFFENSIVE LINE the younger guys. The
n DESTIN EDWARDS, SR.;
mark on this season’s
team is the senior
AARON OTT, JR.;
leadership.”
PAUL BLAIR, JR.
There’s some question marks on
the line with Johnson moving to
receiver, so the Eagles will depend VICTORY CHRISTIAN
on Edwards.
SCHEDULE
n COACH HAMM SAYS:
“Destin is making a position switch
Aug. 27 ELLWOOD CHR.
Sept. 3 At New Life
from guard to center, but I don’t
Sept. 10 At Tabernacle
see him having a problem. We have
Sept. 17 At Victory Baptist
had some health issues on the line,
Sept. 24 TBA
but if we can resolve those I feel
Oct. 1 HERITAGE
they will perform well.”
Oct. 8 Open
Oct. 15 NORTH RIVER CHR.
SPECIAL TEAMS Oct. 22 TUSCALOOSA CHR.
n TYLER JONES, SR.;
LANDON ELLIS, SR.; HOME GAMES IN CAPS
KALEB HOLINESS, JR.
Jones returns to handle the punt-
ing duties. He also will be the Have a
team’s kicker. Ellis and Holiness Great
will return kicks and punts.
Season!
n COACH HAMM SAYS:
GO
!
LES
“We are replacing our kicker from EAG
last season (C.J. Bell), but I am
confident in Tyler’s leg. Landon and
Kaleb have been
consistently good for us at 1120 Gardner Blvd
Columbus, MS
returning the ball.” 328-5776
8 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Credit?
Heritage Academy 2010 team: 1-Miller Puckett, 2-Cade Lott, 3-Tyler Marchak, 5-Stance Henderson, 7-Brandon Bell, 8-John Laws Ferguson, 13-Parker Turner, 21-Taylor
Fields, 22-Hudson Bean, 24-Parker Dunaway, 25-Aaron Studdard, 31-Hunter Buxton, 33-Tyler Knight, 34-Zach Taylor, 43-Tyler Sundman, 44-Mark Adams, 50-Colton
Younger, 51-Wesley Swedenburg, 54-Matthew Morrison, 55-Blake Sharp, 56-Colby Upton, 60-Clint Markham, 70-Tyler King, 71-Will Bonner, 73-Marshall Tomlinson, 74-Drew
Johnson, 75-Bryant Bonner, 80-David Hardy, 85-Glenn Akins. Head coach: Brad Butler. Assistant coaches: Marcus Davidson, Greg Sykes, Steve Morgan, Randy Edmonson.

HERITAGE ACADEMY PATRIOTS

MAIS Class AAA, North Division I; 2009 Record: 3-8

STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Brad Butler
(second season, 3-8)
Seniors want to plot different ending
BY ADAM MINICHINO
aminichino@cdispatch.com
n ASSISTANT
Stance Henderson would love
COACHES: to remember the positives about
Marcus Davidson, Greg the 2009 season.
Sykes, Steve Morgan, Unfortunately, the way the
Patriots ended the campaign
Randy Edmonson
erased any of the momentum the
team generated early in the sea-
NUMBER’S GAME son.
After winning its first three
10 games, Heritage Academy stum-
bled in its next two games against
Lamar School and Madison-
Returning Starters:
Offense — 5; Ridgeland Academy. Those losses
proved to be more damaging than
Defense — 5 believed, as the Patriots lost the
next six games en route to their
KEY IN 2010 fourth losing season in a row.
n COACH BUTLER:
“We have more depth
even though we have
only 29 on the roster.
We have a lot of guys
QUARTERBACK
who play different n BRANDON BELL, CADE LOTT
positions. They have to Bell, a junior, is a transfer from
Caledonia High, where he was the
become dogs rather than
starting quarterback. He will
puppies.” adjust from a spread formation to
more work as a pocket passer.
HERITAGE n COACH BUTLER SAYS:
ACADEMY “Brandon (6-foot-2, 230 pounds)
SCHEDULE runs well for a big guy, and he has
Aug. 20 At Oak Hill a good arm. Lott also will be used
Aug. 27 WINSTON in some packages. We feel good
Sept. 3 At Starkville about having him because if
Sept. 10 LAMAR
something happens we can keep
Sept. 17 MRA
Sept. 24 At Pres. Chris. going without having a drastic
Oct. 1 At Magnolia Hts. dropoff.”
Oct. 8 At JA
Oct. 15 PILLOW
Oct. 22 At Washington
DEFENSIVE LINE
Oct. 29 LEE n SHARP, DAVID HARDY,
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
SWEDENBURG, CLINT
MARKHAM, DREW JOHNSON,
KING, BONNER, TAYLOR FIELDS
Have a Sharp has “all of the tools” but
Great needs to play with an attitude.
Season! n COACH BUTLER SAYS:
GO “David Hardy is long and can run.
S!
T RIOT We feel he can pursue the ball up
PA
and down the line of scrimmage.
At nose guard, Swedenburg is a
strong kid with a lot of quickness.
Clint Markham has probably had
1120 Gardner Blvd
Columbus, MS the best summer in two-a-day
328-5776 practices as anybody.”
Henderson and his five senior
teammates don’t intend to allow
the same scenario to play out this
season.
“The personnel (last year) was-
n’t any more athletic (than it is
this year),” Henderson said. “It is
that the personnel this year has
the football mind-set and they
know how to dig deep when it
gets tough.”
Henderson, a 6-foot, 205-pound
fullback/middle linebacker will
lead a senior group that includes
left guard/nose guard Colton
Younger, wide receiver/corner-
back Glenn Akins, running
back/linebacker John Laws
Ferguson, defensive tackle/offen-
sive tackle Tyler King, and wide
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
RUNNING BACK
n JOHN LAWS FERGUSON,
STANCE HENDERSON,
AARON STUDDARD,
MILLER PUCKETT,
HUDSON BEAN
Bruisers — Ferguson, Henderson,
Studdard — will try to soften
defenses so Puckett and Bean
can run past them.
n COACH BUTLER SAYS:
“John Laws Ferguson is a power
runner. Hudson played tailback
and Miller played out side on the
freshman team last year. Both
guys give us a different dimension
with speed and quickness.”
LINEBACKER
n HENDERSON, FERGUSON,
TYLER KNIGHT, MARK ADAMS,
STUDDARD, TYLER SUNDMAN
Butler said the Patriots have a
difficult time running the ball
against Henderson, a 6-foot, 210-
pound senior who led the team in
tackles last season, in practice.
n COACH BUTLER SAYS:
“Stance is the leader of the
defense. Even in practice he plays
every down. John Laws plays on
the strong side, and he is
probably as good on defense as
he is on offense.”
receiver/cornerback Hunter
Buxton.
Heritage Academy second-
year coach Brad Butler isn’t sure
how effective this year’s group of
senior leaders will be, but he likes
what he has seen from the players
in the offseason and in the presea-
son. He hopes they can help keep
the team focused and motivated
through the ups and downs that
are bound to pop up this season.
"They have been leaders,”
Butler said. “Even those who
haven’t been in leadership roles
have stepped their game up a
notch. Leadership ability is a lot
harder to find these days than
athletic ability is. That is the
biggest thing that is missing
RECEIVERS
n CADE LOTT, PARKER
DUNAWAY, TYLER MARCHAK,
ZACH TAYLOR (SLOT),
DAVID HARDY, TAYLOR FIELDS
(TIGHT END)
At 6-2, Lott is a big target, while
Taylor, a sophomore, is one of the
state’s top sprinters.
n COACH BUTLER SAYS:
“Cade is not too big, but he has
good speed and we feel like we
should be able to get him open
and get one-on-one matchups.
Tyler has great hands. In the
running game, we feel like David
becomes another lineman.”
SECONDARY
n GLENN AKINS, RETURNING
STARTER, RANGY, GOOD
AGAINST THE RUN; MARCHAK,
LOTT, BEAN, HUNTER BUXTON,
PARKER TURNER, PARKER
DUNAWAY, PUCKETT
Akins, a senior and returning
starter, is rangy but good against
the run.
n COACH BUTLER SAYS:
“ We’re counting on Hudson being
able to make some plays against
the run at the line of scrimmage.
Parker Turner has a great nose for
the ball, and Parker Dunaway has
great closing speed.”
these days compared to when I
played, and probably 20 years ear-
lier than that.
“As young as we are, it is
important our seniors step up as
leaders because these guys have
some athletic ability and have had
success before but this is new to
them, too.”
The “these guys” Butler refers
to are a group of sophomores that
is the core of the team. Last year,
the Patriots’ freshmen went unde-
feated, which has created opti-
mism that this year can be differ-
ent from the past four years. It
has been since 2005, when
Heritage Academy lost to
See PATRIOTS, 14
OFFENSIVE LINE
n BLAKE SHARP,
COLTON YOUNGER,
WILL BONNER, CLINT
MARKHAM, MATTHEW
MORRISON, WESLEY
SWEDENBURG, MARSHALL
TOMLINSON, COLBY UPTON,
BRYANT BONNER, TYLER KING
Several players on the line need
to develop mean streaks to take
their play to another level.
n COACH BUTLER SAYS:
“Tyler King has been the most
improved lineman since day one.
He had a great summer and is
coming off the ball well.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
n BEAN (FIELD GOALS),
HENDERSON (KICKOFFS);
TAYLOR HENDERSON (PUNTING)
Cade Lott will do all of the
snapping, while Dunaway will do
the holding.

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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 9

Credit?
West Lowndes 2010 team: 1-Jeremy Thomas, 3-Brandon Clark, 4-Deundrea Brooks, 5-DeAndra Lewis, 6-Gerald Sanders, 7-Darius Farmer, 8-Jamarquis Humphries, 10-
Antonio Wilson, 11-Roy Miller, 12-Ladarius Snell, 13-Justin Stephenson, 15-Dearivs Douglas, 20-Trevor Stowers, 21-Raheen Brewer, 22-Donald Henley, 23-Marvin Monroe,
24-Kendrick Sanders, 25-Dominique Kelly, 30-Roderick Johnson, 32-Marquise Johnson, 34-Deion Ameis, 38-Latrell Moore, 52-Robert Barker, 55-Breshon Brook. 54-Fredrico
Moody, 58-Ronnie Porter, 59-RaHeen Clemmons, 60-Korey Wilson, 62-Daniealgie Rice, 64-Ryan Stowers, 70-Jaboris Davis, 72-Jalen Douglas, 74-Levonte Cambell, 77-
Demarcus Hill, 79-Herman Phillips, 80-Shaquille Sharp, 82-Kovi Rice, 83-Quantavis Snell. Head coach: Bobby Berry. Assistant coaches: Todd Stanley, Chester Harris, Eddie
Chapman, Robert Hintont.

WEST LOWNDES PANTHERS

MHSAA Class 2A, Region 2; 2009 Record: 5-5

Senior leaders willing to sacrifice for success

BY ADAM MINICHINO
aminichino@cdispatch.com

Donald Henley believed in

the 2009 West Lowndes High
School football team.
T h e
linebacker/fullback/wide
receiver has so much confi-
dence in last year’s squad that
he felt it should have made the
playoffs.
A 5-1 start to the season has
a way of building confidence.
But the momentum the
Panthers built evaporated just
as quickly as it grew. Losses to
J,Z. George, Ackerman, and
Eupora still left West Lowndes
in contention for a playof f
berth and a chance to finish
with a winning record.
Neither materialized after a
disappointing 24-0 loss to East
Webster. The result helped the
Wolverines earn the four th

STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Tony Stanford

n ASSISTANT Adam Minichino/Dispatch Staff

COACHES: From left: West Lowndes High School seniors Brandon Clark, Fredrico Moody and Donald Henley.
662-241-7200 or playoff spot in the district and head,” Henley said. lineman/middle linebacker coach Bobby Berry has been
662-241-7310 sent the Panthers packing. “Everybody helps each other Fredrico Moody said. “This pleased with the efforts of his
662-241-7200 or Henley doesn’t remember out. They talk when they run year, we really don’t have any leaders. He said they worked
when it started, but he said plays.” attitudes on the team, and hard in the summer to attend
662-241-7310
inflated egos and a lack of team Henley, a 5-foot-8 1/2, 161- ever ybody wants to work workouts and to encourage
662-241-7200 or chemistry ruined a promising pounder, will split time this sea- hard.” their teammates to stay
662-241-7310 season. son at linebacker, fullback, and Moody ser ved as a team involved. He, too, believes that
“It is not just about that one wide receiver. He said too leader last season but “helped” work shows the potential of
person, it is about the whole many players on last season’s Brandon Hill and other sen- this year’s team.
WEST LOWNDES team,” Henley said. “If one per-
son goes down, we all go
tea thought they could do what-
ever they wanted, and do it bet-
iors. Earlier this year, he real-
ized West Lowndes would have
“I think we have a little bit
more leadership in this group,”
SCHEDULE down.” ter than anybody. a pretty good team and that he Berry said. “We have kids who
Henley and senior team- That attitude ruined a fast should take more responsibili- want to step up and do better
Aug. 20 West Oktibbeha mates Fredrico Moody and start to the season that includ- ty to set the example of how and lead to make things better.
Aug. 27 at East Oktibbeha Brandon Clark don’t intend to ed victories against West things are supposed to be They want to win, and when
Sept. 3 Caledonia let individualism to disrupt the Oktibbeha, East Oktibbeha, done. So far, the example set you want to win you’re willing
Sept. 10 at Philadelphia 2010 season. That’s why they Caledonia, Wheeler, and by the seniors is paying off. to step up and pay the price
Sept. 17 at Wheeler set out in the offseason and in Hamilton. “Last year, our work habit and do whatever it takes.
Sept. 24 Open the preseason to set a positive But the energy lagged as the wasn’t as good as it is this “They are willing to sacrifice
Oct. 1 Hamilton beginning. The players agree losses mounted en route to a 5- year,” said Clark, a 5-7, 150- themselves to do the thing for
Oct. 8 at J.Z. George
teammates are communicating 5 finish. pound safety/wide receiver. the team and not have a selfish
and helping each other more to “It never clicked because it “We had a lot of attitudes last attitude. It is more of a team-
Oct. 15 at Ackerman
address issues before they seemed like some people had year. This year, everybody tries oriented approach. Those qual-
Oct. 22 Eupora
become unmanageable. their own opinions and they to listen to the captains to ities, you can’t teach. They are
Oct. 29 at East Webster “This year, everybody is on didn’t want to listen to the cap- make the team better.” in born and they are things
point and nobody has a big tains,” West Lowndes offensive West Lowndes High football kids want to do.”

Immanuel
Continued from Page 16
with Norris (Harris),” junior
lineman James Riley said. “We
do lack in size but we make up
for that with speed. We also
have been lifting hard, and I
feel we have all gotten a lot
stronger.”
Coming off a difficult season
is never easy, but one way to
ease the transition to success is
building experience. Gates
hopes that won’t be as big of a
problem this season as it was
last year.
“We struggled in the area of
experience and depth,” Gates
said. “Fortunately, that will be
much less of an issue this sea-
son.”
One of the returnees for the
Rams will come at a marquee
position, as junior Ross Moore
will return as quarterback.
“Ross has improved his lead-
ership in the offseason,” Gates
said. “He also looks better in
his passing and technique. He
definitely turned out a good
summer for us.”
The Rams also return three
players on the offensive line to
help protect Moore, two of
whom — junior Jeremy
Davidson and Riley — received
all-area honors last season.
Harris will join junior tail-
back Michael Tate in the back-
field, and Moore will have a
familiar big target in the slot in
6-foot-5 receiver Justin James.
Speedy sophomore Josh
Dantzler will provide another
option to help the Rams spread
the ball out and move the
chains.
On defense, Immanuel
Christian returns three in the
trenches, but Gates believes
linebacker will be his strongest
unit. The Rams also have two
returning in the secondary.
On special teams, all-area
punter Dustin White is back for
his senior season.
With the addition of experi-
ence and a year under Gates’
system, Immanuel Christian
appears ready for a change of
tide and is eager for the season
to start. Riley admits that while
it was ver y dif ficult to go
through a losing season he
learned from it and is better
prepared this season.
“Last season was very rough
for us,” Riley said. “It is miser-
able losing, and we are all tired
of it. We are ready to win some
football games, and we have all
been working ver y hard to
make sure we change some
things.”
The hard work Riley speaks
of is already showing off in the
preseason. Tate said the team
continues to work hard in the
weight room and in condition-
ing. More importantly, he said
this year’s team has a new atti-
tude when it comes to football.
“We have a much better atti-
tude when we come to prac-
tice,” Tate said. “We take things
more serious and are working
harder than we have before.”
This new-found hunger
appears to be contagious. As a
result, the players are eager to
begin changing the fortunes of
Immanuel Christian football.
“I anticipate a big turn-
around,” Harris said. “I play to
win football games, and that is
why I came to Immanuel, to
win.”
10 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

STARKVILLE YELLOWJACKETS
MHSAA Class 6A, Region 1; 2009 Record: 4-9

Courtesy of Starkville High School

Starkville 2010 team: 2-Bryce Henderson, 3-Taego Catlege, 4-Stanley Childs, 5-Jakarta Agnew, 6-Stanley Higgins, 7-Priston Henderson, 8-Eddie Brown, 9-Martavius Foster,
10-D.J. Jordan, 11-Michael Newman, 12-Jaquez Johnson, 13-Lavon Miller, 14-Haden Higginbotham, 16-Eric Reed, 17-Shaquille Hill, 18-Gabe Myles, 19-Devonte Davis, 20-
Colby Runnels, 21-Garrett Smith, 22-Raphael McClain, 23-J.B. Barriare, 24-Antoine Rieves, 25-Daniel Rumo, 26-Johnny Smith, 27-Daniel Jessie, 29-Preston Baker, 30-Cory
Cannon, 31-Jermaine Gillespie, 32-Devin Mitchell, 33-Eric Powe, 34-David Fair, 35-Dennis Ware, 36-Scotty Pittman, 37-Wesley Montgomery, 38-Jerreal Shields, 30-
Corderra Frizell, 40-Shyquell Spruell, 41-Lamonte Reed, 42-Zaquarius Kilborn, 43-Vinnie Vozzo, 44-Leedward Jefferson, 45-Jacoby Smith, 47-Tony Bishop, 48-Devious Gandy,
50-Demetre McCleon, 51-Eric Rogers, 52-Chris Prater, 53-Chris Crosby, 54-Kelvin Young, 55-Cody Smith, 56-Jarrod Atterberr y, 57-Ben Newman, 58-Murphy Buckner, 60-
Marcus Tate, 61-Javian Mobley, 65-Josh Kitchens, 67-Alex Hobbs, 72-Alandra Jones, 74-Kirk Kinard, 76-Chris Madison, 80-Jimmy Saulsberr y, 81-Quavarious Robertson, 85-
Kentrell Spencer, 86-Charles Hughes.

Johnson wants to have consistent year

BY DAVID MILLER to that title,” Johnson said. “But
dmiller@cdispatch.com football is my sport; I can’t wait for STAFF
this every year. I feel like I’ve got
STARKVILLE — Jaquez to step it up and lead my team to n HEAD COACH:
Johnson has a state championship some more wins. Most of the
he can always tout from his prep games we lost last year, I’d make a Jamie Mitchell
playing days. big play then I’d take us out with a (first year; 130-40 overall)
It’s just not a football title. bad play.
A three-sport athlete, Johnson “I feel I’ve got to step up and
was a junior guard for the make good plays consistently.” n ASSISTANT
Starkville High School boys bas- The responsibility of leading COACHES:
ketball team’s Class 6A state title the offense is magnified because
team. He hit clutch 3-pointers, of a lack of experience at receiver Brooks Oakley (defensive
played stout defense, and, most and running back. coordinator), Tate Fischer
importantly, made the right pass. Johnson no longer has stand- (linebackers), Willie Gillespie
The senior quarterback’s miss- out Chuck Tillery or Justin Rogers
ing part to his skill set has been to lean on. Instead, he hopes sen- (defensive ends), Steve Denson
what made him an ideal starting ior tight end Martavious Foster (defensive backs), Rob Morgan
guard for Greg Carter’s Yellow Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff can help lead a receiving group
Jackets — making the right pass. Jaquez Johnson will try to put together his best season this year in (quarterbacks), Carlos Kemp
that returns zero catches from last
For a quarterback who has coach Jamie Mitchell’s first season at the school. season. (running backs), Preston
shown the ability to make every “We’ve told him that as he goes Leathers (wide receivers /
throw on the field and to be a phys- hopes will be his best football sea- that fire, albeit, indirectly. we’re going to go with him,” first-
ical runner, Johnson is putting all son at Starkville High. “I learned from basketball just year Starkille High coach Jamie offensive coordinator), Charlie
the pieces together for what he Basketball, ironically, is fueling how hard you have to work to get See STARKVILLE, 21 Smith (offensive line).

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE YELLOWJACKETS

QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK
n JAQUEZ JOHNSON, n JAKARTA AGNEW, PRESTON
MICHAEL NEWMAN BAKER, DEVIN MITCHELL
Johnson is a two-year starter and Agnew is coming off an injury-
a dual-threat. plagued junior year and has
moved to fullback.
n COACH MITCHELL SAYS:
“We’re going to ride Jaquez as far n COACH MITCHELL SAYS:
as he’ll take us.” “Preston and Devin are a couple
of sophomores who’ll need to
RECEIVERS grow in a hurr y.”

n MARTAVIOUS FOSTER,

Good SHAQUILLE HILL, GABE MYLES,

KENTRELL SPENCER
Foster is Johnson’s favorite target
and is a flexible tight end. The
rest of the group is inexperienced.
OFFENSIVE LINE
n JARROD ATTERBERRY, CHRIS
PRATER, ERIC ROGERS
This trio started last year and will

Luck
also see time on defensive line.
n COACH MITCHELL SAYS:
“Another young group, but the n COACH MITCHELL SAYS:
talent is there to help Jaquez in “Jarrod’s our leader. We’re
the passing game.” expecting our line to be a
strength.”

MSU, DEFENSIVE LINE

n DAVID FAIR, CHRIS PRATER,
LINEBACKER
Starkville High School, ERIC ROGERS
An area that lost several starters, n D.J. JORDAN, DEVIN
but coaches are high on Rogers. MITCHELL, JAKARTA AGNEW

Starkville Christian, n COACH MITCHELL SAYS:

Jordan has added 10 pounds of
muscle and could garner major

Starkville Academy, “This group is fast and explosive.”

college looks with a stellar senior
season.

SECONDARY
East Oktibbeha & n JAQUEZ JOHNSON, GARRETT
n COACH MITCHELL SAYS:
“We’re expecting big things from

West Oktibbeha! SMITH, BRYCE HENDERSON,

GABE MYLES
An area in which the team struggled
D.J. and Devin, while Jakarta has
really picked up his game.”

last year, expect improvement and

From all the more man-coverage.
SPECIAL TEAMS
residents and staff at n WESLEY MONTGOMERY,
n COACH MITCHELL SAYS:
COLBY RUNNELS
Montgomery Gardens Senior Living! “We’ve worked hard in the spring
and this fall to avoid the big plays in
The Jackets have been searching
for a reliable kicker and punter for
the passing game.” the past four seasons, and

Montgomery Gardens
competition this fall is too close
KEY IN 2010 to call.

n JAMIE MITCHELL:
senior living by Americare “We’ve got talent, but our depth is
n COACH MITCHELL SAYS:
“ We’re not going to get beat in
1351 Old Hwy. 12 West • Starkville, MS paper thin. We’ll have a lot of players
who’ll go both ways, and we’re going the kicking game, and we’re
662.323.4663 © The Dispatch
to have to be a tough team.” pleased with Colby’s progress.”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 11

STARKVILLE ACADEMY VOLUNTEERS

MAIS Class AAA, Division 1; 2009 Record: 0-11

Terrill will look to Henson to help revitalize Vols

BY DAVID MILLER
dmiller@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Kyle
Henson remembers the pres-
sure of stepping into one of
the most dismal situations he
has faced.
As the backup quarterback
for Starkville Academy, he
replaced injured starter Will
Goodwin when the team had
lost confidence and was in the
middle of a winless season.
He then realized he was in
a position he wasn’t prepared
to handle.
“It was a big change,”
Henson said. “I’d had quarter-
back experience in junior
high, but it tested my ability to
handle pressure in a big way.
It’s hard to be positive going 0-
11, and it was a tough time for
the entire team. But that expe-
rience will help me in the long
run. I think I handled it the
best way I could.”
As the Volunteers’ full-time
quar terback, Henson is
charged with turning around
an offense that averaged 11.36
points per game last season.
He’s in charge of a new,
run-oriented offense and has a
strong stable of running backs
to help provide a spark.
But that’s just par t of
Henson’s responsibility this
season. He also will ser ve as a
leader for a program that is in
the middle of one of the
biggest rebuilding periods in
the area.
The Volunteers, who are
riding a 15-game losing streak
dating back to 2008, have had
three head coaches in four
years. Class AAA, Region I
play hasn’t been kind, either,
as they have gone 4-21 in
region play since ’06.
There’s a lot on the plate
heading into this season,
Henson admits.
“I don’t know if they realize
they’re testing my ability to
handle the pressure, but in my
heart I know it,” Henson said
of the coaches. “They’ll be
saying ‘Someone has to make
a play, someone has to step up
“I’m looking at it like they’re talking to me. It
may sound selfish, but I want to have the ball in
my hands to make the play. I feel like they want
to see me play under pressure every time we’re
at practice.”
Kyle Henson, backup quarterback for Starkville Academy
right here.’ I’m looking at it
like they’re talking to me. It
may sound selfish, but I want
to have the ball in my hands to
make the play. I feel like they
want to see me play under
pressure ever y time we’re at
practice.”
For new coach Jeff Terrill,
who left the junior college
ranks after a successful run at
Itawamba Community
College, Year 1 of his rebuild-
ing project is more about
building a foundation rather
than orchestrating a remark-
able turnaround.
Sure, it’d be nice to earn
enough wins for a playof f
berth, but with a roster with
less than 30 players and one
winning season in the past six
years, he’s realistic about the
state of the program and the
work it’s going to take get
back to championship form.
“They still lack some confi-
dence, and they’ve got to
understand what it really
takes to compete for four
quar ters,” Terrill said. “It’s
still a big concern, but the
ef for t and enthusiasm we
have is great. The kids are
hungr y and have embraced
ever ything we’ve thrown at
them.”
That includes Henson, who
will see significant time at cor-
nerback in addition to starting
under center.
“Being the man” comes
with the heightened responsi-
bility of doing ever ything as
the team’s unquestioned
leader.
“There’s got to be some
understanding — it’s a learn-
ing cur ve being a leader,”
Terrill said. “The biggest
thing we tr y to talk about is a
great leader being even
keeled. He’s going to show
that confidence in the midst of
adversity. He’s got to be the
reassuring guy. You got to
have that guy to help team-
mates keep focus. It’s a situa-
tion where you’re tr ying to
train him to be that consistent
guy.”
Terrill is thankful his quar-
terback has taken charge and
is ready to make the most of
the 2010 season. Henson’s
willingness to play multiple
roles and to do what’s best for
the future of the program has
impressed Terrill the most.
“These kids know what
they’re up against,” Terrill
said, “and having someone
like Kyle is a big plus. He has STAFF
excellent skills and is a great
n HEAD COACH:
person to build a team
around.” Jeff Terrill
What Henson brings to the (First year)
field is quality in the running
game, which makes him an n ASSISTANT
ideal quar terback to run
COACHES:
Starkville Academy’s offense.
But the passing game, where
Chad Crowe, Chase
Terrill and Co. hope to utilize Nicholson, Neal Henry,
Chad Peterson
play-action, is where Henson
still has to grow. Henson’s
leading targets look to be first-
year player Pat Jones and
speedy Hamilton McBride.
The Volunteers also are NUMBER’S GAME
searching for depth at receiv-
er.
Henson sees the passing
game as one of the many chal-
12
Returning Lettermen
lenges the team will face this
year.
“I could sit here and tell
13
Returning Starters:
you, I’m still not the greatest
5 – Offense; 8 – Defense
passer,” Henson said. “But the
run is going to set up the pass.
I’ve got to throw for us to be
successful, and those will be
15
Current Starkville
our big plays. I’ve been throw-
Academy losing streak
ing ever y day since spring. I
dating back to 2008
could tell during 7-on-7 that
it’s been improving.
“We’ve already come a long
way, so this is just another
step for us to make.”

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VOLUNTEERS

An explosive runner, Henson took
over midway through last season
KEY IN 2010
n JEFF TERRILL:
“The biggest thing we’re
working to build is
restoring confidence and
pride in this program.
We know we’ve got a
streak hanging over our
head, but we’re practic-
ing like winners.”
STARKVILLE
ACADEMY Mapp brings speed off the edge,
SCHEDULE while Crittenden will be a force
Aug. 19 At Ackerman
Aug. 27 LAMAR
Sept. 3 HERITAGE
Sept. 10 At Parklane
Sept. 17 J.A.
Sept. 24 WINSTON
Oct. 1 WASHINGTON
Oct. 8 At M.R.A.
Oct. 15 At Clarksdale
Oct. 22 MAG HEIGHTS
Oct. 29 At Pillow
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
QUARTERBACK
n KYLE HENSON,
HAMILTON MCBRIDE
and has worked to improve his
passing mechanics.
“ We’ve got a little depth and have
n COACH TERRILL SAYS:
“Coming back after the work
through the summer, you could
tell they had retained a good
grasp of the offense.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
n JAMES MAPP,
ADAM CRITTENDEN
against the run.
last season, but Ward has found a
n COACH TERRILL SAYS:
“They complement each other
well. Our ends are the line’s
strong point. Good anchors.”
with Clint Wall and Nathan Berr y.”
RUNNING BACK
n MATT WARD, RYAN MANN,
RYAN MCKELL
Ward is a bruising fullback who
provides toughness and energ y.
n COACH TERRILL SAYS:
shown great things in practice.
We’re excited to see how we
perform.”
LINEBACKER
n MATT WARD, RYAN MANN,
STEVEN ROBERTSON
This group was a question mark
home inside, while Mann and
Robertson will start outside.
n COACH TERRILL SAYS:
“This group could be our
strongest suit. We’ve got depth
RECEIVERS
n PAT JONES, HAMILTON
MCBRIDE, ADAM CRITTENDEN
Jones joined the team earlier this
year, while Crittenden has
experience at tight end and
receiver.
n COACH TERRILL SAYS:
“Pat has been a pleasant surprise,
and Hamilton McBride brings
speed to the edge they didn’t
have last year.”
SECONDARY
n RYAN MCKELL, HAMILTON
MCBRIDE, TAYLOR HUNT
McBride and McKell will play both
ways, while Zach Thomas and
Michael Temple are battling for a
starting safety spot.
n COACH TERRILL SAYS:
“Each player brings something
different to the group and gives
us some flexibility.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
n JORDAN DENNIS
AND CODY WARE
Ware and Dennis are senior
guards who’ll provide a good
push up the middle.
n COACH TERRILL SAYS:
“It all starts with those guys,
who’ve given us great consistency
and effort.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
n MATT WHITE, RYAN MANN,
HAMILTON MCBRIDE
White has earned kicking duties,
while Mann and McBride are
competing for the punter job.
n COACH TERRILL SAYS:
“ We’ll be new at all these
positions, but punting is more of a
concern.”

Provided
Starkville Academy 2010 team: 2-Campbell Dobbs, 3-Will White, 6-Zach Slaughter, 7-Hamilton McBride, 8-Jyle Henson, 9-Ryan McKell, 11-Patrick Jones, 17-Taylor Hunt,
20-Micheal Temple, 22-Sam Miller, 33-Ryan Mann, 36-Nathan Berry, 40-Matt Ward, 41-James Mapp, 48/55-Stephen Robertson, 50-Lane McClendon, 52-Jack McReynolds,
54-Zack Thomas, 57-Jordan Dennis, 58-Clint Wall, 61-Cole Phelps, 62-Harrison McBride, 64/88-Adam Crittenden, 66-Angus Catchot, 70-Johnny Wyman, 72-Collin Stokes,
75-Kaden Hunt, 77-Cody Ware, 78-Landon Scrivner. Coaches: Jeff Terrill, chad Crowe, Chase Nicholson, Chad Peterson, Near Henry, Casey Orr.
12 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff

Roster not available at press time.

EAST OKTIBBEHA TITANS

MHSAA Class 1A Region 3: 2009 Record: 4-7

Horsley focuses on getting stronger to reach goal

he needed to make the
BY DAVID MILLER
dmiller@cdispatch.com most of his final season as
a Titan: Physicality.
CRAWFORD — Get Horsley figured he had
quicker. Get stronger. the mind-set to be a tough,
That’s all Monte hard-nosed player, but he
Horsley could think about had to have his body at
once his junior season 100 percent fitness to
ended at East Oktibbeha reach his goal of being the
High School. top defensive player in
The stout defensive Class 1A football.
tackle finished 2009 as the And with a dearth of
team’s leader in sacks (10) new players, he knew he’d
and spearheaded a have the future of the pro-
ground attack that gram looking to him as an
accounted for 2,190 of the example.
Titans’ 2,786 yards of “It’s just the guys out
here, people in school,
offense.
and people who watch us
Still, he felt something
play,” Horsley said, “so I
was lacking. It was an ele-
knew I’d have to go hard
ment ideal for his position,
on both sides of the ball
and an attribute he knew and make sure I was ready
to go this season.”
The offseason solution
was simple: Live in the
weight room and take
breaks on the field.
“I think I did really
good last year, but I knew
I had to get better at
watching the ball, getting
a little faster off the snap,
and getting stronger,”
STAFF Horsley said. “I’ve been in
the weight room and
n HEAD COACH:
doing a lot of running. I’ve
been concentrating on
Randy Brooks, first year how I can achieve my
goal.”
NUMBER’S GAME The Titans, who’ve
been in a state of flux
since the unexpected
13 departure of coach
Anthony King, are looking
Returning Lettermen to build on last season’s
four-win total under new
coach Randy Brooks.
16 Although Brooks took
over the first week of prac-
Returning Starters: tice, he is familiar with the
8 – Offense; 8 – Defense
players. He has coached
the boys track and field
team the past two seasons,
leading them to third
place at the 2009 1A state
meet.
He also was an assis-
tant on King’s staff and
has witnessed Horsley’s
progression the past two
seasons.
“He’s gotten bigger,
stronger and worked on
his speed,” Brooks said.
“I’ve seen him grow from
being a chubby kid to
getting his bench in the
290 range. I expect him
to be more physical. I’ve
told him people know
who he is and you won’t
be able to sneak up on
people.”
Brooks also stressed
the importance of
Horsley’s dominating the
defensive line because the
team lost its top two line-
backers. Having Horsley
at the top of his game is
vital, Brooks said.
“He’s a senior and a
veteran on both sides of
the line,” Brooks said.
“Paired with Jalen
Peterson, they both go
about 255 and 260. He’s
going to be very impor-
tant to us.”
Brooks admits the tim-
ing of his hire has made it
difficult to gauge how
much progress his players
made in the offseason.
He’s keen to get his play-
and to help the Titans improve on a 4-7 record last season.
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
East Oktibbeha High School’s Monte Horsley has worked hard to get into top shape
ers into game shape but
won’t have jamborees or
scrimmages against other Horsley, who feels he’s “The bigger, stronger have to think quicker, be
schools to help that
process.
one of many who’ve got-
ten tougher and more
teams like Weir, they have
a strong line and fast play-
quicker, and be physical
like a Weir team. We want
One certainty is physical. ers,” Horsley said. “We to be that better team.”

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TITANS

3
Number of games the QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
n CHRIS HUNTER, n MARLON FAIR, LEXIE n ARTHUR GILLESPIE, n MONTE HORSLEY, JALEN
Titans lost by six points
or less in 2009. EDWARDS, TERENCE RICE TERENCE RICE PETERSON, JAMARQUIZ PAGE,
KORTLAND PETTY
KEY IN 2010 Hunter is a second-year starter Edwards was second on the team Only six of the Titans’ 29 offen- JAMAL HALBERT
with 664 yards last season. sive touchdowns came through This is one of the team’s most
who showed potential in 2009.
n RANDY BROOKS the air last season. experienced groups. Helped pave
n COACH BROOKS SAYS:
n COACH BROOKS SAYS:
“Our biggest task is the way for 2,190 rushing yards
playing consistent for “ We’ve got a lot of talent at that n COACH BROOKS SAYS: last season.
four quarters. We “Veteran leadership and they’ll position, and Lexie and Marlon “They’re big, tall track guys who
missed out on a few both be on the field at the same both rushed for nearly 1,000 can run. We’re excited about n COACH BROOKS SAYS:
wins last year because time in some capacity.” yards.” them.” “Big, tough, physical group will be
we had bad halves or a strength.”
bad quarters.”
DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER SECONDARY SPECIAL TEAMS
EAST OKTIBBEHA n MONTE HORSLEY, STEVEN n TINNIE PETERSON, n ARTHUR GILLESPIE, n CHRIS HUNTER,
SCHEDULE BELL, FREDDIE WILLIAMS JIRTAVIOUS COX KORTLAND PETTY, JUWAN DAVALYN BELL
Aug. 20 MNTGMRY CO. Horsley is the leader after posting Cox is a Starkville High transfer ROBERTS The Titans didn’t kick extra points
Aug. 27 WEST LOWNDES 10 sacks last year. and will look to step in immediate- Gillespie had three interceptions last year and struggled to get
Sept. 3 WEST OKTIBBEHA ly after the Titans lost their top consistent punting.
n COACH BROOKS SAYS:
Sept. 10 SOUTH LEAKE last year, and with Petty helped
Sept.17 At French Camp tackler, Dee Garth, to graduation.
n COACH BROOKS SAYS:
the Titans to a third-place state
Sept. 24 NOXAPATER “Just like the offensive line, this
n COACH BROOKS SAYS:
Oct. 1 At Thomastown track meet finish.
Oct. 8 EDINBURG will be a strong group inside and “Chris will punt and Davalyn will
Oct. 15 At Weir out.” “This group is a big question handle kicking duties. Both are
Oct. 22 Open
mark, but hopefully we’ll have n COACH BROOKS SAYS: veterans.”
Oct. 29 At Nanih Waiya
Nov. 5 ETHEL someone step up.” “Our corners and safeties have
been doing 7-on-7 all summer and
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
have done a great job.”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 13

WEST OKTIBBEHA TIMBERWOLVES

MHSAA Class 1A, Region 3: 2009 Record: 5-6

David Miller/Dispatch Staff

West Oktibbeha 2010 team: 1-Von Smith, 2-Kelsey Jefferson, 3-Bishop Robinson, 4-Drake Powell, 10-Aaron Brownlee, 11-Dwight Quinn, 12-Shun Fair, 13-Jonathan Love,
14-Josh Powe, 15-DeShaun Brown, 20-Colby Lucas, 23-Richard Richmond, 31-Ryan Hughes, 32-Damarcus Cunningham, 33-Tyas Baker, 36-Tiberias Lampkin, 42-LaVante
Tate, 44-Lamorris Cunningham, 45-Darvis Reed, 46-Jeb Hawthorne, 50-Vasquez Clark, 51-Shareck Clark, 52-Pavious Lawrence, 56-Donovan Henderson, 63-Steven
Robinson, 70-Alex Dawkins, 74-Andreas Brandt, 76-Sharad Stafford, Charles Mulling.

Lowrey, Timberwolves not worried about numbers

BY DAVID MILLER D w i g h t
dmiller@cdispatch.com Q u i n n
prefers oppo-
MABEN — West nents second-
Oktibbeha High School guess his
football fans should get used team’s talent
to being the underdog. and heart.
U n d e r - Lowrey
It’s a role the
s t a n d a b l y,
Timberwolves don’t mind there’s more pleasure
playing, and senior wideout derived from winning with
just enough people to field a
team.
Quinn and Co. have
watched countless class-
mates talk about joining the
team, show up for a practice
or two, then walk away from
a program that was a touch-
down away from making the
Class 1A playoffs a year ago.
However, Timberwolves
players and coaches all
agree on one thing: You’re
missing the train to the post-
STAFF season 2010.
The Timberwolves lost
n HEAD COACH:
one senior — Quadaris
Thompson — from last sea-
Adam Lowrey son, which is even more rea-
(Second year, son to believe the team will
end its four-year playoff
6-16)
drought.
“With the players at our
n ASSISTANT school, it really doesn’t mat-
COACHES: ter about how many come,”
Quinn said. “We know the
Kelvin Cistrunk
13 that are here are going to
(Off. Line/Def. be committed to playing
Coordinator); football. You can get 20 peo-
Joseph Lampkin
ple out here at the end of the
season or right before the
season starts, but it’s still
KEY IN 2010 going to be the same 13 that
have always been here.”
n ADAM LOWREY: West Oktibbeha High
“We’re not worr ying coach Adam Lowrey has 18
players in fall camp, and
about low numbers
expects to add two more
anymore because we’ve before the team opens the
got the talent to be a
playoff team.”
season Aug. 20 at West
Lowndes.
Lowrey said he had more
players during the spring
period, but the tight ship he
and assistant coach Kelvin
Sistrunk run in Maben
turned into a reason for
players’ defection.
But unless you’ve experi-
enced the one-win season in
2008 and the frustration that
came with not being able to
run a scout team and hoping
all 15 players stay healthy,
you’ll never know how
tough you have to be to play
for Lowrey.
“We got too many ingre-
dients that are going to be
big for us to slack off to
please one or two boys that
want me to make it easier
for them,” Lowrey said. “No
team that we’re going to
play is going to take it easy
on us. They’re going to see
our small numbers and
they’re going to attack us
with depth. They’re going to
see our small line and
they’re going to attack us
with blitzes. We’re not going
to take it easy on anybody
because it’s unfair to this
team.”
If it sounds like Lowrey
and Quinn are bitter, don’t
put too much stock into
their tone. They and the rest
of the team are as optimistic
as ever ahead of Year 3 of
the Lowrey era.
Quinn is a big reason for
that. He is coming off a
breakout season in which
he led the team with 48
catches for 572 yards and
six touchdowns. He man-
aged those numbers with
West Oktibbeha’s Dwight Quinn hopes more of the
teammates on a bigger roster decide to stay with the
team as it makes a push to return to the playoffs.
first-year quarterback Von
Smith, who threw for 1,454
yards at a 58-percent com-
pletion rate. Smith’s yardage
total was second in Class 1A.
Quinn, described as the
fastest player on the roster,
is expected to make a bigger
impact after the
Timberwolves’ standout
performances in Starkville’s
7-on-7 passing league.
Playing against power-
houses West Point and
Noxubee County in the 7-
on-7 league should make life
easier against 1A defenders,
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
Quinn said.
“It’s a better experience
because coming from a 1A
school you’ve got smaller
people,” Quinn said. “When
you get to playing 5A and 6A
schools that have bigger
cornerbacks who are way
stronger than you, they can
jam you off the ball. But if
you can get around that,
when you get to 1A you’ve
been playing a lot better and
faster.
“This year, (the passing
game) is going to be quick-
er because we’ve had that
repetition.”
The 5-foot-10 speedster
admits last year’s learning
curve was steep in Lowrey’s
pass-oriented attack, but the
senior is keen to see his
quarterback continue the
development that started
last fall and ended with a 5-6
record.
Last year’s goal was to
protect the 5-foot-6 Smith —
then a freshman — with
plays designed to get the
ball out of his hand as quick-
ly as possible. Lowrey said
the team’s receivers had just
four routes last year but he
expects a more detailed
passing attack this season
with running back Josh Poe,
The Dispatch’s 2009 Small
Schools Player of the Year,
and Aaron Brownlee back in
the fold.
With more experienced
weapons, Quinn could find
himself as a decoy as teams
look to stop the
Timberwolves’ top offensive
threat. But don’t expect it to
bother him because he
embodies the leadership
Lowrey needs to help the
team make a playoff run.
“He doesn’t demand the
ball, and he understands the
offense is a system,“ Lowrey
said. “I don’t want to reduce
the game down to one-on-
one matchups. I don’t want
it to be, ‘If Dwight can’t do it,
we lose.’ His experience and
leadership — he’s not going
to crack. It can be 11 sec-
onds to go in the game, and
we can be on our own 30 —
he’s not going to crack.
You’ve got to have a player
like that on your team.”

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TIMBERWOLVES

QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
NUMBER’S GAME n VON SMITH n JOSH POE, TIBERIAS LAMPKIN n DWIGHT QUINN, DRAKE n JEREMY BROWN, PAVIOUS
Started as a freshman and Poe led the team with 391 yards POWELL, AARON BROWNLEE LAWRENCE, DONOVAN
11 finished second in 1A with 1,454
passing yards.
and five touchdowns last season
in a pass-oriented offense.
As Smith grows at quarterback,
so too will the wideouts. Quinn
HENDERSON
Lawrence is the strongest of the
Returning Lettermen
had 48 catches for 572 yards group, which, like last year, is a
n COACH LOWERY SAYS: n COACH LOWERY SAYS: last year. bit undersized.

11 “Von’s done nothing but grow

since last year, and the offense
“ We’re going to set up our run
with the pass, so we’ll see more n COACH LOWERY SAYS: n COACH LOWERY SAYS:
Returning Starters:
will grow as well.” lanes to run with a better passing “ We were limited to four routes “We’re feeling better about our
10 offense; 10 defense game.” last year, but take that and times pass protection and what we’ll be
it by 10 this year and that’s able to get done in the passing
where we’re at.” game.”

WEST OKTIBBEHA DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER SECONDARY SPECIAL TEAMS

SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 At West Lowndes
Aug. 27 At East Webster
Sept. 3 At East Oktibbeha
Sept. 10 NOXAPATER
Sept. 17 At Thomastown
Sept. 24 EDINBURG
Oct. 1 At Weir
Oct. 8 ETHEL
Oct. 15 NANIH WAIYA
Oct. 22 Open
Oct. 29 SOUTH LEAKE
Nov. 5 At French Camp
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
n DONOVAN HENDERSON,
PAVIOUS LAWRENCE, TIBERIAS
LAMPKIN
Lampkin had seven of the team’s
41 sacks last season.
n COACH LOWERY SAYS:
“It’s a lot of the same guys from
our offensive line, and coach
Cistrunk has them working hard
and playing aggressive.”
n JEREMY BROWN, JOSH POE
Without a doubt, the strength of
the Timberwolves defense. Poe
was The Dispatch Small School’s
Defensive Player of the
Year in ‘09.
n COACH LOWERY SAYS:
“Fast, strong and a nose for the
ball. Those boys bring it.”
n DRAKE POWELL, DWIGHT n DWIGHT QUINN
QUINN, VON SMITH Not a strength of the
Powell led the team with three Timberwolves, but Lowrey isn’t
interceptions in ’09, while Quinn worried.
and Smith will go both ways.
n COACH LOWERY SAYS:
n COACH LOWERY SAYS: “We’ll put in whoever we need to
“I know there’s some concern get the job done.”
with Von, and whether we should
or shouldn’t take that chance, but
he’s an athlete we’ve got to have
on the field.”
14 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

HEBRON CHRISTIAN EAGLES

MAIS Class A, District 3; 2009 Record: 4-6

Watkins hopes to avoid injuries this season

BY JASON BROWNE
jbrowne@cdispatch.com
PHEBA — To continue playing
11-man football this season, Hebron
Christian has to avoid unlucky acci-
dents; be they pulled hamstrings,
concussions or lightning strikes.
“Some teams are playing eight-
man (football) with 15, 16, or 18
guys. We would love to have that
STAFF many guys,” Hebron Christian
coach Greg Watkins said. “We just
n HEAD COACH: pray God will be with our team and
Greg Watkins
keep our guys safe and healthy.”
The Eagles enter Watkins’ sec-
(third year, 4-6; ond year as coach with 14 players.
41-16 overall) Six of those players played last year,
and only four were starters.
n ASSISTANT
Experience is a concern, but
health is a bigger concern, which is
COACHES: why conditioning was a priority ear-
David Foster (defensive lier this month at a football camp at
coordinator), Tri Nason the school.
(special teams, “We started out doing two-a-days
and wound up doing four-a-days.
linemen), Bro. Andy Three of those (workouts) we spent
Parrish (linemen) time doing conditioning and during
one we did offense and defense,”
NUMBER’S GAME Watkins said.
Senior guard and linebacker
6 Kevin Simmons, one of four return-
ing starters, said the team is shaping
up better than expected with so
“This offense makes a middle
linebacker stay at home,” Watkins
said. “If he steps off, with (senior
fullback) Jae Shaw’s speed, if (Shaw)
breaks through there he’s gone.”
Shaw, who functioned primarily
as a blocker last year, will split car-
ries with junior tailback Marquez
Robinson and sophomore Will
Corbin Rogers. Watkins expects
Shaw’s bruising style to draw atten-
tion in the middle and to create
opportunities for Robinson on the
outside.
Rogers also is the team’s No. 2
quarterback behind 6-foot-2-inch
senior Chad Smith, who hasn’t
played football since his freshman
year. Watkins said Smith’s lack of
experience shouldn’t hamper him in
the system.
“We feel pretty good with his
height and arm strength,” Watkins
said. “He’s pretty smooth back there
and has adjusted to the offense. The
biggest thing for the quarterback is
carrying out the fakes and getting
your footwork down,” he said.
Senior Carlton Clay is a wildcard
at quarterback. The 6-4-inch basket-
ball standout suffered a spinal cord
concussion in his sophomore year
and doctors advised him to abandon
the gridiron for the hardwood.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EAGLES
QUARTERBACK
n CHAD SMITH, SR.;
WILL CORBIN ROGERS, SO.
n COACH WATKINS SAYS:
“Chad hasn’t played football in
two years, but he stepped right in
this spring and did some real good
things.”
RECEIVERS
n JOE CROW, JR.;
TAYLOR COGGINS, SO.;
WILL CORBIN ROGERS, SO.
n COACH WATKINS SAYS:
“We use our backs out of the
backfield a lot, but our run usually
opens up our pass.”
RUNNING BACK
n JAE SHAW, SR.;
MARQUEZ ROBINSON, JR.;
WILL CORBIN ROGERS, SO.;
TAYLOR COGGINS, SO.
n COACH WATKINS SAYS:
“Marquez is probably not going to
outrun anybody, but he’s as quick
as anybody within 10 yards.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
n KEVIN SIMMONS, SR.;
JACOB CROW, SR.; CHASE RAY,
SR., HARLEY THOMPSON, JR.;
JARED JONES, SR.; JACOB
WEIR, SO.; CODY TATUM, SO.;
TROY ARNOLD, FR.
n COACH WATKINS SAYS:
“Our guards, Kevin and Chase, are
two quick guys who will hit you in
the mouth.”

Returning Lettermen
many inexperienced players.
“We’re not looking too shabby,”
4 Simmons said. “Everybody is going
to have to go both ways, so we’re in
Clay attended camp with the SECONDARY SPECIAL TEAMS
n JAE SHAW, SR.; n CHAD SMITH, SR. (PUNTER)
Eagles, sitting out full-contact drills,
but he hopes to receive clearance
from doctors to suit up for his senior
TAYLOR COGGINS, SO.;

n COACH WATKINS SAYS:

Returning Starters:
4 — Offense;
3 — Defense
HEBRON
CHRISTIAN
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 At Newton Aca.
Aug. 27 DESOTO
Sept. 3 At W. Memphis Chr.
Sept. 10 BENTON ACA.
Sept. 17 OAK HILL ACA.
Sept. 24 Open
Oct. 1 At Ctl. Holmes Chr.
Oct. 8 At Carroll Aca.
Oct. 15 At Immanuel
Oct. 22 CALHOUN ACA.
Oct. 29 WINONA CHR.
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
KEY IN 2010
n COACH WATKINS:
“Some teams are playing
eight-man (football) with
15, 16, or 18 guys. We
would love to have that
many guys. We just pray
God will be with our team
and keep our guys safe
and healthy.”
pretty good shape. Coach (Tri)
Nason is the master drill sergeant.
He comes up with all kinds of ran-
dom (exercises) to keep you in
shape.”
Two years ago, Hebron Christian
finished 8-5 to claim the District 3-A
MAIS title. After graduating most of
its firepower from that team and los-
ing coach Sam Pearson to Pickens
Academy, the Eagles went 4-6 in
2009 under Watkins.
“We lost a lot of close games at
the beginning of the year, but we
kinda turned it on toward the end of
the year and won three of our last
four,” Watkins said.
This year, experienced players
are in shorter supply, but that might
not be a bad thing. Watkins installed
a new offense last year and experi-
mented with multiple defenses.
After settling on a 3-5 defense and
continuing with a double-wing
offense, new players aren’t uncom-
fortable outside Pearson’s system.
“They’ve run a certain type of
offense for years and we’re chang-
ing that,” Watkins said. “They were
kinda in a spread formation, more of
a quarterback read. Now we run a
speed set, double wing. We do a ball
fake every single play.”
The new offense is designed to
keep opposing defenses disciplined
and to punish them when they aban-
don their reads.
year. He said he won’t risk it if doc-
tors advise against playing.
“If he gets cleared, we probably
won’t use him on defense,” Watkins
said. “But if he does come out, he’s
probably the most athletic kid at our
school. It would lift the team tremen-
dously.”
Simmons and fellow senior and
three-year starter Jacob Crow will
anchor the offensive line. They’ll be
flanked by some big boys, but not a
lot of experience. Watkins will look
to his guards — Simmons and sen-
ior Chase Ray — to use their speed
and aggressiveness on pulling plays
to clear running lanes.
A group of young receivers will
need the running game to succeed
before the passing game can get
started.
Senior Jacob Crow (6-1, 250) will
anchor the defensive line at nose
guard in the 3-5.
“It’s going to be hard for a center
to take (Crow) on one-on-one,”
Watkins said. “He’s probably going
to help the linebackers by taking on
two guys.”
Simmons is the only returning
linebacker. Junior Harley Thompson
(6-1, 225) will roam the middle while
the outermost linebackers play dual
roles as cornerbacks.
Rogers will be the deep man at
safety, but Watkins said he’ll play for-
ward whenever possible.
CHAD SMITH, SR.; WILL CORBIN
ROGERS, SO.;
“ We have three guys we’re
MARQUEZ ROBINSON, JR.
evaluating. One may kick off and
n COACH WATKINS SAYS:
another kick extra points.”
“I feel good about (safety Corbin
Rogers) coming up and finishing a
tackle like a linebacker.”
DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER
n JACOB CROW, SR.; n KEVIN SIMMONS, SR.;
CODY TATUM, SO.; HARLEY THOMPSON, JR.;
TROY ARNOLD, FR.;
JACOB WEIR, SR.; CHASE RAY, SR.
JAROD JONES, SR.;
JOE CROW, JR.
n COACH WATKINS SAYS:
n COACH WATKINS SAYS:
“Kevin is the only one coming
“Jacob Crow is 6-1 and 225
back from last year that started.”
pounds at the nose. “It’s going to
be hard for a center to take him
on one-on-one, which will probably
help the linebackers by taking on
two guys.”
“I like a safety that plays more Watkins believe they have the talent
like a linebacker,” Watkins said. “I to return to the playoffs.
feel real good about a guy who’ll If the injury bug does bite,
come up and throw a punch.” they’re not going to give up.
The roles on special teams are
undecided. Smith could handle “Eleven-man is where we really
punts, but Nason is trying out sever- want to play,” Watkins said. “Until
al players at kicker. we drop down to 10 players, we’re
If the Eagles can remain healthy, going to play 11-man.”

Patriots
Continued from Page 8
Starkville Academy,
Butler’s former team, in
the state title game that the
program has had a win-
ning season.
Butler said the seniors
will have to deliver and
help to instill a work ethic
and an attitude that drives
the program to greater
heights.
“Last year when things
were going good we were
pretty good, but when they
started getting bad they
sure went sour in a hurry
,” Butler said. “We just did-
n’t handle adversity very
well. Whether it is a game,
a season, or life, you’re
going to go through some
times where there is some
adversity. Your success
depends on how you han-
dle it.
“You’re going to turn
the ball over, you’re going
to have a costly penalty,
you’re going to have a
touchdown called back.
Something bad is going to
happen in each game, but
you can’t say, ‘Here we go
again.’ That play is over
and done with. Now let’s
see what we can do.
Somebody has to make a
play to overcome that,
rather than saying, ‘Here
we go again.’ I feel this
bunch has that ability to
fight through some adver-
sity.”
The seniors feel they
have what it takes, too.
They talked about how the
team lost its direction after
a 49-12 loss to Lamar
School and a 28-10 defeat
to MRA. The team also saw
its offensive coordinator
quit in week six. All of the
issues created an atmos-
phere that devolved into a
blame game.
To compound matters,
this year’s seniors said
everyone wasn’t focused
last season They said there
were too many distractions
in and out of the huddle
that pulled the team apart.
Ferguson put it best
when he said the “me, me
attitudes” drowned out the
team concept.
Things appear to have
started differently this sea-
son.
The seniors said every-
one is policing huddles and
training sessions better,
getting on teammates
when they lose focus or
make a mistake.
“It is definitely a differ-
ent atmosphere in prac-
tice,” Buxton said.
“Everyone has stepped up,
it is more serious between
the play and after the
plays.”
Henderson said this
year’s squad is focused on
work ethic. He said every-
one has to give their best
at all times if the Patriots
will realize their goal. He
said the seniors are ready
to do their part to make
sure ever yone stays in
line.
Butler hopes that is the
case. He said he doesn’t
always feel the coaches
have to be the ones to
motivate layers. He hopes
all of his players, especially
the seniors, will encourage
and chastise their team-
mates when things are
done right or wrong.
That didn’t happen
enough last season.
"It seemed like the sec-
ond (loss) was really kind
of the turning point,”
Butler said. “Then it start-
ed to become a blame
game. Nobody wanted to
step up and say, ‘Hey, that
is my fault. I am going to
do better.’ Some of them
wanted to talk about what
we were doing offensively.
I brought them in here and
asked them, ‘Are you
doing ever ything you’re
supposed to do help us be
successful?’ ... I want you
to come in here and watch
film and I will show you
and you can watch your-
self. If that is the best you
can do then really we need
to find somebody else. It
just became an effort prob-
lem. In my years of coach-
ing, I have never had that
problem as far as effort.”
Butler said it was diffi-
cult to overcome that “here
we go again” mind-set that
seemed to hang over the
team. He said the Patriots
were in a lot of games in
the second half of the sea-
son but hurt themselves
with turnovers and penal-
ties. Heritage Academy
scored 14 points only one
time in the final six games,
and was shut out twice.
"It got to the point last
year that we got beat and
some of them didn’t care,”
Butler said. “Hopefully, we
have eliminated some of
that, but it takes leaders. It
ain’t what I know and what
I can do. It is what they can
do.”
Butler has seen more
enthusiasm in practice and
the potential for leaders to
emerge. But he said the
seniors will provide the
integral leadership that the
team needs if it is to
reverse its fortunes.
“Stance has led by
example,” Butler said.
“John Laws has been
through some tough times
with injuries, but he is a
leader. He gets done what
needs to be done. I am
counting on him to give
effort. Stance is going to
give effort. Glenn is going
to give effort. I don’t fault
those guys’ effort, and did-
n’t last year. They weren’t
the problem. What they
have to realize that if you
have somebody who is
straying away, or who is a
selfish player, or who gets
to playing the blame game,
you can’t get in there with
them. Let’s separate our-
selves from him. Some of
them got caught up in that
last year. There were some
that got caught up in the
fact that this is my buddy
here and he is starting to
say this, now which way do
I go? Too many got into the
blame game rather than
separate themselves from Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
it.” Heritage Academy senior running back John Laws
That’s a memor y the Ferguson also will play on defense this season. If he
Patriots would just as soon stays healthy, he should provide a stabilizing presence
forget. on both units.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
West Point High School’s Justin Cox, left, and Tommy Keys played integral roles last season in helping the Green Wave win the Mississippi High School Activities
Association Class 5A state title. This season, they will take on a bigger leadership role as the team tries to repeat at champions.
Green Wave prepare to defend championship
BY LOGAN LOWERY
Special to the Dispatch
WEST POINT — When
Chris Chambless was promot-
ed to head coach in 2006 he
inherited a team that had just
won a state championship
under Dennis Allen.
After three years at the helm
of the Green Wave, Chambless
finally got his squad back to
Jackson and hoisted the gold
ball once again.
“Since I got here we’ve won
a whole lot of games but never
really a championship, other
than district championships,”
Chambless said. “Last year, we
were finally able to get over the
hump and win the big game
when it counted. We’ve been
close ever y year but never
could get by that big game.
We’ve always had something
go wrong. The past year,
injuries didn’t matter because
we had other guys step up and
get the job done.”
But the 2009 season didn’t
begin the way West Point want-
ed. The Green Wave dropped a
heartbreaking 27-20 opener in
the waning moments to
Shannon. The loss could have
been the breaking point for the
young squad.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE GREEN WAVE
QUARTERBACK
n JUSTIN COX, SR.
n COACH CHAMBLESS SAYS:
“We’re a running team and throw
it when we need to. He gets the
job done.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
n DEISMON ROBINSON, SR.,
JAMAL PETTY, SR., ANTREON
BENNETT, SO.; VONTARRIUS
DORA, SR., MONTY MCILWAIN,
SR., TOMMY KEYS, SR.
n COACH CHAMBLESS SAYS:
“If we can solidify a couple more
spots on our defensive front
we’ll be OK.”
LINEBACKER
n JUSTIN BOBO, SR.,
BRANDON EDWARDS, JR.
n COACH CHAMBLESS SAYS:
“We’ve got one returning. We’ve
got to replace one and we’re on
the verge of doing that.”
WEST POINT GREEN WAVE
MHSAA Class 5A, Region 1; 2009 Record: 14-1
WEST POINT 2010 TEAM
1-Justin Bobo, Justin Cox, 3-
Jamarius Tallie, 4-Jaquille
White, 5-Li’Erick Walker, 6-
Kendrin Thompson, 7-Michael
Bush, 8-Nelson McIntosh, 9-
Stefon Branham, 10-Anthony
Johnson, 11-Stephen Burnett,
15-Dequinten Spraggins, 16-
Adrian Smith, 17-Steve
Vance, 18-William Harrell, 19-
Tommy Keys, 20-Mario
Virges, 21-Jacoby Lee, 22-
Chaddrick Chandler, 24-
LaKenderic Thomas, 26-
Deismon Robinson, 27-TJ
Minor, 28-Tez Pulliam, 29-
Stephon Ivy, 30-Jamal Petty,
32-Brandon Edwards, 34-Eric
Johnson, 35-Jerry Randle, 36-
Chris Glover, 38-Willie
Collins, 39-Makarios Sears,
40-Mark Minot, 42-Kris
Pernell, 44-Freddie Reed, 45-
Javaris Quinn, 50-Romia
Wilson, 51-Willie Swift, 52-
“We had a young team last
year with a lot of inexperi-
ence,” Chambless said. “We
needed that first-game experi-
ence. When you go back and
look at the film you can see we
fought hard that game. We just
came up on the short end of it
and made some mistakes. We
came back at practice and cor-
RUNNING BACK
n LAKENDERIC THOMAS, SR.,
JACOBY LEE, SR.; MARIO
VIRGES, SO. (FULLBACK)
n COACH CHAMBLESS SAYS:
“Lakenderic Thomas and Jacoby
Lee are coming back even
though we lost Xavier Hogan.
We’ve also got Mario Virges
coming up. He is Curtis’ little
brother.”
SECONDARY
n CHRIS GLOVER, SR.,
JAQUILLE WHITE, SR.,
DEQUINTEN SPRAGGINS, JR.,
LI’ERICK WALKER, SR.
n COACH CHAMBLESS SAYS:
“We’ve really only got one guy in
the secondary coming back and
that’s Jaquille White. We’re
inexperienced in the secondary
and to be good you have to play
together for a while. It’s going
to take a couple of games, but
they’ll get it together. Our
secondary is going to be fast,
and that’s what we want for
them to run to the ball and
make some tackles.”
THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com
LeDerrius Taylor, 53-
Demondtae Donald, 54-Josh
Price, 55-Anreon Benett, 56-
Ed Brown, 57-Keidrick
Samuel, 58-Octavius Doss,
670-Eric Lemus, 61-Ronald
Matthews, 62-Carson Miller,
63-Leandrew Hampton, 65-
Chris “Swag” Fuller, 66-
Vontarrius Dora, 69-Monty
McIlwain, 71-Thomas Tiffin,
72-Riley Morton, 73-
Fredricus Mickens, 74-Alex
Hall, 75-Nadarruis Eckers,
76-Jonathon Jones, 77-
Martivuis Jefferson, 78-
Jordan Johnson, 80-Kwame
Williams, 81-Cody Brown.
Head coach: Chris
Chambless. Assistant coach-
es: Lee J. Grisham, Floizell
Wilson, Rockey Melton,
Casey Welch, Kendall
Pickens, Roger Burton, Brett
Morgan.
rected those mistakes and
played together as a team.”
A bye week was what West
Point needed to get back on
track. The Green Wave put that
game behind them and reeled
off 14 straight victories, capped
by a 35-14 victor y against
Wayne County in the Class 5A
state title game.
RECEIVERS
n JAMARIUS TALLIE, SR., STEFON
BRANHAM, SR., WILLIAM
HARRELL, JR., CODY BROWN, SR.;
MICHAEL BUSH, SR., TJ MINOR,
SO.
n COACH CHAMBLESS SAYS:
“We lost Michael Carr, so that was
a big loss, but we’ve got some guys
coming up this year that will step in
and do a great job coming off the
ball and blocking. They run good
routes and we’ll be OK on the
receiving end.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
n WILLIE SWIFT, SR., ALEX
HALL, JR., LEDERRIUS TAYLOR,
SR., ROMIA WILSON, JR.,
JONATHAN JONES, JR.
n COACH CHAMBLESS SAYS:
“We’re an inexperienced offen-
sive line, but they are coming
together real well. I look for
them to have a lot of success.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
n KWAME WILLIAMS;
CODY BROWN
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 15
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
But even the returning play-
ers understand being a defend-
ing state champion means
opponents will be gunning for
you in the next season.
“They say there has always
been a target on West Point’s
back,” senior nose guard
Tommy Keys said. “People are
always after us, and we like it
that way. It makes us work
harder.” STAFF
Not only is there pressure
from within the team to repeat n HEAD COACH:
this season, but the players Chris Chambless
also face pressure from Clay (45-8 in four seasons
County residents. The tight- at West Point;
knit community seemingly
47-16 overall)
lives for Green Wave football in
n ASSISTANT
the fall.
“Every year there is high COACHES:
expectations for West Point,” Casey Welch (running
Chambless said. “There is
backs), Lee J. Grisham
pressure from ourselves, the
(offensive coordinator),
players, and the community.
It’s good to have great commu- Kendall Pickens
nity pressure for the kids to let (defensive line), Roger
us know they are behind us. Burton (offensive line),
It’s a good feeling to coach Ricky Melton
football in West Point.” (linebackers), Brian
The Green Wave took a big
Sellers (secondary), Brett
hit losing standouts Michael
Carr and Curtis Virges to grad- Morgan (receivers).
uation. Both have started their
careers at Mississippi State. NUMBER’S GAME
West Point returns two sen-
ior standouts on offense who
were vital to the 2009 title run.
Quar terback Justin Cox
27
returns after accounting for
1,869 yards and 21 touchdowns
Returning Lettermen
as a junior. The Mississippi
State commitment completed
66 of 130 passing for 1,247
10
yards, 12 touchdowns, and five Returning Starters:
6 – Offense; 5 – Defense
interceptions. He also rushed
for 622 yards on 122 carries
and nine more touchdowns.
“We’re working hard,” Cox WEST POINT
said. “All I can say is I think SCHEDULE
we’re going back. We’re still
Aug. 20 SHANNON
going to play hard regardless
and are shooting for a no-loss Aug. 27
Sept. 3
Vs. Mainland, Fla.
At Columbus
season.” Sept. 10 STARKVILLE
Workhorse running back Sept. 17 NOXUBEE CO.
LaKenderic Thomas also Sept. 24 At Indianola Gentry
returns. The 5-foot-10, 200- Oct. 1 NEW HOPE
pounder rushed 194 times for Oct. 8 OXFORD
1,221 yards and 13 touchdowns Oct. 15 At Lake Cormorant
Oct. 22 SALTILLO
as a junior. Oct. 29 At Clarksdale
West Point outscored its Nov. 5 At Hernando
opponents 485-177 in 2009,
including 146-42 in the play- HOME GAMES IN CAPS
offs.
Keys and classmate
Vontarrius Dora will be the coming back,” Chambless said.
stronghold of a traditionally
stout defense.
“But up front all we have is our
center and tight end coming
“We’re more mature this back. Offensively, I thought we
year because more people have came together real well this
played,” Dora said. “It should
spring and guys are fired up to
be a good outcome just like last
do what we do which is play
year.”
Chambless is counting on tough, physical football. We
his 21 seniors to lead the team. have to replace five starters on
defense, but we’ve got some
He also wants all of the players
to rely on the valuable game guys with some experience
over there. We’re going to play
experience everyone gained in
the run to the state title. through and get better every
“We’ve got some experience practice and every game.”
16 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OAK HILL ACADEMY RAIDERS

MAIS AA, District 2; 2009 Record: 3-9

Raiders set to deal with smaller roster

BY LOGAN LOWERY
Special to the Dispatch
WEST POINT — On one
hand, 2009 was a successful
season for the Oak Hill
Academy football team.
Yes, the Raiders qualified
for the playoffs for only the
second time in 17 years, but
their 3-9 record left plenty to
be desired.
If Oak Hill Academy has
any playoff aspirations again
this year it will have to real-
ize them with limited num-
bers. The Raiders have only
16 players on the roster, and
nearly every member of the
team will have no alternative
but to play both ways.
“Sometimes when your
numbers are really bad like
what’s going on with us right
now you have to get kids
ready for multiple positions,”
Gregg said. “It is what it is.
I’m very glad I’m here, and
it’s a cool place to work.
These kids work hard and
they do what the coaches
ask them to do. They are
representing their school
correctly, and you can’t real-
ly ask much more than that.”
Depth will be a concern all
season, but it was expected.
Gregg and his staff have been
preparing the squad to go
both ways since the spring.
“One of the things you
have to do as a coach is pre-
NUMBER’S GAME
7 A majority of the roster is
Returning Lettermen
8 backer Doss Miller and line-
Returning Starters:
4 – Offense; 4 – Defense
pare kids not for the best sit-
uation but for the worst situ-
ation,” Gregg said. “If you
prepare them for the worst
and then the worst doesn’t
happen then there is a lot of
achievement. Our numbers
have been down and this
team knew it the whole
time. We knew we’re going
to have 14 to 17 players and
have talked about it since
the spring. Some of them
even ran track because I
told them it would help
them in football, and it’s
really come to fruition.”
made up of newcomers. Oak
Hill Academy has only two
seniors: running back / line-
man Jordan Hawkins. The
Raiders do have three all-
district performers back
from a year ago in Miller,
wide receiver / defensive
back Clay Henley, and offen-
sive lineman / linebacker
Reid Posey.
Offensively, the Raiders
will seek continued success
from Miller out of the back-
field. He started only seven
games last year but man-
aged nearly 1,200 yards
rushing. However, Oak Hill
managed only 21 points
twice last season and Gregg
hopes his two sophomore
STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Leroy Gregg
(third season,
4-18 overall)
n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
Bradley Simmons
(Defense), Carl
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
Oak Hill Academy’s Doss Miller, left, and Jordan Middleton
Hawkins are ready to be marathon men this season for (Special Teams)
a team that has less than 20 players on the roster.
we did at Amory. It gives
your line a chance to give
quarterbacks and offensive on offense,” Gregg said. “I
double team blocks at the
line scheme will allow for think that gives our kids a
point of attack. A kid that’s
more productivity. lot of success. It’s a hybrid
“I really love what we do out of the shotgun of what See OAK HILL, 20

OAK HILL
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 HERITAGE
Aug. 27 PILLOW
Sept. 3 At Indianola
Sept. 10 At Leake
Sept. 17 At Hebron
Sept. 24 CARROLL
Oct. 1 LAMAR
Oct. 8 At Manchester
Oct. 15 KIRK
Oct. 22 MARSHALL Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
Oct. 29 At Winston Oak Hill 2010 team: 1-Chance Livingston, 4-Bo Sanford, 6-Mike Brown, 7-Jeb Stevens, 9-Phillip Liu, 12-Conner Baird, 22-Doss Miller, 23-Clay
Henley, 27-Adam Turney, 28-Rusty Tait, 41-John Robert Wilborne, 52-Reid Posey, 53-Chad Moore, 55-Cole Fowler, 57-Cole Knowles. 65-Jordan
HOME GAMES IN CAPS Hawkins, 667-Palmer White, 77-Cooper Orman. Coaches: Leroy Gregg, Bradley Simmons, Carl Middleton.

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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 17

NOXUBEE COUNTY TIGERS

MHSAA Class 4A, Region 4; 2009 Record: 12-2

Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff

Noxubee County 2010 team: 1-Janardreon Jones, 2-Daquarrius Mallard, 3-Fernando Phillips, 4-Jared Johnson, 5-Kamal Chamberlain, 7-Ladarrell Hunt, 8-Rodriques Brown, 9-
Brandon Sanders, 12-Breylon Spencer, 13-LaQuinton Ashford, 14-Lamadrick Macon, 15-Alan Clay, 17-Terrence Barron, 18-Deangelo Ballard, 19-Jacoby Jones, 20-Rodrick
Joiner, 21-Todderick Tate, 23-Davion Pruitt, 24-Javoris Glenn, 26-Dennis Brooks, 27-Devonte Sanders, 28-Darrell Robinson, 29-Javancy Jones, 31-Dequalo Martin, 32-Vernon
Scott, 33-Jeremy Hunt, 34-Corey Williams, 35-Jarvis Taylor, 40-Antonio Ryland, 52-Keshun Smith, 54-Martize Mitchell, 55-Byron Hill, 56-Tommy Lane, 57-Demarcus
Barnett, 58-Demarcus Wilborn, 61-Ivan Goodwin, 64-Dylan Bradley, 65-Ralph Franklin, 67-Justin Clemmon, 71-Jonathan Orr, 73-Marcus Jackson, 74-Jared Farmer, 76-
Jacoby Harris, 77-Keahnte Mitchell, 78-Ryald Mitchell, 79-Javodkis Tate, 80-James Hill, 86-Miles Ellis, 87-Robert Neal, 88-Nathaniel Peterson, 90-Taiwan Williams, 91-
Anthony Skinner, 98-Pierre McCoy. Head coach: Tyrone Shorter. Assistant coaches: James Patterson, George Richardson, M.C. Taylor, Michael Ashford, Montez Miller,
Anthony King, Johnathan Hunter, Gary Naylor.

Tigers expect Williams to be among the best

BY ADAM MINICHINO
aminichino@cdispatch.com
MACON — The greatness rolls
with ease from the lips of Tyrone
Shorter.
From Vincent Sanders to Chris
Jones to Omarr Conner to Joey
Sanders to Brandon Tate, just to
name a few — and not to get
Shorter into trouble — the
Noxubee County football team has
been blessed with a plethora of
great players.
As assistant coach and now as
first-year head coach, Shorter has
seen all of the Tigers’ mainstays in
the past 12 seasons. All of them
have had personalities and charac-
ter of champions and leaders.
If things play out like Shorter
believes, he could be primed to add
another name to that list: Corey
Williams.
“Corey is in that group. He is
the same kind of kid,” Shorter said.
“He is a very good person and a
good leader. When you talk about
the great players who have come
through Noxubee County, Corey
Williams will be mentioned in that
group.”
Williams, a 6-foot, 215-pound
middle linebacker, is equally
versed in the history of Noxubee
County. He mentions Andrew
Wright, who is now at Jackson
State, and Ladarius Mitchell as two
of the “great” players who have NOXUBEE COUNTY
come through the program in
recent years. Williams said those SCHEDULE
two taught him a lot of things, espe- Aug. 20 At Starkville
cially how to be a player and not to Aug. 27 At Columbus
be “lazy.” His goal this season is to
Sept. 3 MURRAH
show those two, and the rest of the
Sept. 10 GREENVILLE
Tigers’ extended family, he is ready
Sept. 17 At West Point
to build on the program’s legacy,
which includes a state runner-up Sept. 24 MEMPHIS SHEFFIELD
Oct. 1 KOSCIUSKO
finish in 2007 and a championship
in ’08. Oct. 8 At Amory
"I got to go all out,” Williams Oct. 15 HOUSTON
said. “That is my motivation every Oct. 22 At Louisville
morning when I come up here. I
Oct. 29 At Caledonia
have to make it, I have to do better.
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
See NOXUBEE, 22 Coach Tyrone Shorter

Hurray!

Proud to
support all
area teams!

Priscilla King
940 Tuscaloosa Road
Columbus, MS
662-328-9988

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18 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

CENTRAL ACADEMY VIKINGS

MAIS A District 3; 2009 Record: 6-3
STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Ronnie Sciple
(third year, 13-5)

n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
Josh Jacobs (defensive
coordinator), Mike Green
(backs), Pete Papas
(assistant line), Nick
Papas (assistant backs)
Ferris McGuire Matt Taylor Rowdy Rigdon Jay Jones Will Disbrow

NUMBER’S GAME Threes wild for Central Academy in ’10

11 BY JASON BROWNE
jbrowne@cdispatch.com
Returning Lettermen
MACON — Threes
keep popping up for
Central Academy’s foot-
ball team.
Ronnie Sciple is enter-
ing his third year as
coach. The Vikings lost
three games last year
and wound up in a three-
KEY IN 2010
way tie for the top spot
in the North District in
n RONNIE SCIPLE: eight-man football.
“Most of them have This year, by the way,
will be the Vikings’ third
started since the ninth
year in the eight-man
grade. And this is proba-
league.
bly the first time in 10
“Hopefully the third
years (Central Academy time’s a charm,” Sciple
players) have been in said.
the same system three Central has compiled
a 13-5 record under
years in a row.”
Sciple. It advanced to
the playof fs last year
after finishing second in
a three-team, round-
robin-style over time
tournament with
Ridgeland Veritas School
CENTRAL and Meridian Calvar y
ACADEMY Christian.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20
Aug. 27
At Franklin Aca.
IMMANUEL CHR.
Sept. 3 TENSAS ACA.
Sept. 10 At Briarfield Aca.
Sept. 17 CALHOUN ACA. QUARTERBACK
Sept. 25 At Veritas School n FERRIS MCGUIRE, SR.;
Oct. 1 DELTA ACADEMY
Oct. 8 N. SUNFLOWER COLE NEWMAN, JR.;
Oct. 15 Open ROWDY RIGDON, SR.
Oct. 22 At Calvary Christ.
Oct. 29 At Kemper Aca.
n COACH SCIPLE SAYS:
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
“Ferris started six games last
year counting the playoffs. Cole
played some in ’08 at quarter-
back as s sophomore and some
last year, too. Even Rowdy has
done some mop-up duty.”
The logjam could
have been solved with a
Five of 14 players
Sciple expects to see the
bug don’t hit us we
should be all right.”
left and one of them has
got to play quarterback,”
series of coin flips, but field this season are sen- Sciple expects this Sciple said. “Anybody
the district chose not to iors. year’s squad to resemble can go in at any position
let fate decide. He hopes their experi- last year’s after at any given time.
“I would rather see ence will propel the Campbell’s injur y: A “We’ve got a great
the kids settle it than Vikings back to the play- run-first of fense, a big bunch of kids. They’ll
settle it on the flip of a of fs and past the first line, and an emphasis on tr y whether they’re
coin,” Sciple said. round. speed. playing of fensive line or
“Letting the kids settle it “All of our seniors “Eight-man is a game tailback. They’ll give
on the field took a lot of have probably played of speed,” Sciple said you ever y bit of ef for t
pressure off of me.” since their freshman “The more you can
they’ve got because
There was already years,” Sciple said. spread the field, the they know you don’t
enough pressure on the “Most of them have more gaps you have to
Vikings after senior started since the ninth run. We have a good,
have anybody else.”
When he’s not leaning
quar terback Hunter grade. And this is proba- fast group of backs and
on a three-man rotation
Campbell was lost for bly the first time in 10 receivers.”
of running backs, Sciple
the season with an years (Central players) Playing both ways at
will dabble in a passing
injur y in the third game. have been in the same full speed will burn a lot
Senior tailback and system three years in a of gas, but Sciple said game that took a major
North District offensive row.” his men are better condi- hit last year when
MVP Trevor Eaves car- The Vikings will tr y tioned this year than any Campbell went down.
ried the team with junior to squeeze ever y drop of other during his tenure. The of fense lost its
quar terback Ferris experience out of their “I think we’re going balance and was forced
McGuire, but Central upperclassmen to make to look good,” he said. to stick to the ground.
Academy couldn’t up for the team’s lack of Just in case, Sciple is Now Sciple said the
escape the first round. depth. drilling his players to team has a big enough
Eaves and Campbell With just 14 players make sure ever yone can line to protect McGuire
graduated last year, but and no sophomores, do ever ything. while his receivers get
the largest group of sen- “Ever yone’s a sub, even “I tell our backs all down the field, or the
iors to play during down to the ninth- the time, if all three Vikings will be able to
Sciple’s tenure will step graders,” Sciple said. quar terbacks get hur t, spread the field for
up to take their place. “As long as the injur y we’ve got three backs quick strikes.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VIKINGS
RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
n WILL DISBROW, SR.; n ROWDY RIGDON, SR.; n MATT TAYLOR, SR.;
JAY JONES, SR.; BRITT REYNOLDS, JR.; REDMON BUTLER, JR.;
COLE NEWMAN, JR.; DREW PEARSON, JR.; WILL SCIPLE, JR.;
ZAK COTTON, FR. STEPHEN LANE, FR.; CODY BROWN, JR.
RUSS TAYLOR, FR.
n COACH SCIPLE SAYS: n COACH SCIPLE SAYS:
“Will played for the last two years n COACH SCIPLE SAYS: “Our O-line has been together
and was used primarily as a block- “Rowdy was probably the go-to since last year. The same three
er, but he runs the ball well. receiver last year when we were started all year.”
We’re going to depend on him a in regular formation.”
lot.”

DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER SECONDARY SPECIAL TEAMS

n CODY BROWN, JR.;
REDMON BUTLER, JR.;
WILL SCIPLE, JR.
n COACH SCIPLE SAYS:
“All had experience last year, but
hopefully we’ll get to be a little
faster. We may go with a different
group of guys to get a little more
pressure.”
n COLE NEWMAN, JR.;
DREW PEARSON, JR.;
FERRIS MCGUIRE, SR.;
WILL DISBROW, SR.
n COACH SCIPLE SAYS:
“ We’re going to be smaller but
we’re going to be faster.”
n JAY JONES, SR.;
ROWDY RIGDON, SR.;
ZAK COTTON, FR.
n COACH SCIPLE SAYS:
“Hopefully we can get some help
from our freshmen to cover or get
a break here or there.”
n FERRIS MCGUIRE, SR. (ALL
KICKING DUTIES)
n COACH SCIPLE SAYS:
“A lot of his kicking practice is
done on his own.”

Credit?
Central Academy 2010 team: 1-Jay Jones, 3-Will Disbrow, 4-Drew Pearson, 11-Cole Newman, 17-Steven Lane, 19-Britt Reynolds, 21-Ferris McGuire, 25-Rowdy Rigdon, 48-
Russ Taylor, 51-Redmon Butler, 71-Cody Brown, 72-Matt Taylor, 76-Will Sciple. Head coach: Robbie Sciple. Assistant coaches: Josh Jacobs, Pete Papas, Mike Greene,
Nick Papas.

CONTACT INFORMATION
n TELEPHONE: n ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: n WEBSITE:
662-726-4817; 662-726-5846 Mike Greene w w w.caviking.org
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Accountability could mean success in Hamilton
BY DON ROWE
Special to the Dispatch
HAMILTON — Hamilton
High School football coach Ray
Weeks has instituted a new pro-
gram he calls, “Earning Your
Stripes,” and he feels it will bene-
fit his team.
“It’s an accountability issue,”
Weeks said. “We, as coaches, talk
every day about paying attention
to the little things, intangibles
such as doing everything right,
being disciplined, arriving on
time, not being a disruptive prob-
lem in class.
“These traits, along with
effort, enthusiasm, not making
the same mistake over and over,
and working hard in practice or in
the weight room will make us a
better football team. ‘Earning
Your Stripes’ is our way of devel-
oping these habits and then rec-
ognizing those efforts on the part
of the players. When you hold
people accountable for their
actions, you get better results.”
Weeks said helmet stripes will
be awarded to players who strive
to improve their habits. But those
stripes can also be taken away.
“Just because you earn them
doesn’t mean you get to keep
them,” Weeks said.
Starting his seventh year at
the helm of the Lions’ program
after stops as head coach at
Leake Academy in Madden and
Heritage Academy in Columbus
and as an assistant at Aberdeen
High, Weeks welcomes the
return of six offensive starters,
including quarterback Austin
Welch, fullback Cole Gill, slot
back Cojuante McMillian, and
wide receiver Zarratt Sims. Junior
Kyle Dahlem and senior Tyler
Gill return to anchor the line.
Welch (6-foot-1, 170 pounds), a
starter last year as a sophomore,
will pull the trigger for Weeks’
offense.
“He’s gotten taller and lost
some weight, and that’s allowed
him to become more mobile and
also improved his speed,” Weeks
said. “He looks to be more com-
fortable, more confident this year,
and we’re looking for him to
improve his performance.”
When the tough yards are
needed, Gill (5-11, 215), a senior,
will get the call at fullback.
“Cole’s big and strong and
we’ll be looking to him to be our
go-to guy in tough situations,”
Weeks said.
Slot back duties will go to
McMillian (6-0, 185), a junior with
two years starting experience.
Hamilton 2010 team: Curtis Thompson, Tyler Gill, Blake Holley, Soloman Coleman, Cole Gll, Brandon Fikes, Zarratt Sims, Ryan Gilbert, Will Logan, Mason Perkins, Jay Cob
Barden, Jordan Jackson, Collin Sanders, CoJuante McMillian, Kyle Dahlem, Austin Welch, Jeremy Howard, Cedric Bell, Deion Howard, Evan Phillips, Silas Gill, Dallas
Stockman, Adam McDaniel, Cole Richardson, Caleb Garvin, Seth Dement, Pallas Fair, Rudy Trimble, Ryan Pickle, Sydney Davis, Chance Maharrey, Curry Smith, Devin
Davis, Casey Cantrell, Ken Spruill, Davis Hankins, Sequintis Coleman, Brett Garrison, Drew Randolph, Nick Owens, Cole Robinson, Quinshay Heard, Noy Cungy. Head
coach: Ray Weeks, Assistant coaches: Jonathan Honeycutt, Devin Hill, Matt Atkins, Jason Junkin, Victor Cunningham.
Columbus
Continued from Page 3
aren’t here to punish the under-
classmen, they’re here to motivate
It is the coaches’ job to punish,”
said Jordan a 5-9, 260-pounder. “I
am just hoping everybody will
jump on board so we can have a
better season than the previous
ones.”
Jordan said he and Richardson
intend to let teammates know when
they do something good. He said
they also will encourage team-
mates not to yell at someone if they
do something wrong. He said the
players will be urged to take them
aside to let them know what they
MHSAA Class 2A, Region 2; 2009 Record: 5-6
“Cojuante is just a good foot-
ball player who works hard and
has a great attitude,” Weeks said.
Another junior, Sims (6-1, 150)
will line up at wideout and also
will see action at quarterback.
“Zarratt is just one big mus-
cle,” Weeks said. “There’s not an
ounce of fat on him. He’s a great
team leader who also runs the
option well, so he could see some
quarterback duties in certain situ-
ations.”
Hamilton High returns the
nucleus of its skill people, but
needs help along the offensive
line.
“We don’t have a lot of depth
there or on the defensive front, so
if one or two go down with
injuries it could be tough,” Weeks
said.
The already thin front line
took a hit recently when it was
determined that back problems
will force junior tight end/offen-
sive tackle Collin Sanders (6-8,
260) to miss at least half the sea-
son.
“He’s a mighty big target at
tight end, but he can also play
offensive tackle,” Weeks said. “A
week doesn’t go by that one col-
lege or another doesn’t call to
check on him.”
Ten seniors departed the
scene, including Devin Hopper,
Skyler Conwill, and Bryson
Lindsey, who were mainstays on
the offensive line. Dahlem (5-10,
190) at center and Gill (6-4, 255)
at left tackle are the only front-line
returning starters.
“Kyle is the leader and is just
like having a coach on the field,”
Weeks said. “He knows every-
one’s responsibilities and is a
hard-working dependable kid —
everything you want in a football
player.”
Weeks said Gill has the most
important job on the team:
Protecting the quarterback from
his left tackle position.
“Tyler has good technique and
has gotten a lot stronger and a lot
quicker,” Weeks said. “He does a
good job protecting our quarter-
back.”
With the departure of Hopper,
Conwill, and Lindsey, senior
Blake Holley (5-11, 230) is expect-
ed to start at right tackle, while
juniors Ryan Gilbert (5-10, 160),
Cedric Bell (5-10, 175), and
Jeremy Howard (5-10, 215) are
battling for the two guard spots.
Gilbert accepted a move from
running back to guard, while Bell
sat out last year.
“Ryan’s not big, but he’s
tough,” Weeks said. “Same goes
did and how they can correct it.
Stanford said both players have
impressed him with their discipline
and attention to detail. He believes
they will set a positive example as
yes sir, no sir leaders who will be
on time and do whatever is needed
to help the team succeed.
"(Chris) is not a different per-
son,” Stanford said. “He has always
worked hard, and he has always
been where he is supposed to. The
biggest thing with Chris is he did-
n’t make a play. He was right there
to make a play and he never made
it, and we told him that. This year, it
THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com
HAMILTON LIONS
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LIONS
QUARTERBACK
n AUSTIN WELCH, JR.
With a year of experience, Weeks
looks for improved performance.
Junior Zarratt Sims could see
spot duty in option situations.
RECEIVERS
n SIMS AND COLE
RICHARDSON, SOPH.
Sims started a year ago opposite
senior Kevin McCartney, while
Richardson needs some
experience. Senior Noy Cungy, an
exchange student from France,
could work his way into starting
lineup.
DEFENSIVE LINE
n KYLE DAHLEM, JR., TYLER
GILL, SR., BLAKE HOLLEY, RYAN
GILBERT, CEDRIC BELL
Bell, Dahlem, Gill, Holley, and
Gilbert will play both ways. Gill
and Holley are the only returning
starters.
SECONDARY
n ZARRATT SIMS, NOY CUNGY
Sims is the only starter with
experience, although Cungy has
played in Europe.
for Cedric who, once he knocked
the rust off, has progressed well.”
Weeks also said Howard has
been a pleasant surprise.
“Over the course of the sum-
mer, Jeremy has gotten stronger
and he hustles on every play,”
Weeks said.
Asked who will fill in for
Sanders, Weeks didn’t have an
answer.
“That’s a good question,” he
said. “Right now, we don’t have
one, so we may not go with a tight
end.”
Should Weeks opt for two
wideouts, sophomore Cole
Richardson should get the call.
Slot back Deion Howard (5-9,
170), a sophomore who played a
great deal as a backup last year,
will round out the offense.
“Deion is a tough runner, but,
more importantly, he has great
field vision and makes great
cuts,” Weeks said. “He sees the
field really well.
“We’ve got good size and lots
looks like he is there. He was prob-
ably the best coached kid last year,
but he would not make a play. This
year, we hope he steps up and
makes some plays.
“The improvement (Drew) has
made with his footwork has been
the biggest thing. Drew did not
have real good feet. He got a little
quicker with it, he comes off the
ball a little quicker. He got a lot
stronger in the weight room, and
we expect him to have a big year.
He is going to be one of the leaders
on our offensive line. We feel that is
one of our strong points.”
RUNNING BACK
n COLE GILL, SR., COJUANTE
MCMILLIAN, JR., DEION
HOWARD, SOPH.
Solid group that could be
strength of the team.
OFFENSIVE LINE
n KYLE DAHLEM, JR.,
TYLER GILL, SR.
Dahlem anchors the line at
center, while Gill is a wide body
at left tackle. Senior Blake
Holley and juniors Ryan Gilbert,
Cedric Bell, and Jeremy Howard
are all relatively untested.
LINEBACKER
n COJUANTE MCMILLIAN,
COLE GILL
Cole Gill and McMillian started
last year. They also start on
offense.
SPECIAL TEAMS
n KYLE DAHLEM, JR.
Dahlem will handle the kicking
and punting chores.
of experience in the backfield, but
everything hinges on the offen-
sive line. We don’t have a lot of
depth there, so we’ve got to stay
healthy.”
As such, Weeks is counting on
the development of younger play-
ers such as center Nick Owens to
provide some much needed
depth along the offensive front.
Not uncharacteristically for a
2A school, no less than eight or
nine offensive regulars will start
on defense.
“That’s something you come
to expect at a small school,”
Weeks said. “Most of our offen-
sive starters will see double duty,
so it’s imperative we are physical-
ly ready to go both ways.”
Weeks said Bell and Dahlem
should be at defensive end, Tyler
Gill and Holley at tackle, Gilbert
at nose tackle, Cole Gill at middle
linebacker, McMillian and
Howard at the outside linebacker
slots, Sims at free safety, and
Brandon Fikes, Curtis
Stanford said Richardson and
Jordan likely won’t be rah-rah lead-
ers who make commotions slap-
ping backs and hands. That’s fine
with him because he knows they
will be at the front of the line in con-
ditioning drills setting the tone for
everyone.
Columbus High has had leaders
like that the past few years, the
naysayers will say, so there is
bound to be doubt that things will
turn this season.
Jordan said people doubt the
Falcons at their own risk.
“I think they’re wrong,” said
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 19
STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Ray Weeks
(Seventh year)
n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
Jonathan Honeycutt,
Devin Hill, Matt Atkins,
Jason Junkin, Victor
Cunningham.
NUMBER’S GAME
11
Returning Starters:
6 offense; 5 defense
HAMILTON
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 WEIR
Aug. 26 At Smithville
Sept. 3 NETTLETON
Sept. 10 HATLEY
Sept. 17 At Houlka
Sept. 24 At Caledonia
Oct. 1 At West Lowndes
Oct. 8 At Eupora
Oct. 15 EAST WEBSTER
Oct. 22 ACKERMAN
Oct. 29 At J.Z. George
HOME GAMES ON CAPS
Thompson, or Richardson at the
corners.
Silas Gill and Will Logan, who
could provide some relief help at
several positions, also will try to
break into the starting lineup.
A welcome addition to the pro-
gram is foreign exchange student
Noy Cungy from France. He is
expected to help at cornerback
and wide receiver.
“Usually when you get a for-
eign exchange student, he turns
out to be a soccer player who can
kick and that’s it,” Weeks said.
“Not Noy. This cat can play. He’s
been to several NFL camps. He
covers well defensively and runs
great routes on offense, so it’s
easy to see he’s played the game
before and has been well
coached.”
Dahlem, who will play both
ways, also will find time to handle
the kicking and punting chores.
Brenda Owens/Special to the Dispatch
Drew of the naysayers. “I think we
have gotten a whole lot better since
last year and we are here to win
games.”
Richardson and Jordan intend
to realize that goal the old-fash-
ioned way: with hard work.
“I just want to continue to work-
ing hard and motivating everybody
and, like C.J. (Richardson) said to
play hard until the game is over,”
Drew said. “I want to do that
throughout life, too.”
20 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Credit?
Amory 2010 team: 1-Quartez French, 2-Justin Lackey, 3-Braxton Polk, 4-Johnathan Randle, 6-Anthony Spratt, 8-Ryan Hill, 11-Chris Harper, 12-Clay Todd, 14-Forest
Williams, 15-Dee Evans, 16-Zack Khima, 18-Jeremy Roberts, 19-Fred Garth, 21-Charles Polk, 22-Chandler Riggs, 24-Lester Freeman, 26-Tashari Collins, 27-Shamar Wright,
28-Robert Maharrey, 29-Alex Sullivan, 32-Tyler Crump, 35-Hayden Williams, 38-Jailon Lowe, 43-Jake Shelly, 47-Walton Chaney, 48-Bradley Riggs, 49-Larr y Sanders, 51-
Channing French, 53-Javontae Randle, 55-Cory Daughty, 56-Alex Farrar, 57-Greg Hadley, 58-Korie Jenkins, 62-Hunter Williams, 64-Duane Gilleylen, 66-Jason Talley, 69-
Shaquille Perks, 71-Hunter Chism, 72-Deiontae Ivory, 73-Ben Oswalt, 74-Dusty Bryan, 75-John Mark Howell, 76-Michael Weirauch, 77-Ashton Cooper, 83-Leighton Todd,
84-John Lenior, 86-Ryan Howell, Dario Robinson. Head coach: Trent Hammond. Assistant coaches: John Keith, Josh Baty, Linzy Patterson, Seth Lee, Ty Trahan, Jason Kelly.

AMORY PANTHERS
MHSAA Class 4A, Region 4; 2009 Record: 3-9

Hammond hopes to rebuild tradition STAFF

BY DON ROWE
Special to the Dispatch
AMORY — First-year Amory
High School football coach Trent
Hammond has several concerns
entering this season.
The fact that the Panthers have
only three returning starters on
either side of the ball is chief among
Hammond’s concerns, but trying to
live up to the school’s storied foot-
ball tradition isn’t one of his main
worries.
“I’m well aware of Amory’s great
football tradition, and it is a well-
deserved reputation, which has
been built over the years,”
Hammond said. “I’m not trying to
downplay its importance because
it’s great to coach in a place that has
such a winning tradition. But tradi-
tions don’t take snaps on Friday
night — football players do.”
Hammond said most of the play-
ers on his team weren’t born or
were very young when that win-
ning tradition was established, so
the Panthers are going to have to
do whatever it takes to make their
mark and improve on last year’s 3-9
record.
“Make no mistake, a winning
tradition is a positive, but our play-
ers are going to have to establish
their tradition and play for them-
selves,” Hammond said. “We can’t
waste time worrying about what
happened 10 or 20 years ago. We’re
going to have to do our own thing,
the things we believe in, and if we
are successful, these players will
leave their own legacy.”
Hammond beat out over three
dozen applicants for the job after
veteran coach Pat Byrd resigned at
the close of the 2009 season. He has
a proven track record as a success-
ful coach — both as an assistant
and as a head coach.
After a year as an assistant at
Bogue Chitto in 1995, Hammond
served four years (1996-99) as
defensive coordinator at Lawrence
County, where he helped guide the
Cougars to a state championship in
1999. He made it two consecutive
state titles as co-defensive coordina-
tor at McComb the following year
(2000) before returning to
Lawrence County to become head
coach from 2001-03.
Leaving Monticello, Hammond
took over the Water Valley program
from 2004-07 and served as
Franklin County’s head coach the
past two years (2008-09).
“Coach Hammond came to us
highly recommended and in the
short time he’s been on the job,
he’s lived up to his press clippings,”
Amory High Principal David Poss
said. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive
feedback from the players and their
parents.”
Under no illusions when he
accepted the position at Amory
High, Hammond knows he’s facing
a rebuilding year this season.
“We have less than a dozen
returning lettermen and just six
starters back on offense and
defense, so it’s going to be a
rebuilding year,” Hammond said.
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t
have a successful season. It just
means we’re going to have to work
really hard to make up for a lack of
experience.”
Seventeen seniors exhausted
their eligibility last season, many of
whom were regulars, so Hammond
will have to find replacements for
eight players on offense and eight
more on defense.
“We’ve got some young, talent-
ed players who we are counting on,
and the only negative to that is they
lack experience,” Hammond said.
“We went through spring drills with
most of them, but a few others are a
little behind because our baseball
team made it all the way to the
finals.
“But whether they participated
in spring drills or not, they still lack
that all-important game experience,
so that puts us a little behind.”
Seniors Ryan Hill and Shaquille
Perks and junior Forest Williams
will provide the leadership on
offense, while seniors Channing
French, Duane Gilleylen, and
Charles Polk will lead the defensive
charge.
“That’s it as far as returning
starters,” Hammond said, “so that
means there are a lot of opportuni-
ties for some of the younger guys to
step up and claim a spot in the start-
ing lineup.”
On the plus side, Williams, who
stated last season, provides experi-
ence at the all-important quarter-
back position in Hammond’s Wing-
T offense.
“Forest is about 6-2, 180 and has
a good arm,” Hammond said. “He’s
a leader in the huddle and he car-
ries himself well.”
Despite a lack of size, Hill
should be one of Williams’ main tar-
gets at wide receiver.
“Ryan is one tough kid who
might weigh 125 pounds soaking
wet with rocks in his pockets,”
Hammond said. “But what he lacks
physically, he makes up for by giv-
ing everything he has on every
snap.”
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
QUARTERBACK
n FOREST WILLIAMS, JR.
Only returning starter in the
offensive backfield.
RECEIVERS
n WALTON CHANEY, SR.
Big target with great hands at
tight end. Justin Lackey, Jr.
Played some last year. Ryan Hill,
Sr. Not blessed with great speed,
but tough as nails.
DEFENSIVE LINE
n DUANE GILLEYLEN, SR.,
CHARLES POLK, SR., LARRY
SANDERS, SR., LESTER
FREEMAN, SR. AND JAVONTAE
RANDLE, JR.
Gilleylen only returning starter.
SECONDARY
n QUARTEZ FRENCH, JR.,
ABARIS WOODRICK, SOPH.,
ZACK KHIMA, JR., CHANDLER
RIGGS, SR., CHRIS HARPER,
SR. AND ROBERTS.
Lack game experience, but pos-
sess speed and physical tools to
get the job done.
Like Hill, Perks (5-7, 200) isn’t
blessed with tremendous size, but
he is the only returning offensive
lineman and will start at pulling
guard.
“Shaq has played in the trenches
before and he does a good job,”
Hammond said. “He makes up for
his lack of size with good quick-
ness.”
Rounding out the list of replace-
ments on the offensive line are
sophomore Dusty Bryant (6-2, 290)
at center, junior Greg Hadley (6-1,
200) at guard, senior Korie Jenkins
(6-0, 200) at right tackle, sopho-
mores Deiontae Ivory (6-1, 230) or
Michael Weirauch (6-2, 210) at left
tackle, and senior Walton Chaney
(6-2, 200) at tight end.
The skill positions should be
filled by junior Justin Lackey (6-2,
185) at flanker/wide receiver, soph-
omore Dario Robinson (5-9, 160) at
wide receiver or at wingback, and
RUNNING BACK
n JOHN RANDLE, SR., DARIO
ROBINSON, SOPH.
An extremely quick utility
player who will be in the lineup
somewhere.
OFFENSIVE LINE
n SHAQUILLE PERKS, SR.
Only returning starter. Dusty
Bryant, Soph. Hard work and lots
of effort got him in the starting
lineup. Greg Hadley, Jr. Always
where he’s supposed to be. Korie
Jenkins, Sr. Tough and hard-nosed
in first year back after giving up
football for Mixed Martial Arts
competition. Deiontae Ivory,
Soph. or Michael Weirauch, Soph.
Locked in a battle to start, but
Ivory a little ahead.
LINEBACKER
n CHANNING FRENCH, SR.
Bradley Riggs, Jeremy Roberts,
Jr. and Hayden Williams, Soph.
battling for first-team status.
SPECIAL TEAMS
n ZACK KHIMA, JR.
Khima, last year’s kicker, or
Chaney in battle for top spot.
Jake Shelly, Sr., is the punter.
senior John Randle (5-11, 190) at
fullback.
Defensively, only one lineman
and a pair of linebackers return —
one of whom could line up at any of
three positions.
Gilleylen, a defensive tackle, is
the biggest of the three veterans (6-
0, 260). Hammond’s goal is to turn
him into a dominating player.
“We want him to dominate the
line of scrimmage,” Hammond said.
“He’s worked extremely hard to
increase his bench (press) 50
pounds since I’ve been here, and he
runs well, and I think he’s poised to
have a good year.”
Channing French (6-0, 210)
anchors the linebacking corps and,
despite having to master new defen-
sive schemes, “has developed into a
pretty good football player,”
Hammond said.
Possibly the team’s most versa-
tile player, Polk (5-10, 225) is a
n HEAD COACH:
Trent Hammond
(first year)
n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
Ty Trahan, John Keith,
Josh Baty, Linzy
Patterson, Jason Kelly,
Seth Lee
NUMBER’S GAME
10
Returning Lettermen
7
Returning Starters:
3 – Offense; 3 – Defense;
1 – Special Teams
AMORY
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 At Nettleton
Aug. 27 ITAWAMBA
Sept. 3 NEW HOPE
Sept. 10 At Aberdeen
Sept. 17 At Shannon
Sept. 24 PONTOTOC
Oct. 1 At Caledonia
Oct. 8 NOXUBEE CO.
Oct. 15 At Kosciusko
Oct. 22 HOUSTON
Oct. 29 At Louisville
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
hybrid-type player who might line
up at defensive tackle, defensive
end, or at linebacker depending on
the scheme.
A dozen or so Panthers have
positioned themselves to claim the
eight remaining spots, including
senior Larry Sanders (5-10, 185) at
defensive end, senior Lester
Freeman (5-7, 180) and junior
Javontae Randle (5-8, 200) at nose
tackle, junior Jeremy Roberts (5-10,
180), sophomore Hayden Williams
(5-10, 160), and Bradley Riggs (6-0,
190) at linebacker, junior Quartez
French (5-8, 180) and sophomore
Abaris Woodrick (5-10, 170) at cor-
nerback, junior rover Zack Khima
(5-9, 170), and seniors Chandler
Riggs (6-0, 190) and Chris Harper,
along with Roberts, at free safety.
The kicking duties will fall to
Chaney or Khima, while senior
Jake Shelly will handle the punting
chores.

Oak Hill A CLOSER LOOK AT THE RAIDERS

Continued from Page 16
not 6-foot-4, 275 but has
another kid about his size
and if they are both coming
off the ball correctly and are
step for step, an average-
sized kid becomes a better
blocker.”
While the Raiders’ lack of
size is a disadvantage offen-
sively, Gregg feels he can
turn the tables on the other
side of the ball. He hopes to
use his overall team speed to FOWLER,SO., JORDAN HAWKINS,
attack on defense.
“We’re going to base out
of a 50 front, and because of
size there is not going to be a “We’re going to have a little depth
lot reading on our defense,”
Gregg said. “We’re going to
have to do some attacking.
We do have a lot of quickness
and a lot of closing speed out
of a couple of our players. double teams and penetrate the line
Our coaches are working
very hard at improving tech-
niques out of every position.”
QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
n JEB STEVENS n DOSS MILLER, SR., MIKE n CLAY HENLEY, JR., RUSTY n JORDAN HAWKINS, SR., REID
LANE, JR., BO SANFORD, SO.; TAIT, JR. , ADAM TURNEY, SO.; POSEY, JR., CHAD MOORE, JR.,
n COACH GREGG SAYS:
COLE FOWLER, SO., COOPER
PHILLIP LIU, SO. JOHN ROBERT WILBOURNE, JR.:
ORMAN, SO., PALMER WHITE,
“Our quarterbacks are doing a good
n COACH GREGG SAYS: n COACH GREGG SAYS:
SO.
job of delivering the football.”
DEFENSIVE LINE “Our running backs are going to “Our receiving corps are going to n COACH GREGG SAYS:
have speed and a lot of be strong. They run good routes “Our offensive line is not going to
n JOHN ROBERT WILBOURNE, toughness,” Gregg said. “Doss and catch the ball in traffic real have a lot of size to it.
JR., CHAD MOORE, JR., COLE Miller only started seven games well,” Gregg said. “J.R. is a big Strength-wise it’s going to be
at running back last year and had kid and he’s easy for our average. The cohesiveness is
SR., COOPER ORMAN, SO., nearly 1,200 yards rushing. The quarterbacks to see. He’s an easy really good and are doing a good
PALMER WHITE, SO. harder the ballgame, the better target to see and he’s got soft job on our blocking schemes.”
n COACH GREGG SAYS: his numbers were.” hands.”
but it’s all young kids. There’s not a LINEBACKER SECONDARY
lot of size but we really don’t want a n REID POSEY, JR., MIKE LANE, JR., n CLAY HENLEY, JR., RUSTY TAIT, JR., ADAM
lot of size. We want quickness and DOSS MILLER, SR. TURNERY, SO., BO SANFORD, SO.
guys who are going to command n COACH GREGG SAYS: n COACH GREGG SAYS:
“(This) is going to be the strength of our team. “Our defensive back area is already better than we
of scrimmage, and with our starters We’ve got kids that will run and strike you when were last year. We’ve got some returners that
that’s what we have.” they get there.” covered a lot of fast people.”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 21

ABERDEEN BULLDOGS
MHSAA Class 3A, Region 2; 2009 Record: 13-3

New QB Jones has plenty of confidence

STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Chris Duncan
(fourth year, 33-9)
n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
Justin Moss, Patrick
Schoolar, Latorrence
Bivens, Alex Williams,
Sammie Burroughs
NUMBER’S GAME
13
Returning Starters:
7 — Offense;
6 — Defense
ABERDEEN
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 COLUMBUS
Aug. 27 At Ray Brooks
Sept. 3 PONTOTOC
Sept. 10 AMORY
Sept. 17 OKOLONA
Sept. 24 At Houston
Oct. 1 At Winona
Oct. 8 WATER VALLEY
Oct. 15 At Mooreville
Oct. 22 S. PONTOTOC
Oct. 29 At Nettleton
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
ABERDEEN
2010 TEAM
1-Victor Hodges, 2-
Desmond Jones, 3-
Tamarkus Payne, 4-
Corino Blanchard, 5-
Braxton Anderson, 6-
Joshua Ewing, 7-
Aaron McMillian, 8-
Jalen Devauld, 9-
Sammy Burroughs,
10-Justin Lucas, 11-
Tyler Fields, 12-
Jeremy Brandon, 13-
Johnny Wilson, 14-
Keon Spratt, 15-
Ramontez Hodges,
16-Chris McMillian,
17-Nick Sims, 18-
Patrick Lockett, 19-
Trey Mims, 20-
Brandon Walker, 21-
Demario Wilson, 22-
Chico Harrison, 23-
Johnny McMillian, 24-
Brandon Smith, 25-
Andre Jernigan, 26-
Erick Cunningham,
27-Travis Garth, 28-
Devontae Fudge, 29-
David Foster, 30-
Jordan Walker, 31-
Tylan McMillian, 32-
William Peterson, 33-
John Randle, 34-Tevin
Jones, 43-Janorris
Blanchard, 44-Jordan
Walker, 50-Fred
Ward, 51-Channing
Ward, 52-Brandon
Hodges, 53-Richie
Boone, 54-Zavi
Forshee, 55-
Alexander Harper, 56-
Latherio Cox, 57-
Jordan Gathings, 58-
Tavarus Eckford, 59-
Bobby Ward, 60-
Rickie McAllister, 61-
Devontae Walker, 63-
Damien Walker, 64-
Jarius Garth, 65-
James Randle, 66-
Sebastian McFarland,
67-Jahrel Wilson, 68-
Aaron Wilson, 72-
Antonio McFarland,
73-Cortavian Doss,
74-Jamarkus Irons,
75-Theodore Boyd,
80-Michael Hodges,
84-Jalen Bell.
BY DON ROWE
Special to the Dispatch
ABERDEEN — Never
let it be said that Aberdeen
High School quarterback
Desmond Jones lacks con-
fidence.
A senior who has start-
ed one game under center
for the Bulldogs, Jones
feels he has the tools to
lead Aberdeen back to
Jackson in December.
“I have a great deal of
trust in my teammates and
they trust me,” said the 5-
foot-10, 170-pound Jones.
“If everybody does their
job and I do mine like I’m
capable of, there’s no rea-
son why we can’t make it
back to Jackson again this
year.”
Aberdeen High coach
Chris Duncan is confident
Jones can get the job done.
“Des is a good leader
who runs the ball well and
throws adequately,”
Duncan said. “He played
some cornerback for us
last year, so having a tough
kid in that position is a
plus.”
Jones, who transferred
to Aberdeen from
Nettleton his sophomore
year, will be looked to to
replace Aaron Andrew, a
talented passer who threw
for 2,823 yards and 30
touchdowns and rushed
for 362 yards during last
year’s 13-3 campaign.
Jones won’t have the
luxury of throwing to
three of the best receivers
to suit up for the Bulldogs
at one time – Erik
Buchanan, Rashad Pargo,
and Mario Lucas, all of
whom signed to play foot-
ball at Itawamba
Community College after
combining for 114 catches,
2,432 yards and 22 TDs.
Nor will he have the
good fortune of handing
off to Jamerson Love, who
ran for 1,773 yards on 195
carries and scored 19
touchdowns. He also
caught 19 balls for 434
yards and six scores.
Duncan downplays
Jones’ inexperience and
said he doesn’t expect him
to match Aaron Andrew’s
gaudy stats this season.
“We’re not expecting
QUARTERBACK
n DESMOND JONES, SR.
Will guide a more run-oriented
team this year.
DEFENSIVE LINE
n FRED WARD, SR.,
CHANNING WARD, JR.
ANDRE JERNIGAN, SR.
BRAXTON ANDERSON, JR.,
JORDAN GATHINGS, JR.
Fred Ward and Channing Ward
have the tools to play at the next
level. Jernigan and are both solid
defensive ends. Gathings is small
in stature, but extremely fast.
him to carry the load for
us,” Duncan said. “With
what we’re asking him to
do, we think he’ll do fine.
When the lights come on,
he’ll be up to the task.”
The loss of such talent
not withstanding, the cup-
board is far from bare. The
one advantage Jones has
over his predecessor is the
return of a veteran offen-
sive line that features
three seniors and two jun-
iors – all of whom started
for the Bulldogs last sea-
son.
“Having the offensive
“Having the offensive line coming back
is a big advantage for us. They have been
tested in the past, and their experience
takes some of the pressure off me.”
Aberdeen quarterback Desmond Jones
line coming back is a big
advantage for us,” said
Jones. “They have been
tested in the past, and their
experience takes some of
the pressure off me.”
Senior left tackle Fred
Ward (6-4, 250), a three-
year starter, anchors the
front line.
“Fred is my Michael
Oher,” Duncan said. “He’s
a phenomenal athlete and
the only one on the team
who can block Channing
Ward, his cousin.”
Ward’s counterpart on
the opposite side of the O-
line is Damien Walker (6-
0, 235). He will line up next
to guard Rickie McAllister
(6-1, 250). Both are jun-
iors.
“They’re both experi-
enced, they’re good pass
blockers and both are
extremely competitive,”
Duncan said.
Senior center Richie
Boone (6-0, 260) and sen-
ior guard Cortavian Doss
(6-0, 240) round out the
offensive front lineup.
“Richie does a good job
snapping the ball out of
the shotgun and is very
strong, while Cortavian
has been in our system
four years and has very
good technique,” Duncan
said.
While Love, who signed
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BULLDOGS
RUNNING BACK
n VICTOR HODGES, SR.
Leads a solid foursome that
includes Justin Lucas, Soph.,
Brandon Smith, Sr. and Andre
Jernigan, Sr.
LINEBACKER
n JOHNNY MCMILLIAN, JR.
AND LUCAS
Both are relatively inexperienced.
on at Mississippi State as a token experience.
defensive back, garnered “Jalen catches the ball
most of the attention offen- well and runs good
sively last year, Jones will routes,” Duncan said.
have no less than four “He’s our most polished
quality backs behind him and most experienced
this season, not to mention receiver.”
three receivers who Rounding out the
Duncan said are quicker receiving corps are senior
than last year’s receiving Johnny Wilson (5-11, 165)
corps. and sophomore Aaron
Heading up the list of McMillian, both of whom,
backfield returnees is sen- according to Duncan, are
ior Victor Hodges (5-7, faster than any of last
180), a punishing type run- year’s receivers.
ner who rushed for more “Johnny’s the fastest of
than 800 yards last year the bunch, a real burner
who can play,” Duncan
despite playing behind
said. “Aaron, who is the
second fastest, runs well
and can catch the ball, but
is young and needs some
polish.”
Junior Jalen Bell, a
starter on last year’s state
runner-up squad, will
return at tight end.
Love. “Jalen is tough and
“Victor is not as explo- plays hard,” Duncan said.
sive a runner as Love, but “He makes the plays.”
he is everything a true Four offensive starters
running back should be,” on offense will go both
Duncan said. “He relishes ways, including Fred Ward
contact and he’ll run over at tackle, Lucas at line-
you, he’ll run around you, backer, Smith at dog
or he’ll run past you. He’s (strong) safety, and
Wilson at cornerback.
a tough, hard-nosed kid
Highly recruited junior
who, if he was stretched
Channing Ward (6-3 1/2,
another inch or two, could
235) will join his cousin,
play anywhere.”
Fred, to form one of the
The fullback chores will
region’s best defensive
fall to sophomore Justin
tackle combinations.
Lucas (5-11, 200).
“Both of them are about
“Justin’s picked up
about 30 pounds since last the best around,” Duncan
said. “With one on one
year, and he’s what you
want in a fullback,” side and one on the other
side, they look to dominate
Duncan said. “He’s a
the line of scrimmage.”
bruiser who’s not afraid to
The Wards will sand-
stick his nose in there.”
wich junior nose tackle
Seniors Brandon Smith
Jordan Gathings (5-11,
(5-11, 170) and Andre
180), a returning starter
Jernigan (6-0, 205) will
from last year.
provide backup help at tail-
“Jordan is a tough char-
back and fullback, respec-
acter who isn’t real big but
tively.
who uses his quickness to
Wide receiver is one of get to the ball,” Duncan
Duncan’s chief concerns said. “He doesn’t mind
centers. mixing it up.”
“We’re fast and real ath- Senior Andre Jernigan
letic, but not really skilled (6-0, 225) and junior
yet,” Duncan said. “I know Braxton Anderson (6-0,
you can’t teach athleti-
205) man the defensive
cism, but you can work to ends posts.
get better and better.” “Andre is a good athlete
Senior Jalen Devauld, a and a three-year starter
three-year starter, is the who knows the ropes,
only returning wide while Braxton is really
receiver with more than physical and runs well,”
RECEIVERS
n JALEN DEVAULD, SR.,
JOHNNY WILSON, SR.,
AARON MCMILLIAN, SOPH.,
JALEN BELL, JR.
Devauld is only wideout with expe-
rience. Wilson and McMillian are All are veterans who started last
both untested speed-merchants.
Bell is a dependable returnee at
tight end.
SECONDARY
n JOHNNY WILSON, SR.,
DEMARIO WILSON, JR.,
CORINO BLANCHARD, JR., AND
SMITH
The Wilsons are both very athlet-
ic, but untested at the corners.
Smith brings two years experience
to the dog safety position, and
Blanchard is a heady, physical
free safety.
Duncan said. “I’m excited
about having both of them
at either end of the line.”
Linebacking chores will
fall to Lucas and junior
Johnny McMillian (5-11,
175).
“Johnny is the fastest
player on the team, but he
needs to improve his tack-
ling,” Duncan said.
Brandon Smith and jun-
ior Corino Blanchard will
start at dog safety and free
safety, respectively.
“Brandon is a good
cover guy who has started
the past three years,”
Duncan said. “Blanchard
is very smart, a straight-A
student who won’t make
many mistakes. He’s
played corner the last two
years and is very physi-
cal.”
A pair of Wilsons will
handle the cornerback
slots, senior Johnny
Wilson and junior
Demario Wilson (5-11,
155).
“Johnny is one of the
best athletes on the team,
and the sky is the limit as
far as he is concerned,”
Duncan said, “and
Demario was the surprise
of the spring despite never
having played before.”
Sophomore Robert
Gardner and senior soccer
player Antonio Crayton
are in the mix to handle
the kicking and punting
duties.
As the defending Class
3A North State champi-
ons, Duncan realizes
everyone will be gunning
for his Bulldogs, but he
shares his quarterback’s
confidence in Aberdeen’s
chances to get back to
Jackson.
“We’re solid up front as
well as defensively,”
Duncan said. “We have a
good mix of experience
and good, young talent
and the kids expect to win
here now. They’re more
confident and they don’t
accept defeat.
“As long as they keep
working hard and doing
the things the way they do
them, we have just as good
a chance as anybody to
take another shot at
Jackson.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
n FRED WARD, SR.,
RICHIE BOONE, SR.,
CORTAVIAN DOSS, SR.,
RICKIE MCCALLISTER, JR.,
DAMIEN WALKER, JR.
year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
n ROBERT GARDNER, SOPH.
AND ANTONIO CRAYTON, SR.
Both punting and kicking posi-
tions are up for grabs.

Starkville
Continued from Page 10
Mitchell said of Johnson.
“Whether that’s fair to a sen-
ior or not, I don’t know. But I
think he relishes that spot
and wants that responsibili-
ty.”
Johnson is prepared to
shoulder the load of guiding
a young group of skill play-
ers and having an increased
role on defense. Ideally,
Mitchell wouldn’t want his
starting quarterback to play
very much at safety, but the
experience-strapped Jackets
have no choice, Mitchell
said.
In turn, the extra work in
practice has given Johnson
an extra level of physical and
mental toughness, he said.
“By the time we go to
team offense I’ve already
done the full practice on
defense,” Johnson said. “I’ve
still got to get back there,
make the right reads, and
make the throw. Even if I’m
tired, I’ve got to push
through it.
“It’s more like a game sit-
uation.”
Johnson helped lead the
Jackets to a 4-9 record and a
playoff berth last season,
though many in the program
thought the results should
have been better. Starkville
lost to Louisville 26-21.
Turnovers also contributed
heavily to losses at
Southaven and at home
against Olive Branch.
Fumbles and interceptions
played a role in both losses,
which came by 11 and 10
points, respectively.
Consistency, in Mitchell’s
mind, is the key to Johnson
becoming the quarterback
expected of someone with
his skill set.
“He can make any throw
on the field — the deep out,
the comeback, the takeoff —
and has great ability,”
Mitchell said. “Not complet-
ing the shallow routes some-
times and taking the shot
when he doesn’t need to are
the times when the consis-
tency is lacking. That’s the
big thing for him. That 2- to-
3-yard route can turn into a
big play just as easy as the
pass down the field can.
Make the easy throw.”
Though the 6-foot, 205-
pound Johnson will play with
increased pressure to lead
the Yellow Jackets back to
the playoffs, the new coach-
ing staff and renewed opti-
mism in the program pro-
vides a stress-free routine
every time the team prac-
tices.
A big part of the pressure-
less feel is having an experi-
enced offensive line with
returners Chris Prater,
Jarrod Atterberry, and Eric
Rogers. Running back
Jakarta Agnew, who missed
all of last season, is back
healthy and has impressed
in his move to fullback.
All that’s left is for
Johnson to get in sync with
the likes of first-year player
and basketball teammate
Shaquille Hill, and sopho-
mores Kentrell Spencer and
Gabe Myles, all of whom will
make up the top end of
Starkville’s receiving corps.
“We’re good protection
wise, but we’re still learning
all the routes and just trying
to get on the same page,”
Johnson said. “Kentrell runs
good routes and isn’t afraid
to drop his shoulder and
make a move once he catch-
es the ball. That’s encourag-
ing, and I don’t think it’ll take
us long to get it down.
“By the time we hit dis-
trict, everything should be
smoothed out and ready. We
shouldn’t have to call the
play in the huddle — every-
body knows where to go. I
expect by Meridian, we
should be good.”
STARKVILLE
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 NOXUBEE CO.
Aug. 27 At Louisville
Sept. 3 At Meridian
Sept. 10 At West Point
Sept. 17 Open
Sept. 24 At Desota Central
Oct. 1 TUPELO
Oct. 8 At Horn Lake
Oct. 15 SOUTHAVEN
Oct. 22 At Olive Branch
Oct. 29 SOUTH PANOLA
Nov. 5 COLUMBUS
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
22 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010
STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Jimmy Carden
(15th season)
n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
Doug Wilson (defensive
coordinator), Kenny
Williams (special
teams), Philip Jordan,
and Jason Smith.
NUMBER’S GAME
15
Returning Starters:
8 – Offense; 7 – Defense
14
Number of seniors
Carden is counting on
to lead the team to an
outstanding season.
KEY IN 2010
n JIMMY CARDEN:
“We just need to get a
little luck, get some
bounces, and stay
healthy.”
EAST WEBSTER
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 At South Pontotoc
Aug. 27 WEST OKTIBBEHA
Sept. 3 At Vardaman
Sept. 10 At Houlka
Sept. 17 BRUCE
Sept. 24 At Alcorn Central
Oct. 1 EUPORA
Oct. 8 At Ackerman
Oct. 15 At Hamilton
Oct. 22 J.Z. GEORGE
Oct. 29 WEST LOWNDES
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Noxubee
Continued from Page 17
If I am tired, I am still going
to go 110 percent and I am
going to give everything I
have.”
Williams said Wright first
taught him focus when he
was a sophomore on that
Class 4A title squad. The
instructions helped a player
who wasn’t sure where he
would wind up on the field
find a place at linebacker, one
of the focal points on defense.
It has turned out to be a
perfect home for Williams,
who has developed a reputa-
tion for speed.
“Corey can run and he is a
big kid,” Shorter said. “He is
one of the fastest guys on the
team. The way he plays, he
doesn’t have to say a word. A
lot of the kids see how he
plays and play as hard as he
does. he just gets everybody
pumped up. He is like a
coach on the field. Some of
the past linebackers, they see
things on the field and come
back and tell you so you can
make the adjustment. He is
that kind of player.”
Shorter said Williams is
so fast — 100 mph in practice
and in games — that he often
has to tell him to slow down
so he doesn’t overrun plays
or allow his aggressive
nature to put him out of posi-
tion. That’s a minor quibble
to make about a player who
will lead another chapter of a
Noxubee County defense
known for its team speed and
swarming nature.
"I feel a linebacker should
have more leadership and be
more of a team leader,”
Williams said. “The best line-
backers lead their team, and
that is how I picture myself. I
see myself as a leader on and
off the field.”
Shorter, who has coached
Williams since the seventh
grade, could tell immediately
he had a future leader. He
EAST WEBSTER WOLVERINES
Carden hopes team can build off 2009
BY AUSTIN BISHOP
Special to the Dispatch
MABEN — If you ask members
of the East Webster High School
football team what the turning point
of their 2009 season was, to a man
they likely will give you the same
answer.
“It started back at the second half
of the J.Z. George game,” said sen-
ior defensive tackle Lilton Vance.
“We came out at halftime with a dif-
ferent attitude. Coach (Jimmy
Carden) just told us to get our
minds right or we wouldn’t be going
to the playoffs.”
While the Wolverines, who
trailed 19-0 at halftime, went on to
lose 19-14, the team learned some-
thing about itself.
“We just came together as a
team,” Demetrius O’Briant said.
“We all got on the same page. The
coaches just kept pushing us and we
began to work together.”
After falling to 4-6 and 0-4 in
Region 2-2A play, the Wolverines
defeated West Lowndes 24-0 to close
the regular season and wound up
winning a tiebreaker to take fourth
place in the region and a spot in the
playoffs.
QUARTERBACK
n LEDRICK PATTERSON,
MIGUEL GRAHAM
Patterson and Graham have
big-game experience.
n COACH CARDEN SAYS:
“ We will use both of those guys to
kind of change the look.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
n BOLO MCCURRY, BRENNAN
SPARKS, LILTON VANCE, AUSTIN
HARRISON, DILLON DORSEY,
AND CHARLES GUYTON
The Wolverines are counting
on this unit to shut down
running games.
n COACH STANDFORD SAYS:
“ We need some big plays anytime
we can get them.”
QUARTERBACK
n JARED JOHNSON,
JACOBY BALLARD
Noxubee County played two
quarterbacks in the spring and in
the summer. The system paid off
as the Tigers won 7-on-7 passing
camps at East Mississippi
Community College and at the
University of Mississippi. They
also had a strong showing at
Mississippi State’s event.
n COACH SHORTER SAYS:
“Jared has the edge. He is
pushing Jared. It is looking like
we probably will play two
quarterbacks again. They are
battling, but I think Jared has the
edge in experience.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
n JACOBY HARRIS
Another position filled with youth
that Shorter said could be a
concern. He said the return of
Harris, a senior, will help make up
for the loss of two ends.
n COACH SHORTER SAYS:
“In the spring we gave up a lot of
yards rushing. We are trying to
strengthen our defense.”
saw Williams try to motivate ball, no doubt,” Shorter said.
his middle school teammates “A lot of people are recruiting
and knew he would be spe- him as a safety. He could
cial. As a sophomore, have been a great running
Williams had a chance to back, but he is so aggressive
experience a state title. This and he wanted to play
season, he hopes Williams defense, and that’s where we
will take what the great play- needed him.
ers before him have done
and make his mark to set his techniques, fit in that cat-
championship pace. egory of being one of the
“He will play college foot- greatest players to come
THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com
MHSAA Class 2A, Region 2; 2009 Record: 7-7
EAST WEBSTER 2010 TEAM
1-Bret Flora, 2-Miguel Graham,
4-Bolo McCurry, 5-Darius Dear,
7-McKinley Hollenhead, 8-
Clayton Hudspeth, 10-Cody
McKee, 11-Damien Britt, 12-
Ledrick Patterson, 15-Ryan
Johnson, 16-Timakis Bell, 20-
Terry Shaw, 22-Marques
Reives, 23-Jayson Latham, 25-
Josh Gladney, 26-Tyler Doss,
27-Cody Silver, 30-Demetrius
O’Briant, 32-Thomas Brooks,
35-Nick Reynolds, 38-Tyler
Story, 50-Brennon Sparks. 52-
Austin Harrison 53-Colby
Williamson, 54-Xavier Moye,
55-Lilton Vance, 56-Jacob
Then the unexpected happened.
First East Webster knocked off
top-seeded Coahoma County 33-8 in
the first round of the Mississippi
High School Activities Association
Class 2A State Playoffs, before beat-
ing Calhoun City 28-14 in the second
round to set up a rematch with
undefeated Ackerman.
“Nobody gave us a chance
against Ackerman,” linebacker
Xavier Moye said. “We played them
good and almost beat them. It
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WOLVERINES
RUNNING BACK
n TIMAKIS BELL, DEMETRIUS
O’BRIANT, BOLO MCCURRY,
DAMIAN BRITT
Bell, O’Briant, and McCurr y give
the Wolverines dangerous options.
n COACH CARDEN SAYS:
“We have a lot of experience
returning here. We expect to be
able to run the ball.”
LINEBACKER
n XAVIER MOYE, DAMIAN BRITT,
LEDRICK PATTERSON,
DEMETRIUS O’BRIANT, TYLER
GREGG, AND AUSTIN HALFORD
Two-way players will be the key.
n COACH CARDEN SAYS:
“ We will be needing these guys to
be in the middle of things.”
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TIGERS
RUNNING BACK
n ANTONIO RYLAND,
DARRELL ROBINSON
Shorter admits the Tigers will be
young at a position that hasn’t
been a focal point in recent years,
but he feels there is plenty
of depth.
n COACH SHORTER SAYS:
“ We have maybe five running
backs this year. We are very
talented.”
LINEBACKER
n COREY WILLIAMS,
TODDERICK TATE
n COACH SHORTER SAYS:
“The strength of our defense is
our linebackers.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
n KAMAL CHAMBERLAIN /
JARED JOHNSON
OR JONES (WR)
Chamberlain, a junior, kicked last
season, while Johnson or Jones
will compete for playing time at
punter.
through here.”
Williams doesn’t know
what his legacy at Noxubee
County will be. He isn’t even
sure where he will go to play
football in college. He said he
hasn’t received any scholar-
ship offers but is interested
“His tools, his mechanics, in Southern
Mississippi
Auburn. If football doesn’t
work out, he plans to go to
Newland, 57-Andy Dunn, 58-
Charles Mosley, 60-Austin
Halford, 63-Scott Winfield, 64-
Austin Cunningham, 65-Laterris
Powell, 66-Trey Chism, 67-
Curtis Helms, 68-Jonathan
Collins, 70-Charles Guyton, 71-
Tanner Pritchard, 73-Dillon
Dorsey, 75-Jake Williams, 76-
Brody White, 78-Hunter
Cunningham, 88-Jermarcus Ivy,
99-Tyler Gregg. Head coach:
Jimmy Carden. Assistant
coaches: Doug Wilson, Philip
Jordan, Kenny Williamson,
Jason Smith.
makes us want to work even harder
now.”
Ackerman beat East Webster 14-
12 and went on to play for the State
Championship.
Now the Wolverines hope last
year’s amazing turnaround leads to
good things this season.
“I think we have a lot of good
expectations,” offensive tackle
Brody White said. “We are looking
to have a great year and are trying
to continue to improve.”
RECEIVERS
n MIGUEL GRAHAM, LEDRICK
PATTERSON, JOSH GLADNEY
When not quarterbacking, expect
Graham or Patterson to be in the
game at wide receiver.
n COACH CARDEN SAYS:
“Those are all seniors and are all
pretty good.”
SECONDARY
n CODY SILVER, JOSH GLADNEY,
MIGUEL GRAHAM,
RYAN JOHNSON
East Webster will have some
speed at this position.
n COACH CARDEN SAYS:
“When teams go deep, we have to
be ready.”
RECEIVERS
n TERRENCE BARON,
JANARDREON JONES,
DAQUARRIUS MALLARD,
BREYLON SPENCER
Baron, a junior, filled in nicely last
season when Vincent Sanders,
who is now at the University of
Mississippi, was injured to give
the Tigers a deep threat. This
season, he will lead a cast of
young and speedy receivers.
n COACH SHORTER SAYS:
“From this summer, we like what
we saw. I thought going into the
spring we probably were going to
have to run the ball a little more,
but these guys came along during
the summer and I think we’re
going to be able to be balanced.”
SECONDARY
n LADARRELL HUNT, BRANDON
SANDERS, BARRON, MALLARD,
JONES, RODRICK JOINER
The Tigers return only one starter
at this position, but Shorter feels
confident the players who had a
taste of action last season will
step up.
school to study computer sci-
ence or physical therapy.
There’s no
Williams will apply the same
intensity to those pursuits
that he uses on the football
field. But before he takes that
next step he has unfinished
Miss, business for the Tigers, and
State, and it involves making sure
another great chapter is
added to the program’s
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
“Last year, we surprised a lot of
people because we were the under-
dogs,” quarterback/wide receiver
Miguel Graham said. “But we came
out and proved some things to a lot
of people. This year will be a little
different. Most folks will be aiming
at us, so we have to be ready.”
“We really gained a lot of confi-
dence last year. That’s the biggest
thing,” Carden said. “We had kids
who had not played much other
than in a mop-up situation. We were
replacing so many starters. It took
them a while to learn what it took to
win.”
Carden, who is entering his 15th
season as a head coach, admitted
expectations might have been low
last year, but pointed out that the
Wolverines didn’t get embarrassed
in any games.
“We were competitive,” he said.
“Then in the second half (of the J.Z.
George game) we just decided to
come out and smack them in the
mouth. That turned everything
around.”
Said O’Briant, “We still have a
whole lot to prove. We got disap-
pointed in the third round of the
playoffs last year, so we’re not done
yet.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
n TYLER GREGG, HUNTER
CUNNINGHAM, AUSTIN
HARRISON, BRODY WHITE,
LILTON VANCE, XAVIER MOYE,
COLBY WILLIAMSON, CHARLES
MOSELEY, AND AUSTIN
HALFORD
The line has a mixture of
experience and youth.
n COACH CARDEN SAYS:
“We will be counting on Hunter
Cunningham and Austin Harrison
for leadership.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
n TIMAKIS BELL, CONNER
GRAHAM
Bell brings experience to the
kicking game.
OFFENSIVE LINE
n KESHUN SMITH, DEMARCUS
BARNETT, JAVODKIS TATE
While the team might not have an
abundance of size, most of it is at
this position, led by the return of
three starters
n COACH SHORTER SAYS:
“I think that is the strength of our
offense,” Shorter said. “We have
some more guys who played a lot
last year, so we have a lot of
confidence in our offensive line. If
we go back to Jackson, it is going
to be through the offensive line.
We’re going to depend on the
offensive line to carr y us this
year.”
STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Tyrone Shorter
(first year)
n ASSISTANT COACHES:
James Patterson, George
Richardson, M.C. Taylor, Michael
Ashford, Montez Miller, Anthony
King, Johnathan Hunter, Gary
Naylor
annals.
“I feel I can do better and
doubt I can make it happen,”
Williams said. “This year is
going to be all out. I am going
to give it all I have. I am going
to work very hard to be a bet-
ter player than I was last year
and the year before. I am
going to strive to be the
best.”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 23

LOUISVILLE WILDCATS
MHSAA Class 4A, Region 4; 2009 Record: 8-5

STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
M.C. Miller
(First year)
n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
David Boykin (offensive
coordinator), Wayne
Jones (defensive line),
Ryan Thompson (offen-
sive line), Robert Finch
(offensive line), Chad
Gibson (linebackers),
Jake Hill (safeties), Tee
Miller (cornerbacks),
Chris Jones (wide
receivers), Tremond
Miller (running backs)
NUMBER’S GAME
New coach Miller to go with freshman QB
BY AUSTIN BISHOP
Special to the Dispatch
LOUISVILLE — When
Wyatt Roberts steps under
center for the Louisville
High School Wildcats at
Northwest Rankin High
School on Aug. 20, it will
likely be a first for the his-
toric football program that
is the proud owner of
seven state champi-
onships.
“I don’t remember a
freshman starting at quar-
Ford and Blake Cunningham) will just
terback at Louisville, so I
guess it will be something
new,” said LHS head
coach M.C. Miller, who is
coaching his hometown
team after 24 years at
neighboring Noxubee
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WILDCATS
QUARTERBACK
n WYATT ROBERTS, C.J. BATES,
TAHJ FORD
Bates and Ford have experience to
back up Roberts who will get his
chance to lead the team as a fresh-
man.
n COACH MILLER SAYS:
“He (Roberts) throws a real good
pass and those receivers (Bates,
make him better.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
n QUINTARUS PARKS,
RUNNING BACK
n DAVAIS SCHAFFER, CHAD LOVE
Schaffer brings experience to the
position.
n COACH MILLER SAYS:
“I would to throw the ball 100
percent of the time, but we want to
run it we need to be able to.”
LINEBACKER
n JONATHON COLEMAN,
RECEIVERS
n TAHJ FORD, C.J. BATES,
BLAKE CUNNINGHAM, JAY HUNT,
DALTON HUDSPETH, CORY HARDY,
JORDAN FLEMING.
Miller says Ford, Bates and
Cunningham are all Division-I
prospects and compares them to the
best receivers he coached while at
Noxubee County.
n COACH MILLER SAYS:
“This may be the best group of
receivers I’ve ever had at one time.”
SECONDARY
n C.J. BATES, ZAN CARTER,

3 County. “Right now, he’s

The number of Division I
prospects the Wildcats
have at wide receiver in
Tahj Ford, C.J. Bates,
and Blake Cunningham.
KEY IN 2010
n M.C. MILLER:
“We want to throw the
ball every time we can,
but it’s all going to
come down to the
offensive line. That’s
what we are working
hard to find more than
anything else. We have
all the way up to district
time to do it, but the
who we are looking at. We
think he can get the job
done.”
With such a long list of
top-level quarterbacks
before him — including
former Ole Miss star Tim
Ellis who started as a
sophomore in 1972 —
Roberts says he is trying
to not think too much
about how old he is, but
just doing what he’s asked
to do.
“I just look at it as play-
ing quarterback,” said
Roberts, who has yet to
get his driver’s license. “I
just have to do what I need
to do for us to win.”
When Roberts trans-
ferred to LHS from
Winston Academy last
spring, he said he had no
idea he would wind up
starting the 2010 season
as the No. 1 quarterback
for the varsity.
TAVAROUS TISDALE, BRENT LOGAN,
KENTRELL MCCULLY,
CHAFFIN TRIPLETT,
MARCUS ODOM, ANTHONY DAVIS
Several players were still battling for
playing time as preseason practice
wound down.
n COACH MILLER SAYS:
“A lot of guys may get a chance to
play there.”
of the pressure to make
perfect throws,” Roberts
said. “If you just give them
a chance they will make
plays on the ball and do
good things for you.”
“That helps a whole
lot,” Miller said. “He has
three college receivers to
throw to. If he gets in
there and gets the job
done, we should be
strong.”
Miller said if Roberts
struggles early, he won’t
KEVIN WASHINGTON,
ROCKWELL GRAHAM, TAHJ FORD
BLAKE CUNNINGHAM,
DAVID MATTHEWS, COREY HART
Wildcats still looking for linebacking The front-line guys — Bates, Carter,
depth. and Cunningham — are experienced
and are outstanding cover guys.
n COACH MILLER SAYS:
“We need our linebackers to play n COACH MILLER SAYS:
well in order to keep the offense off “ We need to work on our depth.
the field.” Those guys can’t play all the time.”
OFFENSIVE LINE SPECIAL TEAMS
n LAMARCUS CISTRUNK, JUSTIN MARSHALL, n DALTON HUDSPETH
DEONTA HAWTHORNE, JACK VOWELL, Expected place-kicker
ANDREW HUGHES, CHAD METTS, NOAH CORCORAN, Zach McGarr transferred
BRENT LOGAN after last school year.
This is the area of the team that gives Miller the most
n COACH MILLER SAYS:
concern.
n COACH MILLER SAYS:
“I’ve never had a kicker
“We have to find us some lineman who can play. If we before and I might not this
don’t, we’re going to get our freshman quarterback year.”
killed.”

Help us help them.

“I thought I would be
sooner the better.” getting ninth grade reps, hesitate to bring Bates or
but I had no idea about Ford in to give his young

The Humane Society

high school,” he said. “In quarterback a little
the Spring I started get- breather. “We’ll just rest
ting some reps and they him a little and then work

LOUISVILLE
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 At NW Rankin
Aug. 27 STARKVILLE
Sept. 3 QUITMAN
Sept. 10 At Tupelo
Sept. 17 COLUMBUS
Sept. 24 At W. Lauderdale
Oct. 1 HOUSTON
Oct. 8 At Kosciusko
Oct. 15 At Caledonia
Oct. 22 NOXUBEE CO.
Oct. 29 AMORY
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
started working me in and
it just went from there.”
Miller, who played at
Camille High School in
Louisville before integra-
tion, said the decision to
go with Roberts wasn’t so
much out of necessity, but
was a move that was best
for the team.
“We have (Tajh) Ford
and C.J. (Bates) who can
play quarterback,” Miller
said of the senior and jun-
ior who both have had
game experience at the
position. “But they both
would rather and play
receiver and they make us
a better team when they
are out there.
“With him coming in
and taking over he will
throw the ball to them and
that’s what they want,” he
said. “They know I like to
throw the ball.”
Roberts admits it will
certainly help his game
day jitters when he looks
around and sees the likes
of Ford, Bates and senior
Blake Cunningham to
throw too.
“It just takes away a lot
662-327-3107
him back in.
“We are going to go
ahead and work with him
and built the team around
him,” Miller said. “He
wants to do whatever you
tell him to do and he’s
pretty confident he can do
the job. He’s a good, low
key kid that is going to
give it his best every time
he tries and ever ybody
sees that.”
Roberts, who says the
speed of the game has
been his biggest adjust-
ment, knows he will face a
steep learning curve.
“I’m hoping I will get
into the rhythm in the first
game, but it will probably
be the second or third
game before I really get
comfortable,” Roberts
said.
And as far as being so
young he can’t drive him-
self to the games, Miller
has that figured out as
well.
“I think Mom and Pop
will just have to bring him
on,” he said with a laugh.
“And I will be sure to give
them directions.”

MHSAA ALIGNMENTS
Class 3A Hazlehurst West Lauderdale Picayune
Region 1, District 1 Jefferson County Region 6, District 6 Stone County
Alcorn Central Tylertown Florence Wayne County
Belmont Wilkinson County Magee West Jones
Booneville Region 8, District 8 Mendenhall Region 4, District 8
Corinth Collins Newton County D’Iberville
Kossuth Perry Central Raymond East Central
Ripley Seminary Richland Gautier
Region 2, District 1 St Patrick Region 7, District 7 Long Beach
Aberdeen Sumrall Columbia Moss Point
Mooreville West Marion Crystal Springs St Martin
Nettleton Class 4A Lawrence County Vancleave
South Pontotoc Region 1, District 1 North Pike West Harrison
Water Valley Itawamba Port Gibson Class 6A
Winona New Albany South Pike Region 1, District 2
Region 3, District 2 North Pontotoc Region 8, District 8 Columbus
Charleston Pontotoc Bay DeSoto Central
East Side Shannon Forrest County AHS Horn Lake
Holly Springs Tishomingo Greene County Olive Branch
Pass Christian Southaven
Independence Region 2, District 2 South Panola
M S Palmer Byhalia Poplarville
Purvis Starkville
Ruleville Central Center Hill Tupelo
Region 4, District 3 Lafayette St Stanislaus Region 2, District 6
Bailey Lewisburg Class 5A Clinton
Leflore County North Panola Region 1, District 2 Greenville-Weston
Leland Rosa Fort Clarksdale Grenada
Riverside Senatobia Gentry Madison Central
S V Marshall Region 3, District 3 Hernando Murrah
South Delta Amanda Elzy Lake Cormorant NW Rankin
Region 5, District 5 Cleveland New Hope Vicksburg
Warren Central
Clarkdale Greenwood Oxford
Region 3, District 6
Choctaw Central Humphreys County Saltillo Brandon
Heidelberg McClain West Point Hattiesburg
Kemper County Yazoo County Region 2, District 6 Jim Hill
Philadelphia Region 4, District 4 Callaway Meridian
SE Lauderdale Amory Canton Natchez
Region 6, District 6 Caledonia Lanier Oak Grove
Carthage Houston Neshoba Central Terry
Wingfield
™
Forest Kosciusko Pearl
McLaurin Louisville Provine Region 4, District 8
Morton Noxubee County Ridgeland Biloxi
Region 5, District 5 Yazoo City George County
Raleigh
Gulfport
St Andrews Laurel Region 3, District 7 Hancock
Velma Jackson NE Jones Brookhaven Harrison Central
Region 7, District 7 NE Lauderdale Forest Hill Ocean Springs
Amite County Quitman McComb Pascagoula
Franklin County South Jones Pearl River Central Petal
24 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

WINSTON ACADEMY PATRIOTS

MAIS AA, District 2; 2009 Record: 6-5

Seniors want to help restore championship magic

BY AUSTIN BISHOP
Special to the Dispatch
LOUISVILLE
Sometimes it’s the history
—
you learn when you are 4
years old that sinks in the
most.
That’s what first-year
Winston Academy coach
Harold Wisdom is hoping
for as his Patriots take the
field this season looking
to play for the school’s
seventh MAIS state cham-
pionship.
“We have five seniors
who have been at the
academy since K-4,”
Wisdom. “They are our
leaders because they are
the most invested.”
They also have the
richest memories of WA’s
six state titles.
“I was really young,
but I still remember get-
ting ready for the games
on Friday night,” senior
linebacker Rob Mof fitt
said. “We looked up to all
of the players. I can
remember them coming
around and signing pho-
tos for us. That was when
we were winning all of
those championships in a
row.”
“When we talk about
tradition and restoring
pride and all of that, it real-
ly hits home to the kids
who have been here,”
Wisdom said.
The last state title for
Winston Academy came
in 2000. That’s something
both Moffitt and Wisdom
hope to change.
Winning football
games in Winston County
— whether it be at
Winston Academy,
Louisville, Noxapater or
Nanih Waiya — is some-
thing that is expected, not
hoped for.
“If you win on Friday
night you will have a good
week of school the next
week,” Moffitt said. “If
you don’t, it’s going to
drag out and practice is
going to be slow and peo-
ple won’t even say hey to
you on the weekends.”
Last year the Patriots
went 6-5, but Moffitt said
Wisdom and assistant
coach Sam Hathorn have
WINSTON ACADEMY
SCHEDULE
Aug. 20 At Leake
Aug. 27 At Heritage
Sept. 3 SYLVA BAY
Sept. 10 At Carroll
Sept. 17 KIRK
Sept. 24 At Starkville
Oct. 1 MANCHESTER
Oct. 8 Open
Oct. 15 At Lamar
Oct. 22 CANTON
Oct. 29 OAK HILL
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
QUARTERBACK
n TYLER SULLIVAN
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior
passed for 1,500 yards as
a sophomore.
n COACH WISDOM SAYS:
“ We expect good things out of
him.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
n JOHN HAMILTON, NATHAN
STONE, AND PARKER JONES
The Patriots run a three-man front
n COACH WISDOM SAYS:
“ We feel real good about these
guys.”
brought a high level of
intensity that should make
a difference as the season
wears on.
“We weren’t in shape
the first two games last
year, but I’m pretty sure
we will be one of the most
in-shape teams around
this year,” he said.
“Winning close games
STAFF KEY IN 2010 NUMBER’S GAME
n HEAD COACH: n HAROLD WISDOM
Harold Wisdom
(first year)
“It’s come a point where
winning district champi-
17
Returning Starters:
ons just isn’t satisfying. 9 – Offense; 8 – Defense
n ASSISTANT Getting back to the tra-
COACHES: dition of the program —
Sam Hathorn (offensive
coordinator), Matt Young
the six state champi-
onships and competing
14
Number of seniors
( running backs/lineback- year in and year out for a
among the 53 players
ers), Ryan Parks (wide state championships —
on the roster.
receivers), Michael that’s the level we want
Hineman (defensive to be at every year.”
backs), Joe Ward (quar-
terbacks)
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
n ZACK TAYLOR n CAMERON PASCHAL, TYLER n TRENT BRANTLEY, TOMMY
AND PARKER BULLOCK GOLSON, AUSTIN FLAKE, SMITH RUSSELL, REED WATSON,
Taylor, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound soph- ASHLEY, AND PARKER BULLOCK CASEY MOFFITT, JACOB
omore is expected to provide The Patriots have a combination ROGERS, NICK MORROW,
some tough inside running, while of athletic possession and speed PARKER JONES
Bullock will add speed to the receivers to give opponents This could be key to offensive pro-
backfield. different looks. duction. The unit lost three
starters from last year.
n COACH WISDOM SAYS: n COACH WISDOM SAYS:
“He’s (Taylor) a bull in a china “(Paschal) has unbelievable ath- n COACH WISDOM SAYS:
shop. He’s a downhill runner and letic ability. When he’s going, he’s “We think we have some guys
a big kid for his age.” dangerous.” who are going to fill in well.”
LINEBACKER SECONDARY SPECIAL TEAMS
n J.P. ARNETT, JACKSON n PARKER BULLOCK, TYLER n TYLER GOLSON
GOLSON, CAMERON PASCHAL, AND ROB MOFFITT
FORRESTER, NICK MORROW,
AND ROB MOFFITT AND SMITH ASHLEY This is expected to be a strong
A lot of experience returns. suit, as Moffitt is one of the
Stephen Arnett, the two-time
state’s top returning punters.
n COACH WISDOM SAYS:
MAIS leader in tackles has gradu-
Golson can kick with either foot.
ated, but plenty of talent returns.
“They know what we are looking
n COACH WISDOM SAYS:
for them (to do).”
n COACH WISDOM SAYS: “He (Moffitt) has a couple of D-I
“We are complex in what we do. offers as a punter.”
We do a lot of things.”
early is going to be impor- head coach and defensive al leader and the spark on, Moffitt has one more
tant to us,” Wisdom said. coordinator a whole lot plug for our defense. thing he wants to do.
“Last year we started 0-2 easier. “He can really run, and “We are just going to
with last-second losses to “What makes him so he will thump you,” he concentrate on beating
Leake and Heritage. Great unique is that he doesn’t said. “He can really bring Leake right now, but of
teams find a way to win have to think,” Wisdom it.” course you think about a
close games, good teams said of the 5-foot-10, 200 Moffitt is also an state championship,”
don’t.” pound outside linebacker. accomplished punter, who Moffitt said. “If we win
Wisdom says Moffitt’s “He can finish the (defen- is drawing attention from that last one, I’m not going
presence on defense sive) call before I even Division I schools. to be sad walking off the
makes his job as both make it. He is an emotion- But before he moves field for the last time.”

New Hope
Continued from Page 4
or a feeling that “enough
is enough” — he said he
and his New Hope team-
mates have as they pre-
pare for this season. For
the three-headed mon-
ster, that attitude has
been percolating since the
eighth grade when the
players started to work
together in the offseason.
Their focus has the
potential to be scary.
“A monster sleeps with
that attitude,” Beamon
said. “A monster eats with
that attitude. He wakes up
early. It is him, and
nobody can take it away
from him.”
Richardson Jr. has
played defense with that
mentality. Last season, he
was second on the team
with 52 tackles while play-
ing free safety and corner-
back. This season, he like-
ly will build on his offen-
sive production from 2009
(193 yards rushing, two
touchdowns; 17 catches
for 250 yards, three touch-
downs).
“It excites me a lot and
kind of puts pressure on
me,” said Richardson Jr.,
who is 5-10, 185, of his
chance to see a bigger
role on offense. “It feels
great to know you have
different weapons. If one
gets tired you can replace
them with another one
and it is like someone
never left the game.”
Richardson said he
added about 10 pounds
from last season and feels
a whole lot stronger and a
little faster. The improve-
ments are part of a work-
out regimen that featured
running, pulling tires,
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TROJANS
QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
n ZAK THRASHER, E.J. JENKINS n TERRANCE DENTRY, JOHNNY n LAWRENCE BROWN n COREY COUNCIL, EARNEST
Thrasher is about to enter his third BEAMON, FRANKLIN (TIGHT END), DARIUS PETTY, LANG, MIKE LOVE, LEE PEGRAM,
full season at the position. He has RICHARDSON JR. DILLON HAWKINS, KRIS PARK STEVENS, TREVER
matured as a game manager. The Three Amigos should have a DOUGLAS, RYAN LEE WEEKS, MARCUS JOHNSON
Jenkins, a sophomore, hasn’t taken lot of fun trying to outdo each This position would have been even Three starters return in what
a varsity snap. other in a ground game that is deeper if Daniel Gregory hadn’t could be one of the keys to the
equal parts lightning and thunder. suffered a season-ending knee injury team. If the line opens holes for
n COACH BRADLEY SAYS: in the spring. Dentry, Beamon, and Richardson
“We have a lot of experience there. n COACH BRADLEY SAYS: Jr. to run through, the Trojans
Zak started a couple of games as a “Those three are god ballplayers n COACH BRADLEY SAYS: could enjoy a long playoff run.
freshman. E.J. has a lot of talent. “I feel pretty good about our
that probably would start for a lot
We hope we’re going to be able to wideout situation. JoJo Reeves will
of teams.”
play him at other places this year. get some time at tight end with
The quarterback position is in pretty Lawrence.”
good hands.”
LINEBACKER SECONDARY SPECIAL TEAMS
DEFENSIVE LINE n CURTIS SHIRLEY, DOUGLAS, n JENKINS, PETTY, RICHARDSON n TANNER RYALS, HAWKINS
n TERRENCE PAYNE, JOJO HORACE CARR, BEN VEAZEY JR., LEE, JAMEEL JOHNSON, Ryals is in his fourth year as kicker
REEVES, JOHNSON, COUNCIL, and could be a valuable weapon in
Shirley and Douglas have a knack TODD HARRIS
LEEBO DAVIS, DALTON HODGES, for making things happen. Last The development of some of the close games. Hawkins will compete
DEREK PIERCE
year, Douglas created nine younger players could mean for time at punter.
This could be another question mark
turnovers and returned an Richardson Jr. gets more
n COACH BRADLEY SAYS:
solely to find out how the Trojans
interception for a touchdown. touches on offense.
replace Seth Stillman, who was one
“We are very excited about our
of the team leaders last season.
n COACH BRADLEY SAYS: n COACH BRADLEY SAYS:
kicking game. I think we have a
n COACH BRADLEY SAYS: “ We feel pretty good about our “ We have a number of players chance to have one of the best
linebacking group.” who have the potential to play kickers (Ryals) in the state. He has
“We have four or five guys who
some.” worked very hard the last couple of
could step up into the defensive end
spots. We have a lot of experience years to become a great kicker. He
does a great job.”
returning.”
jumping rope, and lifting other and their team- one of our best blockers. concerned about the team have the most in his
weights that have put the mates. Frank Richardson is a real first. They are the reason coaching career, and the
three-headed monster on “They know for them good blocker. Terrance I love to coach, kids like only three-headed beast
track to be a terror this to be successful they have Dentry gets real excited that. We have a bunch of in the state.
season. to make sure the other when Darius Petty does them at New Hope.” It should be enough to
Bradley said his sen- two are successful, not something real good or Bradley might not want make most opposing
iors will be able to share just those team, but the Lawrence Brown makes a to admit it, but he also coaches uneasy as they
the spotlight if they team as a while,” Bradley good catch. They are loves to coach monsters. pace the sidelines.
remember to help each said. “Johnny Beamon is unselfish. They are very This season, he might Lights, camera, action.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 25

Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff

Pickens Academy 2010 team: 2-Andrew McElroy, 8-Oliver Owens, 9-Sam Beachler, 11-Jacob Acker, 12-Arron Jones, 14-Joel Pratt, 17-John Morgan Owens,
20-Lance Acker, 21-Justin McGahey, 22-Josh Lewis, 24-Meherg McKinley, 26-Garrett Estes, 31-Forrest Lewis, 32-Judson Smith, 45-Caleb Carr, 50-Hunter
Booth, 53-Jamison McCrary, 55-Chase Britt, 59-Herbie House, 60-Bryant Turner, 62-Brad Lowery, 65-Preston McGahey, 70-Caleb Gardner, 76-Jonathan
McDaniel, 79-Travis Noland, 81-Logan Potts, 82-Phillip Fikes, 83-Reece McGlawn, 85-Daniel Cameron, 97-Mark Johnson.

PICKENS ACADEMY PIRATES

Gartman follows in father’s footsteps
BY HENRY MATUSZAK
hgmsports@cdispatch.com
CARROLLTON, Ala. —
John Gartman is follow-
ing in the footsteps of his
father as he begins his
first season as head foot-
STAFF ball coach at Pickens
Academy.
n HEAD COACH: Gartman has taken
John Gartman over the reins of the foot-
(first season as coach) ball program at the school
where his father, Robert,
n ASSISTANT
was head coach in 1983-
84.
COACHES: Gartman, 31, looks to
Wallace Crawford have the same success as
(offensive line, defensive his father, who coached
Pickens Academy to the
line), Wade Goodman
Alabama Independent
( receivers, defensive
School Association Class
backs), Josh Thompson
3A state championship
( running backs, game in 1984.
defensive backs) “Some of my earliest
memories are from here,”
NUMBER’S GAME Gartman said. “I was 6 or
7 years old when we were
here. My dad’s second
19 year in 1984 we played
Fair view in the state
Returning Lettermen
with (the 1984) team for
the first time in 25 years,”
Gartman said. “A lot of
players from that team,
their sons are now playing
for me. That’s an interest-
ing situation.
“My dad is still good
friends with a lot of people
he knew 25 years ago. I
probably have more sup-
port and good will
because of that than if I
would have if it was some-
one these people didn’t
know. The fact there are
some deep roots from
years ago, I knew that
would help me get accli-
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff mated to everything.”
Pickens Academy coach John Gartman has benefited from the relationships his Gartman said his
father, Robert, built at the school when he was coach in the 1980s. father, who is coach at
championship game. I on to play at the Olive Branch. Sumter Academy in York,
remember that. That was University of Alabama in Gartman’s first day on Ala., was excited he got
the only time Pickens 1997 and lettered as a the job at Pickens the job at Pickens
Academy was in the state receiver in 2000, replaces Academy was July 6. Since Academy.
championship game in 3A. Sam Pearson, who left then he has met people he “We don’t play them,
That’s some of my earliest after one season to knew from when his thank goodness,”
memories of being around become the coach at father was the coach. Gartman said. “I don’t
the football team.” Southern
Gartman, who walked Educational Center in
Baptist “I’ve seen a lot of peo-
ple who were involved
think my mom could han-
See PICKENS, 27

10 A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PIRATES

Returning Starters
4 — Offense; QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
6 — Defense n JACOB ACKER n JOHN MORGAN OWENS, n JUDSON SMITH (SPLIT END), n JONATHAN MCDANIEL
GARRETT ESTES, JOSH LEWIS JOEL PRATT (FLANKER), (CENTER),
KEY IN 2010 n COACH GARTMAN SAYS: FORREST LEWIS (TIGHT END) CHASE BRITT (GUARD),
n COACH GARTMAN SAYS:
n JOHN GARTMAN:
“He’s a very smart kid. He’s a 4.0 ANDREW HOUSE (GUARD),
n COACH GARTMAN SAYS:
student. He’s very savvy. He sees “They’re all very tough. We’ve got
“I think we’ll be a solid TRAVIS NOLAND (TACKLE),
things that you don’t necessarily three or four that we’ve got a lot
team. We’ve got some “All I can tell you is they’re get- BRAD LOWERY (TACKLE)
coach. He handles the ball well. of confidence in. I don’t think
tough teams that we’ll ting pretty good at blocking
n COACH GARTMAN SAYS:
We run a lot of option, and very we’ll have one back who will
play.” because that’s what they’re going
rarely have we put the ball on the carr y the ball the bulk of the
ground. He reads well and pitches time. It will be spread out pretty to be doing most of the time. We “They’re coming along pretty
PICKENS well. He’s just a very good game good. We don’t have one work- do throw it some and they’re exe- good. They’re smart. They pick
ACADEMY manager.” horse. We’ve got a few we’ve got cuting pretty well. We have some things up. They execute well. I
SCHEDULE confidence in.” confidence there.” think they’ll perform well for us.”

Aug. 27 RESTORATION DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER SECONDARY

Sept. 3 At Springwood
Sept. 10 SO. CHOCTAW n FORREST LEWIS (END), n HUNTER BOOTH, n JOEL PRATT (CORNERBACK),
Sept. 17 At Tuscaloosa JUDSON SMITH (END), ANDREW HOUSE JOSH LEWIS (CORNERBACK),
Sept. 24 EDGEWOOD BRYANT TURNER (TACKLE), n COACH GARTMAN SAYS: JACOB ACKER (FREE SAFETY),
Oct. 1 At Evangel MARK JOHNSON (TACKLE), “They’re both pretty tough. JOHN MORGAN OWENS
Oct. 8 FLINT HILL Andrew House, he’s done what I (STRONG SAFETY)
n COACH GARTMAN SAYS:
BRAD LOWERY (NOSE GUARD)
Oct. 15 At Lakeside expected. I heard a lot of good
n COACH GARTMAN SAYS:
Oct. 22 BESSEMER things about him this summer, “They’ve done a good job. Jacob
Oct. 29 At Marengo and everything I heard has been Acker is a very smart and instinc-
HOME GAMES IN CAPS “We have a lot of size, more than true. Hunter Booth has really tive player. Josh Lewis at corner-
most teams we play. Bryant stepped up. He’s just a sopho- back has been impressive.
Turner and Mark Johnson and Brad more. I really wasn’t expecting They’re not real big, but they’ll
Lowery are pretty-good sized. They him to be in the mix at linebacker come up and hit you. John Morgan
move well. I’ve been impressed but he has been very impressive Owens plays free safety and he’s
with them so far.” this August.” our fastest player for sure.”

About Our Prep / College Coverage

From Special Reports we can provide the best possible coverage
to this area.
All fall sports coaches are reminded to If you have any questions, call sports
report their game results to The editor Adam Minichino at 662-327-1297.
Commercial Dispatch.
Coaches, scorekeepers, parents Prep Football Results / Statistics
and/or players can call 662-327-1297, 662- High school football coaches who don’t
Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence
241-5000 (toll free in Mississippi) and 1- speak to a reporter from The Commercial in Academics and Athletics.
888-477-1555 (toll free in Alabama), or e- Dispatch are asked to call the sports depart-
mail information to ment Friday night with information from Our mission is to provide a quality
sports@cdispatch.com. their games.
Please give us the final score, where Coaches also are asked to supply us with education in a well-disciplined, Christian environment.
the game was played, the team records, game statistics and season cumulative statis-
leading performers, the team’s next game tics by 3 p.m. each Wednesday to be pub- ~Success at Pickens Academy in 2010~
and any other notable information. lished in The Commercial Dispatch each
Since The Commercial Dispatch is an Thursday. • Class of 2010 received over $500,000 in scholarships.
afternoon paper, we will try the next The Commercial Dispatch will attempt to • 100% of the Class of 2010 enrolled in Post Secondary Education.
morning to track results of all games not publish leading rushers, leading passers, • The Lady Pirates win it all! “2010 AISA State Champion Basketball Team”
called in to the newspaper. We will try to leading receivers, and leading tacklers if
call at a reasonable hour and don’t mean enough programs are able to supply us with • The Marching Pirates received “Superior Performance” at the 2010 AISA State Band Festival.
to disrupt any coach, teacher or profes- information. • The Varsity Cheerleaders received the honor of 2010 AISA/UCA East Division State Champions.
sional at work, but our goal is to recognize
the performances of as many student-ath- Prep / College • Championship athletic programs for boys and girls at the Pee Wee, Junior Varsity and Varsity levels.
letes as possible. Players of Week • Pee Wee, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Cheerleading Squads have won numerous awards.
If you are a coach, scorekeeper or par- Every Tuesday, The Commercial
ent who reports information to us, please Dispatch will recognize a standout prep per- • Award winning Marching Band Program with Junior Varsity and Varsity Majorette Squads.
give us the best time and the best number former.
to reach you. Every Wednesday starting Sept. 2, The Pickens Academy • 225 Ray Bass Road • Carrollton, AL 35447 • 205-367-8144
If the result of a game isn’t in The Commercial Dispatch will feature a former Accredited By The Southern Association Of Colleges And Schools (SACS)
Commercial Dispatch, please work with us local high school athlete who has gone on And The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA)
to encourage that coach to contact us so to play a sport in college. www.pickensacademy.com
26 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

PICKENS COUNTY TORNADOES

AHSAA Class A, Region 4; 2009 Record: 12-2

Tornadoes set sights on 1A state title

BY HENRY MATUSZAK
hgmsports@cdispatch.com

REFORM, Ala. —
Beginning his senior sea-
son, Deion Curry has his
sights set on a state cham-
pionship.
The talented quarter-
STAFF back and safety is deter-
n HEAD COACH:
mined to lead Pickens
County to a state title after
Scott Marchant coming up short last sea-
(second season, son.
Curry took it personal-
12-2 overall)
ly when Pickens County
had its sea-
n ASSISTANT son end in a
COACHES: 22-6 loss to
Reeltown in
Eddie Lee Doss (running
the semifi-
backs, linebackers), nals of the
Malcolm Giles Alabama
(receivers, defensive H i g h
Marchant S c h o o l
backs), Antonio Lanier
Athletic Association Class
(receivers, defensive 2A state playoffs.
backs), Chris McCrary The 5-foot-11 1/2, 175-
(defensive coordinator), pound Curr y, The
Dispatch’s West Alabama
Chan Mullenix, Heath
Defensive Player of the
Simpson Year in 2009, has vowed to
lead Pickens County to Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
NUMBER’S GAME the Promised Land this Pickens County High School coach Scott Marchant, left, will rely on the playmaking ability of senior Deion Curr y
season. again this season.
“Last year, we were football champion. strong will to win and is a Reeltown and that it helps Birmingham, Ala., he site
20 expecting to win state,”
Curr y said. “This year,
He isn’t the only
Pickens County player
team leader.
“He said he can’t let us
them get over the edge
this year.
of the state title game.
But Pickens County
Returning Lettermen
I’ve promised my team I hungry for a state title in down and he won’t let us “I hope that motivates has to replace 12 seniors
will not let that happen football. Senior running down,” Simpson said. the kids,” Marchant said. from last year’s team that
again. Ever ybody had back and linebacker Tim “He’s going to give it his “I hope they understand finished 12-2. Marchant
10 high hopes in football and
thought we were going to
Simpson wants to do his
part, too.
all. That’s somebody we
need. I wish everybody
they didn’t quite reach
their goals and they will
said there are questions
that have to be answered
Returning Starters:
do it, and then we fell “All we need is leader- else had the same confi- re-affirm what they need before the Tornadoes can
5 — Offense; short. I told my team I will ship,” Simpson said. “We dence he has. I’ve got it. to do to get better. ... We declare themselves a state
5 — Defense never let them down want to win every game He’s the quarterback, and can’t live on last year’s vic- contender.
again. I’m going to put because we don’t like los- it’s good to have a quarter- tories, and we’re not going “We expect to work
KEY IN 2010 them on my back, and I ing. back that has all of that to die on last year’s hard and try to get better
promised them we’re “We’re motivated. We confidence.” defeats. We have a fresh every practice and every
n COACH MARCHANT: going to win state.” want to get there. Our sen- Pickens County coach slate, and we’ll make out game,” said Marchant,
“I hope (coming up a Curry was instrumental iors really want it. I want Scott Marchant, The of it what we will.” who begins his second
game shy of playing for a in leading Pickens County it. I hope everybody else Dispatch’s West Alabama Pickens County season as head coach after
to a state championship in will want it.” co-Coach of the Year in returns five starters on being the defensive coor-
state championship last
boys basketball in Simpson appreciates 2009, hopes the both sides of the ball as it dinator. “If we do that and
season) motivates the February. That title has wet having a teammate like Tornadoes will remember begins its quest to reach
kids. I hope they under- his appetite to be crowned a Curr y who has such a last year’s loss to Legion Field in See TORNADOES, 27
stand they didn’t quite
reach their goals and
they will re-affirm what
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TORNADOES
they need to do to get
better. We can’t live on
QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
last year’s victories, and n DEION CURRY, n JAMES ADAMS, n LAJUAN DOSS, n ZEB FINCH (CENTER),
we’re not going to die on DEMARCO HALL, TIM SIMPSON DEMARCO HALL TRAVIS BAILEY (GUARD),
last year’s defeats.” DEVONTE SIMON NICK STEWART (GUARD),
Curr y begins his third season as n COACH MARCHANT SAYS: n COACH MARCHANT SAYS: JORDY BARTON (GUARD),
LAMARCUS JACKSON (TACKLE)
PICKENS COUNTY the starter. “ We’re a little undersized, but I “ We’ve got some new guys that

n COACH MARCHANT SAYS:

SCHEDULE n COACH MARCHANT SAYS:
“ We’ve got a returning starter at
Aug. 27 ACA
quarterback who’s thrown for
Sept. 3 SHADES MTN CHR.
1,000 yards the previous two
Sept. 10 At Keith
Sept. 17 JOHN ESSEX years. We feel that’s a big asset
Sept. 24 At Aliceville for us.”
Oct. 1 At Autaugaville
Oct. 8 MAPLESVILLE
Oct.15 At Sunshine
Oct. 22 At Holy Spirit DEFENSIVE LINE
Oct. 28 GORDO n NICK STEWART (END),
HOME GAMES IN CAPS WILLIAM STEWART (TACKLE),
TERRIEN STEELE (TACKLE)
n COACH MARCHANT SAYS:
“They’re pretty hard to block kids
that can really anchor the middle
for me. I feel pretty confident how
they’re going to play. They got a
lot of playing time last year and I
kind of know what they can do.”
feel they’re going to do a real
good job. They’ve not big backs,
but they’re adequate. They’re very
elusive.”
LINEBACKER
n TRAVIS BAILEY, TIM SIMPSON
n COACH MARCHANT SAYS:
“I feel great about our returning
starters. I feel like we have tal-
ent. We have a couple of guys
competing for the other position
and I feel like we’ll have a pretty
good player there. Returning two
out of three isn’t bad.”
didn’t play football last year.
We’ve got one returning starter in
“We’ve got a lot of new guys on
LaJuan Doss. He’s a big-play guy.”
the offensive line. I feel like we’re
going to be big. I don’t know how
good we’re going to be. I feel
good about their potential. They
work hard. I’m cautiously opti-
mistic.”
SECONDARY
n DEION CURRY
(STRONG SAFETY),
DEMARCO HALL (FREE SAFETY)
n COACH MARCHANT SAYS:
“The cornerbacks, we’re still
working on those,”

Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff

Pickens County 2010 team: 1-Deion Curr y, 4-LaJuan Doss, 7-Devonte Simon, 14-Warren Betts, 20-William Stewart, 25-James Adams, 33-Decarius Burton, 54-Nick
Stewart, 56-Travis Bailey, 75-LaMarcus Jackson, 77-Zeb Finch, Demrcus Hall, Tim Simpson, Terrien Steele.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 27

ALICEVILLE YELLOW JACKETS

AHSAA Class AAA, Region 4; 2009 Record: 5-6

STAFF
n HEAD COACH:
Eddie Hill
(first season)
n ASSISTANT
COACHES:
Charles Moody
(assistant head coach,
defensive coordinator),
Quintin Prude (defensive
backs), Billy Sterling
(defensive line),
Alphonso Wilder
(offensive line), Fred
Woods (offensive
coordinator)
NUMBER’S GAME
3 lot of coaching changes, so I told
Eddie Hill is Aliceville’s
third head coach in
three years.
ALICEVILLE
SCHEDULE
Aug. 27 GREENE CO.
Sept. 3 At Sipsey Valley
Sept. 10 MONTEVALLO
Sept. 17 At Sumter Co.
Sept. 24 PICKENS CO.
Oct. 1 GORDO
Oct. 8 At Hale Co.
Oct. 15 GREENSBORO
Oct. 22 At Northside
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Hill gives back to Aliceville in a big way
BY HENRY MATUSZAK
hgmsports@cdispatch.com
ALICEVILLE, Ala. — Eddie
Hill will coach out of the good-
ness of his heart this season.
Hill is beginning his first sea-
son as the coach of the Aliceville
High School football team, and
he’s not being paid a dime to do it.
Hill agreed to coach the Yellow
Jackets without being paid as a
way to give something back after
sur viving cancer surger y five
years ago.
“I told the Good Lord if He let
me out from under this, I’d give
something back,” said Hill, who
will only say he’s in his 60s. “I
think we all need to give some-
thing back. I don’t charge them
anything. I do it from my heart. I
love working with youngsters.”
Hill becomes Aliceville’s
fourth coach in four years, follow-
ing Patrick Plott, James Rush, and
Robin Tyra.
Aliceville was 5-6 last season
and hasn’t had a winning season
since going 10-2 in Plott’s second
year at the helm in 2006.
“They’d been going through a
a friend of mine that I’d coach
them,” Hill said. “I was talking to
the athletic director (Joe Hurst)
and I told him I’d coach them. I
told him, ‘You don’t have to pay
me.’ I told him, ‘I’ll coach them for
a couple of years and I’ll get your
program back on solid ground.’ ”
Hill has 21 years of coaching
experience, but Aliceville High is
his first head coaching position
and his first coaching job since
1993.
He last coached linebackers at
Opp (Ala.) High. He also was an
assistant coach at Samson (Ala.)
High, Kinston (Ala.) High and
Alabama State University in
Montgomery, Ala.
Hill stepped away from coach-
ing and moved into school admin-
istration. He was superintendent
at Daleville (Ala.) High and
Wilcox County (Ala.) schools.
His last job was in the finance
department of the Alabama State
ALICEVILLE
2010 TEAM
Isiah Wilder, Mack Burden,
Victor Windham, Jevoris
Long, Dalvin Owens,
Alexander Hood, Demario
Brown, Darrius Hughes,
Gerald Sterling, Javaris
Dancy, Jerwayne Lavender,
Terry Mayhew, Marquise
Mayhew, Lawrence Scott,
Demarkus Hall, Harry McCaa,
Rashawn Colvin, Tremaine
Jackson, Jermaine McMullen,
Joe Robinson, Antonio Cole,
Marquise Colvin, Anthony
Colvin, Tyquindez Richey,
Lyzell McCaa, Tyshon
Wingham, Stephon Dunner,
Demetrius Bell, Rockem
Shenre, Johnny Bush,
Jaterrius Steele, Tebvise
Hughes, Azariah Sterling,
Quandarius Hinton, Jakari
Garner, Tevin Winn, Thomas
Colvin, Robert Taylor, Wesley
Little, Curmonteal Taylor,
Anthony Jones, Demetric
Walker, Brandon Colvin,
James Ingram, Kadarius
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
Little, Anthony Brown.
Aliceville High School football coach Eddie Hill is renting a house in
Aliceville while he coaches the team for free.
Department of Education.
Pickens County was one of the young men. tate toward him. He’s a good
counties Hill worked with at the “It’s a love. It’s a labor of love. leader. He can get people to do
Alabama State Department of My wife says I ought to call pretty much whatever it is he
Education, which is how he ESPN. I’m not interested in some- wants done.”
learned Aliceville High had a foot- thing like that. I’m just happy to Moody believes Hill is more
ball opening. get up in the mornings. I love peo- than capable of transforming the
Hill and his family live in ple.” program even though he hasn’t
Enterprise, Ala., and he’s renting Hill intends to get the program coached in 17 years.
a house in Aliceville to coach the
football team.
back on solid ground financially
and hand it over to Charles
“It’s like riding a bicycle,”
Moody said. “Once you do it, you
Hill is retired and he’s finan- Moody, who in his first season as never forget. He still knows what
cially stable enough to take a job assistant head coach and defen- he’s doing.”
away from home and not get paid. sive coordinator. Hill hopes to restore the rich
“A friend of mine told me I The 25-year old Moody played tradition of Aliceville High foot-
must be losing my mind,” Hill at Daleville when Hill was the ball. He wants the community to
said. “I’m not rich, but I’m not superintendent. relive the glory days when the
poor. I can eat. I live in Enterprise, Moody believes Hill is the Yellow Jackets won Class 3A state
Ala., which is four and a half ideal coach to get Aliceville High championships in 1997 and 2000.
hours from here. I drive up and back on sold footing. “Football is the mecca of this
“One thing about coach Hill is little community,” Hill said. “The
stay in a house and I go home on
the weekends. Through the sea- he’s very charismatic,” Moody thing about it is stability. I think
son I’ll stay here and help the said. “He can get people to gravi- we’ll get there.”

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE YELLOW JACKETS

QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE DEFENSIVE LINE
n JAVARIS DANCY n JEREMY MCMULLEN n MACK BURDEN, n HARRY MCCAA (CENTER), n DARIUS HUGHES, GERALD
n COACH HILL SAYS: (FULLBACK) JOE ROBINSON DEMARKUS HALL (GUARD), STERLING
“We’ll be OK. He didn’t get to DALVIN OWENS (GUARD),
n COACH HILL SAYS:
LINEBACKER
n COACH HILL SAYS:
play a lot last year, but he’ll be ALEXANDER HOOD (TACKLE),
OK.” “ We’re still trying to find some- JERWAYNE LAVENDER (TACKLE) n UNDECIDED
one to step up. So goes the line “We’ve got one senior back.
so goes the running backs, we We’ve got a lot of freshmen out n COACH HILL SAYS: SECONDARY
hope. They’re there. We’re young out there.” “They’re seniors but they’ve got n UNDECIDED
competing with each other for to get used to us (coaches).
the positions.” They’ve got to get used to our
scheme and how we’re
blocking.”

CONTACT INFORMATION
n TELEPHONE: n ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: n WEBSITE:
205-373-6378 Joe Hurst w w w.ahs.pickens.k12.al.us

Tornadoes
Continued from Page 26
work hard and do the little
things you have to pay
attention to, we should
have a pretty good football
team.
“It’s hard to judge. We
have so many new guys.
We have so many new
faces. We have a good
nucleus of returning guys,
but we lost an awful lot of
good seniors who were
great football players.
We’re going to have to see
if the kids step up and take
on leadership roles and
work as hard as they need
to. If they do, the potential
is there for a great season.”
It starts with Curr y,
who was a key cog on both
sides of the ball last sea-
son. He directed an
offense that scored 458
points (an average of 32.7
points per game). He com-
pleted 89 of 161 passes for
1,530 yards and 19 touch-
downs with just three
interceptions. He rushed
91 times for 274 yards and
two scores.
Curry also led a stingy
defense that allowed 170
points (an average of 12.1
points per game). He led
the Tornadoes with 136
tackles and intercepted
three passes, returning
one pick for a touchdown.
“Deion is a winner,”
Marchant said. “He wants
to win. He’s a very compet-
itive young man. I have a
lot of faith in him that he’s
going to try his best to lead
his team. He leads by
example. He’s a leader on
defense and a leader on
offense.”
Pickens
Continued from Page 25
dle that. I don’t know if it
would bother him or me
very much, but my mom
would be pretty torn on
that.”
Gartman embarks on
his first job as head coach
after being the defensive
coordinator at Morgan
Academy for five years and
Montgomery Macon-East
the past three years.
Morgan Academy has
won more AISA state
championships (11) than
any other school. Gartman
was part of championship
teams in 2003 and 2005.
Gartman is Pickens
Academy’s fourth coach in
six years since L ynn
Wright resigned after a 17-
year tenure from 1988-
2004.
He follows Bill
Rickman, Matthew
Lavender and Pearson
since Wright resigned.
“I hope to be here for a
while,” Gartman said.
“We’ve got some young tal-
ent coming up. The JV
team was 5-1 or 6-1, so
there’s some young talent
coming up.”
Wright coached the
Pirates to state champi-
onships and undefeated
seasons in 1994-96, ’98, and
’99, and led them to the
championship game in
2004.
Pickens Academy has
the longest winning streak
in AISA histor y (47
games). It started in the
1994 season and lasted
through five games of the
1997 campaign
Gartman hopes he can
restore that winning tradi-
tion.
“I kept up with Pickens
through the years, so I
know all about the teams
in the ’90s,” Gartman said.
“I’m good friends with a lot
of those people. I went to
school with them when I
was real, real young. I
know coach Wright. I
played for him in the All-
Star game. His oldest son,
Josh, is a friend of mine.
He coaches at Bessemer
Academy. I know Jody and
Jonathan, also. I coached
against Jonathan when I
was at Morgan in 2003. My
second year at Morgan we
played Pickens in the sec-
ond round of the playoffs
to go to Troy to play Faith,
and we won in double over-
time.”
Gartman said he was
very interested in becom-
ing Pickens Academy’s
coach when the position
became open.
“Traditionally Pickens
is one of the top schools in
the AISA,” Gartman said.
“Five state championships
and played in a couple
more. They played for it in
2004 and 1984, so they’ve
been involved in seven
state championship games
since 1984, winning five of
them.
“I’m very familiar with
everything that’s gone on
here. It’s a football school,
and that’s something I
wanted to be involved in.”
Pickens Academy sen-
ior running back and safe-
ty Forrest Lewis said the
players are excited about
having Gartman as their
coach.
“He hasn’t been here
long, but the plays he runs
are real easy and we’ve
caught on real fast,” Lewis
said. “We’ve run this
before when we were in
junior high, so it’s pretty
easy to catch on to.
“When coach Pearson
was here we had more of a
spread offense. When
coach Gartman got here
he came with the ‘I’ and we
ran that in junior high the
three years I played. It was
easy to catch on. It’s real
easy to understand.”
Gartman learned a lot
of what he knows about
football from his father,
and he believes their
philosophies and schemes
are very similar. He said
Pickens Academy will be a
run-oriented team that will
run out of ‘I,’ split-back and
triple option formations.
“We’re not real compli-
cated in what we do,”
Gartman said. “It’s mostly
about execution rather
than a real complicated
scheme. It’s just funda-
mentally sound and outex-
ecuting other teams.
“There will be some
similarities to what we do
and what coach Wright did
as far as being physical and
outexecuting people more
so than using smoke and
mirrors. We’re going to do
things the players can han-
dle. It’s not what the coach
knows, it’s what the play-
ers know. I can know
everything in the world,
but if they don’t know it out
there it doesn’t make any
difference in the world.
We’re not going to do any-
thing we can’t do well. This
being my first year, we
need to keep it pretty
basic.”
Gartman hopes it’s all
the start of leading
Pickens Academy back to
being a dominating team in
the AISA again.
28 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

SOUTH LAMAR STALLIONS

AHSAA Class A, Region 5; 2009 Record: 1-9

Mitchell wants game to be in his hands

BY HENRY MATUSZAK cornerback, and Blake
hgmsports@cdispatch.com Mitchell at free safety.
Mitchell wants to do
MILLPORT, Ala. — everything he can to help
Ken Mitchell has lofty the Stallions avoid a disap-
STAFF expectations for his senior pointing season like they
season with the South had a year ago.
n HEAD COACH: Lamar High School foot- “It’s a team effort, but I
ball team would like for coach
Josh Harper
The diminutive tailback Harper to put the game on
(second season, and cornerback expects my back in tough situa-
1-9 overall) the Stallions to be much tions because I would love
improved from last season to take that role,” Mitchell
n ASSISTANT when they won just one said. “I want the ball in my
game in Josh Harper’s hands when we’re fourth-
COACHES:
first season as head coach. and-2 and we need a first
Shane Foster “We’ve been coming
(linebackers), Justin down. I want to be that
out here all summer long
running back to get that
Hayes (junior high), working hard,” the 5-foot-
first down.”
Johnny House (offensive 7, 170-pound Mitchell
Mitchell wants to carry
and defense lines), Les said. “I think we have a
the ball as much as possi-
chance to do a lot of great
House (running backs), ble, and Harper is willing
things. I think we can win
Morris Moore (defensive to oblige.
a lot more games and
coordinator), Greg make the playoffs. Our Without attaching a
ultimate goal is to make it number, Harper said he
Weathers (junior high),
to the state championship intends to get Mitchell the
Lane Wright (offensive ball as many times as pos-
(game). We’re working
coordinator) sible for the team to be
hard and trying to get bet-
ter every day.” successful.
NUMBER’S GAME South Lamar returns “It’s the same way with
seven starters on offense the other kids,” Harper
and eight on defense from said. “Trent Wilson is
18 last year’s 1-9 team that
was outscored 370-121
back and I want him
throwing accurate passes
Returning Lettermen as many times possible. I
and shut out twice.
Mitchell is a returning want our receivers catch-
offensive starter along ing as many passes as pos-
15 with quarterback Trent
Wilson, fullback Hank
sible. Same thing on
defense. I want these kids
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
Returning Starters: Parker, tight end Josh making as many tackles as South Lamar High School’s Ken Mitchell will play both ways and will be a key
7 – Offense, 8 – Defense Elliott, guards Cory Jones possible.” leader in the Stallions’ attempt to improve on their 1-9 record in 2009.
and Cole Trull, and tackle Going through a disap-
Chris Knight. pointing season in 2009 to put last season behind much worse than we did (third game) and didn’t
KEY IN 2010 Mitchell is also a hasn’t kept Mitchell from us and work on a new sea- last year. We’re going to
play against Lynn (fourth
returning defensive being optimistic about this son. get better.”
n HEAD JOSH HARPER starter along with Trull at season. “We’ve got a lot of peo- Mitchell hopes to be game) and Sulligent (10th
“I feel we’re competi- nose tackle, Tremaine “It’s just like coach ple coming back, a lot of healthy this season after
Willingham at end, Elliott, Harper says, you’ve got to starters. A lot of people playing with cracked ribs game).
tive. I feel
Jones and Parker at line- put it behind you,” got experience last year. in 2009. He missed the
we’ve got backer, Jordan Smith at Mitchell said. “We’ve had They know we can’t do first half against Brilliant See SOUTH LAMAR, 30
a chance
to do good
things. I
feel like
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE STALLIONS
we’ve got QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
a winning
attitude. What makes us n JORDAN SMITH, n KEN MITCHELL, n KYLE ROBERTSON, NICK n JAROD BEASLEY, CORY
a better team is the TRENT WILSON HANK PARKER, JORDAN SMITH FISHER, DANIEL ATKINSON, JONES, COLE TRULL, DAKOTA
kids. They’ve come and Wilson suffered a slight muscle JOSH ELLIOTT RIVERS, CHRIS KNIGHT
worked. Everybody has tear in his back and the healing n COACH HARPER SAYS:
been picking everybody process has been slow “I think on the offensive side of n COACH HARPER SAYS: n COACH HARPER SAYS:
up. We don’t want to go the ball, that’s our most positive “We’re not going to be very big. “The offensive line is going to be
through (a 1-9 record n COACH HARPER SAYS: position. We’ve got some valuable We’re going to have good hands, anchored by Cory Jones. We’re
like last season) no “We’re going to have to replace experience returning. If we stay though. We’re going to be throw- still going to be very small up
more.” our quarterback, Brad McCool, healthy, I think good things are ing the ball enough hopefully to front and it depends on how
from last year. That’s an untested going to happen.” keep teams off aggressive we’re
position. It’s going to be a young balance.” going to be.”
position, but the good thing about
it is for the future they’re going to DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER SECONDARY
SOUTH LAMAR get a lot of valuable experience
n TREMAINE WILLINGHAM, n CORY JONES, HANK PARKER, n JORDAN SMITH, KEN
this year.”
SCHEDULE SHANE WRIGHT, COLE TRULL JOSH ELLIOTT, NICK FISHER MITCHELL, DANIEL ATKINSON,
BLAKE MITCHELL
Aug. 27 LAMAR CO. n COACH HARPER SAYS:
Sept. 3 At Hubbertville n COACH HARPER SAYS:
n COACH HARPER SAYS:
“I think we’re going to be pretty
Sept. 10 MARION CO. “We’ve got four gritty guys who I
salty. I think we’re going to be
Sept. 17 At Brilliant trust will go find the football. Last “Our corners, for so long we were
Sept. 24 WINFIELD good up front. We’ll fluctuate
year, we didn’t return any starters iffy and not knowing what to
Oct. 1 BERRY between a three-man front and
and this year we return all four of expect, but we’ve got a lot of
Oct. 8 At Lynn four-man front. I’m excited about
Oct. 15 PARRISH our defensive line.” our linebackers.” experience coming back in Ken
Oct. 22 MEEK Mitchell and Jordan Smith. I think
Oct. 28 At Sulligent we’ve got two of the best
HOME GAMES IN CAPS cornerbacks in the region.”

SOUTH LAMAR 2010 TEAM

1-Kyle Robertson, 2-Trent Wilson, 3-Jordan Smith,
4-Blake Mitchell, 5-Chris Cobb, 6-Daniel Atkinson,
7-Canaan Fleming, 8-Justin Sanford, 11-Hank
Parker, 12-Josh Elliott, 16-Lance Jones, 17-Tyler
Riley, 21-Ken Mitchell, 22-Marquis Mitchell, 25-
Talbert Pate, 32-Avery Ward, 34-Tremaine
Willingham, 50-Colby Robinson, 53-Chris Knight,
55-Jason Lawson, 58-Landon McGee, 57-Dakota
Rivers, 58-Dustin Crowe, 62-Issac Humbers, 63-
Dustin Weathers, 64-Dustin Homan, 70-Jarod
Beasley, 71-Davey Long, 72-Aaron Oglesby, 73-
Todd Aldridge, 74-Cole Trull, 75-Luke Palmiter, 77-
Shane Wright, 78-Cory Jones, 82-Nick Fisher, 86-
Cody Daniel. Head coach: Josh Harper. Assistant
coaches: Morris Moore, Lane Wright, Shane
Foster, Justin Hayes, Johnny House, Les House,
Greg Weathers.

Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 29

LAMAR COUNTY BULLDOGS

AHSAA Class AA, Region 8; 2009 Record: 13-1

Peyton Bobo/Courtesy of The West Alabama Gazette

Lamar County 2010 team: 1-Eric Hudson, 2-Josh Smith, 3-Kendall Smith, 4-Ken Hill, 5-Caleb Randolph, 6-Jacob McLemore, 7-Ty Waldon, 8-Justin Perkins, 9-Ryan Price, 10-
Bryer Bolton, 11-Alex Wheeler, 14-Eric Smith, 15-Dallas Cockerham, 20-Brantley Stanford, 22-Hunter Cunningham, 25-Devin Dias, 26-Ryan Barham, 27-Brady Merchant,
30-Jonathan Allen, 34-Lemetrius Williams, 37-Briggs Roberts, 45-Jacob Smith, 50-Spencer Martinez, 52-Joshua Smith, 53-Randall Graham, 54-Tyler Sprouse, 55-Chess
Moore, 56-Alex Denton, 57-Phillip Powers, 59-John Isabell, 62-Kyle Galloway, 69-Garrett Moore, 70-Jacob Smith, 73-Coby Bradford, 83-Eriberto Casas.

Lamar County has speedster in ‘Turbo’

BY HENRY MATUSZAK being able to put him at “He understands what big shoes to fill since field,” Hudson said. “I feel
hgmsports@cdispatch.com tailback and put him at we’re tr ying to do,” Michael left, but the back- good about pitching the
wingback.” Adams said. “Hopefully field is looking right right ball. I believe I can move
STAFF VERNON, Ala. –– The candidates to he’ll be able to run the now,” Hudson said. “We’ve the ball around.”
From Mighty Mights up, direct the offense when offense, which is what got enough power. Defensively Hudson
n HEAD COACH: Eric Hudson has been Hudson lines up at tail- Michael was good at last Everybody has just got to was a ballhawk for the
nicknamed “Turbo” back or wingback are year. The thing about it is step up and be ready.” Bulldogs last season when
Ken Adams
because of how fast he can Dallas Cockerham and Turbo’s been a tailback Lining up behind he intercepted 14 passes.
(25-11, three seasons) run on a football field. Ryan Price. and he’s been a playmak- Hudson in the backfield Hudson got his nick-
The Lamar County Hudson will get his first er. The quarterback isn’t will be Kenneth Hill and name from his uncle,
n ASSISTANT High School junior has chance to quarterback the necessarily the playmaker. Demetrius Williams. George Sneed, while play-
COACHES: also been known for his team after being used as a The quarterback’s job is Hill and Williams are ing Mighty Mights in
Ryan Atkins, Tim Bobbitt versatility and this season tailback and wingback the to run the offense. confident that Hudson can Vernon.
he’s going to get his past two years. “He understands what lead the Bulldogs offen- “When it’s time to run,
(quarterbacks,
chance to showcase his Hudson takes the quar- we’re doing offensively sively. I can run,” Hudson said of
linebackers), Steve skills at more than one terback reins from and that’s the key. That’s “To me, Turbo is the getting the nickname. “We
Brock (junior high), position. Michael Bradford, who more important than any- best person (at quarter- were racing at practice
David Easley (wide Hudson will start at led Lamar County to a 13- thing else.” back),” Hill said. “He’s a one day. Will Frankns and
receivers, defensive quarterback, but he’ll also 1 record in his second sea- Hudson takes over for great athlete.” I had to race to see who
backs), Justin Lann be used as a tailback and son at the helm of the Bradford, who directed a Williams said, “He’s a was the fastest on the
wingback. offense a year ago. high-powered offense that good quarterback. That’s team and ever since I’ve
(offensive line, defensive
“Turbo’s an athlete,” Hudson is just the third scored 529 points in 14 all I can say. I want to see been called Turbo. It just
line), Heath Pennington Lamar County coach Ken quarterback in seven games for an average of what he can do this year. I stuck with me and every-
( running backs, Adams said. “We’ve got a years for Lamar County as 37.8 points per game. believe he’s got good body started calling me
linebackers), Don couple of guys that are Brad Barnes was the Bradford completed 47 accuracy. He’s smart at that.”
Thornton (offensive line, competing (at quarter- starter for four years prior of 91 passes for 626 yards football. Being a safety (on Hudson’s goal is to lead
defensive line)
back) because we’d like to Bradford. and 11 touchdowns on a defense) he’s got good Lamar County to a state
for Turbo to play a couple Adams believes run-oriented team and football sense.” championship after the
of positions on the field. Hudson has the athletic was the Bulldogs’ leading Hudson is confident Bulldogs came up short
NUMBER’S GAME “I’m comfortable with ability and is familiar with rusher with 1,014 yards he’ll be able to run the of a title last season when
him at quarterback, but the offense to make the and 19 touchdowns. offense. it lost to Clay County in
I’m also comfortable with move to quarterback. “I’ve got some pretty “I can see the entire the semifinals.
12
Returning Lettermen A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BULLDOGS
13 QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
n ERIC HUDSON, n KEN HILL (TAILBACK), n JUSTIN PERKINS, n BRANTLEY STANFORD
Returning Starters:
7 — Offense;
DALLAS COCKERHAM, DEMETRIUS WILLIAMS JONATHAN ALLEN, (CENTER),
6 — Defense RYAN PRICE (FULLBACK) DALLAS COCKERHAM KYLE GALLOWAY (GUARD),
Hudson takes over as the starter TYLER SPROUSE (TACKLE)
KEY IN 2010 for two-year starter Michael n COACH ADAMS SAYS: n COACH ADAMS SAYS:
n COACH ADAMS:
Bradford after starting at tailback “ We’ve got to find a wingback. It “We’ve got some guys that’s got n COACH ADAMS SAYS:
last season gives an opportunity for some of some experience. They got some “ We have a couple of guys that
“It was hard being one
these guys to step up.” experience this summer in have some experience and some
n COACH ADAMS SAYS:
game away (from playing
for a state championship 7-on-7.” others that have to come along.”
“I feel good about the guys we’ve
last season). It was nice
got there. Those are the guys that
to get to 13 (a school
worked there in the spring. We
record for wins in a sea-
have three guys that have totally
son). It’s just work.
different qualities.”
We’ve got to work.
We’ve got to go out DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER SECONDARY
n COBY BRADFORD n LEMETRIUS WILLIAMS n ERIC HUDSON (FREE SAFETY),
there at practice and
work.”
(DEFENSIVE END), (INSIDE), DALLAS COCKERHAM
KYLE GALLOWAY KEN HILL (OUTSIDE), Hudson is the only returning
LAMAR COUNTY (DEFENSIVE TACKLE), JUSTIN PERKINS (OUTSIDE) starter.
SCHEDULE TYLER SPROUSE
(DEFENSIVE TACKLE) n COACH GATES SAYS: n COACH GATES SAYS:
Aug. 27 At South Lamar
Sept. 3 CHEROKEE “ We have to find some guys to fill “Turbo (Hudson) had 14 picks last
Sept. 10 At Phil Campbell n COACH ADAMS SAYS: in at the inside linebacker spots.” year. He’s a leader back there. He
Sept. 17 RED BAY “ We want to close the gaps. does a great job of setting our
Sept. 24 At Am. Christ. Aca.
We’re not looking for big guys. A defensive secondary.”
Sept. 30 SULLIGENT
Oct. 8 CLBRT HEIGHTS lot of times we’re looking for
Oct. 15 At Lexington speed. We’re looking to be
Oct. 22 At Hatton aggressive.”
Oct. 29 WINFIELD
HOME GAMES IN CAPS

CONTACT INFORMATION
n TELEPHONE: n ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: n WEBSITE:
205-695-7717 Vance Herron w w w.godogs.us / www.lamarcountyfootball.com
30 SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

SULLIGENT BLUE DEVILS

AHSAA Class AA, Region 8; 2009 Record: 7-4

Johnson focused on championship reward

BY HENRY MATUSZAK
hgmsports@cdispatch.com

SULLIGENT, Ala. —
Tony Johnson has one goal
in mind entering this season.
The Sulligent High
STAFF School senior has his sights
set on winning a state cham-
n HEAD COACH:
pionship.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound
Dwight Bowling
guard / linebacker wants to
(36-15 in four years; help Sulligent High atone for
225-78 overall) the 2008 season when it lost
n ASSISTANT
to Leroy 41-8 in the Alabama
High School Athletic
COACHES: Association Class 2A state
Brandon Crawford championship game.
( receivers), Garr y “I want a (state champi-
Holmes (defensive onship) ring before I gradu-
coordinator), Ronnie
ate, and this is my senior
Hubbard (defensive
year, so I have to do it this
backs), Mario Ortiz
year,” Johnson said. “We
(special teams), James
have to do it this year.”
Tidwell (offensive line,
The Blue Devils will
defensive line)
attempt to get back to the
state title game after they
lost last year to Tanner in the
NUMBER’S GAME first round of the playoffs to
finish 7-4.

21 Johnson said the loss to

Leroy still serves as motiva-
tion.
Returning Lettermen
“We’ve just got to get it,”

10
Returning Starters:
Johnson said. “We didn’t get
it done last year. We talk
about it every day at practice
5 — offense; and at workouts. We always
talk about it. It’s a lot of moti-
5 — defense vation.”
Johnson believes this
KEY IN 2010 year’s team has what it takes
to get back to the champi-
n COACH DWIGHT onship game and win.
BOWLING: “I think we’re going to go
“We’ve had to replace a to the championship this
lot of good players and year,” Johnson said. “We’ve Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
been practicing hard this Sulligent High School football coach Dwight Bowling will try to lead 21 returning lettermen back to the playoffs
we’ve moved some peo-
season. When you work in hopes of making another run at a state title.
ple around to new posi-
hard, good things happen.
tions. We had a real “We play together as a Defensively he is a great going to be tough. There’s offensive side. He hasn’t Auburn. I’ve been an
good spring. We’re prob- team. We want it more than player. not going to be any off played tight end for us, but Auburn fan ever since I was
ably going to have a lit- any other team. We work “He’s got good size. He weeks this season.” he might could do that, too.” a little kid. I’ve always want-
tle more team speed harder than any other team. runs well. He’s got good size As a junior a year ago, Johnson has participated ed to go there.”
than we’ve had. We just want to get it.” and he can move. He’s pret- Johnson had 67 tackles for in linebacker and tight end But before he worries
We’re going to be Johnson believes the ty strong. He’s got a good an average of 7.4 tackles per drills at college camps. about where he’s going to go
competitive.” Blue Devils are faster, big- work ethic. He’s got the game. He had two sacks for Johnson would prefer to to college, Johnson’s focus
ger, and stronger and have a whole package.” a loss of 7 yards, intercepted be recruited to play line- will be on helping Sulligent
better defense than the 2008 The Blue Devils will have a pass with a 15-yard return, backer in college, but he High win a state champi-
SULLIGENT team. to contend with a difficult caused a fumble, and had isn’t ruling out tight end. onship.
2010 TEAM Johnson is the most expe- region schedule before they two fumble recoveries. “I like tight end,”
1-L’il D Coleman, 2- rienced player on the team. can think about winning a Bowling believes any col- Johnson said. “I like to
John Potmesil, 3-Peter
Swaningan, 4-Daniel
He has been on the varsity
since the ninth grade, and
state championship.
Sulligent has been moved to
lege would be fortunate to
sign a player of Johnson’s
receive the ball. People tell
me I’ve got good hands for a
SULLIGENT
Richards, 5-Cody has started since the 10th. Class 2A, Region 8, which caliber. lineman. I don’t see myself SCHEDULE
Mosley, 6-Coco Sulligent High coach includes Cherokee, Colbert “Everybody that came by as a lineman.”
Metcalfe, 7-Ryan Dwight Bowling believes Heights, Hatton, Lamar this spring and looked at He said the thing he likes Aug. 19 At Smithville
Reeves, 8-Victor Johnson has all the qualities County, Lexington, Phil him was really impressed about defense is hitting Aug. 26 HAMILTON
Swain, 9-Jagger to lead the Blue Devils to a Campbell, and Red Bay. with his physique and size,” opposing ballcarriers. Sept. 3 At Hatton
Eastman, 10-Rocky state championship. “(The region) is much Bowling said. “He went to a Johnson said he’s being Sept. 10 LEXINGTON
Sides, 11-Deion “Tony is an excellent stronger than the one we’ve couple of camps. I know he recruited by the University Sept. 17 At Colbert Heights
Jenkins, 12-Tyrin player,” Bowling said. “He been in,” Bowling said. went to the UAB camp, and I of Mississippi, Auburn, Sept. 24 MARION CO.
Bankhead, 13-Nathan has great leadership abili- “There’s not any weak sis- talked to that coach and he UAB, Alabama State, and Sept. 30 At Lamar Co.
Hollis, 14-Wesley ters in this one. There were was really impressed with Jacksonville State. Oct. 8 RED BAY
ties. He’s real aggressive. He
Parson, 15-Kiley several weak ones in the him. They even thought of “I like Ole Miss,” Oct. 15 At Cherokee
makes a lot of plays. He
Smith, 17-Dominique other one. We counted six him maybe as a tight end. Johnson said. “I just like the Oct. 22 At Phil Campbell
Wallace, 21-Logan
seems to figure out where
teams where any of those six Some of the people might way they play. I like their Oct. 28 SOUTH LAMAR
Barnes, 22-Nich the ball is going in a hurry
could win the region. It’s even look at him on the style of play. I (also) like HOME GAMES IN CAPS
Johnson, 23-Teddy and he gets there.
Dennis, 25-Jacob
Spruill, 26-Mason
Franklin, 30-Benji Clay,
32-Hunter Wright, 33-
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BLUE DEVILS
Taylor Nethery, 34-
Storm Plunkett, 35- QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK RECEIVERS OFFENSIVE LINE
n JOHN POTMESIL n WESLEY PARSON, DEION n PETER SWANINGAN, MASON n DUSTAN REEVES, TONY
Steven Willingham, 36-
Cameron Coleman, 38-
Nathan Kerr y, 40- JENKINS, ISHMAEL RIGGINS FRANKLIN, LOGAN BARNES JOHNSON, PARKER
Andrew Taylor, 42- n COACH BOWLING SAYS: NORTHINGTON, JALEN
Devin Carruth, 44- “Much improved over last year. n COACH BOWLING SAYS: n COACH BOWLING SAYS:
Ishmael Riggins, 48- MARTINEZ, MATT HANKINS
The experience from last year is “ We lost some speed and “A lot of big-play ability there with
Tray Trentham, 52-
going to carr y over. We’re going experience. We’re going to be Peter. He’s capable of making the
n COACH BOWLING SAYS:
Drew Hankins, 55-
Parker Northington, to be much better at that youthful and inexperienced, but big play.”
59-Dustan Reeves, 60- position.” we have some ability.” “Experience and size and should
Jessee Kimbrough, 62- be our strong point on offense.”
Dillon Barnes, 63-
Austin Pinkerton, 65-
Josh Trentham, 68- DEFENSIVE LINE LINEBACKER SECONDARY
Matt Hankins, 69- n ISHMAEL RIGGINS, PARKER n TONY JOHNSON, MASON n RYAN REEVES
Jordan Moore, 72-Tony
NORTHINGTON, DUSTAN FRANKLIN, COCO METCALF,
n COACH BOWLING SAYS:
Johnson, 74-Garrett
Guyton, 75-Mario REEVES, MATT HANKINS, WESLEY PARSON
Casas, 77-Cody CODY HOLMES “The secondary is a key point. We
Holmes, 78-Jalen n COACH BOWLING SAYS: have people we haven’t decided
Martinez, 79-Zach n COACH BOWLING SAYS: “Linebacker will be one of our on yet.”
Hankins, 82-Keenum
Davis, 84-Brent Cribbs, “Up front we’re going to be strengths. We have a lot of speed
85-Tyler Smith. experienced. That’s going to help there.”
us.”

South Lamar
Continued from Page 28
He showed he’s willing to do
whatever it takes to help his
team when he played the second
half against Brilliant and led the
team to a 39-14 victory. He car-
ried the ball twice and scored on
runs of 34 yards and 70 yards.
“We were trailing at halftime
7-6,” Harper said. “He came to
me and said, ‘Coach, I’ll play,
we’ve got a chance to win this.’
That was our first chance to win
a ballgame. He said, ‘Coach, give
me a chance, give me a chance
to play,’ so I put him on the oppo-
site side so if he did get hit he’d
get hit on the other side of his
good ribs. He touched the ball
twice for two touchdowns. Those
two touches helped us pull
away.”
Despite being injured last sea-
son, Mitchell rushed for 829
yards in eight games (an average
of 103.6 yards per game). He
also scored 11 touchdowns.
Mitchell’s goal this season is
to rush for 1,500 yards and to
score 15 or more touchdowns.
South Lamar has a history of
producing quality running
backs, and Mitchell wants to add
his name to the list.
Kevin Hayden started the tra-
dition when Millport and
Kennedy high schools consoli-
dated to form South Lamar High
in 1986. Steve Hayden, the first
2,000-yard rusher in school his-
tor y, Tim Harton, Reggie
Hayden, Kasey Jones, and Justin
Brock have kept up the tradition.
“I really do (want to follow in
their footsteps) because I look at
film of how those players played
the game and loved the game,”
Mitchell said. “They weren’t
scared of anything. They did
ever ything they could ever y
week to try to help their team
win.”
Harper believes Mitchell can
add his name to the list of great
running backs in South Lamar
history.
“It’s been a steady trek,”
Harper said. “He can become a
league of his own. I can see me
talking to kids in the future and
say, ‘Hey, I want you to be as
quick as Ken was with the ball on
the first cut, I want you to be as
positive as Kasey was, I want you
to be as good making moves as
Kevin and Tim, I want you to
have the power Steve had.’”
Mitchell is counting on being
the next great South Lamar run-
ning back and leading the
Stallions to a memorable season.
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