2022GRIDIRON.indd 1 8/31/22 3:38 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 2 8/31/22 3:38 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 3 8/31/22 3:38 PM
DA ILYLEA THDER E EDITORIAL DESIGN ADVERTISINGPUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER Copyright 2022© The Daily Leader Kevin Warren Stacy Graning Betsy Belk De’Nora Stewart Cliff Furr BrettHunterCampbellCloud Allison DaleGRIDIRONINDEX 12 10 FEATURES • BRYSON WALKER 7 • GAME OF THE WEEK 9 • AREA ALUMS 10 • COPIAH LINCOLN WOLVES 12 • 2022 SCHEDULES 16 SEASON PREVIEWS • BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY 18 • BROOKHAVEN 22 • BOGUE CHITTO 26 • ENTERPRISE 30 • LAWRENCE COUNTY 34 • LOYD STAR 38 • WESSON 42 • WEST LINCOLN 46 • CHEER TEAMS 49 2022GRIDIRON.indd 4 8/31/22 3:38 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 5 8/31/22 3:38 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 6 8/31/22 3:38 PM
C oaches of every sport will tell you that their own voices only carry so much weight with the student-ath letes they lead. A coach can motivate and direct and teach the game — but the best teams have leadership from within. They have players, usually seniors, that will speak up and hold fellow team members ac countable.Everygreat player isn’t a vocal lead er, some are more comfortable letting their actions speak for themselves. One thing you can not do is try and lead vocally if you’re not a difference maker on the field or court. You’ve got to walk-the-walk so that you can talkthe-talk.LoydStar had a senior offensive line man last season in Bryson Walker that talked it and walked it. I wish he was here now to read those words, but Bryson left us on July 4, 2022.He left a large extended family. Par ents and brothers and sisters that loved him wholeheartedly and who now miss him to depths that the English language can’tThedescribe.brotherhood of Loyd Star foot ball — the players on the team today and those who’ll play in the future — are better off for having Bryson Walker as part of their program.
FURRCLIFF BRYSON WALKER MADE HIMSELF HEARD ON FRIDAY NIGHTS FOR LOYD STAR FOOTBALL
As a rule, you’d prefer to have the brightest players on your team as mem bers of the offensive line. The position requires linemen to think on the fly and to adapt to what the defensive players in front of them are doing on each play. Last year Loyd Star had a season to remember as the Hornets went 9-2 and a big part of that came from a rushing attack that piled up 2,676 yards on the year.The backbone of that ground game was a strong, experience offensive line. The heartbeat of that line was Bryson Walker. You’d often hear him before you’d see him. Bryson would grunt with effort as he finished blocks. He played to the whistle and sometimes through the whistle as he did all he could to fin ish each block. He’d grab the jersey of a teammate who committed a dumb penalty and let them know if they were hurting the team.
Loyd Star lineman Trevor Smith got a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty last season for a late hit during a game. Bryson was practically dancing on his toes in anger at the mistake. Trevor, who played beside Bryson and was a year behind his line-mate in school, surely didn’t have the same reaction when the shoe was on the other foot against Bogue Chitto and Bryson was ejected from the game for a penalty.
GRIDIRON 2022 7 2022GRIDIRON.indd 7 8/31/22 3:38 PM
“We said that night that we had to win the game for Bryson (Loyd Star did 26-24),” said Smith. “This year that’s what we’re going to do every week — we’re going to try to win every time for Bryson.”LoydStar has had solid depth along the line over the last few years for a 2A school of their size, which meant that all of the offensive linemen didn’t have to play every down on the defensive side of theThat’sball. when you’d hear Bryson Walker’s voice the loudest along the sideline of W.E. “Sambo” Smith Field. He’d have any other starting o-line men around him as they talked about adjustments that needed to be made. It’s an overused generalization, but he truly was a coach on the field for his position group for LS coach Bryan Ford.Asa senior, Bryson stood a shade under 6-foot and weighed around 240-pounds. He started slimming up as soon as football season finished as he was also a captain on a playoff qualify ing soccer team at Loyd Star for coach JordanPlayingLea.on the backline of his team’s soccer formation, his vocal leadership was even more pronounced in futbol than it was in football. He was a difference maker. He wasn’t just another warm body on the team. He was someone that mattered — on and off the field. His all-out effort was an embodiment of why we all still love high school ath letics.I’d like for his parents Billy and Renea to know that I’ll never forget their son.I’ll never forget watching Bryson as a sophomore, when he got to live an offen sive lineman’s dream and play fullback for a young, rebuilding Loyd Star team. I’ll never forget seeing him on a team alongside his brother Brantley. Though not twins, they were lucky enough to be in the same grade and had a relation ship that would make you jealous for a sibling bond like theirs.
I’ll never forget seeing and hearing him play the game he loved on hot Mis sissippi Friday nights in the fall. I’ll never forget his leadership or his passion.I’llnever forget Bryson Walker. Cliff Furr is the sports editor at The Daily Leader. He can be reached via email at sports@dailyleader.com
2022GRIDIRON.indd 8 8/31/22 3:38 PM
SEPTEMBER 16 Perry Miller Field, Brookhaven West Lincoln is a young team with just over 20 players on the varsity roster in 2022. Last season was surprisingly the first meeting between the Bears and the McLaurin Tigers. The visitors from Rankin County make the return trip to Flea Hop this year and are coached by first year head coach Will Hedgepeth. If you’re in the stadium, make sure you get a burger from the West Lincoln concession stand. It’s one of the best in the area.
AUGUST 26 H.L. “Hook” Stone Stadium, Wesson Night two of the KDMC Kickoff Classic will be a good one as the Tylertown Chiefs visit the campus of Copiah-Lincoln CC to take on the Wesson Cobras. The teams met in the same event last season and Wesson built a 24-point lead that Tylertown erased late for a 46-30 win. The Kickoff Classic begins on Thursday night with Lawrence County and Brookhaven High meeting in the opener. Now in its seventh year, the KDMC Kickoff Classic is a classy event that’s showcased teams from all over southwest Mississippi.
GRIDIRON 2022 9 2022GRIDIRON.indd 9 8/31/22 3:38 PM
SEPTEMBER 2 Harry Cole Field, Brookhaven Former Loyd Star assistant coach Adam Smith brings his Ethel Tigers to face the Enterprise Yellow Jackets on Cole Field in the season opener for EAC. The teams were scheduled to meet last year, but a COVID-19 cancelation kept that from happening. Ethel went 7-5 last season with two of those losses coming via forfeits. Enterprise whipped Hillcrest Christian last season in their opener, but the Cougars didn’t want to play this year thus the wait until week two for the Jackets.
SEPTEMBER 14 R.M. “Red” Stuart Field, Brookhaven
SEPTEMBER 30 LC Cougar Field, Monticello Don’t show up late to this one because you got stuck in line waiting for a “Big One” at Wards. If you do, you might miss the first half. Expect the clock to run quickly as the ground-based double wing offense run by Lawrence County entertains a similar system run by the visiting Aggies of Forrest County AHS. The Aggies are back under the leadership of head coach Larry Dolan, who left D’Ibverville to come back to Brooklyn.
GAME OF THE WEEK:
OCTOBER 21 H.L. “Hook” Stone Stadium, Wesson They’re saying that one day, Magee High as we know it will cease to exist after consolidation with Mendenhall. We’ll all believe that the Trojans and Tigers will lie down together when we see it though. For now, Magee is under the leadership of a new head coach in Chuck Maxey. Maxey was an assistant last year at Wesson and is in his second stint as HC at Magee. Expect a fast-paced matchup when the always athletic Trojans face a Wesson offense that loves to go vertical behind senior QB Will Loy.
A GUIDE TO MATCHUPS WORTH SEEING EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT
SEPTEMBER 9 W.E. “Sambo” Smith Field, Brookhaven Head to Loyd Star to see another Hornet alum leading their own program as Salem visits Loyd Star in a non-region game. First year Salem head coach John Smith took over after being an assistant coach last season at the Walthall County school. Smith has also been an assistant at Yazoo County in his career. Don’t be surprised to see his dad, photographer Johnny Smith, on the sideline with a lens focused on both teams.
FCAHS used a ground and pound offense under Dolan to win a state title in 2013.
A solid rivalry has built over the years between the Brookhaven High Panthers and the Natchez Bulldogs. The drama doesn’t ramp up to the level one would find in a Greg Iles thriller, but the schools have had some exciting matchups as region mates over the last decade. Coach Tucker Peavey’s Panthers close with back-to-back home games to end the regular season as they’ll also host South Jones on Nov. 3.
OCTOBER 7 W.L. “Sambo” Smith Field, Brookhaven Like my old buddy Nathan Case says it, two words — Possum Bowl. It’s always a joy to watch Bogue Chitto and Loyd Star face off in the only football game dedicated to our native marsupials. The Possum Bowl often decides who’ll win Region 7-2A and that might be the case again this season as both BC and Loyd Star return tons of contributors in 2022. Loyd Star won a thriller of a PB last season at Bogue Chitto by a 26-24 margin. If the game lives up to that level this season the winning fans will leave with a smile like a possum chewing on a peach seed.
The legend, Bill Hurst, brings his Centreville Tigers to Brookhaven Academy for the last home game of the regular season. Centreville dominated the series for many, many years as the Tigers won 19 of the first 20 meetings and still hold a 34-11 advantage all time. BA has been the big dog of late though as the Cougars come into the 2022 version of the matchup riding a 4-game winning streak over the purple and gold clad Tigers.
OCTOBER 28
King Field, Brookhaven
FRIDAY NIGHT MATCHUPS
SEPTEMBER 23 King Field, Brookhaven West Jones at Brookhaven High is always a game that draws a big crowd. The Mustangs won the region last season and beat BHS solidly in Soso, but the Panthers got better as the season progressed to finish as runners-up in the division. This one could again decide the region title. West Jones coach Scott Pierson and BHS head man Tucker Peavey are longtime friends that run tight programs that preach fundamental football.
It’s expected that Johnson will have a prominent role in the front-end of the defense this season for the Sooners. He’s pursuing a master’s degree in human relations at Oklahoma after graduating from Tulane with a degree in health andJohnsonwellness.was a four-star prospect coming out of Brookhaven High in 2017. Oklahoma kicks off the 2022 season on Sept. 3 when they’ll host UTEP. Perhaps more than anything, Brookhaven High product Coker Wright is hoping to have a healthy season in 2022 for the University of Southern Mississippi. Wright played in 10 games and drew three starts as a freshman in 2019, but has had the following two seasons cut short by injuries. In 2020, he started in the first five games for Southern Miss before seeing his season end. Last year, he played in the first eight games before going down for the year. Southern Miss is coming off a 3-9 campaign in year number one for coach Will Hall and the talk in preseason camp is that the overall talent level is up in Hattiesburg. Wright is a very versatile piece on the line that can play virtually anywhere up front. Southern Miss begins the season on Sept. 3 when they’ll host Liberty University.
There is a lot left to be decided as MSU must replace some experienced departures along the offensive front and Jackson could be called on at any point this season to give reps along the line. Athletic offensive lineman that can move are needed when an Air Raid offense like the one Mississippi State uses starts to click. Jackson fits that profile and he upped his stock and his experience last year after playing in two games as a true freshman in 2020. MSU begins the season on Sept. 3 by hosting Memphis in Starkville.
KADARIUS
Brookhaven High, Junior Offensive Lineman 6-foot-4, 290-pounds
JEFFERY JOHNSON University of Oklahoma Miss WELLS Alcorn State GRANT JACKSON Mississippi State
Brookhaven High, Sophomore Tight End 6-foot-3, 225-pounds West Lincoln, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman 6-foot-6, 315-pounds
AREA ALUMS
Brookhaven High, Graduate Transfer Defensive Lineman 6-foot-2, 313-pounds
Junior tight end Kadarius “KD” Wells and the Alcorn State Braves want to get back to the top of the SWAC standings.
ASU had some memorable moments in 2021 as they beat Northwestern State in Lorman in week two and then narrowly lost on the road at South Alabama the following week.The Braves started SWAC play off by winning four straight league games, before losing by three at Southern University and by four at Bethune-Cookman. The annual matchup against Jackson State was even more highly anticipated in 2021 with JSU now being led by coach DeionJacksonSanders.State won that game 24-10 in front of a huge crowd at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Alcorn coach Fred McNair and his Braves want to show the rest of the SWAC that their team is still a team that will always contend for team titles and Wells looks to contribute to that mission in 2022.ASUkicks of th season by hosting Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 3. The first ever Division I football player in West Lincoln history, big Grant Jackson saw action in 12 games last season for Mississippi State. During preseason camp he’s been battling to be the primary backup to senior right guard Kameron Jones for the upcoming season.
COKER WRIGHT Southern
BHS alum Jeffery Johnson made a big impact over the last four seasons as a defensive lineman for the Tulane Green Wave. In 2022, Johnson is going to try and make similar waves for the Oklahoma Sooners, a perennial nationalJohnsonpower.started all 12 games last season for the Green Wave and drew starts in 44 of the 48 career games he played at Tulane. In 2021, he made 44 tackles, including four for a loss and had 1.5 sacks. Once he put his name in the transfer portal, Johnson was wooed by several big-name programs, including LSU. He picked an Oklahoma program that will be under the leadership of a defensiveminded first year head coach in Brent Venables. Venables comes to OU after being the defensive coordinator at Clemson during a period that saw the Tigers rise in national prominence.
10 GRIDIRON 2021 2022GRIDIRON.indd 10 8/31/22 3:38 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 11 8/31/22 3:38 PM
12 GRIDIRON 2022 COPIAH LINCOLN WOLVES 2022GRIDIRON.indd 12 8/31/22 3:38 PM
TDAVIS,WOLVES
PREPARING
he great American trouba dour Bob Dylan first uttered the line — “the times they are a-changin” — in 1964.That’s the sentiment that longtime Copiah-Lin coln head football coach Glenn Da vis has when he assesses the state of things within the Mississippi As sociation of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) ahead of the 2022Theseason.upcoming season is year No. 19 for Davis as the head man in Wesson, longer than any other coach in the conference by some distance. The MACCC and junior college football as a whole is a trickle-down league. Meaning the decisions that are made by the NCAA on the lev el ahead of them, roll down hill and affect teams and schools at the NJ CAAThelevel.NCAA is a billion-dollar entity headquartered in Indianapo lis. The NJCAA oversees member schools from all over the nation from its office in Charlotte, but much of the boots on the ground type work is done by the athletic directors and re gional directors from those schools. For the longest time, there would be two driving reasons that a stu dent-athlete chose to sign with an NJCAA school like Co-Lin to play football.
2022GRIDIRON.indd 13 8/31/22 3:38 PM
One reason was opportunity. A player might have been overlooked in high school and didn’t have Divi sion I offers before graduating. The chance to come and prove them selves — or get even bigger offers than ones they might have held — put plenty of players in the JUCO ranks.The other reason was grades. If you were a high school standout and didn’t meet NCAA freshmen eligi bility requirements, you pretty much didn’t have a choice but to play at the junior college level and gain an associate degree to get to the Divi sion I level. The NCAA changed some pol icies during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic that have greatly affected the world of junior college athletics. One of those was waiving stan dardized test score for incoming freshmen student-athletes. ACT scores were no longer needed, all a student must accomplish to become eligible is have a 2.3 GPA in 16 NCAA-approved core courses. Gone are the days of Mississip pi State signing a talent player that misses their ACT score and send ing that student-athlete to Co-Lin in June to begin summer school with hopes of resigning them in two years. Another change enacted by the NCAA that’s had a big impact on schools like Co-Lin is the transfer portal.Inthe past, when a player wanted FOR ANOTHER LOADED SLATE OF MACCC PLAY IN 2022
FORTENBERRY, JACKSON AMONG LOCAL SIGNEES THAT WILL BE COUNTED ON Fall camp has a quarterback competition going in Wesson as sophomore Colton Gard ner (Germantown) returns after gaining some experience last season as a backup. Brookhaven Academy product Tyler Fortenberry will see snaps regardless of if he’s the starter when Co-Lin takes the field in the season opener. Davis says Fortenberry’s size and physical ity has helped him find his footing early in his college career. McNeese State transfer Devon Tott is also competing for the job of QB1. Tott threw for almost 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior at Mandeville High before redshirting last year at McNeese. “I’m really pleased with this group of quar terbacks,” said Davis. “I think we’ve got a deep group with these guys, and they all have their individual strengths.”
In 2015, a 6-foot-6 defensive end named Montez Sweat found his time at Michigan State had come to an end. Sweat had played in two games as a true freshman and then red shirted the next season. Today, if a player like Sweat put his name in the transfer portal, he’d have been quickly scooped up by another school that could see his untapped potential. In 2015, that option didn’t exist and Sweat transferred to Co-Lin to play during the 2016 season. After then playing at Mississippi State for two seasons, Sweat is now a starting de fensive end for the Washington Commanders in the NFL. The MACCC has long been a league that burst at the seams with future NFL talent, es pecially along the defensive line. Davis says those surefire future NFL play ers are the exception now instead of the norm. With the NCAA allowing student-athletes to get into school without a minimum ACT or SAT score and with one-time transfers allowed, the effects of those changes can be seen across the MACCC.
William McCollum, 6-foot-4, 340-pound offensive lineman, had graduated and signed with Florida A&M after last season. McCol lum (Forest Hill) had a year of eligibility left if he wanted it thanks to COIVD-19 and decided to come back to Wesson and play another sea son for the Wolves with hopes of increasing his offer pool next year.
FORTENBERRY DAVIS
Bobby Shanklin Jr. (Noxubee County) re turns as a sophomore running back after rush ing for 349 yards and five touchdowns last season. Crystal Springs product Johnny Dan iels is a freshman running back that should contribute offensively.
2022GRIDIRON.indd 14 8/31/22 3:38 PM
14 GRIDIRON 2022 to leave one school for the greener pastures of a different program, the student-athlete had to sit out a year before they could play at another Division I program.
Kyjuan Herndon is another option at run ning back who’s been at Colorado State and Alcorn State in his career. Antonio Luckett (Leake County) is also an experienced return ee at running back who was strong as a return man last season. The offensive line looks to be bigger in 2022 and will be led by sophomore Josh Trask (Nat chez High) who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs over 320-pounds. Defensive lineman RJ Whitehead (Horn Lake) has moved from the defensive side to the offensive line and stands 6-foot-5. “We’re definitely going to look the part,” said Davis. “We’ve got height across the board on the line, and we’ve got some rangy, longarmed guys that should be able to help us up front.”
The NCAA ratified a one-time transfer rule that made it possible for players to go to one school from another without sitting out a year.
Starting in 2011, MACCC schools won sev en NJCAA national football championships in a nine-year period. Last season the NJCAA made the build up to the national championship a four-game playoff. MACCC state champion Northwest was beaten 49-30 by eventual national cham pions New Mexico Military Institute 49-30 in theHinds,semifinals.thestate runners-up, lost 66-34 to Hutchinson Community College in the Salt CityMACCCBowl. teams have long been restricted to having eight players from out of state on their 55-man roster. Davis says next year each team will see that allotment go up to 15 outof-staters per school.
Defense will be led by a new DC in 2022. After having William Jones as the defensive coordinator for the last four seasons, Davis was forced to make a new hire after Jones took the same position on a new coaching staff at Holmes Community College.
The team will also have a strong local con nection on special teams as Bogue Chitto prod uct Eli Cupit is the long snapper this season and Brookhaven Academy alum Corey Case will handle both kicking and punting duties for the“EveryWolves.week is a challenge in our league, but I like what I’ve seen from our guys so far in camp,” said Davis. “A big part of what dictates success is if guys stay healthy, but I feel like our coaching staff is doing all we can to make us better right now.”
SEPT.
3 CO-LIN
McNeal picked off three passes last season as a freshman and his play will be import ant in a league filled with pass-heavy teams like the JamalMACCC.Pye(Byhalia High) played some as a freshman linebacker last season and is return ing. Defensive lineman Nate White (Orlando, Fla.) and Kadarius Miller (South Pike) are two seasoned defensive lineman that return.
12 ITAWAMBA
NORTHWEST 31, CO-LIN 30, CO-LIN 39, SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI 21 CO-LIN 48, PEARL RIVER 15 COAST 14, CO-LIN 13 23, CO-LIN 14 CO-LIN 20, EAST CENTRAL 17 OT EAST MISSISSIPPI 31, CO-LIN 7 21, CO-LIN 7 CC 1 AT EAST MISSISSIPPI 8 MISSISSIPPI DELTA SEPT. 15 VS. JONES COLLEGE 22 AT SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI 29 VS. COAHOMA OCT. 6 VS. GULF COAST OCT. 13 AT PEARL RIVER OCT. 20 AT EAST CENTRAL OCT. 27 VS. HINDS
HINDS
Tyquan Henderson (Canton High) will be counted on to have another big season at wide receiver after catching four touchdowns last season and hauling in 35 pass es for 559 yards.
2021 RESULTS (3-6) 2022 SCHEDULE SEPT.
SEPT.
SEPT.
Jaylen Smith is a wide receiver transfer from Bowling Green State University and O’Ryan James is a receiver who signed with Louisiana Tech out of high school last year before com ing to CLCC. Smith hails from Jacksonville, Florida while James is from Houma, Louisi ana. Raheem Roberts is another Louisiana prod uct who hails from Bogalusa and hope to con tribute as a wideout after signing with Mem phis out of high school.
The defense is the side of the ball most af fected by graduation last season, but there are experienced returnees at every spot, led by de fensive back Ques McNeal (Choctaw County).
JONES
There will be tons of freshmen competing for playing time on the defense and included in that group will be defensive back Dre Ross of Brookhaven High and linebacker Collin Mc Gowen of Wesson.
TAYLOR 2022GRIDIRON.indd 15 8/31/22 3:38 PM
Tristan Marchioni (St. Patrick) was a back up tackle last season that will start this year at center. Joining that experienced foursome on the line will be freshman West Lincoln alum Jack sonDavisTaylor.says
GRIDIRON 2022 15
Harold Rhodes (Jefferson Davis County) is an experienced returnee at the tight end po sition. Copiah Academy product Ellis Fair is also a returnee at tight end. Coaching on the offensive side of the ball with Davis and McFarland are Jason Guthrie, Micah Davis and Jordan Skinner.
The next d-coordinator at CLCC was ini tially David Duggan, a veteran coach who has twice served as defensive coordinator at Southern Miss in his career. Duggan left Co-Lin before ever coaching a game though and was replaced by Matt Gor don. Gordon has JUCO experience after pre viously coaching at Tyler Junior College in Texas.“Coach Gordon is a guy that’s very familiar with our league after he spent a long time re cruiting down here when he was at Henderson State in Arkansas,” said Davis. Assisting Gordon on the defense will be longtime assistant Maurice Johnson and new comers Darius Buck and Jason Santiago.
GULF
COPIAH-LINCOLN
Taylor has worked very hard during July and into preseason camp and will have a chance to make an impact on the line as a freshman.Theoffensive line is coached by veteran coach Robert McFarland. Wide receiver and Wesson product Antrelle Sims will get a chance to catch passes on the field where he starred for the Cobras after transferring back to Co-Lin from Gulf Coast lastSophomoreseason.
MOUNT OLIVE AUG. 25
SPRINGS OCT. 7
NATCHEZ HIGH NOV. 3 VS. SOUTH JONES 2022GRIDIRON.indd 16 8/31/22 3:38 PM
CHITTO
SEPT.
SCHOOL CENTER SEPT.
16 GRIDIRON 2022 2022 SCHEDULES LAWRENCE CO. AUG. 25 VS. BROOKHAVEN HIGH (@ CO-LIN) SEPT. 2 VS. LUMBERTON SEPT. 9 AT NATCHEZ HIGH SEPT. 16 VS. TAYLORSVILLE SEPT. 23 AT TYLERTOWN SEPT. 30 VS. FORREST COUNTY AHS OCT. 7 AT POPLARVILLE OCT. 14 VS. SUMRALL OCT. 21 AT PURVIS OCT. 27 VS. COLUMBIA LOYD STAR AUG. 26 AT MIZE SEPT. 2 VS. MCLAURIN SEPT. 9 VS. SALEM SEPT. 16 AT NORTH FORREST SEPT. 23 AT STRINGER SEPT. 30 AT EAST MARION OCT. 7 VS. BOGUE CHITTO OCT. 14 VS. ST. ANDREW’S OCT. 21 VS. WEST LINCOLN OCT. 28 AT AMITE COUNTY BOGUE CHITTOBROOKHAVEN HIGHBROOKHAVEN ACA.
AUG. 19 VS. ACCS AUG. 26 AT CENTRAL HOLMES SEPT. 2 VS. BOWLING GREEN SEPT. 9 VS. ST. ALOYSIUS SEPT. 16 AT COPIAH ACADEMY SEPT. 23 VS. COLUMBIA ACADEMY SEPT. 30 AT SYLVA-BAY ACADEMY OCT. 7 AT AMITE SCHOOL CENTER OCT. 14 VS. CENTREVILLE ACADEMY OCT. 21 AT WAYNE ACADEMY AUG. 26 AT PISGAH SEPT. 2 AT SALEM SEPT. 9 VS. ENTERPRISE SEPT. 16 AT MIZE SEPT. 24 VS. PUCKETT SEPT. 30 VS. WEST LINCOLN OCT. 7. AT LOYD STAR OCT. 14 AT EAST MARION OCT. 22 AT AMITE COUNTY OCT. 28 VS. FRANKLIN COUNTY ENTERPRISE SEPT. 2 VS. ETHEL SEPT. 9 AT BOGUE SEPT. 16 VS. AMITE 23 AT TAYLORSVILLE 30 VS. BAY AT RICHTON AT SALEM OCT. 21 VS. AT RESURRECTION VS. VS. AT VS.
OCT. 14
LUMBERTON OCT. 28
NOV. 4
LAWRENCE COUNTY (@ CO-LIN) SEPT. 2 VS. PETAL HIGH SEPT. 16
MCCOMB HIGH SEPT. 23 VS. WEST JONES SEPT. 30 AT LAUREL HIGH OCT. 7 VS. WAYNE COUNTY OCT. 14 AT HATTIESBURG HIGH OCT. 21 AT FLORENCE HIGH OCT. 28
GRIDIRON 2022 17 WESSON CO-LIN C.C. AUG. 26 VS. TYLERTOWN SEPT. 2 AT FRANKLIN COUNTY SEPT. 9 VS. WILKINSON COUNTY SEPT. 16 AT LUMBERTON SEPT. 23 VS. MIZE SEPT. 30 AT HAZLEHURST OCT. 7 AT RALEIGH OCT. 14 VS. CRYSTAL SPRINGS OCT. 21 VS. MAGEE OCT. 28 AT MCLAURIN SEPT. 1 AT EAST MISSISSIPPI SEPT. 8 MISSISSIPPI DELTA SEPT. 15 VS. JONES COLLEGE SEPT. 22 AT OCT.OCT.OCT.OCT.SEPT.MISSISSIPPISOUTHWEST29VS.COAHOMA6VS.GULFCOAST13ATPEARLRIVER20ATEASTCENTRAL27VS.HINDS WEST LINCOLN AUG. 26 VS. FRANKLIN COUNTY SEPT. 2 VS. SACRED HEART SEPT. 9 AT PUCKETT SEPT. 16 VS. MCLAURIN SEPT. 23 AT EAST RANKIN ACADEMY SEPT. 30 AT BOGUE CHITTO OCT. 7 AT ST. ANDREW’S OCT. 14 VS. AMITE COUNTY OCT. 21 AT LOYD STAR OCT. 27 VS. EAST MARION 2022GRIDIRON.indd 17 8/31/22 3:38 PM
BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY COUGARS EASTON BOYTE TREVOR FORTENBERRY LANDON GRAVES ELIJAH HELTON 2022GRIDIRON.indd 18 8/31/22 3:38 PM
CONNER JOHNSON JACKSON PORTER TYLER SHANN RAYCE STEWART 2022GRIDIRON.indd 19 8/31/22 3:38 PM
W
There are a couple options that Hart can go with when it comes to replac ing three-year starting quarterback Ty ler Fortenberry. Lawrence County transfer Elijah Helton will start at quarterback for the Cougars after coming to the school last“Itspring.feels like having Elijah at quar terback is going to be the best fit for our roster,” said Hart. “It allows the other guys that can play that position to be used in spots where we’ll need them more. He’s a versatile kid that’s really worked on improving his throw ing ability since he got here.”
“I think we’re stronger overall after having a full year to put them through our lifting program,” said Hart. “We’ve also moved our freshmen up and have them practicing with the varsity and that’s only going to make them and the team better.”
Last season the 6-foot-3 Helton accounted for 160 yards rushing on the ground for a Lawrence County team that runs an almost exclusively ground-based offense. He did com plete 7-of-13 passes for 115 yards when asked to throw the ball.
WILL FEATURE PLENTY OF NEW FACES IN 2022
Running the ball will be a big part of the identity that BA looks to create in 2022 as Hart wants his team to be physical up “Runningfront.theball is going to be a bigger part of what we do offensively this year,” said Hart. “We really like the group of fives guys that we’ve got up front on the line. Back with experience in that posi tion group is senior center Mason Da vis, senior left guard Tyler Shann and junior left tackle Jackson Porter. Joining the line is another Lawrence
hen you graduate a class of 10 senior starters like Brookhaven Academy did after last football season, there’s bound to be some new players in different roles when the next season comes around. That’s what second-year BA head coach Anthony Hart and his staff are doing right now, figuring out who’ll fit where when the team takes the field to play Adams County Christian School in the season opener. Hart didn’t retire from the state pub lic school system and come back home to Lincoln County for a short run at the school.Hecame to build a championship level program like he’s done previous ly in his career at Loyd Star, Franklin County, Lafayette High and Madison Central.Onearea where he’s seen growth is in the weight room throughout the spring and summer workout sessions.
2021 RESULTS 8-3 last season BA 40, CENTRAL HOLMES 14 BA 18, BOWLING GREEN 0 (FF) BA 33, ST. ALOYSIUS 27 COPIAH ACADEMY 45, BA 7 BA 51, COLUMBIA ACADEMY 28 BA 41, HILLCREST 0 BA 42, SYLVA-BAY ACADEMY 14 BA 31, CENTREVILLE ACADEMY 8 BA 35, WAYNE ACADEMY 13 KIRK ACADEMY 45, BA 38 2022 ROSTER SENIORS Elijah Helton, Jacob Sanford, Rayce Stew art, Trevor Fortenberry, Taylor Daughdrill, Parker Moak, Tyler Shann, Mason Davis, Landon Graves, Conner Johnson, Easton Boyte JUNIORS Thomas King, Cooper Strickland, Trace Stewart, Jaden Lea, Dru McDaniel, Jackson Porter, Bubba Jordan SOPHOMORES Austin Tanksley, Braden Revere, Nathan Poole, Kaleb Bullock, Asher Newman, CJ Che valier, Morgan Johnston, Will Thomas Calcote FRESHMEN Teague Russell, Caleb Authement, Mason Allen, Cooper Carr, Carson Mowdy, Wilson Calcote, Glen Lewis, Dylan Peets, Tripp Jones, Cole Spencer, Ben Watts, Drake Strange EIGHTH GRADERS Sladen Shack, Carter Palmer, Tristen Fortenberry BROOKHAVENACADEMYCOUGARS
Braden Revere and Taylor Daughdrill are two other players that Hart sees on the field in the defensiveAssistingbackfield.Hartwill be coaches Randy Spring, Ricky Gunter, Jay mie Palmer and Cory Keyes. “We weren’t very good on de fense at times last year and we’re going to be better this year at that,” said Hart. “Tackle, tackle, tackle — is what we’ve been preaching in our preseason practices. I really like the work ethic that I’ve seen out of this group. I feel they’re going to be ready to fully prepare from week to week this season.”
20 GRIDIRON 2022 County transfer in senior right tackle Landon Graves. The pow erfully built Graves will likely line up beside a freshman in right guard Cole Spencer. Hart says Spencer has worked hard in the offseason to get stronger and if he starts on the line, it creates depth on the other side of the ball for his team.
Sladen Shack, an eighth grader who’s the quarterback of the fu ture within the program, will play halfback this year along with se nior Easton Boyte. Hart has high words of respect for senior leader Rayce Stewart, who’ll play tight end and h-back on offense along with being an important linebacker on the de fensive side of the ball. Stewart is coming off an inju ry that kept him out of the play off loss against Kirk Academy in 2021 and his absence that night was noticeable for the BA de fense.“Rayce is a guy that we can move around in several different places on offense to help us,” said Hart. “He’s the captain of our de fense and is like the quarterback of that group. He knows all our stunts and coverages and does a great job of communicating with hisSeniorteammates.”Trever Fortenberry is the most experienced offensive skill player returning for BA after catching 47 passes for 785 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He makes plays on the de fense as well. In 2021, Forten berry made 54 tackles, picked off three passes, recovered a fumble, blocked a kick and blocked a punt.Defensively, Graves will be part of a strong defensive unit up front and will be joined by the third Lawrence County transfer on the roster, defensive tackle Connor Johnson. Hart sees Boyte, one of the most experienced defenders on the team, and Nathan Poole as two players who’ll anchor the end of the line as a linebacker. He also mentions Jaden Lea, Austin Tanksley, Thomas King and Parker Moak as linebackers that’ll see reps in 2022. There will be two new corners for the team in 2022 as senior Ja cob Sanford will play on one side and junior Cooper Strickland will hold down the other corner spot. Sanford is coming out to football as a senior after only playing bas ketball in the past.
2022GRIDIRON.indd 20 8/31/22 3:38 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 21 8/31/22 3:38 PM
Brookhaven High Panthers AMAREON DUNNIGAN BRODIE EZELL XAVIER GAYTEN AMARI SMITH 2022GRIDIRON.indd 22 8/31/22 3:38 PM
Last season Gayten rushed for 891 yards and 10 touchdowns while playing runningFreshmanback.Dreamus Harron is anoth er option at quarterback. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound Harron will need time to ad just to the speed of the 5A level. Senior running back Da’Shawn Wil son picked up 336 yards last season as a backup and will step into a role as one of the primary ball carriers this season. The offensive line will be one of the most experienced groups on the team.
JUNIORS
SOPHOMORES
Senior tackle Landon Smith is back and is a player that’s started in different spots along the line for the Panthers for his entire varsity career. Smith stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 300 pounds. On his left, he’ll have 6-foot-3, 265-pound guard Amareon Dunningan, also a senior. At the left tackle position Ole Brook returns the biggest Panther on the ros ter, 6-foot-7, 315-pound senior Amari Smith.Smith missed the beginning of last season with an injury and when he re turned, the BHS offense began to gel. Playing right guard will be first year starter, junior Brice Ashley.
Senior Jalen Tobias is an experienced lineman that’ll start at right tackle. Preseason camp has seen a competi
LANDON SMITH JALEN TOBIAS MALACHI WILLIAMS DA’SHAWN WILSON 2022GRIDIRON.indd 23 8/31/22 3:38 PM
Xavier Gayten, Jimmy Johns Jr, Chaquez Thomas, Jo’Quarlious Quarles, Kenan Quinn, Nathan Lewis, Bradyn Linton, Waltrelle Smith, De’Quane Fox, Jekorion Ben son, Kevin Camp, Zach Moore, Austin Pigott, Brice Ashley, Gavin Bennett, Marreo Wil liams, Bryce Smith, Demontre Wilcher, Eric Williams
One of the biggest question marks coming into the season will be the quar terback position. The plan right now is for junior run ning back Xavier Gayten to play quar terback and lead the offense.
FRESHMEN Timothy Smith, Jeremy Bibbs, Kyle Smith, Dreamus Harron, Caiden Quarles, Zeden Williams, Durrell Washington, Tawain Dixon, Jak Gonzales, Randy Jones, Benton Turner, Zach Richardson, Fabian Washington, Tyvon Coleman,
Longtime BHS head coach Tuck er Peavey is hoping that the work that he and his staff will put in each week will have the 2022 edition of Ole Brook football on a similar path of growth.
Brookhaven High was one of the success stories of area football in 2021. The Panthers improved every week, found their footing on defense with a speedy unit of gang tacklers and fin ished runners-up in the always rugged Region 3-5A. BHS beat East Central in the opening round of the 5A playoffs before being eliminated by the eventual state cham pions from Picayune High in the second round.
HIGHBROOKHAVENPANTHERS
Drew Nelson, Ladarius Wilcher, Markel Smiht, Jacob Williams, Devion Brown, Jamaal Brown, William Buie, Samarion Buckley, Lee Herman Henderson, Ramerize Edwards, James McCullough, Gavin Bridgeman, Michael Piper, Demetri Smith, Devon tavious Drummond, Christian Jones, Gaylon Gayten
Da’Shawn Wilson, Celb Jett, Malachi Williams, Za Marion Diggs, Tyson Byrd, Daniel Smith, Chris Williams, Donovan Jett, Brodie Ezell, Eric Smith, Amareon Dunnigan, Jalen Tobias, Landon Smith, Amari Smiht, Will Bowman, Bryson Porter
Ole Brook lost some sure difference makers to graduation, including a threeyear starter at quarterback and several players that signed to continue their ca reers at the junior college level.
2021 RESULTS 2021 RESULTS (7-4) TYLERTOWN 32, BHS 22 BHS 18, MCCOMB 8 WEST JONES 26, BHS 0 BHS 24, LAUREL 12 WAYNE COUNTY 20, BHS 14 (OT) BHS 32, HATTIESBURG 14 BHS 41, FLORENCE 6 BHS 49, NATCHEZ 20 BHS 45, SOUTH JONES 23 BHS 42, EAST CENTRAL 14 PICAYUNE 28, BHS 3 2022 SENIORSROSTER
PUTTING IN WORK TO REPEAT SUCCESS OF LAST SEASON IN 2022
2022GRIDIRON.indd 24 8/31/22 3:38 PM
One position that’s deep is tight end as senior Brodie Ezell, junior Bryce Smith and sophomore Galen Gayten all do different things well. Ezell is a 6-foot-2, 235-pound state champion in discuss for the BHS track and field team. Smith also works as the kicker and punt er for the Panthers and was an MAC 5A All-State selection last season for special teams. Gayten saw time as a freshman last sea son and comes into the 2022 cam paign at 6-foot-5, 225-pounds. The defense will again have speed on the edge and in the line backing“Brysoncorp.Porter and Za’Marion Diggs are back at defensive end and both of those guys played well at times for us last year,” said Peavey. “Like wide receiver, the spot we’ve got the most to fig ure out on defense is our second ary. Still looking for guys to take over some of those jobs.” Eric Williams and Marreo Wil liams are two players that will look to contribute on the interior of the defensive line. At linebacker, the Panthers re turn leading tackler Malachi Wil liams. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Williams pairs with 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior Jimmy Johns Jr.Last season Williams made 100 tackles, had one sack, picked off two passes, recovered one fumble and blocked a punt. Peavey has a full coaching staff this season after bringing aboard three new position coaches.
“We’ve finally got a whole staff for the first time in a number of years and that’s hopefully going to help with our development,” said Peavey. “When you’ve got more guys on staff, it allows you to devote more time to individ ualist instruction in practice and film.”Returning as coordinators are Darian Dorsey (offensive coordi nator) and Corey McLaurin (de fensiveDefensivecoordinator).linecoach Cullen Greer and linebackers coach Aaaron King. New to the staff this year are tight ends coach Jack Kelly, receivers coach Tom my Gibbs and secondary coach DeMario Richard. Last season the region was won by West Jones and BHS edged out Hattiesburg, Wayne County and Laurel High in a highly com petitive battle for second place. Peavey expects West Jones to again have a typically strong team and for those other three schools to be improved as well.
24 GRIDIRON 2022 tion at the wide receiver spot as the team returns little to no experience there and Peavey is waiting to see who’ll emerge from that group.
2022GRIDIRON.indd 25 8/31/22 3:38 PM
Senior Cameron Williams is a four-year starter who has long been a and five scores. Junior Noah Gatlin, sophomore Noah Magee, junior Shomari Jenkins, sophomore Isaiah Collins and junior Ken May are all players that Sartin can see getting the ball to as receivers as some point. There is still competition for some of the open spots on the line, but what is know is the unit will be led by sea soned senior Jay May. May has start ed since he was a freshman and is an athletic, versatile body up front that will lead the way from the right tackle position.He’ll have another vet lining up beside him in junior right guard Mar shall Hart. Michael Hart, Warren Wal lace and Deacon Wallac are all in the running for the open position of left guard and center. Braden Wright returns to start at left tackle.Deacon Wallace will also factor in somewhere on the defensive line, most likely at the end position. Wal lace isn’t going to overwhelm the op position with his size, but he’s going to give max effort on every down and Bobcats
Coach Gareth Sartin, now entering his 21st season at the school, has a squad that’s led by a deep and experi enced group of seniors.
FRESHMEN Maxim Yarborough, Tripp McCaffrey, Tucker Kyzar, James Sides, Javis Gibson, Amari Thomas, Mason Scan the Bogue Chitto football roster and you’ll see the names of some guys that have played in and helped win many games over the last few years for the Bobcats.
Senior quarterback Colton Frith is a third-year starter who plays his po sition with an all-out style. Last sea son Frith threw for eight scores and 914 yards and rushed for seven more scores as he directed the misdirection heavy BC Flankingoffense.Frithin the formation will be senior halfback Hunter Goebel, another very experienced ball carrier, and junior fullback Easton Sartin — also a returning starter.
SOPHOMORES
2021 RESULTS (8-3) BOGUE CHITTO 42, PISGAH 20 MOUNT OLIVE 34, BOGUE CHITTO 23 BOGUE CHITTO 38, ENTERPRISE 20 BOGUE CHITTO 7, MIZE 0 BOGUE CHITTO 13, PUCKETT 7 BOGUE CHITTO 17, WEST LINCOLN 6 LOYD STAR 26, BOGUE CHITTO 24 BOGUE CHITTO 13, EAST MARION 12 (OT) BOGUE CHITTO 31, AMITE COUNTY 8 BOGUE CHITTO 31, FRANKLIN COUNTY 14 PELAHATCHIE 44, BOGUE CHITTO 23 2022 SENIORSROSTER
Colton Frith, Cameron Williams, Hunter Goebel, Turner Thompson, Deacon Wallace, Tanner Wilson, Jacob Sauls, Ja’Christopher May, Cory Lester, Cedric Washington, Darrett Fleming JUNIORS Tyler Pruden, Easton Sartin, Jax Leggett, Shomari Jenkins, Noah Gatlin, Andrew Merrell, Blake Smithers, Ja Marion May, Roddarius Collins, Bryce Blackwell, Marshall Hart, Austin Moak, Michael Hart, Cayden Blackwell, Brayden Wright, Taylor Jackson
Bogue Chitto
“We’re fortunate to have a bunch of guys back — especially in the skill position group — who are leaders on this team,” said Sartin. “We should have a lot of comfort in trying to exe cute what we want to do offensively.”
COLTON FRITH HUNTER
GOEBEL SHOMARI JENKINS JAY MAY EXPERIENCEDBUNCHOFBOBCATS TAKING THE FIELD FOR BOGUE CHITTO IN 2022 2022GRIDIRON.indd 26 8/31/22 3:38 PM
Noah Magee, Jordan Ferguson, Isaiah Collins, Jabari Stafford, Gavin Hawley, Kristopher Payton, Warren Wallace, Gavin Cannon, Kayson Magee
KEN MAY EASTON SARTIN DEACON WALLACE CAMERON WILLIAMS 2022GRIDIRON.indd 27 8/31/22 3:39 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 28 8/31/22 3:39 PM
Bogue Chitto gave up one or less touchdowns, including a threegame win streak that saw them allows 13 combined points while winning by seven, six and 11 points respectively. As is the case with most 2A schools, many of the same fac es that start on offense will split their time with eh defense. Junior Jax Leggett will start at corner and is another player that Sartin praises for his willingness to play all-out on defense. Easton Sartin, Tanner Wilson, Blake Smithers and Goebel are all players that’ll see time at line backer.Abig piece of the linebacking corp is Ken May, who’s return ing from a season ending lower leg injury suffered in the second game of the 2021 season. Jay May can also play line backer and will likely see most of his defensive reps somewhere along the line. BC graduated a three-year starter at the kicker and punter position with the graduation of CarsonJuniorPrice.Andrew Merrell has stepped into that role as he stud ied under Price last season. A soc cer player, Merrell has a strong leg and will be an asset to the team in 2022. Expect the annual Possum Bowl showdown between Bogue Chitto and Loyd Star to go a long way in deciding who wins Region 7-2A. Last season Loyd Star held on for a 26-24 win at BC.“East Marion played a lot of young guys last year and I expect they’ll be strong,” said Sartin. “Amite County has a new coach and they’re traditionally a team we’ve had some tough games against. There should be some tight competition within the re gion this year.” Sartin will have Chad Norton, Adam Moak, Kris Smtih and Toby White on his staff this sea son. Norton and Moak are long time assistant within the program and White is a newcomer that’ll assist with special teams after be ing hired to coach soccer at the school.
28 GRIDIRON 2022 overly big, but we can be really quick to the ball and give great effort,” said Sartin. “We’ve got guys who’ll try their best to beat their blocks and rely on each oth er when it comes to tackling as a group.”TheBC defense helped carry the team to an 8-win season in 2021. In half of those victories
2022GRIDIRON.indd 29 8/31/22 3:39 PM
Enterprise Yellow Jackets AYDEN AREVALO DAYLAN BARDEN TRAVIS DELAUGHTER ETHAN DURR 2022GRIDIRON.indd 30 8/31/22 3:39 PM
JUNIORS Michael Blanchard, Gavin Regouffre, Harley Moak, Alex I. Sales, Ethan Durr, Adrian Gomez
Travis Delaughter, Caleb McGrew, Wes Williams
RIDING MOMENTUM INTO 2022 CAMPAIGN W
There isn’t a player on the Enter prise roster that’s scored a varsity touchdown, but the team had a fresh man class that numbered over 15 players last season and many of those guys are back to help lead the team as sophomores this season.
SOPHOMORES Daylan Barden, Landon McNickles, Payton Kysar, Jaques Yarborough, Jason Keene, Michael Magee, Nick Harris, Ayden Arevalo, Jamie Fulgham, Prewitt Falvey, Micah Carter, Preston Monneyham, Jaden Cothern, Parker Harris, Eli Fuller
YELLOWENTERPRISEJACKETS
The sophomore class is the biggest on the team in 2022 with 15 mem bers.Payton Kysar, Ayden Arevalo and Gavin Regouffre will all get carries in the backfield as running backs and wingbacks. Daylan Barden and AJ Raiford will provide potential big plays as wideouts in the offense.
hen Enterprise coach Trey Woodard and his team joined Region 4-1A last year after dropping down from the 2A ranks, it appeared on paper that the Yellow Jackets had just been put in the stron gest 1A region in the state. Woodard’s team joined a divi sion that included the 2020 2A state champion Taylorsville Tartars and the 2020 1A state champion Lumber tonThePanthers.region lived up to its billing last season as 4-1A member Bay Springs rolled to a 12-1 record and the 2021 1A state title in dominating fashion.Noone must have told the play ers at Enterprise just how good the teams they faced were and the effect of playing some of the best small schools in the state week-in and week-out helped kick up the pre season participation for Woodard’s group ahead of his fourth season at the“Weschool.had the best numbers at our summer workouts since I’ve been here,” said Woodard. “We’ve got guys that haven’t played before com ing out here and joining us and they all know the type of work it’s going to take for us to be successful. I real There will be new faces at the skill positions as sophomore Landon McNickles takes over at the quarter back spot and will hand the ball off to a new stable of ball carriers.
EAC attempted approximately 20 passes a game last year and Wood ards expects to keep that same run/ pass balance in 2022. The line is returning a full slate of starters at every position.
LANDON MCNICKLES WES WILLIAMS 2021 RESULTS (4-7) ENTERPRISE 42, HILLCREST CHRISTIAN 20 ENTERPRISE 2, ETHEL 0 (FF) BOGUE CHITTO 38, ENTERPRISE 20 AMITE SCHOOL CENTER 36, ENTERPRISE 14 TAYLORSVILLE 41, ENTERPRISE 30 BAY SPRINGS 57, ENTERPRISE 0 RICHTON 36, ENTERPRISE 8 ENTERPRISE 18, SALEM 8 ENTERPRISE 52, LUMBERTON 38 RESURRECTION 48, ENTERPRISE 12 MOUNT OLIVE 46, ENTERPRISE 26 2022GRIDIRON.indd 31 8/31/22 3:39 PM
2022 SENIORSROSTER
FRESHMEN AJ Raiford, R’ayjaveon Haygood, Ryder Martin, Carl Tillman, David Williams, Jonathan McNickles, Dillon Holmes
Junior Ethan Durr will start at center, sophomore Jamie Fulgham will start at left guard and senior Wes Williams will start at left tackle. Williams stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 250-pounds and can anchor his end of the line with that size.
JAMIE FULGHAM CALEB MCGREW
Ethel is also a 1A program and is coached by former Loyd Star assistant coach Adam Smith. Woodard took over the pro gram in 2019 and inherited a team with a 19-game losing streak.Inhis first game as head coach, the Yellow Jackets broke that streak with a win over Salem, but that would be the only vic tory of the season for the team. The 2020 season was anoth er step in the right direction as the Jackets broke a long losing streak to Loyd Star and beat Am ite County for the first time in school history while securing a playoffMomentumberth. continued to build last season and Woodard’s team got an unforgettable win at Lum berton. Lumberton led big early, but Enterprise broke off big play after big play to win 52-38 over the defending 2A state champs.
32 GRIDIRON 2022
In 2022, Delaughter will line up as a tight end and will kick out to be one of the lead block ers on the Yellow Jacket rushing attack. Defensively, he’ll be just as important setting the edge as a defensive end. There is a competition in pre season practice at right guard as Eli Fuller is a returnee at the po sition. Sophomore Parker Harris will play right tackle again this season.Onthe defensive line, the Jackets will be anchored upfront by nose tackle Prewitt Falvey. Sophomore Jaden Cothern will also be another difference maker up front on the defensive line. Arevalo is the most experi enced returnee on the defense and will again play linebacker. Junior Ethan Durr and sopho more Michael Magee will also be important pieces as linebackers. McNickles and Barden will both be two-way players as they’ll likely start at the corner backWoodardspots. will again be assist ed by longtime line coach Wade Boyte and assistant coach Trace Abdul-Hadi who came on as an assistant last season. New to the staff is coach Austin Hood, who was hired during the summer to coach baseball at the school. Enterprise won’t kick the season off until Sept. 2 when they’ll host the Ethel Tigers.
There are only three seniors on the roster and the most ex perienced of the group is Travis Delaughter.
2022GRIDIRON.indd 32 8/31/22 3:39 PM
“We don’t have any big stars on this team,” said Woodard. “We’ve got some kids that want to work hard to be better every day and they’ll play for each oth er. They’re coachable, eager and have tons of potential. There is a lot of potential in this group and I’m excited to see what we’re ca pable of this year.”
GRIDIRON 2022 33 2022GRIDIRON.indd 33 8/31/22 3:39 PM
Lawrence County Cougars KANNON CATO RAY CONERLY JONATHAN DAVIS CALEB DUNAWAY 2022GRIDIRON.indd 34 8/31/22 3:39 PM
Dorian Taylor, Zion Thomas, Brilyn Stewart, Terrell Gholar, Kannon Cato, Elijah Smith, Jazerrisu Walker, Markavion Owens, Ken jarion Cunningham, Lauria McDuffey, Ahmad Hardy, Kenyon Vanison, Kedarius Stringer, Alvin Peyton, Jacavious Magee, SOPHOMORES
12, LUMBERTON 6 NATCHEZ 34, LAWRENCE COUNTY 20 LAWRENCE COUNTY 32, TAYLORSVILLE 20 TYLERTOWN 26, LAWRENCE COUNTY 14 LAWRENCE COUNTY 47, FORREST COUNTY AHS 20 POPLARVILLE 46, LAWRENCE COUNTY 13 LAWRENCE COUNTY 31, SUMRALL 28 LAWRENCE COUNTY 34, PURVIS 0 COLUMBIA 41, LAWRENCE COUNTY 14
26, LAWRENCE COUNTY
EIGHTH
LOOK TO STAY CONSISTENT NUMBER FIVE UNDER ANDERSON I n his previous four seasons of coaching his alma mater, Law rence County head football coach Jesse Anderson has led his team to the MHSAA 4A playoffs in each year. Last season the Cougars finished 6-5 and made a push late to grab third place in the region behind 4A title contenders Poplarville and Co lumbia High. The season ended with a road loss at McComb High in the first round of the playoffs, a game that LC led for most of the night before a late score by the home team gave MH a 26-20 win.One thing that brings excitement to the 2022 season for LC is the fact that one of the most dynamic players in this part of the state will have his hand on the ball on every down. Lawrence County junior Kannon Cato takes over at the quarterback position this year and will give An derson’s team big play capabilities on every snap. Cato is quick as a hiccup, shifty as a politician and dynamic in the way he can cut and react. In the past, Cato has mainly made his bones as a defensive back and as a standout for the LC baseball team. He’ll see plenty of carries this sea son as he directs the patented Law rence County double wing offense. His ability to scramble and make plays with his feet may also open new passing opportunities for the Cougars.“He’sdefinitely a guy that the de fenses are going to have to account for,” said Anderson. “He’s going to be a threat every play for us.” Lining up in the backfield will be another junior leader for the Cougars in Ahmad Hardy. The powerfully built Hardy is part of a long, proud family history of great athletes to come through Mon ticello.
Jessie Collins 2021 RESULTS (6-5) LAWRENCE
Like Cato, Hardy has made the most difference thus far in his ca reer on the defensive side of things. Also, like Cato, Hardy stepped onto the varsity field as a freshman starter two years ago. He’ll now get more carries than ever as a wing-back after averaging 9-yards per carry last season when he also scored nine rushing touchdowns forWesleyLC.
2022 SENIORSROSTER
AHMAD HARDY ELIJAH MOORE ANTHONY OWENS MARKAVION OWENS 2022GRIDIRON.indd 35 8/31/22 3:39 PM
Jimmon Magee, Jyon Sibley, JoVarion Smith, Wesley Harris, JaBra McGee, Hunter Turner, Jadarrius Powell, Ra’Shaun Lewis, Anthony Hill, Jacavious Jefferson, Branson Champagne, Julius Johnson, Ty Ellis, Keondrae Leggett, Alandis Magee, Amare Weath ersby, Joseph Adams, Jatavious Robertson, FRESHMEN Walt Smith, Emmanuel Clark, James McDuffey, LeFreddrick Harris, Devon McDuffey, Weston Dunaway, Jah’Shawa Clark, Mitchell Stowers, Hunter Smith, Amare Porter, Jarrod Carter GRADERS COUNTY COUNTY MCCOMB 20
IN YEAR
LC COUGARS
Anthony Owens, Car los Eley, Caleb Dunaway, Ray Conerly, Osvaldo Del angel, Jacob McKinney, LeMichael Barnes, Rodrick Peyton, Jonathan Davis, Elijah Moore, JUNIORS
Harris, Zion Thomas and Carlos Eley will all get time at wing back as well. The biggest question mark coming into this season is the offensive line. There is a whole new set of starters in the unit and how quickly they gel will greatly affect the season that the
12, BHS 0 (FF) LAWRENCE
“Our region is going to be really good again,” said Ander son. “Forrest County AHS has Larry Dolan coming back as head coach and he won a state title there running a similar of fense to us. Columbia is the defending 4A state champion and Poplarville is a 4A contend er every season. I think we’ve been picked to finish fourth in the region. We just want to get better every week, play our style of football and if we can do that playing the competition in our division — we’ll have a chance to make a little noise when the playoffs come.”
LC ran for over 3,300 yards in each of Anderson’s first two seasons as head coach. Last year the team was 46 yards short of reaching 3,000 yards rushing, which was a bounce back after gaining just 2,000 yards on the ground in a 2020 season that fin ished with a 3-6 record.
Anderson comes into the 2022 campaign hoping to have a com plete unit of 11-men on offense and a fresh group of 11-men on defense. There’ll be some crossovers with Cato, Hardy and Dunaway all being experienced pieces of the defense that can get out and give that side of the ball reps.One of the bell-cows of the defense will be senior lineman Jonathan Davis. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Davis stands out when huddled up amongst his teammates.Juniors JaBra McGee and Jazerrius Walker are two experi enced returnees at the linebacker position.Junior Dorian Taylor returns as a starter in the defensive back field and will again be a leader in that area. Ray Conerly is another defensive back that Anderson is looking to step up in 2022.
36 GRIDIRON 2022 CougarsJacavioushave. Magee, Elijah Moore, Rodrick Peyton, Ty El lis, Jatavious Robertson and Ca leb Dunaway will make up the offensive line. Third year starter Anthony Owens will start at split end and can be a matchup issues for teams on the outside with his size and physicality.
LC also had the luxury of hav ing an experienced kicker in se nior Osvaldo del Angel. Filling out the coaching staff for Anderson will be Lakend rick Smith, John Rutland, Josh ua Milton, Nick Daley, Wallace Lily, Jan Lewis and Dexter Sut ton. Daley takes over as defensive coordinator for former DC Seth Avants, who gave up the posi tion to focus solely on his role as head baseball coach at the school.The season begins with a Thursday night matchup against Brookhaven High in a game played at Copiah-Lincoln CC as part of the KDMC Kickoff Clas sic. The teams were supposed to play last season to start the year, but BHS had a COVID-19 forced cancellation. LC won the last meeting on the field between the rivals, a 5228 win in 2019 played in Mon ticello. That victory broke a threegame winning streak for BHS in theRegionseries.
7-4A is again loaded with top shelf competition, in cluding the defending 4A state champions from Columbia High School.Innon-region play, LC will also take on Lumberton, Nat chez, Taylorsville and Tylertown in 2022.
2022GRIDIRON.indd 36 8/31/22 3:39 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 37 8/31/22 3:39 PM
Loyd Star Hornets BRANDON BURT GARRETT CARWYLE OMARION CLAY ETHAN GREER 2022GRIDIRON.indd 38 8/31/22 3:39 PM
Tyler Leggett, Cooper Reid, Nathan Mills, Brandon Burt, Caleb Smith, James Goodwin, Hayes Smith, Brayden Rutland, Ashton McCullough, Conner Crotwell, Conner Cunningham SOPHOMORES
LOYDHORNETSSTAR
ASHTON MCCULLOUGH ALEX SMITH CALEB SMITH CORTEZ SMITH 2022GRIDIRON.indd 39 8/31/22 3:39 PM
FRESHMEN Zach Reid, Anthony Humphrey, Jamisyn Kelly, Cooper Creel, Kaugher Melton, Kaleb Waldrop, Jake Smith, Trey Payne, Joe Taylor, LaJavian Nelson, Casen Easterling, Brady Straight GRADERS
EIGHTH
LOOKING TO REPEAT AS REGION 7-2A CHAMPS IN 2022 T
Omarion Clay, Gauge Montgomery, Braxton Williams, Luke Cotton, Zach Cotton, Brandon Jenkins, Ethan Smith
2021 RESULTS (9-2) LOYD STAR 26, ST. ANDREW’S 23 (OT) LOYD STAR 48, MCLAURIN 14 LOYD STAR 54, SALEM 14 LOYD STAR 2, NORTH FORREST 0 (FF) LOYD STAR 33, STRINGER 15 LOYD STAR 35, EAST MARION 32 LOYD STAR 26, BOGUE CHITTO 24 ST. ANDREW’S 35, LOYD STAR 29 LOYD STAR 36, WEST LINCOLN 21 LOYD STAR 41, AMITE COUNTY 40 (OT) PISGAH 31, LOYD STAR 20 2022 SENIORSROSTER
Julius Smith, Carter Holcomb, Bryce Ford, Garrett Carwyle, Caden White, Cortez Smith, Ethan Greer, Trevor Smith, Tristan Newell, Alex Smith
JUNIORS
he Loyd Star Hornets are a pro gram that come into the 2022 season riding momentum from a strong showing last year. Loyd Star reeled off seven straight wins to begin the regular season and went unbeaten in Region 7-2A ac tion to win the division for a second time under head coach Brian Ford. Ford will begin his sixth season at the school with an experienced group that returns lots of talent from last year’s team, especially in the skill position group. Returning to assist Ford are coaches Jarrod White and Dustin Sisco along with first year assistant Charlie Lowery. Back to help the Hornets move the ball up and down the field are ju nior fullback James Godwin, senior halfback Bryce Ford, senior quar terback Carter Holcomb and senior h-back Julius Smith. Godwin runs hard and with a low center of gravity as he bulldozed his way to a team best 963 yards on the ground last season. Godwin also scored a team high 11 rushing touchdowns.Fordbattled through injuries that kept him out of two games, but he still rushed for 803 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. His big gest game was the first of the sea son, when he rushed for 236 yards in thrilling 26-23 win over St. An drew’s at Holcombhome.stepped into his first full season as the starting quarterback for the Hornets in 2021 and looked like a natural from the jump. He passed for 904 yards and 10 touch downs while also scoring three more times on the ground. Smith, who’d previously played quarterback in his career, was the most versatile piece of the arsenal for Brian Ford as a play caller last season.Herushed 83 times for 543 yards and 10 scores, while also catching 14 passes for 273 yards and three more touchdowns.
Jordyn Kees
Ford mentions senior wingback Cortez Smith, junior tight end Brandon Burt and junior wide out Caleb Smith as players that’ll have opportunities to also get the ball in their hands this season.
Ford mentions the develop ment of fellow QB, junior Nathan Mills, as another reason why Hol comb will see more snaps on the defense.Mills will be in the mix as a safety as will Caleb Smith. Ford mentions Garret Carwyle, Cortez Smith, Bryce Ford, Tyler Leggett and Clay as players that’ll be in the mix for playing time in the defensive backfield. The quality of depth that al lowed some of the main play makers on the team to get a rest and not play too many snaps on both sides of the ball was one rea son Loyd Star had such a strong season last year. Junior kicker Cooper Reid re turns after a strong season last year and Julius Smith will likely again handle punting duties. Coming off a 9-win season, participation is up as recent suc cess in the junior high program as well has Ford excited about the direction of his program.
The offensive line will also be a group that returns some expe rienced pieces as the front five were a big part of the success Loyd Star had last season.
The new players on the line will be left tackle Ashton McCo llough, a junior that Ford praises for his hard work in the offsea son, and freshman Jake Smith.
Caleb Smith led the team last season with 109 tackles and his importance to the Hornets as a defensive back had the coaching staff hesitant to risk injury by giv ing him snaps on offense in 2021. Burt, who gets down on the defensive line as an end despite being outweighed by the oppos ing offensive lines, made 58 stops last season using his speed and quickness.“Ithink we played better de fensively last year than the sta tistics might show, but there’s no doubt we’ve got to be a better tackling team this year if our de fense is going to be successful,” FordFreshmansaid. Joe Taylor will also play on the defensive line as will senior Alex Smith and junior Hayes Smith. Burt and Trevor Smith will likely take up the de fensive end positions. Goodwin returns as a lineback er and Holcomb will also play linebacker as Ford calls the quar terback one of the best tacklers on the team.
“We lost a couple veterans along the offensive line, but with so much back, we’ve got really high expectations for this group offensively and we want to keep clicking,” said Ford. “On the line, Trevor Smith and Ethan Greer are two seniors that really lead that group.”Smith plays the game with a nasty streak and lines up at left guard for the Hornets. Greer is a third-year starter who’ll play right tackle. Junior Conner Cun ningham is back at center after playing the position last season.
“We pulled within five late against Pisgah last year in the playoffs, but we ended up not getting it done,” said Ford of the season ending loss for his team in 2021. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the huddle afterwards and that’s what you want. You want it to hurt a little bit because you know it means something to them.”
2022GRIDIRON.indd 40 8/31/22 3:39 PM
40 GRIDIRON 2022
2022GRIDIRON.indd 41 8/31/22 3:39 PM
Wesson Cobras JUSTIN HAILEY O’MARI JOHNSON WILL LOY STEVIE MARTIN 2022GRIDIRON.indd 42 8/31/22 3:39 PM
COBRASWESSON
GEARING UP TO FIGHT ON EVERY PLAY IN 2022 JO’VONTAE MAY LUCAS MCREE CODY MUNN ZEVANTE STAPLETON 2022GRIDIRON.indd 43 8/31/22 3:39 PM
2021 RESULTS (4-7) TYLERTOWN 46, WESSON 30 WESSON 41, FRANKLIN COUNTY 6 WESSON 30, WILKINSON COUNTY 26 LUMBERTON 28, WESSON 18 MIZE 26, WESSON 18 HAZLEHURST 45, WESSON 0 RALEIGH 62, WESSON 32 WESSON 48, CRYSTAL SPRINGS 32 MAGEE 52, WESSON 0 WESSON 49, MCLAURIN 13 TYLERTOWN 44, WESSON 6 2022 SENIORSROSTER
H eading into his seventh sea son as head coach at Wesson, Jeremy Loy has built a culture within his Cobra football program. Last season was a return to the 3A ranks for Wesson after the team won back-to-back region titles in the two seasons prior as a member of the 2A classification. Playing in a loaded region last season that included the 2020 3A state champs from Magee, a Ra leigh team that has the top ranked recruit in the state for the class of 2022 and an always tough Hazle hurst program — Wesson fought their way to a playoff birth — the first for the school as a 3A member sinceAnd2014.that’s what Loy’s bunch knows they’ll have to do in 2022, battle on every possession of every game.
Cole Gibson, Cotton Westbrook, DeShawn Smith, Christian Martin, Austin Johnson, Wyatt Garrett, Korbin Ashmore, Clifford Jackson Jr., Patrick Coleman, Hunter Meredith, Ayden Carraway, Trevor McRee, Luke Shelton, Chase Britt, Brett Thompson, Hunter Ray FRESHMEN
JUNIORS Zevantae Stapleton, Kaleb Chase SOPHOMORES
Jaxon Barlow, Sam Scopel, Jack Wilson, Michael Guess, Parker Brooks, Keivon Brown, Aiden Wallace, JohnBrayden James, Ty Turner, Baylor Smith, Kemari Brown, O’Mari Johnson
One guy that Loy knows he can count on to fight on every rep is his son, senior quarterback Will Loy. Will Loy enters his final sea son of high school football having thrown for over 7,000 total yards. After having a young group of receivers last season, he returns a more experienced unit of pass catchers in Justin Hailey, Caleb Chase and Dashawn Smith.
Will Loy, Justin Hailey, Cody Munn, Lucas McRee, Ste vie Martin, JaVontae May, Orrin Ainsworth, Chris Harrison, Noah Cameron, Tony Sanders, Troy Byther Jr.
One big weapon will be fresh man wideout O’Mari Johnson. Last season as an eighth grader, Johnson caught 25 passes, third on the team, for 283 yards and four scores. Hai ley returns for his senior season af ter snagging 28 passes for 494 yards and three touchdowns last season.
“You look at our schedule and even on the front end, you’re facing quality competition every week,” said Loy. “We have to play really good football each time out and don’t hurt ourselves with self-in flicted mistakes. Our kids own the fact that there are plenty of times that they’ll be in a matchup with a guy across from them that might be more athletic, but we want to be the tougher guy in that fight.”
Cotton Westbrook and Wyatt Hughes are two sophomore line backers that Loy says will figure into the lineup. Hank Jordan is back to co ordinate the defense for Wes son. He’s got two new position coaches on his side of the ball in Forrest Buck and Josh Gar rett. Buck will coach linebackers while Garret will teach the sec ondary while also tutoring the wideouts on offense. Jordan coaches the defensive line while longtime offensive line coach Steve Barrington is back to lead that unit. Garrett was the defensive co ordinator for the last two seasons at Enterprise High. His addition to the Wesson staff means he’s also bringing his son, sophomore Wyatt Garrett. At Enterprise, Wyatt Garrett played linebacker, but he’ll take up a spot as a safety for Wesson. Loy says his ability to make calls for the defense on the back end of the Cobra defense has made that group Johnson,better.Chase, DeShawn Smith and most of the Wesson skills players on offense will see time in the defensive secondary.
There is also excitement around the expectations that the Wesson coaching staff has for junior running back Zevantae Stapleton. Stapleton had a strong career On the line, senior Orrin Ainsworth will start at center and will have third year starter Jo’Vontae May lining up beside him at left guard. Noah Cameron, who didn’t play last year, has come back to the team and will start at left tackle. Senior Chris Harrison will start at right guard and Loy expects sophomore Trevor Mc Cree to hold down the right tack le “We’reposition.not overly experienced up front, but I really like the po tential that this group has,” said Loy. “They’ve got some height across the group. The only way they’re going to really improve is by getting game action and once we get into it, I expect they’re going to settle in and come together.”
44 GRIDIRON 2022
“We’ve got to tackle better in the secondary,” said Loy. “The teams in our region are all capa ble of breaking explosive plays if you don’t wrap up and bring them down with sound tackling. Doing everything the right way every time is going to the dif ference for us a lot of nights and I think we’ve got a group that have that desire to be prepared and ready every Friday night.”
2022GRIDIRON.indd 44 8/31/22 3:39 PM
The defensive line is a posi tion group that’s got difference makers on it for the Cobras. Se nior Cody Munn is back at de fensive end and lining up across from him at the other d-end spot is fellow senior Stevie Martin. Munn battled injuries last sea son, but can be a disruptive force when he’s healthy. Martin came on in a major way in 2021 as he led the Wes son defense with 11.5 tackles for a loss.Munn and fellow defensive lineman Korbin Ashmore will both also play tight end for Wes son on Senioroffense.TroyByther is a disrup tive presence for Wesson at nose tackle and returns after making 40 tackles last season, including 7.5 for a loss. Also returning for the Cobra defense is the leading tackler from 2021, senior linebacker Lucas McCree. Last season Mc Cree made 99 total tackles and the work he put in to triple his tackle total from his sophomore season to his junior year is indic ative of what type of teammate he“Lucasis. is going to give it his all,” said Loy. “He’s going to give it his all on every rep in the weight room, on every sprint in practice and on every play when Friday night comes. He’s the type of guy you want in your program year after year.”
2022GRIDIRON.indd 45 8/31/22 3:40 PM
West Lincoln Bears KAM CLARK COLBY HALL BRICE PEEPLES CADEN SEAY 2022GRIDIRON.indd 46 8/31/22 3:40 PM
“We’ve got a lot of guys that are going to play both ways,” said Bland. “Any time we can have a younger, unexperienced guy to step up and find a position to help us — especially on defense — that’s going to help us as a team.”
With plenty of questions, there are a couple places where Bland has the answer for who he can count on in thatOnespot.of them is quarterback, as sophomore Caden Seay takes over after seeing situational work at the position in almost every game last season.Last season Seay attempted 13 passes and carried the ball nine times on the ground. That might not be much on another team, but it’s the more experience than any of his other teammates have with the ball in their hands.Seay stands 6-foot and weighs 215-pounds and he’ll be a big factor in the West Lincoln offense.
BAYLOR SILLS KALLION STEWART ZACK TAYLOR JOSH THORNHILL 2022GRIDIRON.indd 47 8/31/22 3:40 PM
2021 RESULTS (0-9) SACRED HEART 42, WEST LINCOLN 14 PUCKETT 35, WEST LINCOLN 21 MCLAURIN 22, WEST LINCOLN 7 EAST RANKIN ACADEMY 20, WEST LINCOLN 14 BOGUE CHITTO 17, WEST LINCOLN 6 ST. ANDREW’S 21, WEST LINCOLN 19 AMITE COUNTY 38, WEST LINCOLN 3 LOYD STAR 36, WEST LINCOLN 21 EAST MARION 48, WEST LINCOLN 0 2022 SENIORSROSTER Colby Hall, Javarius Lewis, Kallion Stewart, Joshua Thornhill, Samuel Porter, Kamren Clark JUNIORS, Gunnar Smith, Ryan Wilson, Baylor Sills, Mason Laird, Zackary Taylor, Zachary Floyd, Ryan Purdy, Brice Peeples SOPHOMORES Haz Boyte, Caden Seay, Tyler Hall, Rhett Hedgepeth, Joseph Martin, Joshua Myers, Chance Stewart FRESHMEN Hayden Ezell, Tucker Parsons, Jacob Thames, Weston Patten, Layton Sullivan, Brody Dillon EIGHTH GRADERS Braden Hamm, Christian Jones WEST LINCOLN BEARS COME IN TO 2022 SEASON SEEKING PLAYMAKERS, LEADERSHIP N o one in West Lincoln football history has run for more yards or scored more touchdowns than Enrico “Red” Price. Price wrapped up his career last season and ahead of the 2022 cam paign, West Lincoln head coach Brad Bland has a big hole to fill in the skills position group. In fact, the Bears don’t have a play er returning who’s scored a varsity touchdown after the graduation of Price, fullback Gabe Bush and quar terback Ashtin Auttonberry. Bland says that the pre-season workouts have been about trying to find who’ll bloom into leaders on a young“I’veteam.told them that coming in to every season, we usually know who’s going to lead us on the field and who’s going to be our guys that lead from within,” said Bland. “We’re still trying to figure out who that’ll be and what our identity is going to be.” West Lincoln is coming off an 0-9 season that saw them drop some very tight games. East Rankin Academy beat the Bears on Perry Miller Field with a long touchdown pass that came with 30 seconds remaining in the game. The Bears were stopped from punching in a 2-point conversion to tie the game against St. Andrew’s in a two-point loss. West Lincoln also had a COVID-19 related cancellation in its 2021 season opener at Franklin County.Bland expects to have a roster somewhere around 27 when the sea son begins and finding younger play ers to increase the team’s depth is one of his most pressing goals.
On his right, Seay will have the two most experienced linemen for WL in junior guard Zackary Taylor and ju nior tackle Baylor Sills.
2022GRIDIRON.indd 48 8/31/22 3:40 PM
Therepossession.willbe a change this year on the defensive side of the ball as Bland will call the defense, after previously calling the offense since taking over as head coach in 2019.
Preston Gordon — who has previously been the head coach at WL in his career — has taken on a new role within the program after previously being the defen sive“Coachcoordinator.Gordon is going to be head coach for our junior high program,” said Bland. “We wanted someone that could be dedicated to running practice for the junior high that could go past the little bit of teaching time that we have built into our school day.”
Peeples plays inside line backer on defense and is the leading returning tackler on the team after making 59 stops last season.Junior Logan Anders will start at center and got some playing time last season as a sophomore.
Gage “Red” Hedgepeth will bat tle for playing time at left guard and senior Kam Clark will play left tackle. As is the case with many 2A programs in the state, almost all of those offensive linemen will stay on the field to play along the defensive front when the Bears swap
“Last year Zack played around 330-pounds and this year he’ll be closer to 270-pounds,” said Bland. “He’s really worked hard to slim up and stay strong and he’s going to be a guy that we really count on to lead us.”
Returning to the staff will be coaches David Gilbert and Dane Hodges. Bland says those two will have a heavy hand in teach ing and installing the offense.
“Tyler stands 5-foot-4 and weighs 120-pounds, but plays like he’s 6-foot-1 and 220-pounds with the effort he gives on each play,” said Bland. Bland also hopes that senior Tyrell Fairman can factor into the offense as a halfback after taking a couple seasons off from football. Senior Colby Hall returns as a wide receiver and is one of the most seasoned players in the se niorTheclass.West Lincoln coaching staff will be further bolstered by three paraprofessionals — David Purdy, Chris Seay and Jeffery Hedgepeth — that have signed up to “Thosehelp. are some dads that want to help us this year and we’re excited about having them out to encourage the boys,” said Bland. “Through last season, even in those close losses, we had a group of senior leaders that never stopped fighting until the final whistle. You hope to see that same kind of toughness in this team as well.”
48 GRIDIRON 2022
The hope is to build the junior high program up and retain play ers that will then move on to the high school team.
Sills clocks in at 6-foot-2, 230-pounds. Also, on the line will be junior tight end Brice Peeples, a player that Bland praises for his physicality.
The search for playmakers on offense will include Braden Hamm and Chance Stewart at fullback and Kaleon Stewart and Tyler Hall at wingback.
GRIDIRON 2022 49
Members of the 2022-2023 Brookhaven Academy cheer team include, front row, from left to right, Reagan Newman, Sara Rodgers Smith, Izzy Nelson, Ella Brown, Charlie Ann Carr, Jacie Douglas, Carlee Case; middle row, LaSadria Stewart, Car men Lambert, Reagan Fortenberry, Mallory Martin, Mallory Martin, Marion Baker, Anna Rai Cline; back row, Macy McDaniel, Cameron Hart, Ella Smith, Maddie Bullock, Chloe Nelson, Emme Barrett, Taylor Douglas and mascot Jud Callendar.
BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY CHEER BOGUE CHITTO CHEER BROOKHAVEN HIGH CHEER 2022GRIDIRON.indd 49 8/31/22 3:40 PM
Members of the 2022-2023 Bogue Chitto cheer team include, front row, from left, Kinsie Bales, Neeli Magee, Aynslee Butler, Cadence Wool, Alana Harthorne; middle row, from left, Lillie Cupit, Abbie Holder, Railey Thompson, Jacey Hutson, Maddi Sisco, Kassidi Watts, Jasmine Cole, Jenna Miller, Taylor Jackson, Sadie Cupit; back row, from left, Fayth Magee, Maggie Wilson, Layla McKnight, Lindsey Greer, De’Mya Porter, Ty’kiara May, Jacey Frazier, Makayla Huber, Mallory Williams.
Members of the 2022-2023 Brookhaven High cheer team include, front row, from left, Kristina Catchings, Ramie Stovall, Sara Todd Adcock, Lily Gray, Kathleen Jackson, Magie Reynaud, Lucy Allen, Maryanna Boyte; middle row, from left, Brittany Catchings, Haleight Ashley, Kaden Belcher, Jayla WIlson, Samara Willis, Ashley Washington, Sierra Edwards, Mattie Claire Murray, Alizabeth Kees; back row, from left, Carriuanna Hargro (mascot), Lily Hostetler, Anabel Gray, Kynnedi Smith, Kyla Smith, Madison Vanover, Makyai Stallings (mascot)
AREA CHEER TEAMS
Members of the 2022-2023 Enterprise varsity cheer team include, front row, from left, Alyssa Thams, Alley Honea, Cristalynn Rowley; middle row, from left, Chloe Jones, Ellie Falvey, Lindley Ferguson, Allayna Barnett, Gracei Williams, Sadie O’Quinn, Savanna Burns, Ali Brister, Terra Vining; back row, from left, Anna Raye Brister, Noah Etherdige, Joy Woodard, Harleigh Herrington, Maranda Bowman, Victoria Robbins, Anna Williamson, Lizzie Hall.
50 GRIDIRON 2022 AREA CHEER TEAMS
Members of the 2022-2023 Loyd Star cheer team include, front row, from left to right, Faith Robbins, Jaiden Clary, Allyson Etheridge, Chloe Rodriquez, ArryAnna Rush ing, Josie Breakfield, Lyndsey Fortenberry, Anabel Hall, Taylor Leggett; middle row, from left, Coach Allyson Barry, Emma Claire King, Atleigh Anding, Chloe McGill, Kazlin Calcote, Arabella Jackson, Riley Thorton, Madisyn Altman, Abby Burnett, Mica Claire Crowe, Coach Amber Smith; back row, from left, Lydia Bass, Maleigha Bowman, Laken Smith, Jenna Smith and Sylvia Bass.
Members of the 2022-2023 Lawrence County cheer team include, front row, from left to right, Reagan Carney, Marley Nel son, Lyric Hooker, Ann Clark Van, Adyson Parks, Kelly Smith, Hannah Martin, Rylea Carney; middle row, from left, Tremiya Wallace, Kylie Smith, Ari Davis, Kimora Peyton, Chloe Carney, Sara Watts, ALyssa Bryan, Addie Raye Pennington, Kassidy Smith; back row, from left; Braci Conn, Elaina Uzzle, Ripsy Reid, Ally Ervin, Melody Hooker, Addie Carver, Kennedy Sandifer and Brooke Conn.
LAWERENCE COUNTY CHEER STAR CHEER
LOYD
ENTERPRISE CHEER 2022GRIDIRON.indd 50 8/31/22 3:40 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 51 8/31/22 3:40 PM
2022GRIDIRON.indd 52 8/31/22 3:40 PM
