Football 2015

PageO Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

PageP cllq_^ii=OMNR Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 =======================================================================================================================================================================

Coach hopes team can take next step toward title

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Greenwood High School had its most successful season in nearly 30 years in 2014.

GHS went 11-3 and came up one win short of its first state championship appearance since 1988, losing 21-0 to Noxubee County in the North 4A title game.

Even though the Bulldogs lost several key pieces from last season, Clinton Gatewood has hopes the Bulldogs can take the next step this season.

“I truly believe we have just as much talent this year, but it depends on if we mesh it together.

If we continue to work hard, this team can reach the next level and win a state championship,” said Gatewood, who has won three district titles in his first five seasons as Greenwood’s head coach.

“It will be harder this year because we’ll have a target on our backs after last year. We have a lot of confidence and experience.

Our guys have to stay hungry and not take folks for granted.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs will be without their top playmaker from 2014, quarterback Booker T. Chambers, who accounted for 3,261 total yards while passing for 28 touchdowns and running for nine more.

Gatewood enters the season counting on two players at the quarterback position — senior Javion Jones (6-1, 175) and junior Tranleson Tribblett (5-8, 150).

Jones was a standout receiver last season for the Bulldogs but has played some quarterback the last couple of years.

“We plan to use both in the opener (Friday) against Leflore County,” Gatewood said, “to get a feel for who can control the offense like we want them to.”

The Bulldogs got a recent boost at the position with the transfer of senior Demarius Ray (5-9, 175), a former signal caller for Leflore County who played at West Harrison on the Gulf Coast last sea-

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son.

The biggest question mark on offense comes up front where the Dogs must replace a trio of starters. Seniors Kryroslum Clark (6-1, 235) and Arcodes West (6-2, 255) return on the offensive line. Sophomore Marcus McDaniel (6-0, 195), senior Edwin Gray (5-10, 265) and junior Christian Henderson (6-5, 285) are expected to round out the starting five — with freshman Charles Brooks (5-10, 240), sophomore Quenterrius Banks (6-2, 250) and junior Zyrian Carradine (6-2, 250) providing key depth up front.

“We’ve got a good group of linemen who have been working their tales off. We need these guys to step up so we can spread the ball around to what we feel like is an outstanding group of skill players,” Gatewood said.

That group is led by senior JohnDerrick Smith (5-9, 175), a four-year starter at running back.

The two-time All-Commonwealth selection paced Greenwood in rushing a year ago with 831 yards on 158 carries and nine touchdowns. He also had 28 catches for 349 yards and one touchdown.

Junior Rico Owens (5-10, 200) has experience at running back and is also a pass-catching threat out of the backfield. Seniors Maurice Metcalf (5-9, 165) and Antavious Brown (5-8, 170) will also see action at running back.

The receiving corp, according to

Gatewood: DE should be on Dandy Dozen

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Greenwood High School coach Clinton Gatewood just knew this was the year the school would finally produce its first Dandy Dozen selection.

But the GHS head coach was shocked last month when 6-foot5, 230-pound senior defensive end Marquiss Spencer was snubbed by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger on its list of the top 12 high school players in the state.

“I was very surprised because Marquiss is very deserving.

Greenwood High has never had a Dandy Dozen, but we’ve been so close, this year with Marquiss and Sammie Epps in 2013,” Gatewood said. “That paper has never paid much attention to Mississippi Delta players anyway.”

Spencer, who already holds scholarship offers from Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi, saw his recruiting stock rise this summer when he was one of 20 out of 200 players from 18 different states to earn

Southern Elite All-Combine honors. The four-star prospect is, according to 247 Sports, the eighth-best overall prospect for the 2016 recruiting class and the 11th ranked defensive end in the nation.

Spencer is one of many talented defensive linemen in the state this year. Four of those — Jeffery Simmons of Noxubee County, Benito Jones of Wayne County, Raekwon Davis of Meridian and Kobe Jones of Starkville — all made the Dandy Dozen.

“When we talked about it, Marquiss was certainly disappointed because he felt like he proved himself this summer and last year with 25 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. He told me the Dandy Dozen was just something on paper in Jackson,” Gatewood said. “He plans to do his talking on the field. He has set a goal of 40 sacks this season.

“This has made him more hungry and humble and ready to work even harder.”

After finishing an English

File photo/Andy Lo

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Gatewood, is the deepest and most talented part of the team.

That group is led by a pair of AllCommonwealth performers — seniors Tyler Glass (6-2, 185) and Jemarcus Weatherall (6-2, 195).

Glass led the team in receptions in 2014 with 38 for 586 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, while Weatherall had 22 catches for 520 yards and seven TDs. Of course, Jones will play receiver some along with senior Danny Nevels (5-9, 165). Tribblett will see time at receiver also.

Standout senior defensive end Marquiss Spencer (6-5, 230) will be used at receiver as well as tight end after being used almost solely on defense last season.

Defensively, Spencer was a sack machine in 2014, finishing with 25. He also racked up 150 tackles and 32 tackles for loss to go along with five forced fumbles.

Spencer, a four-star prospect and the eighth ranked player overall in Mississippi’s class of 2016 by 247 Sports, leads a group of talented returning starters from a defense that allowed just 17 points a contest. The others are: senior linebackers Antwoine Williams (5-11, 175), Tarren Smith (6-0, 165) and LaDerek Noral (5-11, 195) and senior cornerback Jalen Stanley (5-10, 175).

Stanley earned All-Commonwealth honors last year as he recorded 34 solo tackles and 21 assists, intercepting five passes and deflecting four passes.

Junior Carl Jones (6-0, 210) has moved from linebacker to defensive end. Senior Joshua Hammond (6-0, 185) and junior Darren Gilbert (5-10, 165) will also see action at linebacker.

Senior Cortaveon Mack (6-3,

225) will see action at end.

Senior Tyler Swims (6-1, 330) and Gray will hold down the middle of the defense up front at the tackle spots. Hammond and Banks will also see action there.

Glass and Smith will play free safety and strong safety, respectively.

Freshman Jaylen Stanley (6-0, 190) and sophomore Timothy Morris (6-2, 205) will also see time at the safety spots.

Weatherall and freshman Vontedric Gray (6-1, 165) will also help out in the secondary.

The Bulldogs open the season Friday at home against crosscounty rival Leflore County. It’s the first of five non-conference games to open the season for Greenwood. n `çåí~Åí= _áää= _ìêêìë= ~í= RUNJ TOPT= çê= ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

RB Smith brings tough style to Dogs

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

File photo Andy Lo

dep=Åç~ÅÜ=`äáåíçå=d~íÉïççÇ=í~äâë=ïáíÜ=ÇÉÑÉåëáîÉ=ÉåÇ=j~êèìáëë péÉåÅÉê=ÇìêáåÖ=~=Ö~ãÉ=ä~ëí=ëÉ~ëçåK class in summer school last the GHS track team, ran a 4.51month, Spencer was reclassified second 40-yard dash at the from a junior to a senior for this Southern Elite Combine. school year.

Of course, that speed off the Spencer is 12th on the Missis- edge will keep opposing offensippi Gridiron magazine’s Super sive tackles up at night, but it 25, the publication’s ranking of could also cause problems for the top 25 high school football opposing defensive backs too players in Mississippi. because Gatewood says the athMississippi Gridiron writes: letic senior will also play tight “Spencer has had a slow start to end and receiver. the recruiting process because “He can do it all, and we plan he wasn’t classified as a high to utilize all of his skills in all school senior until recently. The areas of the game,” said the attention will quickly increase GHS coach. for Spencer.” n `çåí~Åí=_áää=_ìêêìë=~í=RUNJ Spencer, also a standout bas- TOPT= çê= ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ketball player and a member of ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

Greenwood High School coach Clinton Gatewood considers JohnDerrick Smith a throwback running back.

“He reminds me of the running backs we saw in the 1980s and early 1990s. When he gets in the open field, he’s not ducking and dodging; he’s looking to run you over,” Gatewood said of the 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior.

That’s how Smith grabbed the staring nod as a freshman.

When an injury Smith opened the door in preseason camp, Smith beat out a couple of seniors for the starting job.

“Pound for pound, I don’t think there is a tougher runner in Mississippi high school football,” Gatewood said. “He can run inside as well as outside and -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ SENIORI=m~ÖÉ=R

PageQ Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

McCarty wanting to see even more strides

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Tripp McCarty is pleased with the progress Pillow Academy made in his first season as head coach, but he wants much more in 2015.

The Mustangs ended a stretch of three straight losing seasons with a 7-4 mark, but the Mustangs again missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year.

“People around town were patting our guys on the shoulders about seven wins, but we expect a lot more than that,” said the second-year PA head coach. “That’s not to say we weren’t proud of the progress we made because we are, but we are by no means satisfied.”

Thanks to an impressive 5-0 start that included a win over Madison-Ridgeland Academy, the Mustangs were in position to end their frustrating postseason drought, but they lost their final two games — 13-9 to archrival Washington School and 31-0 to Starkville.

With the way things ended in 2014, McCarty says the Mustangs still have a sour taste in their mouth.

“We hit the weight room hard the Monday after that Starkville loss, and we’ve been working hard ever since to be a better football team.”

Of the four losses, the last was the only one Pillow didn’t have a chance to win. It lost 22-3 to Jackson Academy in a game that got away from the Mustangs in the

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final minutes. Then there was the 34-31 overtime loss to Magnolia Heights.

“We have to learn to finish games,” McCarty said.

Anything short of a state championship will be a disappointment, says the PA coach.

“It’s been too long since this school has been involved in the playoffs. We want to give this school and this community a home playoff game and then a state championship,” McCarty said. “This town has rallied around us, and we want to give them something special.”

The improved overall physical condition of the team is what McCarty is most pleased with this season.

“We feel like we’ve got more kids who can play football because kids have gotten bigger, stronger and faster through a really good weight program run by coach (Mike) Beagle.”

Offensively, the Mustangs

return four offensive linemen from a run-heavy unit that averaged nearly 28 points a contest.

That group is led by junior Haynes Camp, a 6-foot-4, 270pounder who earned first-team All-North AAA honors as a sophomore.

Seniors Sam Henry Farmer (60, 200) and Ethan Reichle (5-10, 200) anchor the line and give the Mustangs good athleticism at the guard positions. Junior Jacob Garrard (5-9, 235) returns at center.

“We are very fortunate to have such a good group of linemen returning. These guys have been through the wars in there. They have proven what they can do,” said the Pillow coach.

Senior Matt Miller (6-1, 245) will likely hold down the right tackle spot, with junior Walt Pillow (6-1, 185) and seniors Garner Fincher (5-8, 205) and Hunter Jones (5-10, 210) providing key depth up front.

Sophomore Matthew Ruscoe (5-9, 200) and junior Logan Tucker (5-9, 185) are also working on the offensive line.

Junior Cole Whitfield (5-11, 190) will be at quarterback after gaining more experience at that position in the final games of last season. He has been battling some knee swelling during preseason camp but played well in a recent preseason scrimmage.

Whitfield completed 33 of 62 passes for 442 yards and three touchdowns in 2014. He also ran --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ MUSTANGSI=m~ÖÉ=R

Senior linemen serve as key leaders

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Sam Henry Farmer and Ethan Reichle aren’t prototypical high school offensive linemen from a size standpoint, but they make up for it with hustle and desire.

Farmer, a 6-foot, 200pounder, and Reichle, a 510, 200-pounder, are both seniors and key returnees along the Mustangs’ offensive front this season. They both play guard and will also see action at defensive end.

PA head coach Tripp McCarty says Reichle plays with a high motor.

“He’s the only player on this team we’ve had to tell to slow down in practice,” McCarty said. “He is obviously a little undersized for his position, but Ethan did a great job in the weight room adding some bulk and strength. He’s now one of our stronger kids, with a bench press of 260 pounds and 440-pound squat and a 250-pound clean.

“He is a kid with great character who goes about things the right way.”

Like Farmer, Reichle has proven to be an unselfish player.

“If we had some bigger linemen, they could go play fullback today,” McCarty said, “but we don’t have that luxury. These guys have to do what’s best for the team.”

Both players also don’t

take their roles as senior leaders lightly.

“Sam and I are both vocal guys, but it’s more to being a leader than just talking. You’ve got to be able to back up that talk with hard work and effort, and that’s what we try to do,” Reichle said.

“We try to help the youngers guys the best we can because we’ve been through it all out there,” Farmer said. “We’re looking for a good season from all of the guys up front. We know a lot of our success as an offense depends on what we do.”

Farmer played through a nagging shoulder injury last season and had surgery in January for a torn labrum.

“Sam had some good moments last year while playing injured. We expect big things from him this year while healthy,” McCarty said. “It’s a pleasure to coach guys like Sam and Ethan because you never have to worry about those two revving things up when the lights come on.

“We want to play a physical brand of football, and it helps to have two seniors up front who embrace that mentality.”

Farmer said it’s a pleasure to be playing alongside Reichle for a third straight year.

“Ethan brings a lot of spark to our team. He plays and practices with

File photo Andy Lo

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PageR cllq_^ii=OMNR Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 =======================================================================================================================================================================

Tigers ready to prowl after shortened season

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

Sherrod Gideon believes the 2014 season, in which Leflore County High School’s football team went 0-5, is going to pay off as the 2015 campaign gets started Friday night.

The Tigers kick off their fifth season with Gideon at the helm at Greenwood High School at 7 p.m. Friday.

Leflore County was limited to five games because of the state control of the Leflore County School District. The Tigers were not eligible for the playoffs and did not play their first game until Oct. 3. To top things off, a few players left the program, most notably starting quarterback

Demarius Ray, who transferred to West Harrison High School for his junior year. Ray is back in Leflore County but now at Greenwood High School.

“The first year of the takeover (2013), we couldn’t go to the playoffs even though we were one of the better teams in the district.

We got a late start to the season last year, and other teams had a big head start on us. Then we had several kids leave the program,” said Gideon. “It was a devastating situation. We went through a lot of things the last two years, but one plus from last season is that we played a lot of young kids who gained some valuable experience.

“It’s going to help us this season. I know it was only five

games, but these young kids have been put through the fire. They understand the challenges that face them. We used last season to teach a lot of fundamentals. We got a freshman quarterback some experience, and he is looking good in practice. He has a better understanding of the offense. His arm strength has improved, and he sees things a lot better.”

The Tigers struggled offensively in their first four games of 2014. They lost their opener 37-6 to East Side and then fell 24-6 to O’Bannon. Ruleville claimed a 34-6 victory, and Holmes Central topped Leflore 32-0 in the fourth game.

The finale was the Tigers’ best performance as they lost 24-20 to Humphreys County.

“Maybe these kids learned some valuable lessons from last year. Things in life can be a lot harder, but we took it in stride and took our punishment. We took some bad losses in district play, and teams took advantage of our late start and inexperience.

That’s fine because I believe brighter days are ahead,” said Gideon.

Gideon didn’t shy away from scheduling tough competition before they begin play in Region 3-2A. Reclassification dropped Leflore from 3A to the 2A ranks.

“We are ahead of schedule because of the playing time these guys received last year. This may be one of the most talented teams we’ve had here since 2011. I know with young guys we are going to

go through ups and downs,” Gideon added. “We’ve got a tough schedule, but I don’t think we get ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ LEFLOREI=m~ÖÉ=S

and realized that education is just as important as the game. It was a valuable lesson on and off the field,” said Smith, who is a 6-foot2, 190-pound two-way starter for the Tigers this season.

“I gave it thought to leaving, but I stuck it out because I believe scouts will look at the fact I handled the adversity and Smith stayed here instead of leaving. I wanted to show everyone I was dedicated to this team.”

Smith made the most of his summer as he attended camps at Mississippi State and Louisiana-

Lafayette. He said coaches really like his size as a cornerback.

“I can play on both sides of the ball, but I prefer cornerback. I’m more of an all-around athlete who can cover the big receivers on the other team,” Smith said. “Alcorn State and Hinds have expressed interest in me playing cornerback. Of course, my dream is to play at Mississippi State.

“I’m looking at college for a better education. It’s like a business decision. I want to make myself a better person and build for the future. It’s sort of the way I look at my senior year. From 7:30 to 3, I’m a student. After that, I hit the field for practice to start the second part of my day. It’s an investment in my future.”

Leflore County fifth-year head

coach Sherrod Gideon knows he has quite the player in Smith.

“Kevayon has great size and athletic ability. He’s been doing everything right by taking on a leadership role and working hard in practice and during the summer,” said Gideon. “He’s stayed busy by attending camps. With his size, he’s going to be very valuable at cornerback. He’ll be able to match up with the best receiver on the other team. He’ll play wide receiver for us also, and I know he’s going to make some big catches, but we know his best chance to make it on the next level is going to be at corner.”

The Tigers open their 2015 season Friday against Greenwood High School at Bulldog Stadium.

The Tigers will actually be the

home team for the Cedric McSwine Classic.

“I know a lot of the Greenwood players. It hurt us not to be able to play them last year, but we are coming in with a different mindset and attitude about this season,” Smith said. “Everybody on this team is believing we can get the job done this year. The senior leadership and playing a full schedule have made this team hungry for success.

“The spirit during practice is so different. Last year was tough on everybody involved. We practiced for the longest before we ever got to play a game. It’s just a short time before we hit the field, and we’re all pumped about that.” n `çåí~Åí= `~äîáå= píÉîÉåë= ~í ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

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Smith glad he stuck through tough times at LC

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

Leflore County High School’s Kevayon Smith figures he earned the respect of players, coaches, fans and scouts after what the team went through in 2014.

Leflore County’s football team was limited to five games because of the state takeover of the Leflore County School District. The Tigers posted an 0-5 record as they were outscored 151-38.

Smith said he considered leaving Leflore before the season started and attending another school in another state. However, he felt staying would mean more in the long run.

“It was a hard season last year, but I think we all pulled together

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`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=Q -----------------------------------------------------------------38 times for 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

He will be joined in the backfield by senior fullback Will Jennings (6-1, 215) and junior tailback John Madison Brooks (6-1, 185). Jennings, also the backup quarterback, ran for 212 yards and six touchdowns on 37 carries last season, while Brooks had 401 yards and seven TDs on 70 attempts.

McCarty likes the depth seniors Dylan Foster (5-10, 210) and Carter Kimes (6-0, 190) bring at fullback, along with junior Peyton Turner (5-8, 145) and sophomore A.J. Woodard (5-8, 145) and at tailback.

“We really like this group of backs. If they stay healthy, it will be the deepest part of our team,” McCarty said.

Senior Michael Davis (5-10, 185) will be at tight end, while seniors Bailey Mangrum (5-11, 170), Michael Howard (5-10, 160) and Gabe Reifers (5-10, 170) will be at receiver along with juniors Hayden Rideout (5-9, 145) and Woods Rose (6-2, 150).

Sophomores Eli Burton (5-9, 135) and Smith Lyon (5-8, 125) and juniors Koby Brisco (5-9, 155) and Grayson Quinn (5-10, 140) are also listed as receivers.

“Our backs and receivers look like they are in a different gear.

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They’ve come a long way in a year,” McCarty said.

The Mustang offense showed a big jump in McCarty’s first season but did struggle with consistency, averaging just four points a contest in losses to JA, Washington and Starkville.

Defensively, the Mustangs’ 35 attack is led by Jennings at linebacker and senior Caleb Giachelli (5-10, 200) at nose guard.

Jennings earned All-Commonwealth honors last season after leading the Mustangs with nine tackles per contest and recording 6.5 tackles for loss.

Giachelli was a second-team all-conference selection last

season after leading al PA defensive linemen with 53 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss.

Camp, junior Will Higgason (5-9, 210) and senior Gardner Fincher (5-8, 205) will see action at nose guard.

Farmer, Reichle, Pillow and senior Luke Cannon (6-1, 185) will play at the two end positions.

Kimes and Foster will join Jennings at the inside linebacker spots, while Howard, Reifers, sophomore Luke Fondren (5-10, 165) and senior Clayton Harper (6-2, 190) are battling for time at the two outside linebacker spots.

Davis, junior Collin Short (5-

8, 210) and sophomores Hunter Upchurch (5-9, 200) and Dawson Clark (5-8, 155) will provide depth at the inside linebacker positions.

In the secondary, Brooks and Turner will be at cornerback along with Rose. Mangrum will start at free safety, with Rideout backing him up.

“We’ve got some young guys fighting hard for spots on both sides of the ball, and it’s great to have that kind of competition,” McCarty said.

“That kind of competition will only make us a better football team.” n `çåí~Åí=_áää=_ìêêìë=~í=RUNJ TOPT= çê= ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=P ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------has great hands as a receiver out of the backfield.”

Smith earned All-Commonwealth honors for a second straight year in 2014 after leading the team in rushing for a third straight season, totalling 831 yards and nine touchdowns on 158 carries. He also had 28 grabs for 349 yards and one touchdown.

He ran for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns on 154 carries as a sophomore and had eight catches for 128 yards — giving him 2,282 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns so far in his career at GHS. Smith will likely share carries with junior Rico Owens, but Gatewood says there will be plenty of chances for Smith to make plays. According to the coach, Smith may line up some at quarterback in a Wildcat package and may be used more in the passing game.

Although Smith isn’t a real vocal guy, Gatewood considers the senior a true leader for the Bulldogs.

“He doesn’t say a lot. But when he speaks, everyone knows he means business,” Gatewood said. “We’re expecting big things on and off the field from JohnDerrick. He has a special gift because he has the ability to get people to follow him.

“He’s been a special part of this team for a while now. He’s very coachable and a yes-sir, no-sir kind of kid.”

Gatewood says Smith is receiving good interest from several Mississippi community colleges as well as Southwestern Athletic Conference teams. n `çåí~Åí= _áää= _ìêêìë= ~í= RUNJTOPT= çê ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

PageS Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

New coach brings new life to team

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

Out with the old, in with the new.

Amanda Elzy’s football program has started 2015 under new leadership as Andrew Davis is now calling the shots for the Panthers. Davis is a former Greenwood High School player and assistant coach. He was named the head coach at the end of March, replacing Eric House, who served in the same position for seven straight years.

House is now on staff at Leflore County High School as a teacher and assistant football coach. Elzy, which was under state control the past two years, posted a 1-4 record in 2014, winning its regular season finale 2-0 over Yazoo City High School.

“There’s no talk of last year around here. We don’t talk about it or focus on it. We are thinking positive and moving forward.

Everything is different from the coaches to the attitudes to the players. We are looking to compete this year,” said Davis, who is in his first stint as a head coach.

Davis worked at Greenwood from 2009-2011 with the junior high team and coaching the defensive backs for the Bulldogs.

He taught at Clarksdale High School from 2012-2013 and then started the 2014 school year at Leland High School. After four months, he asked for a release from his contract at Leland and joined the staff at Elzy in December 2014.

From day one as head coach, Davis said changing the way things were done was a top priority.

“Repetition. We may do the

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same things every day, but we want to do them and get better as a team. If it’s lifting weights or running, our goal is to be better at it the next day. I felt we had to make changes to be successful.

The coaches I have on staff are dedicated and motivated. We can’t just talk it; we have to lead by example,” said Davis.

“The No. 1 thing is education. I believe the last two years have taught these young men that education comes first. I want them to get their education first and also be dedicated, motivated and show leadership on and off the field. Character is another big thing. It reflects on me. I’ve got to show them that you can have character no matter what you are doing.

“These young men are buying into what we are doing. It’s the only way to run a successful program. The coaches must be on the same page from the junior high to the high school team. I can tell from the summer workouts and the first few days of practice these guys want to be here and they want to change. They want to win, and they are understanding

what it’s going to take to have success.”

Davis has brought in several new faces to serve as assistant coaches. Tim Johnson joins Elzy’s staff as defensive coordinator. He comes to Greenwood from West Tallahatchie and played collegiately at Delta State.

Brandon Davis is back at Elzy after spending last year at Greenville Weston. Davis, who played at GHS and Albany State, will work with the offensive line.

Derrick Hemphill, a former player at Elzy and Mississippi Valley State, will oversee the defensive line.

Chris Watkins, another former Panther and Delta Devil, returns to his hometown to serve as offensive coordinator. He played pro-

fessionally overseas.

Anthony Williams returns on staff and will coach the wide receivers. Henry Fant III, a former Elzy quarterback, will coach the linebackers, and Howard Lowe Sr., who played at Greenwood and Mississippi Delta, will coach the defensive backs.

“I’m going to let them coach.

Coach Johnson brings a great deal of knowledge to the defensive side of the ball. He is very hands on and shows them the correct way to do things,” Davis said. “I wanted some good men to be around these players. Mr. (Charles) Brown, our athletic director, and Mr. Joe Griffin, our principal, said ‘Let’s go get good people,’ and that’s what we did.”

The Panthers were reclassified

from 4A to 3A for the next two years. Elzy will be competing in Region 3 with East Side, Velma Jackson, Humphreys County, Ruleville and Yazoo County.

“East Side will be the team to beat. They are a physical group.

They do a lot of weight lifting and conditioning,” said Davis. “There is some tough football in 3A. We have to be prepared to play every night.”

Senior Vidarius Maggitt returns to lead the Panthers at quarterback. He’s being backed up by sophomore Deontae Howard and freshman Devin Donley. Working at tailback are juniors Deontae Watkins and Dearius Swims and sophomore ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ ELZYI=m~ÖÉ=T

Jones is a 5-111/2, 210-pound left guard/defensive tackle for Elzy this season.

The team only played five games because of the state takeover of the Leflore County School District. The Panthers were not eligible for the playoffs and did not play their first game

until Sept. 19 against crosstown rival Greenwood High School, a 34-0 loss. The Panthers managed to win their finale, a 2-0 decision over Yazoo City High School, to close at 1-4.

“It was very hard to stay focused. We practiced for six weeks before we ever got to play a

game. We played our first game and then we had to wait another two weeks to play another game.

It was tough on the entire team,” said Jones, who played mainly on the offensive line as a junior.

“This year is going to be different. We have new coaches and the players are more motivated.

Coach (Andrew) Davis motivates us each day. He starts off with a Scripture from the Bible and prays with us. He’s a good role model. I think we’ve all bought in to what he’s doing. We’re looking forward to playing an entire sea----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ JONESI=m~ÖÉ=T

looked good in the spring game,” said Gideon.

Gideon is placing the offense in the hands of Darius McClung, a sophomore. He started last sea`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=R ------------------------------------------------------------------------- son and finished with 240 yards passing on 33 of 83 attempts with any better by scheduling cup- one touchdown and 10 intercepcakes. Our first four games are on tions. He had two rushing touchthe road. We play two big rivalry downs. games in Greenwood and Elzy, “Darius is becoming one of the and we play at Charleston and leaders of the team even though Tunica also. We’re going to get he is only a sophomore. He’s still tested early.” learning, but he has a good grasp The Tigers complete their non- of the offense. We are going to go district part of their schedule with up-tempo as much as we can. He home games against Gentry and can thrive in this offense with the Philadelphia. receivers we have on the field,” Region 3 consists of West Boli- Gideon said. var, Leland, South Delta, RiverSenior Willie “Quad” Hilliard is side and O’Bannon. the backup to McClung. In limit“Class 2A has some tough ed action last season, he completteams. It’s going to be a battle in ed 16 of 25 passes for 200 yards the district. We know all of these with two touchdowns. Hilliard teams. It’ll be a dog fight each suffered a torn ACL in the reguweek. West Bolivar is back to lar season finale in 2014 and likedoing things the old way with ly will be available by the start of huge linemen, and South Delta district in October.

Senior Frager McCline moves from receiver to tailback this season. In Leflore’s offense, he will still be catching a good many balls out of the backfield.

Working at receiver for Gideon are seniors Kevayon Smith and Andraus Griggs, juniors Xavier Manning, Jeremy Murry and Antonio Jones.

Expected starters on offensive line are sophomore Keshun Vance at left tackle, sophomore Ray York at left guard, senior Tavares Carter at center, senior Daryon Dunlap at right guard and senior Marquavius Bruce at right tackle. Freshman Albert Jackson could also get some playing time.

The defense spearheaded by seniors Cedric Cross, Ashton Freeman and Jarvis Ross, and junior Tevin Grays. The linebackers are senior Lamarkovic Dixon, and juniors Justin Cole and Ryan Stewart.

The secondary consists of

Andy Lo

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Elzy lineman thankful to be playing full slate of games

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

The 2014 football season is one the Amanda Elzy players, coaches and supporters would just as soon forget.

Count Justin Jones in that mix.

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Andy Lo

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Freshmen Will Gates and Trayshon Lowe will provide depth on the line.

Gideon is assisted by former Elzy head coach Eric House, who will coach defense, Kalvin Ivory, Jeremy Smith and Tavares Gideon.

“I don’t think teams are going

to overlook us because we competed last year, and they expect us to get rolling again this season,” said Gideon. “We can move the football. We have good speed and athletic ability. We’ve got a tough early schedule, but it’s only going to help get us better. We need to avoid injuries and stick with the plan. We need to keep our minds right. We are going to bounce back.” n `çåí~Åí= `~äîáå= píÉîÉåë= ~í ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

PageT cllq_^ii=OMNR Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 =======================================================================================================================================================================

Burton working to build up program

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

NORTH CARROLLTON — J.Z. George High School head coach Ben Burton will be the first to tell you that one good season does not make a program.

It takes consistency from coaches and players and winning on a yearly basis. That’s what Burton, who is in his second year at the helm of the Jaguars, is striving for.

The Jaguars were 7-6 in 2014, finished second in Region 3-2A and made it to the second round of the North State playoffs. Their season ended with a 39-6 loss to Bruce.

“We knew at the beginning that we had a shot to have a good team. From day one, if we played the way we were capable of playing, we had a chance to win seven to nine games. We were an injury and about six fumbles away from being 8-3 in the regular season instead of 6-5,” said Burton. “We fumbled five times inside the 20yard line against Leake County and still gained over 400 yards.

We went through four quarterbacks against Leland and still had a chance to win the game.

“We played Simmons with our starting quarterback out because of the injury, and we weren’t very competitive against East Webster. People are starting to realize we are not the same J.Z. George team you schedule for homecoming. The mindset had to change.

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We had a taste of success. When the football team wins, it gets the community and parents involved.

Last year’s success allows us to build this program. We are no longer a doormat where other teams come in and wipe their feet with us. We want our kids to hit people in the mouth and know they’ve been in a football game.”

J.Z. George started 2014 with a 3-1 record but suffered three straight losses to Leake County (20-19), East Webster (38-7) and Leland (14-12). The Jags rebounded to beat South Delta 16-2 to even their district record at 1-1. After a 43-16 loss to Simmons, the Jaguars knocked off Riverside 42-8 and West Bolivar 18-0 to close at 3-2 in league play.

The first round of the playoffs was a 37-7 thumping of Hatley.

Against Bruce, Burton had to go to a backup quarterback when Toby Brown went down with a

Calvin Stevens

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The Jaguars start their trek to a second straight winning season as they kick off Friday night at home against Noxapater High School.

J.Z. George stayed in the 2A ranks during reclassification, but moved over to Region 2 with Coahoma AHS, Coahoma County, Strayhorn and West Tallahatchie.

“I really like the way this district sets up. The top four go to the playoffs, but our goal is to win the district championship,” Burton said. “Our non-district schedule is tough. We are going to be tested, but it will help get us prepared for district. We play Noxapater, Philadelphia and Eupora in non-

district games. It’s definitely going to test our abilities.”

Burton has several new coaches on staff this season. Doyle Ellett will be the defensive coordinator. Ellett, who has been out of coaching for six years, spent a number of years at Charleston High School coaching defense.

Also new to the staff are Bill Stewart, who came over from Winona High School and will coach the offensive line; Daymond Knight, who comes from Eupora and will coach the defensive backs and receivers; and Fredrick Fluker, who will assist with the running backs and defensive backs.

Marshall Guess, a former Jaguar, returns to coach the

defensive line, handle strength and conditioning and coach the junior high team.

The Jaguars’ offense will be led into battle by junior Caleb Hunt, who mainly played receiver last year. J.Z. George will run from a double-slot formation, and Burton believes Hunt is the man for the job.

Backing up Hunt are junior Greg Smith and freshman Montavious Jenkins.

Junior Darren McLemore is at fullback, and working at wingback/running back are sophomore Josh Wiggins, Jenkins, junior De’Angelo Jobe and sophomore Tyrus Thomas.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ JAGSI=m~ÖÉ=U

Big lineman could make impact on both sides of ball

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

NORTH CARROLLTON — Thomas Rias may turn out to be J.Z. George High School’s most valuable player by the end of the 2015 football season.

Rias is a 5-foot-10, 263pound beast for the Jaguars, who open Friday night at home against Noxapater High School at Farris Jenkins Field.

Rias will play on both sides of the ball for secondyear head coach Ben Burton at center and defensive tackle. This will be his

gçåÉë

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=S --------------------------------------------------------------season and being on the field on Aug. 21.”

The Panthers kick off their 2015 campaign on the 21st at Lanier High School in Jackson.

“Justin has a tremendous work ethic. I coached him in the seventh and eighth grade at Greenwood Middle School.

He has a good football mind, and he’s accepted a leadership role. He keeps the offensive line intact, and he serves as a coach on the field,” said Davis, who is in his first year at the helm of the Elzy program.

“The kids are accepting a new way of doing things, and the coaches we have on staff

fourth year to start for the Jaguars.

“I can tell you this about Thomas: We can’t block him in practice when he’s o n defense.

He’s so quick off the ball and so strong.

Rias He just blows past our second-team linemen. That may not be saying much, but he’s going to disrupt a lot of plays because of his speed and

strength,” said Burton, who guided the Jaguars to the second round of the playoffs and a 7-6 record in 2014.

“I know we don’t get a lot of kids looked at out here, but Thomas can play for someone in junior college or Division II or Division III on the defensive line,” added Burton. “We tried him at left guard during the spring, but he’s too valuable at center. He wants to play the position, and he understands what needs to be done.”

The Jaguars ran from the I-formation last year, but have switched to a dou-

are upbeat about doing their jobs. Justin is one of those who is a very good kid on and off the field.”

Jones has worked hard this summer preparing his body to go both ways.

“I’ve worked on my strength and my blocking skills as an offensive lineman, and I’m working hard on being more aggressive on defense. I want to make a name for myself and do all I can to help my teammates and this team achieve our goals,” Jones said.

Jones Jones said the 13 or so seniors on this year’s team have discussed those goals.

“We want to win the district championship and make the

ble-wing/slot formation.

For Rias, it just means new blocking assignments from his center position.

“I’ll still be calling out when a blitz coming and making sure each linemen knows what they are supposed to be doing, but I’ll be blocking different people depending on the play we run,” said Rias, who said coaches graded him out at 75 percent at the end of last season.

“I spent a lot of time lifting weights, running and pushing the blocking sled this summer. I want to be a better football player. It’s

playoffs. We want to put Elzy football back on the map. We want to show Elzy can play football. When people think of Greenwood, all they hear about is Greenwood High School. We want them to know about Amanda Elzy’s football team,” added Jones.

“This is my last year at Elzy. I think other teams need to be aware of Elzy. We are working very hard to get better. We plan on showing people what we’ve worked on this summer.

“The first game against Lanier is the biggest game of the season on the schedule right now. Coach has us believing in ourselves. Guys are here at 7:15 in the morning lifting and running. It’s going to be different this season.” n `çåí~Åí=`~äîáå=píÉîÉåë=~í ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåïÉ~äíÜKÅ çãK

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just me and Shaquille Morris returning on the offensive line, so we’ve got to pick up our game and help lead these other guys,” added Rias. “The offensive line looked good during the spring. We inserted a new offense and ran a lot of new plays.

“We need to build off what we did last year.

Every guy out here has been working hard lifting weights and running. We’re listening to our coaches.

The mentality of our team has changed. We don’t just talk about winning a game or two. We talk about mak-

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jamario Turner. Turner and senior Devonta Lehaman are working at fullback.

Davis has several working at wide receiver/slot back. Juniors Jakoyrin Radford, Watkins and Emmanuel Williams along with senior Victor Weathers lead the way.

Others include senior Tommy Wright, freshman Tredarius Middleton, junior Wright Tamarkus Martin, and sophomores Emmanuel Austin and Tracy Rosebud.

Expected starters on the offensive line are sophomore Christopher Glass

ing the playoffs and reaching the championship round.”

The Jaguars lost 13 seniors from last year’s team, and some other key contributors are no longer with the team. However, Rias and his fellow seniors are confident they can help lead the Jaguars back to the playoffs.

“The team work ethic is important. Our defense is going to be very tough on other teams to move the ball,” said Rias, who added he’d love the opportunity to play football on the next level.

at center, junior Jonathan Bradley at left guard, junior Galen McMillian at right guard, senior Justin Jones at right tackle, and sophomore Dontrez McMillian at left tackle.

Also working on the line are senior Maurice Collins, junior Damian Hunt and freshman Willie Green.

The defensive front includes senior Kelon Fletcher and juniors Devonta Stovall, Perry Moore and Hunt.

Working at linebacker are seniors Clarence Lowe Jr., Henry Stevenson, Charles Johnson and Tyrell Stigler, junior Brian Gary, sophomore Joseph Greer, and freshmen Marquavius Williams and Tredarius Rosebud.

The secondary consists of Wright at free safety, junior Darian Johnson at strong safety, and Swims and sophomore Jay Thomas at cornerback.

The Panthers open their 2015 campaign Friday night at Lanier High School in Jackson. n `çåí~Åí= `~äîáå= píÉîÉåë= ~í ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

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Delta Streets needs to put up points in 8-man PageU Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

T. Mac Howard, the head coach of the Delta Streets Academy football team, has a simple philosophy when it comes to competing in the 8-man league in the MAIS. “You have to outscore the other team and get one or two stops on defense. You have to keep scoring.

There is no mercy rule. I know the scores are crazy in this league, but we had one game last year where it was 35-35 after the first quarter and we lost 82-38,” said Howard, whose squad went 3-5 in 2014 playing as an independent.

The big difference this year for the Lions is that they are playing in a district — District 1E — with Marvell (Ark.), North Sunflower, Strider and Delta Academy. All teams in Class A play in the 8man football league. Knowing they have something to play for has Howard’s young team hyped about the season.

g~Öë

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=T ------------------------------------------------Burton likes his group of receivers. They include seniors Kelvin Adams and Broderick Elam and juniors Javarcea Thomas and Tremel Branch. Wiggins will also line up at tight end.

The offensive line is

“I’m excited about playing in a district and being able to compete for a championship. It’s going to be a good competitive district, and we are going to be tested by several teams. The guys are excited about the season and the expectations,” said Howard. “Last year, we knew it was going to be rough. It was our first year competing on the high school level. I learned a lot of things about 8-man football.

I Howard learned some plays work really well and some don’t.

“We were playing with all ninth- and 10th-graders last year.

We don’t have a lot of numbers, but the guys we do have out are a year older and are a lot stronger.

The weights we acquired last year have paid off. We have guys who are starting to look like football players. We had some quick-

led by seniors Thomas Rias and Shaquille Morris. Other expected starters are senior Colby Johnson and juniors Devonte Ward, John Clardy and Austin Arnold.

Burton is optimistic and hopeful the defense will be able to shut down the opposing team’s run game.

“We should be very strong across the defensive line. We return

ness last year, but we weren't very strong physically. I think teams are going to see a big difference in the way we look this year.”

Delta Streets is just in its second year playing on the high school level. Howard’s first two teams (2012-2013) played just junior high football.

“There was such a difference last year with us playing against seniors and juniors. We learned we weren’t in very good shape, but that’s changing. The game has also got simpler for them.

They are having fun because they understand what needs to be done,” Howard said. “These guys enjoy 8-man football as much as they do 11-man football. It’s an exciting and fast-paced game.

The nucleus of our team is back from last year. We lost a couple of kids, so we are probably going to dress 12-14 players. We’ll have a few ninth-graders who will help us out on defense and give some of the offensive guys a breather.”

Expected starters on the offen-

eight starters on defense, and if we fill a couple of spots, we have the potential to be pretty good on that side of the ball,” Burton said.

Working across the line are Rias, Morris, Johnson, Arnold, sophomore Terek Townsend, and Wiggins and Ward at end.

Junior Justin Randle leads the linebacking corps.

Others working at LB

are Clardy, freshman J.J. Rias, Jenkins and junior Ethan King.

Adams, Smith, Jobe, junior Marquavious Walls and sophomore Xavier Hammond are working at safety, and T. Thomas, J. Thomas and senior Devin Wilkerson are working at cornerback. n `çåí~Åí= `~äîáå píÉîÉåë= ~í ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

sive side of the ball for the Lions have junior Derek Brown at quarterback, junior Nicholaus Higgins and sophomore Stephen Metcalf at running back, sophomore Dominick Brown and freshman Curtis Williams at slotback, and junior Jaylin Smith and sophomores Jalen Bedell and Kwatravius Johnson on the offensive line.

Johnson is listed at 6-foot-7, 340, and Bedell is 6-foot-2, 263.

Smith is 5-7, 171.

As a sophomore, Higgins ran for 1,535 yards on 92 carries and scored 19 touchdowns. He also had eight 2-point conversion runs and caught 13 passes for 283

yards and seven touchdowns.

Other players who will contribute for Delta Streets include freshmen Cameron Ervin, Jakevian McCaster, Narada Smith and Kosek Silas.

The Lions posted a 3-5 record in 2014. They opened with a 56-14 loss to Marvell but rebounded the next week to beat Unity Christian Academy 38-34. They also beat Delta 44-38 and Rebul Academy 58-54 during the season.

Delta Streets opens its 2015 campaign Saturday at Unity Christian at 6 p.m. All 11 of its games will be on the road. n `çåí~Åí= `~äîáå= píÉîÉåë= ~í ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

PageV cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015

Off 0-10 season, coach says team will be better

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

CARROLLTON — Bo Milton isn’t making any bold predictions about wins, losses and championships in his first season as Carroll Academy’s football coach, but he is making one promise.

“We may not win any more games than they did last year, but we will be better. I can promise you that,” said Milton, who is also serving as Carroll’s headmaster this year.

The Rebels suffered through an 0-10 campaign in 2014 that included two head coaches and enough poor play and attitudes to last a lifetime. Jimmy McGregor started the season as the head coach and only lasted three games. He was recovering from heart surgery and was never 100 percent with his health.

Carroll got off to an 0-3 start and was outscored 137-7. Following McGregor’s resignation, Ted Ferretti, his assistant, stepped in as head coach and tried to install a few new looks and gradually make some changes. However, the Rebels weren’t close in any of their remaining six games, going 0-6 and being outscored 322-42.

That makes for a 459-49 difference in points allowed and points scored for the season.

“We are not going to dwell on the past. I told the guys doing things their way got them an 0-10 record. ‘We know what your way got you.’ I said my way may not get us any more wins, but they

are buying into what we are selling,” said Milton, who has previous stops at Winston Academy for three years, Parklane Academy for four years, Brookhaven Academy for two years and Tri-County Academy for nine years.

“We are still so far behind.

It’s little things.

The understanding of the game is lacking with so many of our players,” added Milton, who joined the Milton Carroll Academy staff in January. “We need each program and each coach, from the peewee team to the high school team, to be on the same page. I only have two assistant coaches on staff, and they are going to handle the junior high program as well as assist with the high school team.”

Milton is assisted by Chad Crowe and Tommy Acy. He added that Eddie Jones handles the peewee program, which Milton said is vital to Carroll growing in football.

“It may be a roller coaster every year, but I feel we are moving in the right direction. We may pick up a few athletes from year to year, and our numbers show we had an increase in overall attendance this year,” Milton added.

“We’ve got to get consistency in our program. The kids need to see that they have someone as their head coach who is committed to

them. There is still a lack of trust, and I know I have to earn that trust and their respect.

“There is so much teaching going on. We may not do a lot of contact in practice because of our low numbers. We only have 19 healthy bodies out right now. I’d love to be able to hit every day, but one year at Tri-County we were in the same situation and we didn’t do a lot of hitting in practice and we went 12-2. Right now, we are teaching fundamentals. Blocking and tackling are two things I believe in doing right.”

Milton inherits a program that will be competing in District 2AA. Carroll was bumped up from Class A in 2014. The Rebels will tangle with Deer Creek, Winona Christian, Oak Hill and Columbus Christian in their football district.

“Winona is probably going to be the team to beat. Columbus Christian and Oak Hill are right behind them. I like this district and the way our schedule sets up.

We are playing teams we can compete with. With our low numbers, we don’t need to be playing big AA and AAA schools,” said Milton. “We go into this season with some good athletes and three really strong running backs. Our offensive line is pretty big for our size school. It’s not going to be a secret that we are going to line up and run the football. We may throw in 10 passes a game.”

Milton is going to rely heavily on the three-headed running-

back monster of Jake Liddell, Cole Lake Streater and Bailey Howard. Liddell played tailback and Howard fullback last season.

Streater also saw playing time in the backfield.

Liddell is the smallest of the three at 5-11, 210. Streater is 6-2, 225, and Howard is 6-0, 260.

They will be running behind an offensive line that has three seniors, one junior and one sophomore. Peyton Weems (6-2, 275, senior) will start at left tackle, and Mason Greenlee (6-4, 290, senior) will start at right tackle.

Parker Jennings (5-10, 250, senior) will anchor the line at center.

Junior Rhett Brewer (6-0, 180) will be at left guard, and sophomore Andrew Montgomery (5-10, 300) will be at right guard.

Milton will be breaking in a new quarterback in sophomore Jacob Randle (5-10, 180).

“I’ve told Jacob the No. 1 thing we want to accomplish after each play is to still have the football.

We eventually want to score, but we want to make sure we don’t turn the ball over,” Milton said.

“We have the backs, and the offensive line is still learning our system. They are getting better.

The scrimmages and jamborees we have played in are going to help us before we kick off the season.”

Carroll starts Friday night at home against Desoto, Ark. Expected to start on offense at split end are junior Dallen Dunn (5-9, 145) and sophomore Jacob

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Cutts (5-10, 175).

The defensive side of the ball will have juniors Abel Ezell (6-5, 205) and Luke Womble (5-11, 185) at end. Senior Conner Stephenson (6-0, 220) will play nose guard.

Liddell and sophomore Bubba Porter (5-9, 165) will be at outside linebacker, and Howard and Streater will be at middle linebacker. The secondary consists of Cutts at strong safety, Dunn at free safety, and sophomores Hunter Robertson (5-9, 165) and Austin Merriweather (5-9, 175) at cornerback.

“We have four sophomores and a junior who didn’t play last year.

With only 19 players, everybody will have to play. We have several different starters on defense. I think we are going to be decent on defense. If we can stop the run, we have a shot at having success.

These guys are showing improvement,” said Milton. n `çåí~Åí= `~äîáå= píÉîÉåë= ~í ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

Coach impressed with Howard’s leadership, attitude

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

CARROLLTON — Carroll Academy head coach Bo Milton has a player in Bailey Howard who would likely try to run through a wall if he asked him to do so.

“Bailey would probably do anything we ask him to do if it would help this football team,” said Milton, who is in his first season on the job at Carroll. “He gives 100 percent in practice, and he’s shown great leadership and wants to win. The

seniors we have are taking ownership of this team.

“Bailey will likely play fullback and middle linebacker, and we may have him line up at guard. We went to two 7-on-7 camps during the summer, and he caught several passes out of the backfield. I told him and the other seniors they are remembered by what they do during their senior season.”

Howard is a 6-foot-1, 260pound senior for the Rebels, who open their 2015 season Friday night at home against Desoto,

Ark. Carroll suffered through an 0-10 campaign in 2014.

The season started with Jimmy McGregor as head coach, but he stepped down after the third game and assistant Ted Ferretti coached the final seven games.

“So many things went on last year. We started with one coach and switched to another, and then we had to learn some new things on offense. Most people didn’t understand what we were going through as a team. There was so much

confusion and distractions.

I was kind of glad when the season was over,” Howard said. “The mentality and attitudes of the team are better this season. The six seniors are stepping up to lead this team.

“We have had a good summer programm, and everybody seems focused on the season. I’ve accepted my role as a leader, which is something I do more by example.”

As a junior, Howard ran for 179 yards on 27 carries and scored two touchdowns. He said the sum-

mer camps he and his teammates attended should make them a better team this season.

“We were playing a lot bigger schools. We played five games at the LSU camp. We almost won two games. We played four games at the Delta State camp and we went 0-4, but we played pretty well,” Howard said. “Those games and the experience are going to help us.

“We’ve put 2014 behind us. Coach Milton doesn’t want us dwelling on last season. We all know we

don’t want to go 0-10 again.

The coaches and players are focused on this season.”

Howard said he’d like his last year at Carroll to be one to remember.

Howard “I plan on doing my best and hopefully help this team do its best. We want to have a good record and have a shot at the playoffs,” said Howard.

Ex-Leflore star ready for senior season with Navy team

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Itta Bena’s DeBrandon Sanders figures to be a big part of Navy’s explosive rushing attack this season.

The former Leflore County High School standout enters his senior season at Navy as a starter at slotback in the team’s option attack.

After an impressive sophomore season, his numbers dipped a little bit in 2014. He had 231 rushing yards and two catches for 67 yards. But he showed in 2013 he could be a playmaker, ranking second on the team with 563 yards from scrimmage. The lightning-quick slotback was a threat running with the pitchout or catching the ball out of the backfield, averaging 10.2 yards every time he touched the ball.

“It was just a bad year for me.

Some of that had to do with me coming off leg surgery,” Sanders said. “I am focused right now on making my last year here a good one. I feel good about what I can do this season.”

As he did at Leflore County, Sanders will again be the main punt Sanders returner for the Midshipmen.

Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo says the speedy 5-foot-7, 165pound senior could be a gamebreaker as a return man, but said he would be happy if the player nicknamed “Bug” simply did not muff any punts.

“First and foremost, he’s got to be able to catch the ball. That’s always the primary thing for us.

Yes, we’d like to have someone who can take it to the house, but the No. 1 job is to make sure you catch the football,” Niumatalolo said. “One thing that helps give you some relief is that he’s one of our better football players. But until he catches the first one safely against Ohio State it’s a worry.”

Sanders also expects to be a bigger part of the team’s passing game this season.

“We’ve added more passing routes out of the backfield for the slotbacks, and that’s something I am excited about, getting the ball in the open field more,” he said.

He has shown he can be a bigplay threat in the passing game, averaging 33.5 yards on his two receptions last season and scoring one touchdown. In 2013, Sanders was tied for first in receiving in the Midshipmen’s run-heavy attack with 13 catches for 223 yards and a touchdown with an

impressive 17.2 yards per reception.

Sanders will graduate next May with a degree in quantitative economics. He will then be required to serve a five-year stint in the military, with an option to choose between the Navy or the Marine Corp.

He says right now he is leaning toward picking the Navy and is considering continuing a military career following his required fiveyear tenure.

Sanders, a four-sport standout at Leflore County in basketball, baseball, football and track, believes his team will build on the success they’ve had the last two years, going 17-9 with a pair of bowl victories.

After having played as an Independent for the previous 134 seasons, the Navy football program makes its debut as a member of the American Athletic Confer-

ence this fall. It will be part of the West Division, along with Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulane and Tulsa.

The Midshipmen play five of their first seven games at home, including the season opener on Sept. 5 against Colgate.

The East Carolina game will also carry a special personal interest for Sanders, who will be on the opposite sideline from former Leflore County teammate Justin Sandifer, a 6-5, 300-pound junior offensive tackle in his first season with the Pirates.

Sandifer, a Hinds Community College transfer, blocked for Sanders during their days together at Leflore.

“That will certainly be a neat game for both of us. Two guys from Itta Bena playing so far away from home meeting up like this is pretty cool to us,” Sanders said.

New rules to look out for in 2015

Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 PageNM cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

2015 PRESEASON ALL-COMMONWEALTH TEAM

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PageNN cllq_^ii=OMNR Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 =======================================================================================================================================================================

Coach knows respect isn’t given but earned

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Mississippi Valley State is picked last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Eastern Division, and you won’t hear Rick Comegy complain about it.

Heck, Comegy admits he voted his own Delta Devils last at SWAC media day.

“I did it because we have not proven ourselves. We have to earn that respect, and I think eventually we will do just that,” said the second-year Valley head coach. “We will get our share (of wins) this season, but I’m not ready to proclaim us ready to compete for a championship.

“Last year, we gave our fair share away. We have to learn how to win, and we’re moving in that direction.”

The Delta Devils, who went 2-9 in Comegy’s first season in Itta Bena, are in search of their first winning season since 2006.

He is trying to build a winning attitude and tradition at a school that has had very little. Valley, which has always been limited by finances and resources, has only 14 winning seasons in 61 years of football.

Things have been incredibly bad in the eight last seasons with just 19 total victories.

Comegy, a proven winner in the SWAC during his eight seasons at Jackson State, says the attitude has already changed, and now he’s waiting on that to translate into wins on the field.

“We are building a program here. The kids like what we’re doing, and they know we care about them,” said the MVSU coach.

The Delta Devils enter the season with a lot of questions on the defensive side of the ball. They return only a handful of starters from a unit that ranked last in the SWAC overall last year and 10th in scoring defense.

“We graduated 19 seniors, and the bulk of those guys played defense for us,” Comegy said.

“We’ve got to have some guys step up there.”

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Defensive end Khalil Young is the lone returning starter up front. He led the team in tackles for loss last year with 11. Defensive back Charles Moore will also return after recording 39 tackles a year ago.

A pair of Greenwood High School products, LeTrey Jones and Kevin Haymore, should be play-makers at outside linebacker and defensive back, respectively. Jones had a teamhigh 74 tackles in 2014, including 9.5 tackles for loss.

Offensively, Valley returns eight starters, including quarterback Quantavius Peterson, who showed some promise in 2014 after transfering in from Coahoma Community College. He was the SWAC Co-Newcomer of the Year as he passed for 741 yards and five touchdowns and ran for a team-high 297 yards and five TDs. Peterson had the game-winning touchdown in his team’s comeback win over JSU, the team that had fired Comegy nine months before that. It was only the sixth time MVSU had beaten the Tigers in 62 meetings between the two programs.

Unfortunately, Valley failed to use the big win against its archrival as springboard to a strong finish to the season.

Sean Brown, named preseason All-SWAC second team, is one of three returning starters on the offensive line. The others are Trevin Wallace and Alvin Solomon.

File photo/Andy Lo

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MVSU needs to find somebody to replace receiver Julian Stafford, who was the offense's most consistent performer last season with 62 catches for 981 yards and nine scores.

Joshua Rice, Joshua Banks, Keenan Daniels and Itta Bena’s Grant Simms are the guys who will have to step up.

Valley has experience at running back with Charlie Crenshaw and Jeremy Dobson back, and Comegy believes junior college transfer Greg Foster will make a big impact in his first season at MVSU. Freshman Booker T. Chambers of Greenwood is also expected to help out on offense as a slotback and on special teams as a kick returner.

Comegy says Chambers is “one of the most exciting players” he’s ever seen. n `çåí~Åí= _áää= _ìêêìë= ~í= RUNJ TOPT= çê= ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

Braves picked to repeat J-State second in the SWAC East

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Alcorn State and Jackson State are expected to battle it out for the top spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s East Division.

Despite finishing 5-7 in 2014, Jackson State is predicted to be back in the upper echelon of the conference. The Tigers were picked to finish second in the East during SWAC Media Day. Alcorn State, the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion, is the preseason favorite to win the league’s Eastern Division while Grambling has been picked to win the West.

Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs Jr. is the preseason offensive player of the year. Gibbs threw for 2,482 yards and 21 touchdowns last season while also running for 1,006 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Gibbs came to Alcorn State at the same time as fourth-year

coach Jay Hopson. Together, they’ve helped the Braves rise from the bottom of the league to the program everyone is chasing.

Alcorn State defeated Southern 38-24 for the SWAC championship last season.

“We’ve just got to remain humble and execute every week,” Gibbs said. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves and look forward too far.”

Hopson said the 6-foot-6 Gibbs matured more quickly than even he anticipated.

“I told him the other day I wish I could have redshirted him his first year, but he was immediately the best guy we had,” Hopson said. “Every year he’s been better and better. He’s already done tremendous things at Alcorn and we’ve been blessed to have him.”

Alcorn State is followed by JSU, Alabama A&M, Alabama State and Mississippi Valley in the East’s preseason rankings, while Grambling is trailed by

Southern, Prairie View, Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the West.

Alabama State’s Kourtney Berry is the league’s preseason defensive player of the year after having a league-high 128 tackles in 2014.

Jackson State has one of the brightest stars in the SWAC, LaMontiez Ivy, as its quarterback.

Ivy, who earned preseason second-team all-conference honors, is a talent, but he’s the only proven one the Tigers currently have at the quarterback position.

The unit’s depth took a hit last month when redshirt freshman Brent Lyles was in a car accident back in his home state of Indiana.

At SWAC Media Day, JSU coach Harold Jackson officially declared Lyles done for the season after the accident resulted in hip surgery.

That leaves Ivy and UNLV transfer Jarin Morikawa as the only two healthy quarterbacks on the roster.

“I like to go into camp with at least four guys (quarterbacks),”

File photo/Andy Lo

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AP

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Jackson said. “Five, if I could, but four at least. So we can’t afford to go into camp with two guys. We have to try and get that third guy and bring him in.”

This year’s SWAC champion will play in the newly-formed Celebration Bowl, which will be

played against the winner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The game is scheduled for Dec. 19 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and televised on ABC. n `çåí~Åí= _áää= _ìêêìë= ~í= RUNJ TOPT= çê= ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

PageNO Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

Area players in key roles for Miss. Delta

PageNP cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

MOORHEAD — Jeff Tatum believes good days are ahead for Mississippi Delta Community College’s struggling football program.

And a good bit of his optimism stems from having an experienced, talented group of Greenwood-area players back from last year’s 3-5 squad — linebackers Dwight Griggs and Broderick Hodo, defensive lineman ZsaTrellis Moore, strong safety Quatez Harris, cornerbacks Se’Quan Steele and Khalil Johnson and free safety Denarius Howard.

“That’s a pretty dang good group right there. The folks in and around Greenwood should be proud of these guys; we sure are,” Tatum said.

The third-year MDCC head coach feels like the Trojans have a good chance to end a string of 10 consecutive losing seasons and get back to the playoffs. The team was a perennial player in the postseason during Tatum’s stint as an assistant in Moorhead from 1988-1997.

“I can’t express how much better I feel about this year’s team than I did that first year back.

This good group of sophomores have been with us for a year and a half now. They know what we want and expect from them, and that makes things easier,” Tatum said. “We were close in some games last year. Our kids now understand there is a fine line between winning and losing.

“Also, we feel like we’ve been able to upgrade the talent you

USM trying to regain top form

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Southern Mississippi, once the steadiest midmajor program for almost two decades, fell apart overnight.

Southern Miss was over .500 every year from 1994 to 2011, never finishing with fewer than six or more than nine wins, then the wheels fell off.

The Golden Eagles are now 4-32 since the end of the Larry Fedora era.

Off a 3-9 season, Southern Miss has a lot of offensive experience, but the defense will be starting over, and because of that, it will be hard for a significant breakthrough in Todd Monken’s third year.

Greenwood’s Korey Robertson is expected to see some playing time this season at wide receiver after redshirting in 2014 as a true freshman. But the receiver corp is one of the deepest areas on the team.

The former Greenwood High School star tallied 147 career receptions for 2,340 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Robertson and the Golden Eagles open the season Sept. 5 at home against Mississippi State. n `çåí~Åí=_áää=_ìêêìë=~í RUNJTOPT= çê ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

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need to compete in the toughest juco league in the nation.”

Defensively, Howard, Griggs, Harris and Hodo bring a wealth of experience. Tatum expects all four to graduate at Christmas and continue their football careers at the next level.

Howard led the Trojans in tackles last year with 53 and had a team-high four interceptions, while Griggs was second in tackles with 52, including 32 solo stops.

Howard made a seamless transition from linebacker at Amanda Elzy to free safety at the college level, earning second-team AllState honors as a freshman.

“We were very impressed with the ease that (Howard) moved positions so successfully,” Tatum said. “This year he is having to take over the leadership role in our secondary, and we feel good about that.”

Tatum said Louisiana Lafayette seems to be showing the most interest in Howard as the 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety gets set for his sophomore season.

Griggs is back for a third year at MDCC since he redshirted his first season out of Greenwood High School due to an injury.

File photo/Andy Lo

^ã~åÇ~=bäòó=eáÖÜ=pÅÜççä=éêçÇìÅí=aÉå~êáìë=eçï~êÇ=Ü~Ç=~=ÄáÖ=ÑêÉëÜã~å=ëÉ~ëçå=~í=ÑêÉÉ=ë~ÑÉíó=Ñçê=jáëëáëJ ëáééá=aÉäí~=`çããìåáíó=`çääÉÖÉ=ä~ëí=óÉ~êK=eÉ=áë=çåÉ=çÑ=ëÉîÉê~ä=âÉó=qêçà~å=ÇÉÑÉåÇÉêë=Ñêçã=dêÉÉåïççÇK= “We are expecting big things ers are receiving plenty of interest ball player who moved into footfrom Dwight. We are happy to from four-year schools, it’s offen- ball his senior season at Huffman have him back,” said the MDCC sive tackle Demetri Moore who is High. “(The transition) was completedrawing more interest than any head coach. ly different. Playing football comGriggs is joined in the Trojan Trojan.

The 6-foot-6, 295-pounder from ing in, I weighed 220 pounds, and linebacking corp by former GHS teammate Broderick Hodo, who Birmingham, Alabama, is consid- now I’m close to 300,” Moore said. ranked fifth on the team in tack- ered by most recruiting sites to be “I played football for the first time one of the best left tackles in the as a senior so it’s all still pretty les as a freshman with 32. new to me.”

“Hodo had one of the best juco ranks this year.

Moore played his freshmen seaHe has scholarship offers from springs of all of our players,” Tatum said. “He should be a force Cincinnati, Kentucky, Mississippi son at MDCC at 6-5, 260 pounds.

State, Southern Mississippi, Iowa He began to gain more interest on defense.”

Harris started at strong safety State, Kansas State and Mem- from college coaches after he last season and finished with 24 phis and is drawing strong inter- added an inch and 35 pounds tackles and one sack. Tatum says est from other SEC schools, during the offseason. n `çåí~Åí= _áää= _ìêêìë= ~í= RUNJ the former GHS standout is a including Ole Miss and Auburn.

Moore is entering just his third TOPT= çê= ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ “vocal, enthusiastic leader.”

While all four of the area play- year of football. He was a basket- ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

Hogs thrive in role as power-run outliers

Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 PageNQ cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bret Bielema doesn’t come across as counter-culture, despite his affinity for flip-flops and desire to occasionally needle college football’s established powers.

Yet, that’s exactly where the Arkansas coach finds himself these days — a seeming minority in the era of the spread offense.

Bielema’s belief in a balanced, pro-style offense dates to his days as a player at Iowa under coach Hayden Fry, and it led to three Big Ten championships in seven seasons at Wisconsin.

Now, after two years of rebuilding an Arkansas program left in ruins following the Bobby Petrino scandal, Bielema’s time-tested method of power football appears ready to assert itself in a Southeastern Conference more and more influenced by the spread.

“I definitely think it’s a little bit of a dying breed, and that kind of helps us,” Razorbacks running back Jonathan Williams said.

“Because everybody’s not used to

seeing the way we play football, so it’s tough for them to stop our offense when you don’t see it week in and week out.”

Exactly how much the Razorbacks can improve on last season’s surprising 7-6 record, during which the school snapped an 17game SEC losing streak, remains to be seen.

What is certain is how dependent Arkansas’ fortunes are on the combination of a gifted offensive line and the star-studded backfield of Williams and Alex Collins.

The duo were the only major college football teammates to each top 1,000 yards rushing last season, and they return after Williams decided to wait on the NFL and return for his senior season.

Williams finished with 1,190 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns last season, while Collins reached the 1,000-yard plateau for the second time in two college seasons — finishing with 1,100

yards on the ground.

They became the second pair of Bielema-coached running backs to each top 1,000-yard mark in a single season, following James White and John Clay at Wisconsin in 2010.

Collins, who was recruited by Bielema from the time he was 14 years old, signed with Arkansas knowing Bielema’s preference for a more balanced offensive approach than many of today’s pass-happy offenses.

Williams, however, originally came to the Razorbacks when they were still part of the Petrinoinfluenced teams that led the SEC in passing. It’s a switch in philosophy that has paid off in more than 2,000 yards rushing over the last two seasons for the 6-foot, 223-pound bruiser — one that played a key role in his decision to return this year.

It’s a philosophy celebrated by an offensive line that returns four of five starters, one that forms the unquestioned identity at Biele-

AP

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ma’s Arkansas.

“I think every lineman here came here to play big-boy foot-

ball,” right tackle Dan Skipper said. “And that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Tide defenders trying to measure up to own standard

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s defense is trying to once again measure up to those ridiculously high standards set — by the Crimson Tide, of course — during a giddy run of defensive dominance.

The Tide fell short at times last season. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart made sure his players knew that, informing them when preseason camp opened that they did a worse job of meeting the team goals than their last seven predecessors.

That means Alabama gave up too many big plays and third-down conversions and forced too few turnovers for Smart’s liking. Led by linebacker Reggie Ragland and defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, the Tide will be trying to change that this season.

“There’s a lot of guys that feel like we want to bring ‘Bama back to where it was, ‘Bama-style defense,” linebacker Ryan Anderson said. “Everybody’s hungry.”

The 2014 Alabama defense was still awfully good — except when it counted the most, against Ohio State in the national semifinals, and before that versus Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

Both teams pelted Alabama with eight plays of 20plus yards and four that went for at least 40 yards, though the Tide did hold on for a 55-44 win over Auburn before losing to the Buckeyes (42-35), with a stronger SEC championship game performance against Missouri in between. That’s 86 points allowed in two games compared to the 2011 defense that gave up just 106 points in 13 games.

Alabama gave up 456 passing yards to Auburn’s Nick Marshall and 230 rushing yards to Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott It’s enough to leave a defense that still ranked sixth nationally in points allowed and fourth against the run with an inferiority

complex, if only by comparison to past groups. The Tide, after all, led the nation in a combined seven major defensive categories in the national championship seasons of 2011 and 2012.

The increasing prevalence of fast-paced, spreadyou-out offenses makes similarly stingy numbers harder to come by. Alabama allowed 18.4 points a game last season.

Defenses, including Alabama’s, have been forced to adapt.

Smart, entering his ninth season running the Tide defense, said Alabama’s 2011 defense, which shut out LSU in the national championship game, faced five run-pass option plays.

Alabama encountered more than 120 last season, he said.

“Obviously the game has changed, the teams we’re

playing have changed, and we’ve had to evolve with it,” Smart said. “That team was a big, physical presence team that was good at stopping the run, had two first-round corners on it.

And both played well. In recent years, the run-pass option has evolved to make offensive football a little bit better, and we’ve had to change with that.”

Smart has moved back to his old position coaching

inside linebackers after Lance Thompson left for a job at Auburn. Coach Nick Saban hired former NFL defensive coordinator Mel Tucker as secondary coach.

Former top recruit Reuben Foster and Shaun Dion Hamilton are battling for a starting job at inside linebacker. Former fivestar prospects end Da’Shawn Hand, linebacker Rashaan Evans and cornerbacks Marlon

Humphrey and Tony Brown also are trying to carve out bigger roles.

The question mark lies in the secondary, which has been victimized at times the past two seasons. The Tide must replace safeties Landon Collins and Nick Perry. Cyrus Jones and Brown, who started twice as a freshman, are among the returning cornerbacks while Eddie Jackson has moved to safety.

PageNR cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015

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By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

A lot has changed for Artez Williams in the last month.

The former Greenwood High School standout made a bold decision last weekend when he decided to transfer from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark., to Itawamba Community College in Fulton.

Williams said he made the decision after after, as he put it, “things began to change” at Central Arkansas.

“I just wasn’t happy up there. I was going to start and play, and I was carrying a 3.2 grade point average, but I had no true friends or family, so I wanted to be a little closer to home and where I knew some people.”

Williams will be joining former Greenwood High teammate Kwadra Griggs at Itawamba. Griggs, last season’s starting quarterback for the Indians, is the expected starter this fall and has already made a verbal commitment to join Southern Mississippi in 2016.

“Things were beginning to sour at Central Arkansas. The team was not disciplined, and there was too much fighting and other stuff going on during the summer workouts. I didn’t want to be a part of that. I’m sorry it didn’t work out, but I knew it was time for me to leave,” Williams said.

Williams will be classified as

a sophomore at ICC, which competes in the North Division of the Mississippi juco league.

The Indians were 4-5 last season and 4-2 in the North, just missing out on the playoffs.

“I think I can come in and help this team have a winning season and make the playoffs. I will be able to sign with a Division I school. USM has already made contact with me,” he added.

Williams made a big splash in his freshman campaign at UCA. He was standing on the sideline in the Bears’ season opener in 2014 against Texas Tech knowing that if he played it would likely be on special teams or maybe in a relief role against the pass-happy Red Raiders.

However, the starting cornerback for the Bears went down with an injury early in the contest, and Williams’ number was called.

Williams hit the field running. He finished the contest with four solo tackles and an interception he returned 38 yards. He never relinquished the job the remainder of the season.

“There I was on the sideline and the senior cornerback suffered a leg injury, and all of a sudden, I’m in the game playing corner against Texas Tech,” said Williams, a 6-foot, 180pounder.

“I knew I still had a lot of work to do, but I was the next man up. I had been working hard on my foot work and fighting off blocks to make

tackles in practice, and now I’m starting. The one thing coaches noticed about me was I wasn’t afraid to come up and pop a tackle. I don’t mind hitting someone.”

Williams closed out his freshman campaign with 36 total tackles (28 solos, 8 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups and one blocked kick.

Coming out of Greenwood, Williams was considered a hot commodity as a cornerback. He was known for hit hitting skills as a defensive back, and he could cover receivers pretty well. However, as he admits, his hands weren’t very good.

“I noticed it in high school, that I dropped a lot of balls because my hands weren’t always in the right position. In my three years as a starter at Greenwood, I had no interceptions. I had chances, but I would always drop the ball. I just wasn’t hanging on to the ball,” said Williams, an AllCommonwealth selection his last two seasons at GHS. He finished his senior campaign at Greenwood with 89 tackles and tallied 100 total stops as a junior.

He had several Division I schools interested. Ole Miss, as he said, wanted him to go the junior college route and then come to Oxford. Mississippi State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Minnesota were also looking.

“The cornerback coach from Minnesota saw my film and wanted me to walk on, but I didn’t feel good about it.”

SEC trying to reclaim supremacy in college football Associated Press

The Southeastern Conference is the unquestioned king of college football leagues.

Maybe in some circles.

That mindset has become practically a mantra for SEC coaches, fans and media over the last decade, but other leagues have won the national crown the last two seasons.

As usual, this season the SEC has no shortage of solid candidates to crack the four-team College Football Playoffs, including Alabama despite an unsettled quarterback situation. That’s a familiar refrain for other wouldbe contenders like Georgia, Mississippi, LSU and perhaps even Auburn, which doesn’t expect to miss a beat with Jeremy Johnson replacing Nick Marshall.

It’s still hard to argue against

the top-to-bottom strength of a league where Mississippi State is picked to finish last in the SEC West a year after spending five weeks ranked No. 1 in the land.

And the Bulldogs’ Dak Prescott is the league’s only established star quarterback.

“I feel like we weren’t satisfied with the No. 1 ranking because we wanted to be No. 1 at the end of the year,” Mississippi State defensive back Taveze Calhoun said.

That basically sums up the ambitions of the league’s top powers since Ohio State pounded away at Alabama’s defense in the Sugar Bowl, a semifinal game.

But the SEC has its work cut out.

The league didn’t even lead the way into the NFL draft either with the ACC and Pac-12 having more first-rounders if fewer over-

all picks.

If the case for No. 1 league isn’t quite so open and shut these days, there’s little question the SEC West stacks up as the most compelling, cannibalistic division.

All seven programs are led by coaches making at least $4 million a year.

The league media picked Auburn to win the SEC but Alabama got more points in the West voting, illustrating the lack of a consensus favorite even within that state.

Some things to watch in the SEC this season: n råéêçîÉå=n_ëW More than half of the teams still had open competition going into training camps, with two more graduate transfers joining the mix. Former Virginia starter Greyson Lambert is competing at Georgia and ex-Clemson quarterback Chad

Kelly is battling for the starting job at Mississippi. South Carolina receiver Pharoh Cooper completed more passes (five) last season than any QB on the Gamecocks’ roster. Auburn’s Jeremy Johnson and Tennessee’s Josh Dobbs could be rising stars, while Prescott and Arkansas’ Brandon Allen have the most experience. n oìååÉêë= d~äçêÉW The league’s backfields still pack plenty of starpower despite the loss of Georgia’s Todd Gurley, Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon and Auburn’s Cameron Artis-Payne. The Bulldogs return Nick Chubb, who had a huge freshman season. The Tide bring back 240-pound back Derrick Henry. Arkansas has 1,000-yard rushers Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins, and Leonard Fournette returns at LSU after starring as a freshman. n kÉï= `ççêÇáå~íçêëW There

are 14 of them around the league, counting Vanderbilt coach Derrick Mason, who’s added running the defense to his duties. Auburn hired Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator and Texas A&M lured John Chavis from LSU trying to get those defenses up to speed with the offenses. Both are raking in at least $5 million over three years. n oç~Ç= qÉëíëW There are no easy roads to Atlanta or the College Football Playoffs in the SEC, especially in the loaded Western Division. Some paths are harder than others. ’Bama not only opens in a neutral-site game with Wisconsin but visits East Division favorite Georgia, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Auburn. Maybe Arkansas is poised for a breakthrough season but the Razorbacks have only three SEC home games.

Auburn looking to rebound from 8-5 season

Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 PageNS cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

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Lofty goals in place

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Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

The Ole Miss program has moved forward in each of Hugh Freeze’s three seasons as the head coach.

After a nine-win season last year, the goals are set awfully high in Oxford in 2015 with talk of winning a national championship.

According to C.J. Johnson, this is the first time fourth-year head coach Freeze has addressed such a lofty goal in front of the entire team.

“He feels like we have the depth and the talent to do it,” the senior middle linebacker said recently. “During a team meeting, he told us if we stay together and stay healthy… we’ll have a chance. We think we know what it takes.”

The Rebels appeared to be a national title contender last season as they had a taste of an epic season with a 7-0 start that included an upset win over Alabama that landed them a No. 3 ranking nationally. But Ole Miss failed to capitalize on the hot start, dropping four of its final six games — capping it all with the worst bowl loss in school history, a 42-3 rout at the hands of TCU in the Peach Bowl.

“That stuck around for a while,” senior defensive back Mike Hilton said of the bowl loss. “We have talked about it a lot this summer. We have to finish stronger.”

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The loss was painful for Freeze too, but is now using it as a teaching tool with the 2015 season just around the corner.

“I learned a lot of things about preparing for a big game that I’ll do differently next time in dealing with our kids,” said Freeze, who is 34-17 at Ole Miss. “We obviously need to compete better. At the same time, I look at the big picture.

“In three short years, we were playing in a New Year’s Six Bowl, beating some of the top teams in the nation, winning some nine games. That’s, to me, on the right track. That’s what I focus on.”

“We know what success tastes like coming out 7-0, but we’re ready to take that next step and hopefully get to the SEC championship and national championship,” Hilton said. “We just have to make sure we play every game like it’s our last and hopefully we stay injury-free.”

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Ole Miss has the talent and depth to be a contender in the SEC West. It has nine starters back on offense and seven back from a unit that led the nation in scoring defense.

The even better news is the Rebels return each member of their starting offensive and defensive lines.

The Rebels lost two All-Americans in the secondary, but defensive coordinator Dave Wommack was so impressed with new corners Tony Bridges and Tee Shepard that he moved returning starter Mike Hilton to safety before the start of spring drills.

Bridges and Shepard are both tall, long and physical.

Junior safety Tony Conner, the fifth defensive back in the 4-2-5, is a play-maker against the run as well as the pass.

Up front, it all starts with AllAmerican Robert Nkemdiche at tackle. He should get help from junior college transfer D.J. Jones, an athletic 300-pounder who should provide both mass and quickness.

Offensively, the Rebels are stacked with experience and talent from a unit that averaged 28.3 points per game in 2014.

The offensive line is led by junior tackle Laremy Tunsil, one of three preseason All-Americans on that side of the ball. The other two are receiver Laquon Treadwell and tight end Evan Engram.

Treadwell and Tunsil are coming off serious leg injuries from last season. Treadwell’s injury —

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which was a broken lower leg and dislocated ankle — was particularly gruesome and well-publicized because it came during a crucial juncture of a loss to Auburn. “All signs point to him being fully recovered,” Freeze said. “He even looks a little different. I think he lost a little weight, feels a little more explosive. I’m anxious to get pads on him and see how he responds when the ball’s a little high and in traffic.”

The offensive talent is there, but the big question is who will be

spreading the ball around to these guys.

There are currently three candidates vying for the starting quarterback position. Ryan Buchanon and DeVante Kincade both received a minimal number of snaps in 2014. Chad Kelly, an East Mississippi Community College transfer, possesses a great deal of talent but has had some off-field problems in the past.

Kelly’s arm strength, accuracy and mobility make him the favorite to win the competition.

Mullen not worried about the doubters jfppfppfmmf= pq^qb=_riialdp

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Mississippi State is coming off one of the best seasons in school history, but yet everyone is overlooking Dan Mullen’s team again.

The Bulldogs are picked to finish last in the SEC West even though their quarterback, Dak Prescott, was preseason firstteam All-SEC. That hasn’t happened at SEC Media Days since 2000.

The biggest reason for the doubt is the Bulldogs have just eight returning starters from a 10-win team that spent more than a month as the No. 1 team in the nation.

It also doesn’t help that MSU lost three of its last four games.

Mullen said he doesn’t mind the seeming lack of respect. After six seasons in Starkville, he’s become used to it.

“This is my seventh year coming here, and I think all seven years they’ve pretty much picked us to finish last in the West,” Mullen said. “It’s kind of like a tradition, I guess. We don’t really worry much about that. I’m much more concerned with how we finish.

“I like that people think that (we’re young), but the fact that we rotate, we play a lot of guys in the course of games. Guys have experience. They’ve been on the stage.

They’ve been in the moments.

And they’re going to be ready for this season as we move forward.”

The biggest reason Mississippi State and its fans believe 2014 wasn’t a one-hit wonder is the return of Prescott, who set 12 sin-

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gle-season records during his breakout junior campaign. He became the first Bulldog ever to finish a season with more than 3,000 total yards, piling up 4,470.

This year he’ll be asked to do even more, but with less around him.

Last year’s performance earned him considerable early hype as a Heisman Trophy contender, though it remains to be seen if he’ll have the talent around him to make that happen. For his part, Prescott isn’t concerned about outside perception.

“They don’t see the people I work out with every day,” Prescott said. “We have guys coming back that have played and started in big-time games. We have a chance, and our expectation for ourselves is not the same as everyone else’s.”

The Bulldogs must replace running back Josh Robinson and his 1,203 rushing yards. Ashton Shumpert ended last year with some momentum, gaining 207 yards in the final four games of the regular season. The job won’t be handed to him, however. Red-

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shirt freshmen Dontavian Lee and Aeris Williams are fighting for time, and true freshman and early enrollee Malik Dear also got some reps in the spring.

De’Runnya Wilson returns as one of the top receivers in the SEC. He caught 47 passes for 680 yards and nine scores last season.

Slot receiver Jameon Lewis must be replaced, and the top candidates are Gabe Myles and junior college transfer Donald Gray.

There’s no bigger question for State heading into 2015 than the offensive line. That’s bad news in a league that boasts some of the

best defensive linemen in the nation.

With mass losses up front and in the secondary, new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz will have his hands full this year.

He must first fix a unit that allowed the most passing yards in the SEC last year.

A lot will fall on the broad shoulders of tackle Chris Jones, arguably the team’s most talented defensive player. He will need to pick it up during his junior season after taking what many believe was a step back in his sophomore year. Jones has said

the same as of late.

Senior Ryan Brown will be asked to replace Preston Smith’s production at end.

Overall, Prescott, one of the best players in the SEC, will be able to mask some holes. How many and how well could decide the Bulldogs’ season.

The Dogs should have a good idea early since the team faces LSU, Auburn and Texas A&M in the first five weeks of the season. n `çåí~Åí= _áää= _ìêêìë= ~í= RUNJ TOPT= çê= ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK= cçääçï= çå= qïáíJ íÉêW]_áää|_ìêêìëK

DSU looking for even bigger things this year

Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 PageNU cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

In head coach Todd Cooley’s second season, Delta State went 9-2, won its seventh Gulf South Conference title and made its eighth playoff appearance.

Now the Statesmen are looking for even bigger things in year three of the Cooley Era in Cleveland.

“Our goal will always be to win a national championship. We feel good about how the program is moving now that we are getting the kind of players we need to compete in a very tough league,” said Cooley. “We hope everything comes together this season so we can add to what we’ve done in the first two years here.”

There is good reason to believe that will happen as DSU returns 17 starters and 60 lettermen and several key offseason pickups, including 13 junior college transfers and UAB transfer receiver Darius Powell. Powell played in 28 games for the Blazers as a receiver and defensive back, compiling 224 receiving yards and two touchdowns along with 18 tackles on defense.

“Every year is so different, but it does give us confidence to have so much experience and talent coming back, blending with some pretty good new guys,” Cooley said.

On offense, DSU will be led by returning Harlon Hill (Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) finalist Tyler Sullivan at quarterback. He helped the Statesmen rank third nationally in scoring (46.4 ppg).

And he is 13-3 as the starter for the Statesmen and has 5,122

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passing yards to rank fifth on the career list there.

The Winston Academy product has completed 268-of-420 passes (with only 15 interceptions) and has averaged 305.3 yards passing per game while at DSU. His 3,358 passing yards and 3,566 total offensive yards rank fifth on the DSU single-season list, and he was responsible for 35 of DSU’s 66 touchdowns in 2014.

Sullivan will be joined by AllGSC and All-South Region receiver Casey Osborne and AllGSC second team players, receiver Justin Leavy and lineman Mose Countryman.

Osborne led the team with 76 receptions for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns, while averaging 13.2 yards per catch and 91.5 yards per game in 2014. Leavy caught 31 passes for 482 yards and eight touchdowns, while averaging 15.3 yards per catch and 43.8 yards per game.

The running game also returns experience with senior Eddie McCadney, who rushed 107 times for 517 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Statesmen will again

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employ a fast-paced, no-huddle attack like the one Cooley was previously known for as the offensive coordinator at Northwestern State.

Defensively, DSU returns a slew of All-GSC players: senior defensive back Richard Nash, senior lineman Randall Boyd, junior linebacker Wilson Curtis and sophomore safety Trey Shaw, who was named GSC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.

Shaw had 29 tackles, two inter-

ceptions and two forced fumbles for a defense that led the GSC in rush defense (120.2 yards per game), red zone defense (59.4 percent), tackles for loss (13.0 per game) and was second in sacks (3.10 per game). Nationally, the unit ranked first in tackles for loss and was seventh in sacks and turnovers gained.

DSU’s nemesis last season was West Georgia, which handed the Statesmen both of their losses — one in the regular season and one

in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

So expect the game in Cleveland on Oct. 17th to be circled on the schedule.

There’s a reason that the GSC ended the 2014 as the secondbest conference in D2 football.

Four evenly matched teams, all of whom qualified for the NCAA playoffs, again top the league in 2015. West Georgia shut down Valdosta State 31-17 in the playoffs last year.

PageNV Greenwood Commonwealth / Sunday, August 16, 2015 cllq_^ii=OMNR =======================================================================================================================================================================

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