Football Edition 2020

PageO Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

GHS, Elzy, Leflore sitting this one out Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 PageP cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

File photo

`äáåíçå=d~íÉïççÇ=ïçåÛí=ÄÉ=Åç~ÅÜáåÖ=íÜáë=Ñ~ää=Ñçê=íÜÉ=Ñáêëí=íáãÉ=áå=èìáíÉ ~= ïÜáäÉ= ëáåÅÉ= íÜÉ= dêÉÉåïççÇ= iÉÑäçêÉ= `çåëçäáÇ~íÉÇ= pÅÜççä= aáëíêáÅí êÉÅÉåíäó=Å~åÅÉäÉÇ=~ää=Ñ~ää=ëéçêíë=ÇìÉ=íç=íÜÉ=`lsfaJNV=é~åÇÉãáÅK=qÜÉ dêÉÉåîáääÉ=~åÇ=pçìíÜ=aÉäí~=ÇáëíêáÅíë=Ü~îÉ=ÇçåÉ=íÜÉ=ë~ãÉI=Äìí=íÜÉ=êÉëí çÑ=íÜÉ=ëí~íÉÛë=éìÄäáÅ=ëÅÜççäë=ïáää=ÄÉÖáå=éê~ÅíáÅÉ=jçåÇ~ó=áå=éêÉé~ê~J íáçå=Ñçê=íÜÉ=ÇÉä~óÉÇ=ëí~êí=íç=íÜÉ=ëÉ~ëçåK

The football stadiums at Greenwood High School, Amanda Elzy and Leflore County will all be silent during the 2020 prep football season.

The Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District made that decision on Aug. 4 when the fivemember board voted 3-2 against playing fall sports for the upcoming season because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, which shut schools down back in mid-March.

It could have been another good year for all three teams.

Each coach at his respective school was extremely optimistic about the season and his team’s chances of winning a district title.

And with good reason.

At Greenwood, head coach Clinton Gatewood was going to feature junior signal caller DeAndre Smith Jr., who just led the GHS basketball team to its firstever state title in March, a week before the outbreak of COVID-19.

Smith, considered to be one of the top 10 quarterback prospects in

the state, threw for 2,537 yards on 120 of 207 pass attempts with 27 touchdowns in Greenwood’s 13-1 campaign, which ended with a loss to Corinth in the North 4A title game.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound quarterback also ran for 690 yards and 15 scores on 102 carries as he was named the Region 3-4A Offensive Player of the Year and was a member of the 2019 AllCommonwealth team as a quarterback.

“We felt really good about the group we had coming back and our chances at making another run at a state title,” said Gatewood, who also serves as the chief of athletics for the GLCSD. “We lost a lot of key contributors on offense, and it may have taken a few weeks to get it cranked up, but we were going to be solid once again on defense.

“We had several kids who rotated in and out last year on the defensive line, so even though they weren’t starters, they got a lot of playing time. The defense was going to be a strong point for us again this season. Our offense would have got going in time for

PA ready to roll this season

district.”

At Elzy, first-year head coach Morris Bush will have to wait another year before he can lead the Panthers out of the gate.

“I felt it could be a good season.

We had a lot of young guys mixed in with some returning players, and we could have made a run at another district championship,” said Bush, referring to Elzy’s 4-0 mark in Region 3-3A in Sheldon Hodge’s last season at the helm.

“Our guys were excited about the season. The confidence level truly has grown at Elzy after the success we had last year. I’m going to encourage the guys to keep working out and stay in shape.”

Bush served as Hodge’s offensive coordinator the last three years.

At Leflore County, Eric House was boiling over with enthusiasm as the Tigers were set to make a run at a Region 3-1A title after making it to the second round of the North 1A playoffs in 2019.

The Tigers went 8-4 and placed second to West Bolivar in district --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ GLCSDI=m~ÖÉ=NN

mfiilt=^`^abjv=

p`ebarib

a

m ` ^ ^ ^ p p p p l l l l

^ìÖK=ON===~í=g~Åâëçå=^Å~ÇÉãó ^ìÖK=OU===fåÇá~åçä~=^Å~ÇÉãó pÉéíK=Q====`~åíçå=^Å~ÇÉãó pÉéíK=NN==~í=t~ëÜáåÖíçå=pÅÜççä pÉéíK=NU==~í=háêâ=^Å~ÇÉãó pÉéíK=OR==eÉêáí~ÖÉ=^Å~ÇÉãó lÅíK=O ~í=pí~êâîáääÉ=^Å~ÇÉãó lÅíK=V dêÉÉåîáääÉ=píK=gçëÉéÜ lÅíK=NS====~í=j~Öåçäá~=eÉáÖÜíë lÅíK=OP====_~óçì=^Å~ÇÉãó ^ää=Ö~ãÉë=ëí~êí=~í=T=éKãK

Bill Burrus

máääçï= ^Å~ÇÉãó= éä~óÉêë= àçÖ= Ä~Åâ= çìí= íç= éê~ÅíáÅÉ= ~ÑíÉê= ~= ï~íÉê= ÄêÉ~âK= qÜÉ jìëí~åÖë=ïáää=Ü~îÉ=~=åÉï=äççâ=íÜáë=ëÉ~ëçåI=Äìí=íÜÉ=Öç~äë=êÉã~áå=íÜÉ=ë~ãÉK

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

The names change, but the ultimate goal never does.

That’s the approach for Pillow Academy head coach Tripp McCarty, who lost a deep and talented senior class from last year’s 9-3 squad. Ultimately, the Mustangs lost to Heritage Academy in the state semifinals, falling short of a shot to record the school’s first state title since 2010.

“Our goals are always the same no matter the faces,” said McCarty.

“Now, do we have a long way to go to get there? Yes. But I love the way this team has worked and come together.

We feel good about a lot of things going into the season.”

Pillow is less than one week away from its season opener on the road against Jackson Academy, and so far, the team has had no problems with the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, Madison-Ridgeland Academy had two players test positive — forcing the cancellation of a four-team jamboree to he hosted by MRA Friday night.

In a joint statement from Headmaster Termie Land and assistant athletic director Ross Haley, MRA says it has a protocol and plan in

place. School leaders are expecting to play week one on Aug. 21 against Trinity Christian in Shreveport.

McCarty said it’s been challenging trying to keep players, fellow students and coaches safe, but he is proud of how his staff and many others at Pillow have worked to help ensure football season starts on time.

“We’re doing all we can do to make this thing move forward,” said the PA coach.

Senior Christian Belk is thankful for a staff and school that has gone above and beyond for him and his classmates to have their final say on Mustang football.

“We want to play really bad,” Belk said. “We don’t want our last game to be the playoff loss to Heritage. That would sting.

“These are weird times, but all of us players will do whatever it takes to get the season in. We don’t care if we have to wear masks on the bus and be smart away from the field.”

The Mustangs will certainly have a new look on offense as the 2020 version will be a run-heavy attack, whereas PA did most of its damage through the air as passing and receiving records were broken by quarterback Shane Houston Stephens and wideout Jack Reichle.

McCarty believes he has many as nine running backs who all have different skill sets that will bolster the new attack. Two of those, Alex Tanksley and Bryce Miller, were lost early on last season with injuries, but both are back and better than ever.

“We really like our speed on offense,” said the PA head man. “We had a lot of passing and receiving records fall last season, but we had a bucket full of guys we didn’t think folks could cover one-on-one. This year, we’ve got a bucket load we believe folks can’t tackle one-on-one.”

Other running backs include seniors Lawes McCool, Richard McQueen and Eli Simmons, sophomores Dayne Sanford and Hayes Bennett and juniors Walker Woods and Jac Cooper.

Belk and junior Nelson Hodges are expected to share snaps at quarterback.

“Our offense will showcase their talents as we adapt to what these guys do best, and we feel like that starts on the ground.”

The offensive line has a few question marks leading into the season opener as the staff has yet to pick a starting center and is still trying to ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ PILLOWI=m~ÖÉ=Q

Mammoth OL Rose has 2 sides

Bill Burrus

máääçï=^Å~ÇÉãó=ëÉåáçê=êáÖÜí=í~ÅâäÉ=cê~òáÉê=oçëÉ=ïçêâë=áå éê~ÅíáÅÉ=çå=ÄäçÅâáåÖ=íÉÅÜåáèìÉëK=

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Frazier Rose is the big man on campus — literally and figuratively.

The Pillow Academy senior stands at 6-foot, 7 inches and weighs 290 pounds, so he obviously sticks out in the halls and locker room. But for his head coach, Tripp McCarty, it’s his sincere personality and care for others that sets him a part, saying Rose is a difference maker on the team and around campus.

There are two sides, McCarty said, to his beast of an offensive tackle.

“You can watch him

absolutely put a 260pounder flat on the ground and then before he leaves the building, he makes sure to visit with my 3-year-old son. The kid is a special person for sure,” said his coach.

“From an early age, Frazier knew a lot of young eyes on campus were on him.

“He is a great kid and caring person, but there are a lot of teams that we played last year that don’t see that side of him.”

Rose said: “It’s eat or be eaten. I like that about football, plus you get to hit people without getting in trouble.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ ROSEI=m~ÖÉ=U

New coach at DSA brings in new attitude

PageQ Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

abiq^=pqobbqp=^`^abjv

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

Travis Upshaw has brought a new attitude and loads of enthusiasm to the Delta Streets Academy football program, which is in its ninth year of existence.

Upshaw landed in Greenwood in April to take over as head football coach at the private school, which was founded by T. Mac Howard, the executive director of the school.

Howard knew he had the right man for the job during the interview process.

“When we began to talk to Coach Upshaw, he had no clue about Delta Streets.

It blew his mind to hear our story and purpose,” said Howard back in April. “Not only did we get a head football coach, but we also got someone who is going to be director of operations at the school. He’s very capable of doing anything I normally do and more.”

Upshaw came to Greenwood from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where he played high school football at Class 5A Mansfield High School. He then played four years on the college level at Texas State University under coach David Bailiff.

Upshaw previously served as the head junior varsity coach and the varsity defensive coordinator at The Covenant School in Dallas.

“They took football serious at Covenant School. We were in the 6-man league for several years before we moved up to 11-man football. The education part of the school is high caliber,” added Upshaw, who is taking on a DSA team that competes in the MAIS 8man league.

“I’m familiar with 8-man football. I played in the Arena League with the Austin Wranglers and the New York Dragons. Then I finished up with a small arena team in Lubbock. I understand the game pretty well,” he said.

Upshaw credits his college days as a player at Texas State for shaping him into who he is today.

“My college career set the foundation. I played under coaches who are now coaching all across the country today. They were all a big part of my learning and growing as a player. Coach Bailiff was one I learned a lot from. Our motto was “We live for each other.”

That seems to be what Upshaw is trying to do at Delta Streets Academy. In his short time at the school, he has taken his team on a guided tour of Mississippi State University as they learned about what MSU has to offer academically.

After lunch, they played a game of flag football in The Junction, which is located near Davis Wade Stadium.

First-year assistant coach Connor Altman put the trip together. Altman is a former manager with the Bulldog football team.

“I’m so excited to be a part of something that is growing. The Lord truly opened this door for me.

When I first had my conversation with T. Mac, I got so excited listening to him.

This is a dream to be a head coach of a small team and watching them grow. They have been committed all summer to working out four days a week. It’s been incredible watching them come together,” said Upshaw.

“I understand these kids a lot. I grew up in a broken

home. My parents were divorced and my grandmother raised me. I had to work hard for everything I got. I want these kids to know there are other options for them out there.”

Upshaw’s wife, Meredith, works as a commercial interior designer, so he said it worked out well for them to move from Texas to Mississippi as she could work remotely.

Upshaw has 17 players currently out for the varsity team. He said he’s hoping for eight to 10 on the junior high squad, although freshmen on the high school team can also play some on the junior high team.

“We’re trying to teach the simplicity of the game. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, but I want them to take the selfishness out of the game and learn to think of the player next to them,” Upshaw said. “I’d like to build a good family atmosphere. We need to build a culture where we learn to pick each other up.

I want us to do things the right way.”

Upshaw said it will be a learning process for him in knowing the teams on the schedule. For now, Aug. 21 is the only one on his mind when they play host to North Sunflower Academy at 7 p.m. on the campus of Mississippi Delta Community College, which will serve as the Lions’ home field.

They have four other home games scheduled, but Upshaw said a couple away games may still be flipped to home games.

The Lions are in District 3-2A with SharkeyIssaquena, Humphreys Academy and Manchester Academy.

Senior Jimmy Gibbs and

cáêëíJóÉ~ê= aÉäí~= píêÉÉíë= ^Å~ÇÉãó= Åç~ÅÜ= qê~îáë= lìíä~ï= í~äâë= íç= Üáë= íêççéë= ÇìêáåÖ= ~ êÉÅÉåí=éê~ÅíáÅÉK=réëÜ~ï=Ü~ë=ÄêçìÖÜí=~=åÉï=~ííáíìÇÉ=~åÇ=äç~Çë=çÑ=ÉåíÜìëá~ëã=íç=íÜÉ=aÉäí~ píêÉÉíë=^Å~ÇÉãó=ÑççíÄ~ää=éêçÖê~ãI=ïÜáÅÜ=áë=áå=áíë=åáåíÜ=óÉ~ê=çÑ=ÉñáëíÉåÅÉK junior AJ McGhee are working at quarterback, while juniors Jalyn Lewis and Jaylen Prayer, and possibly Gibbs, will see time at running back.

Lewis rushed for over 900 yards as a sophomore and scored 11 touchdowns.

Juniors MJ Davenport and James Harris are the tight ends, and junior Darius Johnson is at fullback.

Seniors Jyveon Nelson and Jamarcus McChristian are

the wide receivers.

Senior Xavier Sims (5-8, 200) is playing left guard, and eighth grader Rod Cotton (5-10, 230) is at center.

Freshman Damion Sanders (5-11, 230) is working at right guard.

Others in the mix who will possibly see time either on the offensive or defensive line are freshmen Brian Mitchell (5-11, 200), Jakerious Bates (6-4, 260) and Nick Leach (5-10, 250),

and sophomore Moe Washington (5-9, 175).

On defense, Sanders and Leach will play tackle, and Davenport and Harris will play end.

The linebackers are Lewis and Gibbs, and playing in the secondary are Nelson, McChristian and freshman Jerry Zuniga. n `çåí~Åí=`~äîáå=píÉîÉåë ~í= RUNJTOPQ= çê ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

Senior has dreams of closing career with a title ring

Delta Streets Academy quarterback Jimmy Gibbs is just like any other football player this time of year. He dreams of winning a state title and putting a championship ring on his finger.

“I want a ring to close out my career at Delta Streets. I believe we have the talent to do that this year. We know what we are doing. We have the running backs and the wide receivers. All we have to do is go out and do our jobs,” said Gibbs, who is a 5foot-8, 155-pound senior for the

Lions.

Delta Streets is slated to open its 2020 season on Aug. 21 against North Sunflower Academy. The Lions will play their home games at Mississippi Delta Community College in Gibbs Moorhead.

Gibbs, who said he will likely join the U.S. Marines following graduation, is ready to hit the field with his teammates.

“We’ve been working since June 1. Coach keeps us going.

When we all heard he played NCAA football, we were all pretty excited,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs is referring to first-year coach Travis Upshaw, who came to Greenwood from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He played four years of college ball at Texas State University.

“I feel like we have what every coach wants in a quarterback.

Jimmy can throw the ball down the field, and he can take off running when he needs to. He has the ability to make plays with his feet, which is a big plus,” said

Upshaw. “He’s a very versatile athlete, and he is learning how to be a leader of this team. We have a simple game plan, and he and the other kids have really picked up on what we are doing.

I have been really pleased at how well Jimmy has progressed this summer.”

Upshaw praised Gibbs’ work ethic this summer. He has been one of several players who have zero absences during the first nine weeks of summer workouts.

Gibbs played quarterback last season in DSA’s 1-9 campaign under T. Mac Howard. One of his better outings came in a 64-26

loss to Manchester.

He was 5 of 12 for 128 yards with a touchdown and a twopoint conversion run.

“Our system last year was kind of tough, but Coach Upshaw has prepared us to execute with the offense he has installed,” said Gibbs. “I know my role is to keep everybody up and lead this team. This summer has helped me so much in learning the position. We have five seniors, and each one of us wants the same thing.” n`çåí~Åí= `~äîáå= píÉîÉåë= ~í RUNJTOPQ= çê= ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçãJ ãçåïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=P --------------------------------------------------------------------patch up spots vacated by some three-year starters. One thing that is not in doubt is who leads that group up front.

That’s the big fellow Frazier Rose. The 6-foot-7, 290-pounder is the road grader that drives the offensive line.

“He is a great leader, great kid and great player,” McCarty said of his senior who has verbally committed to play at Central Arkansas next year.

McCarty Nolan Marshall will be a key cog in the line even though he has the talent to play other positions, but his team

needs him in the trenches.

Others working on the line are sophomore JC Garrard, seniors Gage Gammill and Michael Jefcoat and junior Britt Reichle.

The Mustangs enter the season ranked No. 9 in the state’s MAIS top-10 poll. Week One opponent JA is ranked third, behind Jackson Prep at 1 and MRA at 2.

Defensively, the Mustangs will rely on good speed and versatility.

Pillow has five six starters back on that side of the ball. McCool

will anchor the unit from his middle linebacker spot.

Gavin Lessley is back in the secondary, giving the Mustangs a hard hitter from his hybrid lineMcCool backer spot.

Belk is also known for dishing out some hard licks.

Hodges will be at free safety,

while McQueen and senior Matthew Jefcoat are working at the cornerback slots.

Gammill is the lone returnee along the line at nose tackle. He proved to be a force in the middle at times last season, and McCarty expects big things from him as a senior. Others working along the front are Rose, Wood and senior Jackson Hodges. n `çåí~Åí= _áää= _ìêêìë= ~í= RUNJ TOPT= çê= ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

máääçï

Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 PageR cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

Senior has big presence with Rebels

`^oolii=^`^abjv

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Rebs ready to get back in saddle

Bill Burrus

`~êêçää=^Å~ÇÉãó=ÜÉ~Ç=Åç~ÅÜ=_ç=jáäíçå=ÖáîÉë=áåëíêìÅíáçåë=ÇìêáåÖ=~=êÉÅÉåí=éê~ÅíáÅÉ=áå=`~êêçääíçåK==

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Carroll Academy just missed a special season in 2019.

The Rebels went 10-3, with all three losses coming by a combined six points, including a 20-18 defeat at the hands of eventual state champion Greenville St. Joe in the state AAA semifinals.

“We were so close,” said CA coach Bo Milton. “Our kids understand how close we were — six points shy of a special season. We bring that up at practice as a motivational tool, and our kids are real hungry to get back on that field.

“My point to our players in camp was ‘what are you going to do to make up those six points this season.’”

All signs point to that happening Friday, when Carroll travels to Grenada to face rival Kirk Academy in the season opener for both. Milton said the program has yet to have any COVID-19 issues, but he knows that could change in a second.

“Our kids know that they have to do to have a complete season, and we’re doing everything in our power to keep plugging along,” Milton said.

With only 21 players out, the Rebels can ill-afford to have too many players miss time due to the coronavirus, but Milton said Carroll plans to line up and play every Friday as long as he has 11 healthy players.

“Look, football is a big deal here. Our fans are so great and supportive, so we’re going to give them football if at all possible,” he said.

Milton is breaking in a new quarterback after the departure of Morgan Mims, who ran for more than 2,000 yards as a senior with 28 touchdowns. Sophomore Brennan Blaylock has taken over the reins under

center. He got some experience in the latter part of last season, including a touchdown pass.

Milton thinks the future of his offense is in good hands.

“Brennan is a really good athlete and the first true quarterback I have had here,” said Milton, about to start his sixth season at Carroll. “Morgan was a running back playing quarterback because that’s what was best for our team at the time.”

Diminutive running back Hunter Brackin, known by the nickname Hollywood, is back for his senior campaign. He missed games late in the season a year ago due to a broken collarbone.

The 5-foot-6, 140-pound tailback rushed for 600 yards before going down to injury, and Milton has high hopes for Brackin in 2020. He ran for 700 yards as a sophomore.

“On a good day, he weighs 140 pounds, but one guy is never going to get him down. He is such a hard-nosed player who fits our style. We have hard-working, bluecollar guys,” said the CA coach.

Sophomore Mathis Beck is at fullback, and senior Braxton York is the wingback.

He also missed time last year with a broken collarbone.

Noah Beck is playing receiver, and senior Hunter Grantham is at tight end.

The offensive line is big and nasty, led by senior Cooper Beck, a 6-4, 285-pounder with good feet. Milton calls him the team’s “bell cow.” Others paving the way up front are juniors Ty Skelton and Drew Haydon and seniors Hunter Brower and Christian McClusky.

Milton is accustomed to dealing with low numbers, having no more than 23 on the roster at one time during his CA tenure.

“It doesn’t faze us. This is who we are,”

p`ebarib

^ìÖK=ON ~í=háêâ=^Å~ÇÉãó ^ìÖK=OU eáääÅêÉëí=`Üêáëíá~å pÉéíK=Q ~í=_Éåíçå=^Å~ÇÉãó pÉéíK=NN ~í=qêáJ`çìåíó=^Å~ÇÉãó pÉéíK=NU kÉïíçå=`çK=^Å~ÇÉãó pÉéíK=OR fåÇá~åçä~=^Å~ÇÉãó lÅíK=O táåçå~=`Üêáëíá~å lÅíK=V ~í=l~â=eáää=^Å~ÇÉãó lÅíK=NS qìåáÅ~=^Å~ÇÉãó lÅíK=OP ~í=`Éåíê~ä=eçäãÉë Milton said. “Sometimes I have to play scout team quarterback, but we get it done.”

Defensively, the Rebels allowed just 10.7 points a contest. Milton thinks this year’s defense has a chance to be even better.

“We have a little more speed on that side of the ball,” he said. “Now, we will be young in some spots, but those guys have the athletic ability to make up for those mistakes.”

The line is led by Cooper Beck and Haydon. Brower is at the nose.

Junior William Panni, a newcomer to the program this year, McClusky, sophomore Maddox Carpenter, Brackin and Mathis Beck will hold down the linebacker posts.

Sophomore Lofton Holly and Noah Beck are the cornerbacks, with York protecting things on the back at free safety.

As good as Carroll was a year ago, it still fell short of a District 2-AAA championship — finishing second to Winona Christian, which beat the Rebels 48-46 in ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ CARROLLI=m~ÖÉ=U

There is a reason Bo Milton calls big Cooper Beck the team’s “bell cow.”

At 6-feet, 4 inches and 285 pounds, Beck runs a 5.3-second 40-yard dash, bench presses 365 pounds and squats 475.

Get the picture.

“Everybody knows we’re going to run to the strong side right behind him, but he can handle it for sure,” said Milton, Carroll Academy’s sixth-year head coach. “He is a legitimate Division I player, the first I have had here. He has a 3.8 GPA with a 21 on the ACT. Cooper is a smart kid, hard worker and very respectful.

“He is obviously a big boy, but he is still young. Cooper just turned 17 in June,” Milton said. “He has a tremendous upside at the next level.”

Beck is entering his third season as a two-way starter on the offensive and defensive lines.

The Beck name rings loud through the hills of Carroll County. Cooper C. Beck has two younger brothers, twins Mathis and Noah, on the team — which makes for interesting dynamics during practice. He had an older brother, Jeb, already come through the program.

“They like to get after one another when they can, and there might be a little trash talk on the side between brothers,” Milton said. “It keeps us coaches on our toes, in a good way. Competition brings out the best in all of us.

“It’s a pretty interesting dynamic the way these guys get after each other. They come from a good, close family.”

Beck said having his younger brothers on the team keeps things interesting for sure.

“Man, those two talk so much smack, but they push us all and keep everyone fired up,” he said.

The Becks have lived about a mile from the school their entire lives. Their late grandfather, Pete Misskelley, helped build Carroll Academy, and most all of his relatives on both sides of the family also attended the school.

Beck and the Rebels are looking to build off last year’s 10-3 team that suffered three heartbreaking two-point losses (Winona Christian, Tri-County and Greenville St. Joe). In the state AAA semifinals last year, St. Joe defeated Carroll 20-18 after rallying in the fourth quarter.

Led by the talented duo of Dillon Johnson and Trey Benson, St. Joe defeated Indianola in the state championship game the next week The win gave St. Joseph (13-0) its third straight state championship and extended its state-best winning streak to 24 games.

“That’s probably who we will have to go through again if we want to close out our senior year with a state title ring,” Beck said. “This team is so tight, real close. We just have to keep grinding.”

New coach pushing Jaguars to be more physical in 2020 gKwK=dblodb=

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

J.Z. George High School firstyear head coach Rusty Smith is preaching one thing to his team as the 2020 season approaches — physicality.

“When we finally get started and put the pads on, they are going to learn to hit. I want these guys to be known as a physical

football team. When opposing teams watch film on us, I want them to notice how physical our guys are. That’s what I want them known for,” said Smith, who after 10-plus years on staff at Charleston High School, took the leap to become a head coach when Ben Burton stepped down in April after six years at the helm of the Jaguar program.

“I knew I was ready to be the

head man. I finally got the X’s and O’s figured out, but I knew that was only half of it. There’s a lot more to it. As the head coach of a team at a small school, there’s a lot of grass-cutting and upkeep that has to be done. I’m ready to get to the season and work with the kids,” he added. “I’m going to be rolling my first year. We’re excited to get things started.”

Smith is a Charleston native,

graduating from the high school in 2004. He then attended Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology education from Delta State University in 2010. He is currently working on his master’s degree in education leadership from Arkansas State University.

“I have 10 total years coaching experience in a highly successful

program. I am a hard worker and love the game of football,” said Smith, who was the special teams and strength coach and the head junior varsity coach from 20152019 at Charleston. “I know the type of work you have to put in to be successful.

“My dream from day one was to be a head coach. I interviewed -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ JAGSI=m~ÖÉ=T

`^q`e= qeb ^`qflk>

PageS Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

cêáÇ~óë=C=p~íìêÇ~óëI=qÜáë=c~ää Pillow Academy Mustangs Indianola Academy Colonels

Friday Nights Friday Nights

Ole Miss

Saturdays

Miss State

Saturdays

Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 PageT cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

g~Öë

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=R -------------------------------------------------------at other schools before, but the timing wasn’t right. I’m thankful for J.Z. George giving me this chance.”

Smith started as the junior high coach for a brief six-month period in 2011 at CHS, then moved to the varsity staff in the fall of 2011. He has worked with defensive tackles and ends, linebackers, tight ends and running backs in his time at Charleston.

Smith will be joined on the football staff by some familiar faces. Michael “Slick” Hargett was also at Charleston the last 10 years, serving as head baseball coach and an assistant on the football staff. Smith said Hargett will work with the quarterbacks, kickers and punters and assist with the defense.

Doyle Ellett, who is entering his fifth season at J.Z. George, will remain as the defensive coordinator.

He is a former assistant coach at Charleston.

Also, one of Smith’s former players at Charleston, Ahmad Alexander, is doing his student teaching at the North Carrollton school and will work with wide receivers and defensive backs. Alexander played at Charleston, Northwest and Delta State University.

Smith said one more coach may join the staff before the season starts.

Smith said he’s been pleased with summer workouts, which averaged 24-25 players, during this time with the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are going to do everything possible to keep anyone from getting sick.

We have been checking temperatures every day and also spraying and wiping down everything in the field house,” said Smith.

“We’re using cups instead of water bottles, and we wipe down balls as frequently as needed. It’s a different time. Nothing is

going to be normal about this, but football is still about running and tackling.”

Smith admits, he, like all coaches, is glad the season is nearing but has no idea if they will make it though an entire season.

The start of the regular season was moved from Aug. 21 to Sept. 4 by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. Also, teams could not officially start preseason drills until Aug. 17, which gives little time to prepare for the opener, which for J.Z. George is Smith Sept. 4 at West Bolivar High School.

Because of the delay to the start of the season, the Jaguars lost the first two games on their schedule with McAdams and Hamilton, two teams they beat in 2019 during their 38 campaign.

The Jaguars have nine games on their schedule.

They are slated to entertain Winona on Sept. 11 and celebrate homecoming on Sept. 18 against Central Holmes Christian School.

They visit Leake County and Walnut on Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 and return home to play East Webster on Oct. 9 in their Region 22A opener.

They finish with three straight district contests as they go to Eupora on Oct. 16, host Bruce on Oct. 23 and visit Calhoun City on Oct. 30. The Jaguars will play a scrimmage at Ethel High School on Aug. 28.

“I hate we lost those first two games, but our focus is on West Bolivar. We played them many times while I was at Charleston, so I know their tradition and the team speed they possess. They combined with Ray Brooks, so there will be some good athletes on the field,” Smith said. “We play in one of the toughest districts in the state in 2A football. It will be a grind each week.

“We will have to work hard and do what it takes to be successful. It will probably get worse before it gets better. The kids and the staff will have to buy in and believe in what we are doing. I played under some very good coaches during my high school days at Charleston, and I’ve had the honor of working with some fine coaches the last 10 years.”

Smith said he’s like to be versatile on offense by running from multiple sets — shotgun, under center, spread, two-tight and Wildcat formation. He will serve as his own offensive coordinator.

“It will be different, but I believe these kids can adapt. It may sound like it’s going to be a lot, but it’s going to be simple for them to catch on,” he said.

Smith is counting on Jordun Normal to run the offense at quarterback.

The junior signal caller held that position last season. He was aided by the play of running back Deriaun Townsend, who transferred to Winona High School for his junior campaign. Townsend ran for 1,442 yards and 11 touchdowns on 179 carries last season under Burton, who is now an assistant at Winona.

Returning in the backfield for his senior season will be Jacob Johnson, a 511, 180-pounder. He ran for nearly 800 yards on 110 carries and scored eight times.

“Jordun is in really good shape. He has the tools to be a good quarterback.

Jacob is going to get his shot at tailback. He played fullback last season. He’s a big strong kid. We also have a couple of other kids who may see time in the backfield in D’Anthony McGlothan and Wil’Tavious Williams,” said Smith.

McGlothan, a junior, will primarily be at wide receiver and could fill in at quarterback. He will play defensive back on defense. He led the Jags with 99 tackles last season, and he also had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Harding Hubbard

gKwK=dÉçêÖÉ=ëÉåáçê=êìååáåÖ=Ä~Åâ=g~ÅçÄ=gçÜåëçå=äççâë=íç=Å~êêó=íÜÉ=äç~Ç=Ñçê=íÜÉ=g~Öì~êë áå=íÜÉ=OMOM=ÑççíÄ~ää=ëÉ~ëçåI=ïÜáÅÜ=áë=ëä~íÉÇ=íç=ëí~êí=pÉéíK=Q=~í=tÉëí=_çäáî~ê=eáÖÜ pÅÜççäK=gçÜåëçå=ê~å=Ñçê=UMM=ó~êÇë=~åÇ=ÉáÖÜí=íçìÅÜÇçïåë=~ë=~=àìåáçê=~ë=ÜÉ=éä~óÉÇ=ÑìääJ Ä~ÅâK=

Williams played tackle on offense last season, but Smith expects to move him to guard.

He also plays linebacker and handles the punting and kicking duties for J.Z. George. He had 86 total tackles as a junior.

Some other players Smith expects to contribute this season include seniors Josh Newman, D’Kevian Townsend, Thomas Perry, Nate Carpenter and Keldrick Glover, juniors Alexander Criss and Deravian Seals, and sophomore Keiyhaun Wilkes.

p`ebarib pÉéíK=Q pÉéíKNN pÉéíK=NU pÉéíK=OR lÅíK=O lÅíK=V lÅíK=NS lÅíK=OP lÅíK=PM

~í=tÉëí=_çäáî~ê táåçå~ `Éåíê~ä=eçäãÉë ~í=iÉ~âÉ=`çìåíó ~í=t~äåìí b~ëí=tÉÄëíÉê ~í=bìéçê~ _êìÅÉ ~í=`~äÜçìå=`áíó

^ää=Ö~ãÉë=ëí~êí=~í=T=éKãK

George’s do-it-all senior happy for chance to play

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

Wil’Tavious Williams is a jackof-all-trades.

Williams is a senior for the J.Z. George football team, which opens its 2020 season on Sept. 4 at West Bolivar High School.

The start of the season, which was to be Aug. 21, was delayed two weeks by the Mississippi High School Activities Association because of COVID-19 concerns.

“I know this is a crazy year, and it has affected other school districts,” said Williams. “I’m glad we are still going to play football. It would be hard to imagine not getting to play my senior year. I feel for the guys in Greenwood.

“I started out playing for the Greenwood Bullpups when I was 9 years old. My first start was at center. The other kid didn’t show up, so I told the coach I’d do it. I’ve always been willing to

play wherever they needed me.”

And he continues to do that to this day. Last season for the J a g u a r s , Williams, a 5Williams foot-10, 200pounder, lined up at linebacker, offensive tackle and did the punting and kicking.

This season under first-year coach Rusty Smith, he is slated to go both ways as well as continue to do the kicking and punting.

He may also get to run the ball on a few occasions.

“I like helping the team out any way I can,” he said. “I’m a lot stronger this year. We have been working hard since early June.

Even when we couldn’t be at school, I continued to get in my running and lifting weights at home. Coach Smith has a very strong work ethic. He comes

from a good program at Charleston, and he’s all about business. He knows how to get us to be a winning program.

“He’s all about working hard and becoming stronger. A lot of the younger guys have gotten stronger over the summer. I like the work outs he gives us to do.”

Smith spent the past 10 years on staff at Charleston, where one of his roles was strength and conditioning.

“Wil’Tavious is one of those kids who is going to be there every day and ready to work.

He’s a real strong young man and real athletic. He played on the offensive line last year, and he will probably do that again, but I want to use him some in the backfield,” said Smith. “He is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team. He’s willing to play any position.”

Williams said it was sad to see former coach Ben Burton step down, but he understood his decision.

“He was only looking out for his family. He needed to put them first,” Williams said. Burton resigned in April to take a position with Winona High School. He and his family live in Winona.

Williams still works under Doyle Ellett, J.Z. George’s defensive coordinator.

“Coach Ellett has really helped me improve a lot as a player.

He’s taught me how to study film and see what teams are running,” said Williams. “I love playing linebacker. I played in the middle last year. I’m a run-stop linebacker. Most of the teams we play run the ball, and I don’t mind making contact with somebody.”

As a junior, Williams finished with 48 solo tackles, 38 assisted stops, two sacks and two fumble recoveries.

The same way Williams became a starter for the Bullpups as a 9 year old is about the way he became a starter for

the Jaguars as a freshman.

“One of our linebackers got hurt in the middle of a game, and I was put into the game. I’ve been starting ever since,” said Williams.

One thing Williams wants to see happen this season is for the Jaguars to make the playoffs.

Their last visit was in 2016 when he was in the eighth grade.

“I believe if we all come together and work together, and if we are willing to do whatever it takes, we can make the playoffs.

We have eight or nine seniors this season, and we all want to end in a positive way. We realize this season could be shut down at any time.” he added.

Williams said he’d like to possibly play ball on the junior college level while also working on a major in either mechanical, industrial or electrical engineering. n`çåí~Åí= `~äîáå=píÉîÉåë= ~í RUNJTOPQ= çê= ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçãJ ãçåïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

J.Z. George product fitting in well at Copiah-Lincoln

PageU Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

By CALVIN STEVENS péçêíë=têáíÉê

Chris Rias stands out as the lone former J.Z. George Jaguar who is on a junior college or college football roster entering the 2020 season.

Rias will be a sophomore at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson this fall when the season is expected to start Oct. 1 after the delay because of COVID-19. The Mississippi Association of Community College made that decision on July 24 and came up with that plan.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak that began in mid-March, Rias was no longer on campus

oçëÉ

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=P ------------------------------------------------------Fellow senior and good friend Christian Belk calls Rose a “big ol’ teddy bear outside of football.” But you can say that when he is blocking for you and not trying to destroy you.

“It feels good having a Division I player blocking for you and protecting you.

He is poised for a great season,” Belk said.

Rose said he is pumped to get a chance to play his senior season during a time when some schools and leagues are cancelling fall football.

“We are grateful for this opportunity, especially us seniors,” he said. “We plan to certainly make the most of it.”

Rose blew out a knee in his first game as a sophomore and missed the remainder of the year. He returned to full health last season and had a strong junior campaign.

Rose has received a handful of offers for next season from JUCO schools in Mississippi. The only Division-I offer at this point is from Central Arkansas.

He has verbally committed

`~êêçää

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=R ---------------------------------------------------------a wild shootout. A league title is one of several goals for the Rebels, but Milton knows it won’t be easy.

“Our league is pretty darn tough,” he said. “From top to bottom, it’s the best league in AAA. Just look at the postseason last year.

Three of the last four teams standing were from our district and four of the final eight were as well.

“So we have our work cut out for us for sure, but our guys are always up to the challenge.”

As of Thursday, Milton said the team has had no COVID-19 issues, but when it does, there is a plan in place to handle that. n `çåí~Åí=_áää=_ìêêìë=~í RUNJTOPT= çê ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK=

at Co-Lin to go through spring workouts.

He has spent the past four months Rias working out on his own or with another teammate from Co-Lin. The hard work has paid off for the former Jaguar, who weighed about 190 pounds when he left the North Carrollton school to begin junior college.

Rias now weighs 225 pounds and stands 6-3.

He’s playing defensive end and hybrid linebacker.

“The big difference has

to the Bears. McCarty said UCA is getting a stud.

“They are very happy to have him coming on board next year. They have high hopes for him, and they should because Frazier is a special player and a special person. They are getting the total package,” said McCarty. “Frazier is one of the best team players I have ever coached.”

While he remains focused on this season and what the Mustangs can accomplish, Rose said he is excited about joining the Bear football family next year.

UCA offensive line coach Gunnar Boykin, who is from Mississippi, is also the recruiting coordinator.

Rose said the two have developed a strong bond and that he is looking forward to playing in Conway, Arkansas, for a program that went 9-3, 7-2 in Southland Conference play last year. The Bears lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs to Illinois State.

“It’s a really good program with good coaches,” McCarty said. “The future is bright for both that program and Frazier.” n `çåí~Åí=_áää=_ìêêìë=~í RUNJTOPT= çê ÄÄìêêìë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK= cçääçï= çå qïáííÉêW]_áää|_ìêêìëK

been working out on your own rather than with teammates at the school,” he said. “I’ve just kept going. I’ve taken this opportunity and ran with it to get better. I’ve been working out in the evenings at J.Z. George with one of my teammates from Co-Lin who is from Winona.

I’ve gotten stronger, and I’ve improved my speed. I’m much faster and quicker.”

Rias’ freshman cam-

paign at Co-Lin wasn’t too bad for a young player. He started four games at defensive end. He finished with 21 total tackles, five tackles for loss and had one fumble recovery.

“I started eating more so I could put on some weight. I’ve learned in college it’s like a job. Coaches stay on you, but it’s up to you if you want to improve,” Rias said. “My position coach has really worked with me about my

technique. They like the fact I’m quick enough I can rush the passer, but I can also drop back in coverage.”

Apparently, coaches on the next level have noticed Rias. He has verbally committed to Louisiana Monroe and has drawn interest from South Alabama and Troy.

“They all say they like me as an edge rusher.

They like my speed (he’s been timed at 4.67 seconds in the 40).”

Rias feels like he is doing this not only for himself, but for his family and former teammates and younger players at J.Z.

George.

“I want to prove to the guys I grew up with and my family that you can accomplish something with hard work. I never thought I’d be in this situation, but I’m going to make the best of this.”

Rias said he is majoring in physical education with the hopes of one day coaching. n`çåí~Åí=`~äîáå=píÉîÉåë ~í= ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 PageV cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

lk=`^jmrp

Here’s a look at where former Greenwood-area high school football players are now playing in college: jfppfppfmmf=s^iibv=pq^qb

Dephabian Fant

RB

Freshman

Amanda Elzy

DE OL

Senior Sophomore

Greenwood Greenwood

Ath. DB TE OL

Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman

Leflore County Amanda Elzy Greenwood Greenwood

jfppfppfmmf=pq^qb

Marquiss Spencer Kwatrivous Johnson

jfppfppfmmf=abiq^=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb

Maurice Edwards Smitdarius Wright Quaterius Silas Malik Sanders

abiq^=pq^qb=rkfsbopfqv

Rico Owens

RB

Senior

Greenwood

OL

Junior

Greenwood

qrphbdbb=rkfsbopfqv

Quenterrius Banks

`lmf^eJifk`lik=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb

Chris Rias

DE/LB Sophomore

J.Z. George

Travor Randle Marshakie Applewhite

DB OL

Freshman Freshman

Greenwood Greenwood

Walter Ivory Willie McCline

RB RB

Sophomore Sophomore

Greenwood Leflore County

OL

Sophomore

Greenwood

Kendarius Edwards Cameron Swinney

OL OL

Freshman Freshman

Leflore County Leflore County

Kobe Chambers

WR

Freshman

Greenwood

LB

Junior

Pillow Academy

Christian Henderson OL Carldaryl “CJ” Johnson DB

Sophomore Sophomore

Greenwood Greenwood

Hunter Taylor

OL

Freshman

Pillow Academy

DB

Senior

Greenwood

DL

Sophomore

Greenwood

OL

Freshman

Greenwood

DL

Freshman

Greenwood

glkbp=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb

elijbp=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb

Charles Brooks

fq^t^j_^=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb `l^elj^=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb

b^pq=jfppfppfmmf=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb _bie^sbk=rkfsbopfqv

Luke Fondren

ilrfpf^k^=qb`e

^oh^kp^p=qb`e

ilrfpf^k^=jlkolb

Tyler Glass Jalen Bedell Braidron Hodo

`bkqo^i=^oh^kp^p

efkap=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb

kloqeb^pq=jfppfppfmmf=`ljjrkfqv=`liibdb

Quontavious Lymon

Local duo should play key roles for Bulldogs

AP

jáëëáëëáééá=pí~íÉ=çÑÑÉåëáîÉ=í~ÅâäÉ=hï~íêáîçìë=gçÜåëçå=çÑ=dêÉÉåïççÇ=áë=ÉñéÉÅíÉÇ=íç=ëÉÉ=ãçêÉ ~Åíáçå=íÜáë=ëÉ~ëçå=íÜ~å=ä~ëíK=

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

New coach Mike Leach brings excitement to the 2020 season for Mississippi State fans, but will any of them actually see what his Air Raid offense is all about this fall?

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season as leagues and teams across the nation scurry to find ways to keep the football season alive at the college level. The Big Ten Conference announced earlier this week that it won’t play football this fall and will explore playing in the spring. An hour later that same day, the Pac-12 Conference also canceled fall football season, postponing all sports until Jan. 1 because of COVID-19.

But the Southeastern Conference, the new home for Leach, is still trying to wade through the murky waters of balancing sports with public health concerns. Leach is sure hoping his new team gets to play.

“Right now college football hasn’t quite figured out if they’re the dog or the vehicle and whether they’re going to stay,” Leach said. “I wish there was more clarity to that. We’re all waiting to see, and we’re excited about our team, we’re excited about this opportunity and hope we get the chance to share it with everybody around the country.”

It is mid-August, and it remains to be seen if any football will be played this year at the college level. However, if it is, the Bulldogs will have ample opportunities to fill the

win column. Games against Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky and Vanderbilt should all be winnable, although the Wildcats have become an increasingly tough out under Mark Stoops.

Mississippi State is going to throw, and it’ll keep throwing, and then it’ll throw a little more. That has been Leach’s way since his days at Texas Tech. When Leach took over Washington State in 2012, the team was awful, but it finished ninth in the nation in passing. It finished fourth in 2013, and was No. 1 in four of the next six years, was second in one of the other seasons and third in the other.

The system worked when he was an offensive coordinator at Kentucky and then Oklahoma, it worked at Texas Tech, and then at Washington State. But without a spring practice to tune up, it might be a bit rocky for a while.

Leach brought in Stanford graduate transfer K.J. Costello but he hasn’t officially been tabbed as Leach’s starting quarterback. It’s difficult to believe that he won’t be.

Costello boasts a 62.6 percent career completion percentage, along with 6,151 yards passing and 49 TDs through the air. Injuries limited him to only five games last season, but the year prior he had one of the best campaigns ever for a Cardinal quarterback, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors with 3,540 passing yards, 29 TDs and a completion percentage of 65.1 percent.

Costello’s resume immediately makes him the most

proven quarterback on the roster. The Bulldogs do have other options, including exciting dual-threat sophomore Garrett Shrader, who played in 10 games and started four last season, but Costello seems likely to get the first crack at running the Mississippi State version of the Air Raid barring something unforeseen.

Meanwhile, at running back, the Bulldogs welcome back Kylin Hill for his senior season, and he could be set up for a monster year. He led the SEC in rushing yardage in the regular season in 2019.

The system makes the receivers, but the receivers are there to make the system work, even if they’re not experienced. Leading yardage receiver Osirus Mitchell is back, and then it’ll be all up to the new parts with four of the top five targets from last year gone. JUCO transfers Caleb Ducking and Malik Heath will get a shot at time early on, and Alabama transfer Tyrell Shavers has the upside to be a star right away.

Of course the key to any offensive success is the line.

Mississippi State did lose a pair of starters up front from what was a solid group last year, and Stewart Reese decided to transfer to Florida this summer. However, there is quality depth and several options to replace those losses.

Greenwood’s Kwatrivous Johnson is working to find a starting spot on the line. He came into Starkville as raw, but his 6-7, 330-pound frame and athleticism give him great --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pÉÉ MSUI=m~ÖÉ=NM

Abraham-led Golden Eagles hope to fly high in 2020

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

Southern Miss is hoping for a chance to play in 2020.

With Power Five conferences (Big Ten and Pac-12 so far) cancelling the upcoming fall season, the Group of Five has become the Group of Three, and Southern Miss is moving forward.

The Mid-American Conference and the Mountain West Confer-

ence – two of the “Group of Five” smaller conferences — have canceled football for 2020.

Four straight winning seasons and three bowl appearances aren’t anything to dismiss in Hattiesburg, though, considering USM isn’t all that far removed from the brutal period between 2012 to 2014 when it came up with just four wins.

The Golden Eagles went 7-6 in 2019. Their most notable wins

came against C-USA stalwart UAB and Troy. The Golden Eagles didn’t have any horrific losses in 2019, as two of the team’s six losses came against Alabama and Mississippi State.

Southern Miss is led by redshirt senior Jack Abraham. Abraham, a transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College, tossed for 3,496 yards, 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2019. Abraham, who is more

comfortable in the pocket than he is in open space, has a go-to target in senior Tim Jones. Jones was second on the team last season with 902 receiving yards. The next closest receiver was rising junior Jaylond Adams with 492 yards. Adams will be asked to step up in the absence of 1,000yard receiver Quez Watkins, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

New offensive coordinator Matt

Kubik marshalled ULM’s offense to consecutive top-50 rankings in the past two years. While Kubik has the luxury of a veteran quarterback and a talented receiving corps, Kubik’s tallest task will be rebuilding Southern Mississippi’s running game. The Golden Eagles rushed for just over 1,500 yards as a team last season.

In 2019, Southern Miss finished No. 37 in the country in total defense.

No spring makes it tougher on new coaches

PageNM Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

lib= jfpp

By BILL BURRUS péçêíë=bÇáíçê

With no spring college football in Mississippi due to the COVID19 pandemic, first-year coaches like Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss are at somewhat of a disadvantage heading into what could be a wild and crazy 2020 season.

“It really hurts first-year coaching staffs and programs. If I were still at FAU, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal,” Kiffin said. “You have returning players that know your system and have played games Kiffin together. It sort of evens the playing field, but for newer coaches it’s not equal at all. If we have no spring, it’s definitely going to hurt first-year programs a lot more than the programs with continuity.”

The cancellation of spring practice was an issue everywhere, but even more difficult for new coaches who hoped to begin quarterback competitions.

Beyond technicalities of a new system and installations, the coaches are going to be behind on simply knowing the best way to coach this team.

“One of the big things in coaching is just understanding your players and knowing how to coach them,” Kiffin said. “Until you get on the field with them, you don’t really understand that.

There’s no way to figure that out

from a classroom. So, we’ll lose a lot of things, and you’ll lose them getting to know each other, too.”

Starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee is back after leading the SEC in rushing yards per game at 113.7. If Plumlee is going to keep the job in a scheme that will be more balanced, he’ll need to improve in the pass game where he completed just 52.7 percent after becoming QB1 four games into his freshman season.

Sophomore Matt Corral will be the primary threat among three others in the mix.

The Rebels return dynamic talent at running back in home-run threat Jerrion Ealy, who accounted for 894 yards and eight touchdowns rushing and receiving.

Ealy also brings big-play potential to the kick return game. He averaged 24.4 yards on 13 attempts, one of them a 94-yard touchdown.

Three-and-a-half starters return on the offensive line after talented sophomore Nick Broeker, who coaches believe has allconference potential, split game reps with a senior at left tackle last year. Right guard Ben Brown, a redshirt junior, is in his third starting season. Senior Royce Newman will move to right tackle to replace the lone departure, Alex Givens.

Four highly regarded freshmen in the 2019 signing class who were mostly lost in a run-heavy offense last season should step up. In addition, the hiring of Kiffin convinced two older players to remain instead of transfer. Junior slot receiver Elijah Moore is back

AP

läÉ=jáëë=êìååáåÖ=Ä~Åâ=gÉêêáçå=b~äó=~ÅÅçìåíÉÇ=Ñçê=UVQ=ó~êÇë=~åÇ=ÉáÖÜí=íçìÅÜÇçïåë=êìëÜáåÖ=~åÇ=êÉÅÉáîáåÖ=ä~ëí ëÉ~ëçå=~ë=~=ÑêÉëÜã~åK=b~äó=~äëç=ÄêáåÖë=ÄáÖJéä~ó=éçíÉåíá~ä=íç=íÜÉ=âáÅâ=êÉíìêå=Ö~ãÉK=eÉ=~îÉê~ÖÉÇ=OQKQ=ó~êÇë=çå=NP ~ííÉãéíëI=çåÉ=çÑ=íÜÉã=~=VQJó~êÇ=íçìÅÜÇçïåK

after netting 67 catches and six touchdown passes last year. Temple grad transfer Kenny Yeboah is the favorite at tight end.

The Rebels are thin at the interior defensive line spots. Several players listed as ends on the spring roster could end up helping out inside.

Sam Williams, a first-year juco transfer at OLB, had six sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss. Senior Ryder Anderson was playing the best football of his career as a disruptive edge rusher when a knee

injury cut short his season.

Throughout his career, he’s added bulk to his 6-6 frame, and coaches hope he’ll pick up where he left off. Freshman end Demon Clowney, the cousin of NFL defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, could be a factor.

Middle linebacker is the most experienced group as Ole Miss returns Lakia Henry and Jacquez Jones, its top two tacklers.

In addition, MoMo Sanogo, who gained some preseason All-

SEC mention a year ago, returns from a broken ankle.

A 26-13 record, including two double-digit win seasons at Florida Atlantic, revived Kiffin’s head coaching career after a mediocre year at Tennessee followed by USC’s decision to sever ties during his fourth year with the Trojans five games into the 2013 campaign. There has been a lot of excitement in Oxford since his arrival, but only time will tell if Kiffin actually gets to coach a game this year.

College football in the spring: When? Who plays?

Associated Press

Back in April, not long after the NCAA basketball tournaments were canceled because of the pandemic, the idea of moving the college football season to the spring of 2021 already was being tossed around.

Conference commissioners and athletic directors called it a last resort. And when it looked like the fight against the coronavirus might be going well, the idea mostly fell by the wayside.

“We broached it very little in our AD meetings and really haven’t gotten serious about it at all,” Wisconsin athletic director Barry

jpr

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=V -------------------------------------------------------------upside.

Leach has brought in new defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, who coaches a 3-3-5 defense. If Arnett can be as successful in Starkville with his scheme as he was in his previous stop at San Diego State, that’s good news for Mississippi State. Over the last two seasons at San Diego State, Arnett’s defense ranked in the top 15 nationally in multiple categories, including rushing yards allowed per game,

Alvarez recalled Tuesday.

“I had one AD from another league call and just talk about it a little bit.”

Time to start talking about it a lot.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 postponed fall football this week, hoping to salvage a spring season like the MidAmerican Conference and Mountain West plan to do.

What that looks like is anybody’s guess, but officials will need to figure out everything from how to prepare in the fall to how much to play in the spring, where in the calendar it could fit and who exactly is going to be suiting up for these teams.

Before a spring football season is planned, Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said,

rushing yards allowed per carry, and yards allowed per play.

Arnett inherits a defense full of talent, but low on big names. Senior linebacker Erroll Thompson — last season’s leading tackler — is the heart and soul of the Mississippi State defense, but beyond him there are many unknowns.

Up front, Mississippi State seems to be in pretty good shape. A season ago, the Bulldogs were young and inexperienced along the defensive line. However, tackle Nathan Pickering emerged as an All-SEC Freshman, and he joins fellow tackle Jaden Crumedy

there has to be a discussion about next fall, too.

“I think the two have to be tied together. In my mind, we’ve made the decision and we’ve canceled the 2020 season,” Chryst said. “Now how do we want to do 2021?”

Todd Berry, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association and a member of the NCAA’s football oversight committee, said conversations about a spring football season have been minimal. There has been a theme: “We would all like to go into next fall with some kind of normalcy.”

Ohio State coach Ryan Day was clear on what he wanted.

“I think starting the first

week of January would be the best way to go and an eight-week season,” he said.

Chryst coached in what was known at the time as the World League of American Football and later become NFL Europe.

Occasionally players from that spring league would end up on NFL rosters the following fall.

“It’s a long season,” Chryst said.

Former NCAA executive and college football player Mark Lewis said playing two full seasons or even close to that should be a nonstarter.

“If you look back to the last 20 years of college football, there’s been a deemphasis of spring activi-

ty, spring practice, the number of days you can practice, the number of days you can practice with pads, the number of contact practices you can have,” he said. “All those have been reduced with purpose.”

“What are you gaining by playing in spring if you’re trying to add more games?” Lewis said. “I don’t think that’s necessarily a good idea.”

Exactly when a season could be played in the spring is likely to be determined, like many things, by the virus.

“I don’t think there’s a single indication that there could be a better situation in March, April and May then in September, Octo-

ber, November,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said.

Schools have generally done a good job mitigating the virus’s spread during voluntary workouts and noncontact practices over the last month. Whether that keeps up when schools starts remains to be seen, even with some schools doing most or all their classes online.

Berry said teams are not likely to send players home even without football games on the schedule. Day said the Buckeyes will still be tested once a week.

Keeping the players in shape might be easier than simply keeping them around.

and veteran ends Kobe Jones and Greenwood’s Marquiss Spencer to give the Bulldogs the makings of a solid front.

Spencer (6-4, 285), also a Greenwood High product like Johnson, is a senior defensive end who started all 13 games in 2019. He ranked No. 2 in the team in tackles last season among the defensive linemen.

Leach brings a big-time name and reputation with him as he tries to see if his traditionally successful coaching methods can translate in the unforgiving SEC West.

AP Hopefully, we’ll get to see jáëëáëëáééá=pí~íÉÛë=j~êèìáëë=péÉåÅÉê=EQOFI=~=ëÉåáçê=ÇÉÑÉåëáîÉ=ÉåÇ=Ñêçã=dêÉÉåïççÇI how it plays out on the field. áë=çåÉ=çÑ=íÜÉ=_ìääÇçÖëÛ=ãçëí=ÉñéÉêáÉåÅÉÇ=êÉíìêåÉÉë=~äçåÖ=íÜÉ=ÇÉÑÉåëáîÉ=ÑêçåíK

Losing college football stings across America

Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 PageNN cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

Associated Press

Michigan’s Big House will be sitting empty when the leaves start to change this fall.

Southern Cal’s famed white horse, Traveler, won’t be galloping triumphantly after a Trojans touchdown.

No one at Ole Miss knows for sure if partying fans will be belting out a well-lubricated “Hotty Toddy” in The Grove.

From Ann Arbor to Los Angeles to Oxford, that most American of pursuits — college football — has either given up hope of getting in a traditional season or is flinging what amounts to a Hail Mary pass in a desperate attempt to hang on in the age of Covid-19.

Even if some schools manage to take the field in the next month or so, it will be a different looking game.

Chances are, Saturdays will never be quite the same again.

“Our lives are changing forever right before our eyes,” Arizona offensive lineman Donovan Laie said.

While every aspect of society has been jarred by a worldwide pandemic that has claimed more than 160,000 American lives, the potential loss of college football feels like another collective punch to the national psyche.

For all the ills of big-time college athletics, it might the closest thing to a national religion.

“Since the virus hit, we’ve all lost a sense of our normal lives,” said Charles Reagan Wilson, professor emeritus at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi — better known to college football

di`pa

`çåíáåìÉÇ=Ñêçã=m~ÖÉ=P ------------------------------------------------------play. They lost 20-16 to the Eagles to fall to 0-3 and then reeled off eight straight wins before falling 29-28 to Lumberton in the playoffs.

“You can’t predict the future, but with the environment and excitement surrounding our team, we felt we could run the table this season,” said House, who is in his fifth year in Itta Bena. “Our kids knew it was going to be our year.

They were ready to elevate this program to the next level. We had a very special group coming back this season.”

Because of the delay the Mississippi High School Activities Association handed down for the start of the season from Aug. 21 to Sept. 4, all three schools lost the first two games on their schedules.

Greenwood was set to open at Cleveland Central after losing games with Leflore and Holmes County Central. They had an open date on Sept. 11 with Greenville High also opting not to play this season.

The Bulldogs would have taken on Elzy on Sept. 18 and then visited Noxubee County on Sept. 25.

Region 3 play would have started on Oct. 2 with Gentry and concluded with district games against Rosa Fort, Clarksdale and Yazoo City.

fans as Ole Miss.

“College football could be the balm for our spirit because it’s such a part of our familiar autumn life,” he added. “I think to not have it would up the ante on that sense of abnormality we’re all living through.”

That reality has already arrived for fans in two of the country’s most prominent conferences.

On Tuesday, the Big Ten and the Pac-12 both called off their attempts to play this fall, saying they might try to play in the spring if the virus subsides.

The remaining Power Five conferences — the Southeastern, Atlantic Coast and Big 12 — are pressing on with their attempts to kick off the season next month, though all are quick to acknowledge that the virus could force the to cancel.

Ohio State fan Jason Streeter finds it difficult to grasp the concept of a fall without football.

“Devastation,” said Streeter, sounding as though a tornado had just swept through town. “It’s just a way of life in Columbus, honestly. It really is. You look forward to those fall Saturdays on the banks of the Olentangy.”

He talked longingly of traditions that are unique to his school, such as the band’s famed script spelling of “Ohio” during its halftime shows in the center of a nearly 103,000-seat stadium known as “The Horseshoe” — capped ff by a lone member highstepping across the field to “Dot The I.” “It’s a part of life here, it really is,” Streeter said.

Further down the college football food chain, smaller leagues

The Panthers were slated to get the season started with back-to-back home games on Sept. 4 and 11 against O’Bannon and Northside. After the annual clash with Greenwood, they were going to host South Delta on Sept. 25 and Ruleville on Oct. 2 in a Region 3 contest. They added on Kemper County on Oct. 9 after Coahoma Early College decided not to play football months ago, and would have ended the regular season with a home tilt against Winona on Oct. 23 and an away game at Humphreys County on Oct. 30.

It all would have started on Sept. 11 for the Tigers as they would have hosted West Bolivar.

“That was a game we had marked on our calendar since last year. We feel like that game, even though it was the first district game, could have been for the district championship,” said House. “We lost to them on the last play of the game last year.

Our kids have had a chip on their shoulders since last year. We were ready to return the favor.”

Leflore would have played seven more district games with a Oct. 9 home contest against Simmons looming as the biggest challenge.

Unfortunately for the three teams in the GLCSD, it’s wait ’til next year. n `çåí~Åí= `~äîáå píÉîÉåë= ~í= RUNJTOPQ= çê ÅëíÉîÉåë]ÖïÅçããçåJ ïÉ~äíÜKÅçãK

have pulled the plug on their seasons as well.

The sting is especially painful at historically Black colleges and universities such as North Carolina A&T, where one of the highlights of football season — really, the entire year — is a week-long homecoming celebration that draws tens of thousands to Greensboro.

“It’s been an insular community for so long, by necessity,” said Earl Hilton, the athletic director at North Carolina A&T. “These are places of retreat, places of sanctuary, places of protection.

There’s a feeling that we are in a safe place where we can celebrate and enjoy and appreciate each other in ways that are genuine and authentic.”

Not this year. There’s no football, no homecoming, no chance to watch the school’s famed band perform one of its dazzling halftime shows.

“The leaves change, it gets a little cooler, and it’s just what you do on a Saturday afternoon,” mused Hilton, sadness clear in his voice.

“I’m at a loss for words to describe what it’s going to be like.”

For a country already in the midst of a devastating economic downturn, the loss of college football will have a crushing impact on bars, restaurants and other businesses that rely on football fans.

That is especially true of college towns like Oxford, Mississippi and Clemson, South Carolina and State College, Pennsylvania.

“I was talking to a restaurant owner here in Oxford who said 50 percent of his yearly profit comes from college football season,” said

AP

lÜáç=pí~íÉ=éä~óÉêë=ÅÉäÉÄê~íÉ=íÜÉ=íÉ~ãÛë=PQJON=ïáå=çîÉê=táëÅçåëáå=áå íÜÉ=_áÖ=qÉå=ÅÜ~ãéáçåëÜáé=Ö~ãÉK=qÜÉ=_áÖ=qÉå=ïçåÛí=éä~ó=ÑççíÄ~ää=íÜáë Ñ~ää=ÄÉÅ~ìëÉ=çÑ=ÅçåÅÉêåë=~Äçìí=`lsfaJNVI=ÄÉÅçãáåÖ=íÜÉ=Ñáêëí=çÑ=ÅçäJ äÉÖÉ=ëéçêíëÛ=éçïÉê=ÅçåÑÉêÉåÅÉë=íç=óáÉäÇ=íç=íÜÉ=é~åÇÉãáÅK=

Wilson, the Ole Miss professor.

“Even if people are able to come back next year, it won’t be the same. Some of the restaurants they loved won’t be here. Some of the clothing stores, some of the bars, they won’t be here.”

Oxford has a a tax base of about 25,000 residents, and the population grows closer to 60,000 when classes are in session.

But on a big football weekend, the town can be swamped by nearly 200,000 people. Those people spend money, lots of money.

About a third of Oxford’s operating budget comes from sales taxes.

“We count on those six to seven weekends a year,” Mayor Robyn Tannehill said. “There are businesses in this town that can

weather a slow winter or spring because because they know football’s coming.”

The SEC has already cut back on its normal 12-game schedule, hoping the league can complete that a 10-game slate of conference games. Even the games that are played will surely be in stadiums that are empty or let in only a fraction of their normal capacity.

The universities will likely crack down on popular tailgating spots such as The Grove.

“The Grove, the weather, the tailgating, the feel of a big Saturday morning game day,” Tannehill said. “I can’t imagine Oxford without it.”

Even in a larger city such as Columbus, the loss of a Buckeyes season is a huge blow.

PageNO Greenwood Commonwealth / Weekend, August 15-16, 2020 cllq_^ii=OMOM =======================================================================================================================================================================

Here’s H ere’ss tto oa winning w inning season! se ason!

122 Howard 122 H oward Street Street Greenwood Greenwood 662.455.9212 662.455.9212 gbtonline.com g btonline.com