Nov. 15, 2015

Ole Miss men’s women’s, basketball win openers.

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Sunday

Page 17

EDITION

oxfordcitizen.com

Volume 2 | Issue 60

nday news so s Su rd’

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Inside 4 News First-time principal Bradley Roberson making a difference at Oxford High School.

7 News

Unified Egg Bowl set for Monday night at Ole Miss.

PETRE THOMAS

The Oxford Charger football team takes the field on Friday night before their game against the Vicksburg Gators. Oxford defeated Vicksburg 35-21.

13 Sports

Home cooking Chargers rally to defeat Gators in 5A playoffs just to get stomped like they did two years ago in the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs.

It was obvious the Vicksburg They were going to make the Gators didn’t travel 220 miles Oxford Chargers earn everyBY BEN MIKELL SPORTS WRITER

unanswered points to earn a thing they got Friday night.

Oxford had to work at 35-21 win. The victory adBobby Holcomb Field, over- vanced the Chargers to the coming a two-score deficit in the second quarter with 28 TURN TO OXFORD PAGE 18

Lafayette falls to Noxubee in the Class 4A playoff game.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 2

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

Dr. Kathy Knight gives tips on healthy eating during the holidays

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One may hope the Halloween candy is gone by now, but Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, which leads right into Christmas parties … . Oxford Citizen reporter Errol Castens visited with Dr. Kathy Knight, associate professor of nutrition and hospitality management at the University of Mississippi, to reflect on ways to eat more healthily during the holidays.

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ERROL CASTENS: What are the most common ways people derail their good intentions to eat healthily during the holiday season?

DR. KATHY KNIGHT: Well, it’s pretty easy to get derailed at this time, isn’t it? There are so many wonderful foods that we don’t indulge in the rest of the year, but love to taste “just once.” Also, there are several foods that each of us associates with the holidays and that evoke special memories.

The combination of these two reasons can Dr. Kathy Knight lead straight into the middle of that sweet boys or split-pea with ham soup take adpotato casserole! vantage of all that leftover meat – but are CASTENS: What particular guardrails leaner and more nutrient-dense. And, of could we employ to keep from going as far course, include time for exercise! off track as we might?

KNIGHT: First, try to think about your faCASTENS: Food allergies aside, are there vorite memories of the holidays and ask particular foods that people should simyourself if they were really all about the ply avoid altogether - perhaps because food, or were those times special because they tend to trigger binge-eating, for inyou were with family or participating in a stance? favorite activity? I’m not saying that food KNIGHT: The answer to this question is is not important during the holidays, just so dependent on the individual. Some that we shouldn’t give it more importance people do have certain “trigger foods” that than it deserves. can lead them to seriously overeat. For Second, decide what foods you ab- others, it the combination of circumsolutely need to taste to make this holi- stances – family, friends, more emphasis day season great for you, and then plan on food, and some holiday anxiety – that when you will serve them. When we re- lead to eating more than we should. ally think about it, the actual “special eating days” are probably fewer than we CASTENS: What are some alternatives to think. Also, space out high-calorie foods New Year’s resolutions to jumpstart a and serve them with lower-calorie op- healthy-eating lifestyle? tions. Also important – include some KNIGHT: The very best alternative would physical activity. Playing a game of be to see a registered dietitian to get a horseshoes or football after Thanksgiv- healthy eating plan, something that will ing dinner or taking a walk with the fam- make a big difference in your nutritional ily on Christmas Eve can help balance health. The Department of Nutrition and calorie consumption and relieve some Hospitality Management at the University holiday stress. of Mississippi has a Nutrition Clinic, staffed by registered dietitians who have CASTENS: From Halloween’s deluge of experience in helping people set and candy to Thanksgiving to Christmas to achieve health and weight-management New Year’s and finally Super Bowl Sun- goals.

Their contact information is: day, there seems to be an expectation of food-centric partying for more than two UM NUTRITION CLINIC months. What can people do to put some Attention: Janie Cole, MS, RD spells of “normal” life back in what could 115 Lenoir Hall; Sorority Row otherwise be a 101-day gorge-fest?

University, MS 38677 (662) 915-8662 KNIGHT: As I said earlier, the actual umnutritionclinic@olemiss.edu “special eating days” are probably fewer They can help you make small, but sigthan we think. As long as other days are healthy, they shouldn’t hurt most healthy nificant changes that can make your diet people too badly. Plan some healthy healthier and tastier at the same time. menus for those in-between days – many healthy entrees can be made from holierrol.castens@journalinc.com day leftovers. Turkey taco soup or poTwitter: @oxfordcitizenec

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

PAGE 3

UM Museum unveils Alderman election expected in February 2015 keepsake ornament OLE MISS PUBLIC RELATIONS

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

Elections often have domino effects.

Having just finished Mississippi’s quadrennial election process for most county, legislative and statewide offices, voters of Oxford’s Ward 1 will soon be tasked with going back to the polls.

After J.P. “Jay” Hughes Jr. takes his seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives early next year, he’ll leave an open post on the Oxford Board of Aldermen – ironically, just Brad Mayo, the incumbent Republican District 12 representative, had done in 2011. (Jason Bailey was the winner of the resulting special election for Ward 6 Alderman in 2012.)

Hughes, a Democrat, has served as Northeast Oxford’s alderman since 2013, when he defeated Republican incumbent Ney Williams.

Oxford City Clerk Lisa Carwyle said the mecha-

OHS seniors named National Merit semifinalists

nism will be the same for a special election this t i m e around to fill Hughes’ Ward 1 post.

Hughes “Once he resigns, which he’s going to do at the very end of December, we’ll adopt a resolution announcing a special election,” Carwyle said. That item will be on the agenda for the Board of Aldermen at their Jan. 5 meeting – the first regular meeting after Hughes’ expected resignation.

Talk among city officials has centered on an election date of Tuesday, Feb. 16.

“People have to qualify 20 days prior to the election, so they’ll have until Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m. to qualify,” Carwyle said.

Fifty signatures of qualified voters who live in Ward 1 are required to qualify for the election.

All candidates, regardless of political affiliation, will be on the same ballot on

Feb. 16, when all eligible electors would vote between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Oxford Conference Center.

“Since I was elected as Alderman for Ward 1, I have endeavored to be candid, transparent, and do what I thought was best for Ward 1 and Oxford,” Hughes said on the Facebook page he has maintained to communicate with Ward 1 constituents.

“I cannot guarantee that I always got it right – but I can guarantee that I always did what I thought was right.

“I am now humbled and honored to have the opportunity to continue my public service to Oxford by representing District 12 in Jackson, beginning January 5, 2016. Because I am unable to serve in two elected positions, I plan to resign as Ward 1 Alderman on December 29th, the day before taking a new oath from Judge Henry Lackey.” errol.castens@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

BRIEFING

cess because they are the ones who continually challenge our students to excel in everything Oxford High School seniors they do,” Harvey said.

Kayla Owens and Joshua CarOwens and Caraway will now away are among high school continue in the competition for seniors nationwide to be named some 7,400 National Merit Semifinalists in the 2016 National Scholarships worth more than Merit Scholarship Program. $32 million to be offered next Semifinalists are selected spring. based on their scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Arts Incubator Test (PSAT)/National Merit Local artists gathered for a Scholarship Qualifying Test in round table discussion with entheir junior year. Semifinalist sta- trepreneur Ed Meek on Tuesday. tus is awarded to the highest The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council scorers from each state, propor- facilitated the workshop as part tional to the state’s percentage of its Arts Incubator for small total of graduating seniors. businesses in the creative arts Oxford School District Superin- industry. tendent Brian Harvey says he is Meek discussed current very proud of this year’s selection trends in social media relevant of National Merit Semifinalists. He to small business owners. As the owner of hottytoddy.com, a added that each student in the school district is challenged to do website aimed at people anytheir best by parents and district where with an interest in Oxford, encouraged participants to find faculty and staff.

“Everyone from our teachers their “family”, or the people who feel passionately on the same in the classroom, school bus subjects, whether art, sports, or drivers on the bus route, to our staff on the custodial and school any other topic.

The Yoknapatawpha Arts cafeteria teams, and our parents has a hand in our students’ suc- Council staff coordinates the

workshops to provide small business skills useful to individuals in the creative arts business - particularly to help artists gain and sustain a following.

The next workshop will be Feb. 2, 2016, at 6 p.m. For more information, visit oxfordarts.com or call (662) 236-6429.

Local government meetings Public meetings of government entities this week include the following: • Monday, 5 p.m. - Lafayette County Board of Supervisors (2nd floor boardroom, Chancery Building) • Monday, 5 p.m. - Oxford Pathways Commission (1st floor conference room, City Hall) • Tuesday, 5 p.m. - Oxford Board of Aldermen (2nd floor courtroom, City Hall) • Wednesday, noon - Oxford Tourism Council (University Museum - University Avenue at 5th Street) • Wednesday, 2 p.m. - Oxford-University Transit Commission (1st floor conference room, City Hall).

For the 15th year, the University of Mississippi Museum is offering a new keepsake ornament for the holidays. This year’s design features an ancient Greek neck amphora, c. 510-500 B.C., from the David M. Robinson Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities.

On this amphora, the hero Herakles, known as Hercules to the Romans, is shown completing the first of his 12 labors, which was to defeat the invulnerable lion that was terrorizing the hills of Nemea in Greece.

This vase is among more than 2,000 artifacts in the University Museum’s Greek and Roman Antiquities Collection. It was formerly in the private collection of David M. Robinson, who taught in the UM Department of Classics after retiring from Johns Hopkins University in 1947.

The amphora was later purchased from his widow by Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Peddle Jr. and donated to the university.

“Although the artifacts are internationally known to scholars and continuously studied today, there are many Ole Miss faculty, students and alumni that are not aware of these signature university cultural treasures,” said Robert Saarnio, University Museum director.

UM MUSEUM

The Herakles Neck Amphora commemorative ornament is available for $25, plus tax. Ornaments can be purchased in the museum store or by calling (662) 915-7073. Orders to be shipped must be placed by Dec. 11 and require a $7 shipping and handling fee.

The University Museum holiday hours for the Museum Shop are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Museum visiting hours will remain the same, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

For information about events and exhibits, visit http://museum.olemiss.edu or call (662) 915-7073.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 4

OBITUARIES ROBERT FORSTER Robert Sharp Forster, 70, passed away Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, at Baptist Memorial Hospital Heart Institute in Memphis.

A memorial service celebrating Forster’s life will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oxford. The Rev. Ann Whitaker will officiate.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Robert’s memory be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 113 S. 9th St, Oxford, MS, or the Robert S. Forster Memorial Scholarship Fund, 5110 San Felipe Street, 61W, Houston, Texas 77056.?

ELAINE MIZE Elaine Lancaster Mize, 89, passed away Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, at Yalobusha General Nursing Home in Water Valley.

The funeral service will be Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Buster Wilson and Rev. Ross Robertson officiating. Burial will follow in Eastover Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at noon at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Mize’s memory may be made to New Prospect Baptist Church, 823 Highway 334, Oxford, MS 38655.

JOHN WILLIAMS LYON Rev. John William Lyon, 88, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 at Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi.

Visitation was held Saturday, Nov. 14 at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley. Funeral services followed in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks, with Bro. Lynn Jones officiating. Burial was held at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley.

CARA MAE HARRIS

NEW ALBANY – Cara Mae Harris, 69, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.

Services were held Saturday, Nov. 14, at New Birth Community Church. Burial followed in Union Grove Cemetery.

Serenity-Simmons Funeral Home of New Albany is in charge.

S

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

Vigilance doesn’t stop with voting

o now we’re a week-and-ahalf on our way from Election Day to swearings-in, which will eventually lead to swearings-at.

And while a lot of incumbents returned to their posts, we’re going to be seeing some new blood in a few offices, most notably two spots on the Board of Supervisors.

Both Kevin Frye, SupervisorElect in District 1, and David Rikard, Supervisor-Elect in District 3, are energetic young men, ambitious and full of ideas.

Each is no doubt eager to do good things for the county and its residents, and yet I’d bet diamonds to donuts they’ll frequently pull in opposite directions.

Each won a hard-fought contest for his seat, shaking a lot of hands and talking to a lot of voters. It’ll take concerted efforts for them – and the men they join on the board – to keep up that strong contact with the electorate.

Sure, there’s the coffee shop and the grocery store and church and their respective work and all the ways they’d always interacted with other folks.

But when county leaders need public input about issues at meet-

Errol Castens Codgertations ings – when the issues and the details are close at hand and people are calling to either fish or cut bait – they often hear only crickets.

Many a Board of Supervisors meeting goes by with hardly any “civilians” – people who aren’t county officials, county employees, or someone with a particular petition before the board - in attendance.

The new board that holds it first meeting Jan. 4 will probably undertake some form of comprehensive, long-range planning for Lafayette County. After discussing it multiple times, board members will hold the requisite public hearing, and anywhere from a handful to a hoard may show up then, depending on how much attention has been paid up to that point.

Citizens would really benefit, though, by giving input about the who, what, when, where, why and how, not to mention the whether, of long-range planning well before it gets to that penultimate stage.

This Board will also almost cer-

tainly be the one that takes the first in-depth look at zoning as a serious possibility for Lafayette County. Some people fear any discussion of the dreaded Z-word, deeming it the very essence of a police state and the end of individual freedom. Others think it ludicrous that Mississippi’s fastest-growing county has precious few ways to direct how that growth is channeled and how it will affect existing neighborhoods, farms and businesses.

People from both extremes – and those who aren’t sure where they stand on the issue – need to show up, at least occasionally, for Board of Supervisors meetings.

Yes, it is a sacrifice to take off work or miss a ballgame to make sure we’re informed enough to give our electees a piece of our minds.

It’s OK if the crowd gets large.

Board members can move their meeting to a vacant courtroom if it’s necessary to accommodate more visitors.

It’s been said countless times, with truth, “Don’t complain if you don’t vote.”

It’s just as true, though, that one’s democratic duties aren’t quadrennial. The more interest regular folks take in the work of elected boards and appointed commissions – county and municipal alike – the

more that work will be something that reflects the will of the people who elected them.

HEARTWARMER On an entirely different subject, let me share with you this little heartwarmer that came in over the transom: “My name is Kristi Fuller and I live in Piggott, Arkansas. I was in Oxford for the Ole Miss/Razorback football game last weekend.

After the game, we went to Chili’s in Oxford to eat. I inadvertently left my purse at the table. I didn’t realize that I had left it until we were two hours down the road. “[The purse] contained my keys and all my important cards and papers. All I could do ... was cry. I called and talked to the manager, Meagan Sandage, on Sunday morning. She said my purse was there. I have never met Meagan but she was so kind. She mailed it to me, and I received it with everything intact.

“I am truly thankful for people like that, and I will stop at Chili’s in Oxford when I am that way again.”

ERROL CASTENS is reporter for the Oxford Citizen and the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Contact him at (662) 8161282 or errol.castens@journalinc.com.

Roberson making a difference at OHS

BY DAVIS MCCOOL SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN

First-time Oxford High School principal Bradley Roberson’s family recently got 1,200 members bigger.

Roberson assumed the leading role over the summer, when former principal Mike Martin stepped down to become athletics director. Roberson was the undeniable pick to succeed Martin.

Roberson immediately noticed the poor relationships between the students, staff, and parents; and so he set out to fix that, starting with LYP. “LYP stands for Love Your People,” Roberson said. “It’s a motto that I got from an organization called Get More. It just came from looking at the student need survey from last year. We needed to build more camaraderie, more of a trusting relationship between students, staff, and parents. We’re trying to build a family

within Oxford High School.”

He was faced with the task of reuniting the school Roberson as one, and he stepped directly into his first task: building fraternity.

“The expectation is that we have a dialogue,” Roberson said. “We can’t be the best school that we can without a firm relationship with the stakeholders in this school.

We’re all part of this family, and we need to be the best family that we can be. One of the biggest flaws in a school is the school thinking that they’re doing a good job, but the students thinking the opposite. We can fix all that with communication.”

Along with communication, Roberson admitted, trust was a big issue at OHS. In previous years, poli-

cies against cell phone use, dress code, and free time were harsh on students, and often resulted in disciplinary action.

With Roberson, cell phones are permitted between classes, and free time is utilized with an outpour of support.

“I think it’s of vital importance to establish trust,” Roberson said. “I think trust is a give-andtake thing. If my students trust me, I am going to trust them. Cell phone freedom wasn’t something that was going to effect student learning, so I can trust these students with it.”

Not everything is more lenient under Roberson’s new regime however. He has buckled down on tardies and absences by adopting a new policy regarding both. A student is allowed five tardies a semester before an in-school suspension, and six absences a semester. He truly put an iron fist down on absences when he

preached the negative effects that they give to students.

“Every kid here is a good kid, but we have kids that make bad choices,” Roberson said. “Five minutes in between classes is more than enough to eliminate tardies, and we’re finally on the right path with that.

If a student isn’t in the classroom, the teachers can’t teach, and that’s why it is of such importance to me. Absenteeism, on the other hand, is one of the leading indicators of high school dropouts. There is a direct correlation between attendance and grade success. Our guys have to be here - it’s as simple as that.”

While Principal Roberson continues to better Oxford High School behind the scenes, the students get to know Mr. Roberson as a person with a caring heart.

“It’s very important to me to have a personal relationship with each and

every one of our students,” Roberson said. “It’s extremely difficult, with almost 1,200 students, to do that, but it’s definitely still a goal of mine.”

From day one, he has stressed the importance of a staff-student relationship, and he is a leading proprietor in the action of doing so.

“It goes back to the trust factor,” he said. “If I don’t know what’s going on in your life, I don’t know how to best serve and best treat you. I may not know these circumstances without a one-on-one relationship.”

For Roberson, the best thing about leading OHS is just that - the feeling that his hometown, and his family, bring to him.

“This job is like a dream come true,” Roberson said.

“I told Mr. (Brian) Harvey that this was a dream job for me. I was in Oxford for 13 years before I left to Senatobia, but now that I’m leading this school, it’s truly a dream come true.”

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 5

A Q&A with OPD’s Hildon Sessums The Oxford Police Department Twitter account became famous during the week leading up to the Ole Miss-Florida football game in Gainesville earlier this season. But the Twitter account was already rolling before that.

Hildon Sessums, along with Jeff McCutchen, is the main tweeter for OPD, and the Oxford Citizen’s Jeff Roberson caught up with Sessums late last week to talk tweeting and more.

Twitter to interact with folks. I think a lot of people are pleasantly surprised that we respond back to them.

But when we have serious stuff, like this past weekend we had a missing juvenile, we had that many more people we could reach out to.

The feedback we’ve gotten from students and the younger generation has been nearly 100 percent positive.

I have people stop me on the Square and they’ll say, ‘You’re the guy that does the Twitter. Our friends love it. We all wake up every day to see if anything has happened during the night.’

It’s been a really good JEFF ROBERSON: What ice-breaker on the Square. kind of bump do you continue to see in terms of folCOURTESY OPD Now they come up and lowers since the Florida Oxford Police Lt. Hildon Sessums, left, and Gainesville, Florida, Police Officer Ben Tobias stand talk to us and it starts a game week? at attention before the Ole Miss/Florida football game in Gainesville on Oct. 3. The Twitter conversation between us “feud” between the two departments brought national attention to their use of social media. and the students that wasHILDON SESSUMS: I n’t there before. think it was the turning very informal. It’s not And the Ride-Alongs point in the following that to have positive commuROBERSON: How actu(with OPD as they tweet we’ve gotten. People still ally does all this work, this meant to be a cache’ of in- nity-police relations. formation. It’s only 140 SESSUMS: We like to use out events throughout a OPD Twitter account? ask me or other officers SESSUMS: This is still so characters. It’s really inforabout it. I still talk from mal. time to time with the new, it’s really uncharted We’re also on Facebook.

Gainesville officer, Ben To- territory, especially for a We try to separate the two bias. He actually messaged department in this area.

We’re really still just seeing a little bit. me this past weekend.

We use Twitter for quick what works. And if it doesinformation. On Facebook ROBERSON: What was n’t work we say, ‘OK, we try to use it for more that about?: scratch that.’ So that’s the information, press reway we’ve moved along SESSUMS: I was on my leases, events we attend, with it since we started. way into work (last Saturand try to be a little differday), and the game was ent with it.

ROBERSON: Are other probably in the third quarter.

PDs following Oxford’s I had been watching it at lead with the Twitter ROBERSON: How has home. I had been watchmovement?

Twitter helped in solving ing (Arkansas quarterSESSUMS: There are oth- crimes, or alerting the back) Brandon Allen ers that have it, but I don’t public, or simply being obliterate the secondary. useful in terms of your think they are using it to So, I came up with this jobs as a police departthe extent we are. tweet. But before I sent it Major McCutchen and I ment? out, I sent it to Major Mchave actually talked about SESSUMS: It all starts by Cutchen, and I said, ‘Do this: As soon as the semes- gaining a following. You you think this is funny?’ ter and football end, we want to have that many He sent me a message want to get together and more people to reach, and back and said, ‘I think it’s start a class for towns to so you hope it continues pretty funny.’ develop social media and to grow.

So I sent it out and I did- Twitter and teach them We’ll throw out a picture n’t realize ESPN had how to get it rolling. of someone shoplifting at posted it during the game, Wal-Mart, for example, and all the big sports and within an hour it’s ROBERSON: You are the (media) ran with it – ESPN, one who really got the solved. Someone has contacted us. It’s amazing.

Sports Illustrated, CBS, all Twitter for OPD rolling, That’s both on Twitter and of them. I just tweeted out correct?

Facebook.

SESSUMS: Yes. I was althe analytics of that tweet Social media has been ready on Twitter and I kind (Thursday). an outstanding tool for us. of understood the lingo Viewed by 1.7 million It’s real time sensitive. You and how Twitter works. people over five days.

A lot of law enforcement want to hit people while (Here is what the tweet their memory is still fresh. said: “Asking us to kick the agencies use it just for seArkansas quarterback out rious stuff. Then there are others out there that unROBERSON: This seems of the stadium is not a derstand that Twitter’s to also have become a way legit reason to dial 911.”)

selected night) have been positive.

ROBERSON: So what’s been the funniest time yet with all this, in your opinion?

SESSUMS: The one that started all of it this season seems to have been the Harvey Updyke tweet.

After Ole Miss beat Alabama, I was sitting home and found this picture of Updyke wearing this elephant hat.

All I tweeted was ‘If you see this guy in Oxford, let us know. He may also be wearing houndstooth.’

That was right after the Ole Miss win at Alabama.

That tweet got like 5,000 retweets. (The Arkansas tweet last weekend got a little over 19,000 retweets.)

And (Updyke) actually responded back which made that one actually funnier. He said, ‘I’m not coming, you idiot.’ jeff.roberson@journalinc.com

PAGE 6

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

A DAY IN OXFORD

PETRE THOMAS | BUY AT PHOTO.DJOURNAL.COM

A vendor sells vegetables to customers at Oxford City Market. Tuesday was the market's first The recently completed pavilion will accommodate dozens of growers, bakers and other Oxday in its new location at the Old Armory Pavilion. ford City Market vendors.

People, pets and chrysanthemums all seemed to blossom around the Square in Tuesday's cool, Oxford Buildings and Grounds employees plant pansies and spring bulbs in traffic islands cloudy weather. around the Square on Tuesday.

A landscaper tidies up the lawn at the Lafayette County Cool-weather crops like these lettuces were at their peak, and Courthouse.As oaks begin their leaf drop in earnest, leaf the absence of frost provided for several warm-weather crops blowers have become Oxford's latest "invasive species." still to be available Tuesday at Oxford City Market.

Shoppers peruse Yokna Bottom Farms' cool-season vegetable offerings as farm owner Doug Davis answers their questions.

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

PAGE 7

Local nonprofits hone leadership skills

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

It’s one thing to have a good idea, form it into a mission and recruit people to help.

It’s another to draw the right mix of board members focusing on the right goals to accomplish Several dozen board members and employees of local nonprofit organizations studied Thursday how t enhance their work, at a seminar presented by Jan Eastman of MindShare. The training was funded by United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County and the McLean Institute for Public Service & Community Engagement, with additional support from Volunteer Oxford and the University of Mississippi’s Office of the Dean of Students/Volunteer Services.

“A nonprofit board has six main jobs,” Eastman said. “They raise funds, write policy, delegate management, plan, monitor and evaluate, and advocate.”

She said fundraising makes all the other priorities possible.

“When you sign up to be on a board, you’re signing up to give your time, talent and treasure,” she said. “In other words, ‘Give it, get it, or get off the board.’”

That doesn’t disqualify from service those who get queasy at the thought of soliciting money.

Eastman described some people as ambassadors – “Johnny Appleseeds,” who have “a willingness to represent the organization anywhere and the capacity to leave a positive, informative impression.”

Others are “door openers”

whose key value is in who they know and the connections they can facilitate.

Eastman described “cultivators” or “warm-up pitchers” as natural hosts and entertainers who have a knack for matching compatible people together and for connecting people’s interests to the mission of their organizations.

Solicitors, she said, are mission-based salespeople who have both skill in reading people and the fearlessness to ask for mutual commitments between organizations and donors.

Eastman said board members should make significant contributions to their organizations to show their commitment to the mission.

“If you don’t, then who? How can you ask others when you have not given?” she asked.

“There’s never a set amount.

Some board members can give more than others, but everyone should be giving.”

VISION AND DIRECTION Separate from bylaws, policies are written that reflect a wellthought-out vision, create a code of conduct, define conflicts of interests, state priorities in diversity and establish committees.

Board members may serve as the main volunteer force in an organization’s start-up phase, but Eastman said one mistake common to nonprofit boards is being too involved in day-to-day operations after hiring full-time staff.

“You have one employee – the

executive director,” she said. “The rest of the staff works for the executive director.”

Eastman emphasized the need for long-term, strategic planning fleshed out by tactical planning that focuses on the board’s support of the mission and defining committees’ responsibilities. Bylaws and policies deserve regular review, aiming at broad application rather than micromanagement.

“There should be a clear, executable path to the declared vision, with connections to today,” she said.

While nonprofits can’t by lobbyists, they can be advocates for their causes.

“Help people understand why they should care. Get them to feel connected to your cause,” Eastman said. “Encourage them to support your mission, and motivate them to become involved.”

LAW AND ETHICS Even before the first donations are received, a nonprofit organization’s board members are responsible for the organization’s ethical, legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

Eastman defined those responsibilities as “managing the resources of the nonprofit organization so that they are used in the best interest of the community.”

Not that stewardship choices are always clearly defined. Three levels of ethical behavior, for instance, range from simply obeying the law to being tempted to an alternative to the clear right

action to situations that require a choice among competing options.

Then there are such concepts of “duty of care” (reasonable competence), “duty of loyalty” (avoiding conflicts of interest, especially for those on multiple organizations’ boards), and “duty of obedience” (honoring the organization’s mission).

Eastman strongly urged membership in the Eastman said since each board member holds responsibility for the organization, all board members must be held accountable.

She urged yearly disclosure of any potentially competing interests, enforcement of board attendance and participation policies and the use of member recusal from discussions and votes that could offer conflicts of interest.

One case study in ethics presented itself at the seminar. An attendee had been approached by someone who makes grants about the two organizations on whose boards the attendee serves, asking which organization the grant should go to. The attendee admitted feeling conflicted but recommended the one with greater needs (the other one having just finished a successful fundraiser). According to Eastman, the better approach would have been to refer the grantor to the executive director or another board member from each of the organizations.

Eastman also urged always considering not just whether a particular action by a board or an individual member is legal and

moral but how a minimally informed public might perceive it rather than risk the loss of volunteers, donors and other hardwon assets.

“If you break the public trust, going back and saying, ‘I’m sorry,’ doesn’t suffice,” she said. “Where everything is aboveboard but low-info consumers could perceive it as conflict of interest, tell them what you’re going to do, tell them what you’re doing, and then tell them what you did.”

Dale Timothy Gordon, director of the Gordon Community Center in Abbeville, said the seminar re-emphasized for him that “We’ve got to make sure we abide by the law, and we’ve got to stay focused on our mission.”

Jennifer Yancy with the Lafayette County Literacy Council said that 15-member board is a “real, working board.”

“Everybody on our board is very involved, and when we look at prospective board members, that’s what we look at – a commitment of time,” she said. “You have to have a vested interest to be a good board member.”

“I really liked where she talked about the conflict of interest and having that policy within your board,” Yancy said. “I did like what she said about committees, where you can actually have a larger workforce with people on committees who can be involved but who couldn’t serve on the board because of a conflict of interest.” errol.castens@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

Unified Egg Bowl set for Monday night at UM

While the Egg Bowl football game remains the most divisive annual event in many Mississippi households, fans of both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University are again being called upon to unite in support of Special Olympics Mississippi.

The second annual Special Olympics Unified Egg Bowl is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday at the intramural fields on the Ole Miss campus. Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities will play flag football alongside traditional college students from both schools,

sharing in the fanfare and passionate competition that the schools will display when their Division I teams meet the following week.

“The Unified Egg Bowl gives students and Special Olympics athletes an opportunity to interact and build camaraderie and community,” said Jim Beaugez, director of PR and communications for Special Olympics Mississippi. “The competition is real and strong among our athletes, and they have a lot of fun with the rivalry.

This is their Egg Bowl, and they give it all they have.”

The organization’s mission is to build understanding and acceptance for individuals who have

“

The Unified Egg Bowl gives students and Special Olympics athletes an opportunity to interact and build camaraderie.

“

EDWIN SMITH OLE MISS PUBLIC RELATIONS

Jim Beaugez, Special Olympics Mississippi director of public relations and communications intellectual disabilities through athletic competition, Beaugez said.

“Engaging folks in unified sports – where Special Olympics athletes compete alongside partner athletes – is a great way to foster that understanding and build genuine friendships that can last beyond

the field,” he said.

Fans of both schools can also use this opportunity to donate money to help establish Special Olympics programs on the campuses of both universities and support programs throughout the state. The school that raises the most money gets a three-point

advantage to start the game.

“Last year $12,000 was raised from the event, and we hope to surpass that number this year so that our Unified EggBowl will continue to grow from year to year,” said Amanda Alpert, UM coordinator of intramural sports and sports clubs. “The more fans we have, the better overall experience for the athletes, and that’s really what this is all about.”

UM Athletics Director Ross Bjork will be on hand for kickoff activities, and Caroline Coker, the reigning Miss University, will perform the national anthem. The Ole Miss “Pride of the South” band is slated to perform at halftime.

Last fall, MSU won the Unified Egg Bowl fan fundraising challenge, but the unified Ole Miss team won the inaugural game in Starkville 23-17. The game swaps campuses each year like the traditional Egg Bowl, but in opposite years.

Special Olympics Mississippi became one of the first pilot programs after Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver visited Ellisville State School in Jones County in 1968, and was officially incorporated and recognized by the state in August 1975, making 2015 the organization’s 40th anniversary in Mississippi.

For more information, visit www.unifiedeggbowl.org.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 8

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

Applications being taken for 2016 Leadership Lafayette

CITY HALL RENOVATIONS

Each month will involve an allday session packed with inforEmerging community lead- mation about Oxford and ers have an opportunity to par- Lafayette County and the needs of the community. ticipate in the annual Leadership Lafayette particiLeadership Lafayette program pants will be selected by a presented by the Oxfordsteering committee on the Lafayette County Chamber of basis of completed applicaCommerce. tions received by Dec. 11.

The nine-month program Preference will be given to will begin in January and is a series of training sessions and candidates who, in addition to their potential for leadership, activities designed to assure would contribute to the overall the continuity of leadership in the Lafayette-Oxford-University diversity and strength of the community and assist already class and have available time to commit to the program and established leaders who seek future community service. Promore effective ways to congram participation is limited to tribute to the community. In 25 and requires a tuition fee of addition to the sessions, class $350 upon acceptance. members will also participate Leadership Lafayette is in a community-based project. sponsored in part by Chaney’s Objectives include identifying potential community lead- Pharmacy, Charter Road Hospitality Group, and Holli’s Sweet ers, developing individual leadership potential, acquiring Tooth.

Interested individuals may knowledge about community and current issues in Lafayette view the application at www.oxfordms.com or call County, and creating dialogue Pam Swain at the Chamber at and rapport among partici(662) 234-4651. pants and current leaders.

OXFORD CITIZEN REPORTS

ERROL CASTENS

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AND

THE

AROUND SQUARE BEYOND JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Banner class for Ole Miss baseball headlined by Chargers

O

le Miss just got done signing another highly thought of baseball class. Four of the 16 signees come from Oxford High. Jason Barber, Houston Roth, Grae Kessinger and Thomas Dillard made history as the four signed with the Rebels.

Mike Bianco has been watching Barber and Roth for as long as he can remember. Kessinger and Dillard have been evaluated for the better part of four years. His own sons, Ben and Drew, will play with the four this spring as the Chargers look to win a second straight MHSAA Class 5A state title. Last season, the Chargers went 35-1 en route to the school’s first title in a decade.

“To have four from one class says a lot about their team and all of them are special players in their own right,” Bianco said. “I think we’ve signed one kid from Oxford since I’ve been here and a couple from Lafayette. To have four sign from one school in the same class says a lot about their team.”

Barber, a right-handed pitcher, didn’t allow an earned run last season. He was undefeated and he finished with 110 strikeouts in just 78 innings pitched.

“Jason is a kid who we saw at a young age. He had a tremendous freshman season at Oxford and he’s been a great player and obviously had a tremendous season for them last year on their way to the state championship,” Bianco said.

Roth, who is also a right hander, maybe has the most upside of the four.

He’s got a long body that can add weight, and muscle. At least the way Bianco sees things.

“He is a big, physical right hander and he continues to get bigger. He’s had a terrific career as well,” Bianco said. “One of TURN TO SQUARE PAGE 18

JOEY BRENT

Noxubee's Deveon Ball (16) is dragged down by Lafayette's Dillon Woods (2) and Allan Mathis (6) during Friday night's MHSAA Class 4A playoff game. The Tigers won 20-13.

Tigers earn dramatic win to advance in 4A playoffs

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

MACON – Kymbotric Mason was surrounded by his family and friends following Friday night’s Class 4A playoff game with Lafayette.

The junior wide receiver looked more like a celebrity posing for pictures rather than a player who was just in a 60-minute war with the Commodores.

Mason was the hero of the contest, the one who prevented overtime by catching a 37-yard pass from quarterback Timorrius Conner with just four seconds left. Mason, who said he was just looking to make a play, lifted the Tigers to a 20-13 win over the Commodores, who were eliminated from winning a third state title in school history.

“I just wanted to help my team win,” Mason said adding that the play call was Four Fade. “(Conner) was able to spot me out and I made a play. It’s a big win.

Second round playoffs against a tough team. It was

Lafayette wide receiver Josh Hamilton runs into the end zone in the first half to give the Commodores a 6-0 lead. tough all the way to the end.”

Tyrone Shorter told his Tigers all week to treat the contest like a north state title game because of how good Lafayette was. The Commodores and the Tigers have either won or played for every 4A title since 2008.

“Looking at it on film, Lafayette was a better team than Senatobia. Not taking anything away from Senato-

bia, but, we thought they got lucky against Lafayette,” Shorter said. “We treated this like a north state championship game. It just happened early.”

The Tigers were able to get the ball at the 50-yard line to start the final possession.

Shorter had wanted to really rush Robbie Langley and block the punt for a touchdown, but his players were

unable to get a hand on it.

Conner completed a pass that gained 13 yards on the first snap, making the final throw into the end zone a little easier. Shorter went into the final play hoping for something good to happen, but thinking that overtime was almost a certainty.

“I thought they were going to knock it down and we were going into overtime,” Shorter said. “(Mason) got behind him, and God was with us tonight. We were going to throw a fade no matter what. It just happened so fast. I’m just glad it happened.”

Noxubee County, who won the 4A title last season, is preparing for Houston this week by finding a way to make the biggest plays all night. Lafayette (10-3 overall) led 6-0 at the half and had control of the game before standout defensive end Jeffrey Simmons was able to block a field goal attempt by Langley in the third quarter.

The Tigers had been held TURN TO LAFAYETTE PAGE 18

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 14

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Zach Cousar steps up for Williams does a little of Chargers when called upon everything for Lafayette

BY BEN MIKELL

BY JOHN DAVIS

SPORTS WRITER

Jack Abraham wasn’t at his best. DK Metcalf was double-covered all night.

So Oxford’s Zach Cousar stepped up his game to make sure his high school season didn’t end Friday night.

Cousar had six receptions for 77 yards as a receiver. He added three rushes, including one after taking a snap under center to score a touchdown, for 21 yards and kept the chains moving when Oxford needed to during its 35-21 win over Vicksburg.

Cousar rose to the challenge and answered the bell to be this week’s Player of the Week.

Offensive coordinator Stan Hill praised Cousar for becoming more explosive and dangerous with each passing game since starting the season with an injury that plagued the tight end during that time.

“He’s definitely a D-1 tight end all the way,” Hill said of Cousar, who currently holds 10 college offers, “He’s finally getting fully healthy the last couple of weeks. He’s playing with a lot of explosion, playing real fast, and making good decisions.”

Of Cousar’s nine touches in the game, six went for first downs, three of those coming on third down, and

SPORTS EDITOR

BEN MIKELL

Oxford tight end Zach Cousar played a big role in the Chargers' 35-21 win over Vicksburg in the Class 5A playoff opener. one more for his rushing score in the game.

“He is right now one of our best go-to guys,” Hill continued. “I can’t be more proud for Cousar to step in and have the night he had.”

Cousar has been used on several inside trap plays this year and while running with the football likes to be more of a power runner given his size and weight he holds.

“I’m definitely not a finesse running back, but I do like to lower the shoulder very often,” Cousar said. “I’m waiting for the chance to hurdle some-

body but that hasn’t happened yet.”

Cousar thinks his quickness gives him a huge advantage in the passing game, allowing him to win his matchups very often when up against a linebacker.

“I like to say I’m a lot quicker than some of the linebackers,” Cousar said.

“I give them one step and they bite on it and I’m inside. Some of our go-to guys like DK, he was getting double teamed.

Coaches always say someone has got to step up and that’s what I did tonight.”

MACON – Tyler Williams was everywhere on the field for the Lafayette Commodores Friday night. He took snaps out of the Wildcat at quarterback on offense. He made tackles on special teams. He caught a touchdown pass. Williams also prevented the Noxubee County Tigers from scoring touchdowns with deflections and an interception.

Williams earned the final Player of the Game honors for Lafayette by doing anything and everything he could to help the Commodores advance in the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs.

Unfortunately, Williams was injured very late in the contest, and not on the field when Kymbotric Mason caught a 37-yard pass to win the game.

Lafayette coach Eric Robertson only had praise for the junior who will be counted on even more in 2016.

“He’s an outstanding football player, a Division I football player. He’s definitely going to have to be a big part of our football team as he was this year,” Robertson said. “He played on everything the other night but extra point team. He made several tackles on the kickoff team. He was really involved and I wish we

JOEY BRENT

Lafayette junior Tyler Williams played almost every snap in Friday's matchup with Noxubee County. could have gotten him even more involved. He made some big plays for us.”

Williams had the longest rush of the night – 17 yards – for Lafayette and he finished with 20 yards overall on the ground. Lafayette was limited to just 211 yards of total offense, but Williams, who is primarily a defender, finished with a 27-yard gain on a reception from Ard to go along with a 6-yard touchdown he caught that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. Williams finished the night with three catches for 45 yards. He also completed one pass on the evening.

High School football players of the week are sponsored by:

Robertson said he was hoping to get Williams the ball on kick returns more, and his one opportunity came on a short kick that forced him to go to the ground to secure it.

“With his kind of speed, Tyler needs to be involved and that’s why he was on offense, defense, special teams,” Robertson said.

“We always put Tyler on the other team’s best receiver. They tried the deep ball on him and he got an interception and a pass breakup. He was solid on the defensive side for sure.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

PAGE 15

Ducks Unlimited holding banquet Tuesday night

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Waterfowl enthusiasts who have never been to a Ducks Unlimited banquet or who have always wanted to know more about the organization can do both Tuesday night. The Ducks Unlimited Fall Banquet will be held at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center.

The event is being presented by the Sardis Lake Chapter of the organization.

Money raised from tickets, raffles and auctions go directly to conservation projects in the state. Hunter Pridgen, the Regional Director of Ducks Unlimited for North/Central Mississippi, said that 307,000 acres of habitat have been conserved in the state with the help of their partners. Some of those partners are the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Other various fish and wildlife entities also take part in the endeavor. A total of $45 million has been

spent in the wintering grounds of Mississippi since Ducks Unlimited’s inception in 1937. This money funds conservation projects that benefit game and nongame species in Mississippi.

“Eighty two cents of every dollar raised goes directly to our mission and the rest goes to keep the lights on and pay staff,” Pridgen said.

“We’re very proud that we’re 82 percent efficient with every dollar that we raise.”

Pridgen was born and raised in Greenwood and he’s been a duck hunter his entire life. He’s recently moved to Oxford and he is heavily involved in the fundraising efforts of the organization. A goal of $1 million has been set for the state, something that hasn’t been done in over a decade, he said.

“Through our grass roots fundraising system, we raised $921,000 in Mississippi last year,” Pridgen said.

“We started back two years ago, but we went through a period where there wasn’t an event here. We got the

chapter started back up two years ago and we had a great banquet here the year before last and last year, we were able to raise $23,700 to our conservation mission.”

On top of the money raised, Pridgen said an additional $2.4 million was spent on the state from a conservation standpoint.

“We have a very good investment here in Mississippi because of the flyway alone being a top priority for Ducks Unlimited,” Pridgen said. “It serves as such an important wintering ground. There are 50 committees in the state and Sardis Lake is one of those committees. Those 50 committees hold on average about 100 events in a year.”

Robby Swearingen is a volunteer who is helping shape the event Tuesday and his goal is to help the chapter regroup. He reminds that the organization is to conserve and help increase the duck population.

“It all goes back to giving back to the land,” Swearingen said. “If you take a duck,

try and put up a wood duck box. Conservation is what DU is all about.”

Approximately 250 people attended last year’s event which was held at The Lyric. Swearingen was hoping that the same amount, or more, would be in attendance Tuesday at the Powerhouse. Vendors are also part of the mix. The Gun of the Year is a Browning A5 shotgun and it will be auctioned. It’s completed with Ducks Unlimited markings, and there were a limited amount manufactured.

Swearingen also said that some other over/under shotguns will be part of the auction, and at least nine guns as part of the event.

Tickets for the banquet are $50 for a single, $80 for a couple and $30 for a Greenwing. Doors will open at 6:30 and tickets can be purchased at the door.

Duck season opens in less than two weeks, on the Friday following Thanksgiving.

JOHN DAVIS

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

The Sardis Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold its annual fall banquet Tuesday night at the Powerhouse.

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PAGE 16

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

JOSH MCCOY | OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Ole Miss defeated Murray State Friday night in the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels will return to action this coming Friday.

Rebel soccer tops Murray State in NCAAs OXFORD CITIZEN

On a crisp Friday night at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, the No. 24 Ole Miss Rebels shutout Murray State, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Championship “I am really happy to be moving on,” Ole Miss coach Matthew Mott said. “It is great that we scored 70 seconds in. It was a great goal by Gretchen Harknett set up by a run by Olivia Harrison down the flank, touched by Addie Forbus. It was a great fin-

ish by Harknett. I think it set the tone for us. Murray State fought like crazy and worked really hard. They connected a bunch of passes and had us on our heels a couple different times in the second half. I am really happy to be moving on, extending our season and getting to play another game.”

With the win, the Rebels (14-52) advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and will play the winner of No. 7 Clemson/Furman Friday.

In a match controlled by the Ole Miss defense, goalkeeper Marnie Merritt pitched her seventh individual shutout this season and ninth overall for the club. The victory snapped the Racers’ 11-game win streak as the Rebels held the visiting squad to just four shots for one on goal.

“There is a reason Jessica Hiskey is an all-conference player,” Mott said of the defensive effort. “Hiskey was great, Liza Harbin was great. Maddie

Friedmann was very, very good.

Marnie Merritt was very organized behind them in the goal. I thought Melissa Capocaccia and Courtney Carroll did a good job in our holding mid-spot for us.

They did a good job securing the shutout.”

The Rebels again found the net within the first five minutes for the seventh time this season off the foot of Harknett. Just 70 seconds in, Harrison sent a cross in, with a touch by Forbus that then allowed Harknett to punch

it in for the score.

From there, the Ole Miss back line and Merritt did the rest, limiting Murray State to just four shots all match. Despite just one goal, the Rebels’ offense paced the match with 21 shots for 10 on goal.

Harknett finished the match with seven shots for three on goal, while CeCe Kizer added five shots for two on target. Forbus took four shots in the match, while Marissa Kutchma and Harrison both recorded two.

Commodore soccer is still a work in progress

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

A season ago, Lafayette soccer coach Gene Anderson had an experienced group. His Commodores were used to playing with one another, and tendencies were well known. The 201516 group is growing to know each other, and still looking to bond.

“When you take six of 11 players out and you try to fit six more in, it’s going to take a little bit of time to get fluid and find cohesion and start working together and put the pieces together,” Anderson said. “Last year we lost

three defenders, two midfielders and a forward. I think midfield wise, we already had that kind of replaced, but to replace three defenders, that’s tough to do.”

The Commodores got the season started this past week, losing 2-1 to North Pontotoc. South Panola is up next while the bulk of the games are still on the horizon. Anderson felt like the offense was going to be pretty strong, saying he had six guys who could all be weapons.

“We’ve talked about it before where (Austin) Fikes was the one tool and now we have to figure out who is going to do it,” Ander-

son said. “Tucker (Anderson) had a nice shot. That’s something he does all the time. It will just be a matter of time before they go in.

The midfield hustled and played well. I think it’s defensively where we’re going to have to find our identity and figure out who goes where.”

Anderson added that his team was a little anxious to play North Pontotoc in the opener.

“Five minutes before the game, they were amped up and I think they got a little lost in the first five, 10 minutes,” Anderson said. “I think as the game went along, they got better and to-

wards the end, they were playing pretty decent. North Pontotoc didn’t have any real shots towards the end of the game.”

There are two players that Anderson is waiting on to come from football, and both play defense.

“We have a lot of young kids who are playing defense. They’re all improving a lot, but they need more time,” Anderson said of Bryce Hertl and Robbie Langley.

“They just need the experience.”

Brelyn Hudgins is an experienced goalie, and Anderson said he was doing well. Elliot Jones is also getting worked in that spot.

“Brelyn is stepping up and being a vocal leader and helping us stay focused,” Anderson said.

“The kids all work hard. They’re young and they’re improving. We have a good time at practice everyday. As long as we’re doing that and getting better, we should be fun.”

Anderson was looking to reschedule Southaven this week.

The game was supposed to be played this past Friday but changed due to the Class 4A football playoffs.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

SPORTS IN DEPTH

Noxubee County 20, Lafayette 13 Lafayette 0 6 0 7 13 0 0 7 13 Noxubee 20 Second Quarter LAF – Josh Hamilton 26 pass from Will Ard (kick failed), 10:15.

Third Quarter NC – Jeffrey Simmons 1 run (Samuel Lowery kick) 0:47.

Fourth Quarter NC – Deveon Bell 35 interception return (kick failed) 6:48.

LAF – Tyler Williams 6 pass from Ard (Langley kick) 3:03.

NC – Kymbrotic Mason 37 pass from Timmorrius Conner (Lowery kick) 0:04.

Records: Noxubee County 9-4, Lafayette 10-3.

Oxford 35, Vicksburg 21 14 7 0 0 Vicksburg 21 Oxford 7 14 7 7 35 First Quarter VIC – Te’Darius Brown 3 run (Antonio Brown kick), 9:07 OXF – Ken Presley 27 pass from Jack Abraham (Connell Yoste kick), 8:17 VIC – Brown 4 pass from Joe Johnson (Brown kick), 4:50 Second Quarter VIC – Rheem Moore 22 pass from Johnson (Brown kick), 10:36 OXF – Zach Cousar 1 run (Yoste kick), 6:22 OXF – DK Metcalf 6 pass from Abraham (Yoste kick), 0:44 Third Quarter OXF – Hiram Wadlington 1 run (Yoste kick), 1:40 Fourth Quarter OXF – Wadlington 3 run (Yoste kick), 11:03 Records: Oxford 10-2; Vicksburg 6-6.

H.S. FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

CLASS 6A First round • Warren Central 45, Tupelo 20 • Starkville 46, Olive Branch 24 • Clinton 56, Columbus 42 • Madison Central 14, South Panola 8 • Brandon 41, D’Iberville 7 • Petal 40, Harrison Central 21 • Meridian 42, Gulfport 6 • Oak Grove 31, Ocean Springs 20 CLASS 5A • Oxford 35, Vicksburg 21 • Germantown 27, Lake Cormorant 7 • Grenada 31, Clarksdale 6 • West Point 46, Ridgeland 7 • Laurel 34, Hattiesburg 10 • Pascagoula 36, Brookhaven Aca. 8 • Pearl River Central 52, Natchez 7 • Wayne County 58, Picayune 28 CLASS 4A Second round • Houston 20, Rosa Fort 6 • Noxubee County 20, Lafayette 13 • Greenwood 13, Louisville 12 • Kosciusko 34, Senatobia 22 • Moss Point 62, North Pike 51 • St. Stanislaus 33, Poplarville 21 • Vancleave 20, Purvis 17 • Lawrence County 26, East Central 20

CLASS 3A Second round • East Side 38, Kossuth 32 • Aberdeen 42, Water Valley 13 • Yazoo County 20, Booneville 3 • Charleston 49, North Pontotoc 15 • Kemper County 26, Franklin County 7 • Collins 46, Wilkinson County 36 • Hazlehurst 12, Forest 0 • West Marion 36, Raleigh 30 CLASS 2A Second round • Calhoun City 35, Strayhorn 7 • Baldwyn 31, J.Z. George 0 • O’Bannon 26, Winona 14 • East Webster 43, South Delta 22 • Bay Springs 52, Amite County 0 • Lake 39, Heidelberg 14 • Bassfield 47, Union 8 • Taylorsville 27, Puckett 24 CLASS 1A First round • Smithville 28, Mound Bayou JFK 0 • Shaw 39, Falkner 6 • Simmons 42, Coldwater 0 • West Lowndes 30, Brooks 6 • Nanih Waiya 27, Salem 7 • Lumberton 28, French Camp 13 • Resurrection 35, Sebastopol 0 • Stringer 21, Noxapater 0

PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

NOV. 21 GAMES Class 1A • North Shaw at Smithville West Lowndes at Hollandale Simmons • South Lumberton at Nanih Waiya Resurrection at Stringer Class 2A • North Calhoun City at Baldwyn East Webster at O’Bannon • South Bay Springs at Lake Bassfield at Taylorsville Class 3A • North Aberdeen at East Side Yazoo County at Charleston • South Kemper County at Collins Hazlehurst at West Marion Class 4A • North Noxubee County at Houston Kosciusko at Greenwood • South St. Stanislaus at Moss Point Lawrence County at Vancleave Class 5A • North Germantown at Oxford West Point at GrenadaSouth • South Pascagoula at Laurel Wayne County at Pearl River Central Class 6A • North Warren Central at Madison Central Starkville at Clinton • South Brandon at Petal Oak Grove at Meridian

PAGE 17

Defense keys Rebels in win over NW State

BY PARRISH ALFORD DAILY JOURNAL

Ole Miss got the defensive improvement it was seeking and pulled away late from Northwestern State for a 90-76 opening win on Friday.

It was a three-point game with little more than 10 minutes to play when Stefan Moody hit some big shots, and Sam Finley hit some big free throws to help the Rebels (1-0) go on a 14-7 run to seal the win to the delight of 6,386 fans at Tad Smith Coliseum.

Moody tied a careerhigh with 29 points, one of four Ole Miss players in double figures.

The Demons missed their first 13 shots, a streak that kept their shooting percentage at 35.7. They were better in the second half as point guard Jalan West went 6 for 7 behind the arc. He finished with 23 points, and teammate Zeek Woodley added 22.

Together they averaged 42 points for Northwestern State (0-1) last year.

“For the most part we were pretty solid. We started changing some defenses in the second half.

We were getting hurt because they’re so small,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “They did what they do, and they do it really well.”

Ole Miss was stagnant against the zone late in the first half as the Demons trailed 38-32 at the break.

PETRE THOMAS

Ole Miss forward Tomasz Gielo grabs a loose ball during Friday’s game against Northwestern State.

Rasheed Brooks helped start the run with a 3pointer from the left corner. The junior college transfer was 3-for-4 from the arc and finished with 11 points.

The Rebels were 24 for 28 from the free throw line including an 8-for-8 night from Finley, also a junior college transfer. He finished with 16 points as did Sebastian Saiz, who added 14 rebounds.

Finley had a field goal and six free throws in the decisive run.

Ole Miss sophomore Marcanvis Hymon had six rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal in 11 minutes.

West was carried off the court after an injury in the

final seconds. His status moving forward with Northwestern State is unknown.

“We had a spurt where we were really locked in.

We didn’t turn the ball over in the last 12 minutes. That was really our Achilles early, allowing them to stay around,” Kennedy said.

WOMEN TOP MVSU Shandricka Sessom scored 24 points, and Ole Miss almost hung a hundred on Mississippi Valley State in spite of shooting just 38 percent.

The Rebels forced 35 turnovers which led to 36 points and easily won 9761 at Tad Smith Coliseum

Friday morning in front of classes of screaming children in the annual school day field trip game.

Ole Miss (1-0) was 35for-93 from the floor, 9-for32 from 3-point range.

Point guard Erika Sisk added 15 points along with five rebounds and three assists, and Kelsey Briggs had 12 points on 5for-11 shooting.

Valley (0-1) led 15-11 after one quarter, but Ole Miss went on a 23-14 run in the second.

Ole Miss is back in action Sunday night at 7 against LouisianaLafayette. parrish.alford@journalinc.com Twitter: @parrishalford

LOCAL SPORTS ROUNDUP A&M tops Rebels Ole Miss narrowly handed Texas A&M its first loss in nine matches, but the Aggies escaped from the Gillom Sports Center with a 3-2 win Friday night in an exciting match from start to finish.

With the narrow loss, the Rebels fall to 20-8 overall and 6-7 in the SEC, but just one match out of fifth place with five left to play. Texas A&M im-

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proved to 18-6 overall and 11-2 in the SEC. Ole Miss trailed 2-1 overall and by four late in the fourth set, before rallying to send it to a fifth.

The two teams went toeto-toe in the deciding set and the Rebels led 12-11 late, before A&M went on a four-point run to close it out 15-12 for the 3-2 win.

“If you actually add up all five sets, we only lost by one point,” Ole Miss coach Steven McRoberts said. “I am really proud of the team and the effort. I thought we played really good volleyball for a lot of the match. We challenged the team all week to compete, and the I think the

fans who were here saw a very high-level college match.”

When the two teams met in College Station, Texas, the Aggies jumped on the Rebels early with their fast-paced offense, but the Ole Miss handled it much better right out of the gate, using an 8-2 run to go up 18-12 in the first set.

A&M answered with a 7-2 run to close to within 20-19. At 23-23, sophomore Kate Gibson stepped and put the ball down for one of her 13 kills to give the Rebels set point, 24-23.

The Aggies won the final three points though,

to take the set 26-24 and a 1-0 lead in the match.

Both teams traded points to start the second set, but Ole Miss closed on a 15-7 run, after being tied 10-10, to win it 25-17 and head into the break 11.

Set three went much like the second set, but at 15-15, the Aggies went on a 6-1 run to force Ole Miss to call a timeout down 1621. A&M went on to win the set 25-19 and take a 21 lead in the match.

The Rebels led set four 9-7 but then A&M used a 6-1 run to go up 13-10.

Ole Miss battled back to tie it at 15. Once again the Aggies, looking to close it

out in four, went up by four, 21-17. However, an 8-2 run by the Rebels finished off a thrilling comeback, 25-23, to send the match to the fifth set.

Around the Net Texas A&M came into the match second in the SEC in hitting percentage, and the Rebels held them well below (.195) their season average of .279 … Ole Miss had more total team blocks (15) than Texas A&M (10). Senior Ty Laporte equaled her careerhigh with eight total blocks. Fellow senior Nakeyta Clair posted six blocks … The Rebels are back in action today at

home against LSU at 1.

The match will be national televised on the SEC Network.

OHS sweeps Hillcrest Christian The Chargers and Lady Chargers earned two wins on the basketball court Saturday in the OHS gym.

The Chargers won 80-60.

Jarkel Joiner led the Chargers with 35 points, while Christopher Sandroni finished with 21. The Lady Chargers won 56-30 over Hillcrest. Aliyah Herod led three players in double figures with 14 points. Kyla Malone had 13 points, while Maggee Hobson finished with 10 points.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 18

Lafayette

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015

EXTRA POINTS

Overtime became a possibility late in the contest when Lafayette quarterback Will Ard was able to complete a pass to Tyler Williams for a 6-yard touchdown. With a made extra point, it was 13-13 with just over three minutes left in the contest. Robertson said he never thought about going for a 2-point conversion following the touchdown.

“We were playing for overtime.

We know we have a good kicker even though we had the field goal blocked earlier in the game,”

Robertson said. “We felt like if we could have gotten into overtime, we had a great shot. It was a great year in a lot of ways, but not the way we wanted it to end. It’s going to hurt. We have a good football team. I felt like we missed opportunities early in the game to get points and didn’t get them.

It came back to haunt us. It’s disappointing right now, but it will get better. I’m very proud of our seniors and the group we had.

They’re great kids, just great football players.”

Tyrell Price crossed over 2,000 yards rushing in 2015, finishing with 60 yards on 25 carries. He ended the year with 2,052 yards and 31 touchdowns … Ard finished with two touchdowns and 117 yards through the air. His first touchdown throw covered 26 yards and went to Josh Hamilton in the first half … Robertson felt like the missed opportunities in the game revolved around the missed field goal because two scores would have changed the

ladder, will they continue to play shortstop? He is certainly FROM PAGE 13 one of those guys that we think he is one of those guys that is the reasons that Oxford has going to be that. He certainly had all the success over the last has some really good genes in few years are the two guys they that body. He is a super athlete run out in district play. They’re that can hit and play the field.” as good as anybody in the Dillard, a catcher who is verstate.” satile enough to play in the Kessinger and Dillard are the outfield, is new to the team highest rated of the four. Both having played his junior seaplayed in Chicago in the Under son at Briarcrest Christian in Armour All-American game Memphis. this past August and both are “He can catch, but he can do highly regarded in the world of a lot of different things. He can pro scouts. play the field and I think his “He’s a true shortstop. He’s a speed is underrated. He can guy that’s going to play on the run a lot better than people left side on the shortstop posi- give him credit for,” Bianco tion,” Bianco said of Kessinger. said. “I think the first thing “There are a lot of great athwhen people talk about letes that play shortstop, but as Thomas is his bat, him being a switch hitter and just being a you continue to move up the

physical presence in the lineup. He’s a middle-of-thelineup type of guy. And being a switch hitter, you don’t see that much. The switch hitters are more the speed guys. I think he’s going to be a huge asset.

He’s got a good arm. He’s going to be a good addition.”

Bianco envisions all four Chargers playing. As he said, there aren’t enough scholarships to say they would play down the line.

“When you release a signing class, you’re looking at all of those guys to make an impact as a freshman. I think (Dillard) and his versatility give him a lot more options to get on the field,” Bianco said.

This year’s signing class is a very tight knit group, and it’s something that Bianco was

alerted to about a year ago by his assistants, he said.

“On signing date, this might be the best class we’ve ever signed,” Bianco said who felt technology and social media has brought the class together.

“It’s unique in the sense that they have been able to stay in contact. When one kid committed, he got welcomed in to the group. The families know it as well. It’s neat.

“You hope that is something that will always happen. I don’t think it always does. But when all 16 kids and their families were here (Nov. 6-8), they were all very comfortable. It seems like a class that has been here a few years and they haven’t even gotten here yet.”

It’s hard for Bianco to know if he will sign another player or a

FROM PAGE 13

in check up to that point on offense by the Commodores. After gaining just 68 yards in the first half, the Tigers went on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Simmons’ 1-yard run with just 47 seconds left in the third.

Lafayette coach Eric Robertson felt it was the turning point in a game that was defined by momentum.

Square

Oxford FROM PAGE 1

second round of the playoffs. They will host the Germantown Mavericks next week.

Vicksburg (6-6 overall) marched right down the field on its opening drive in seven plays, covering 53 yards ending on a Te’Darius Brown 1-yard run to take an early 7-0 lead on the Chargers.

Oxford (10-2) came right back down the field, and got into the end zone on its first drive. The Chargers only needed four plays to cover 73 yards. Quarterback Jack Abraham threw a 25-yard strike to Ken Presley to tie the game at 7-7 before three minutes had elapsed.

Vicksburg didn’t stop as it charged down the field, covering 54 yards in five plays to set up a 4-yard Joe Johnson pass to Brown to give the Gators a 14-7 lead.

On the Gators’ next drive, Johnson found Rheem Moore from 22 yards out to get their biggest lead of the game at 21-7 with 10:36 left in the second quarter.

PETRE THOMAS

Oxford’s Korbin Harmon celebrates after making a tackle for loss during Friday’s game against Vicksburg.

Oxford coach Johnny Hill credited Vicksburg for coming off the bus ready to play. Hill also said his Chargers made some good adjustments as the game wore on.

“They jumped on us,” Hill said. “They threw some long passes on us and made some good plays. We started to put

some pressure on (Johnson) and he wasn’t quite as accurate. I thought we did too much catching on defense early and then DQ (Thomas) made a good lick then we started attacking them than catching them. I thought that was the difference in the ball game. Coaches made some great adjustments at

halftime, kept them outside and kept the quarterback inside. He had no room to run in there. I thought we played pretty well.”

Oxford cut the Gator lead in half to 21-14 on a Zach Cousar 1-yard run.

Cousar went in motion and set up as the quarterback under center for the

way Noxubee County played, and the way his players defended. Another missed chance was a fade ball to Williams that Ard was unable to follow through on because of pressure. The final missed chance also came on offense on a slip-and-go route …

Noxubee County’s other touchdown in the contest came on an interception return in the fourth quarter by Deveon Bell. john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

few more in the second signing period. He doesn’t like to go back on his word, so saying that he and his staff are done isn’t really spoken.

“Recruiting classes are fluid.

There are going to be a lot of kids in this class and our other classes that get drafted and all of them will have a decision to make come next June,” Bianco said. “We have 11 kids that are draft eligible on campus so that’s 27 kids that could go either way. To say that we’re done, I don’t think that’s fair to say to anybody. We’re really happy with this class. We think this class is terrific.”

John Davis is the Oxford Citizen sports editor. He can be reached at john.davis@journalinc.com. Follow him on Twitter at @oxfordcitizenjd.

sneak midway through the second quarter.

Right before halftime, Jimmy Greaser blocked a punt to set up a short field for the Chargers. Abraham took advantage of the field position and threw a 6yard toss three plays later to DK Metcalf to tie the game at 21.

Oxford’s defense strengthed in the second three half forcing turnovers, two three-andout drives. They allowed just 59 total yards of offense to the Gators. Oxford’s offense took advantage of those Gator mistakes by punching in touchdown runs by tailback Hiram Wadlington from 1 and 3 yards out to provide the final margin.

After causing Vicksburg’s final turnover of the night with 7:30 left in the contest, Oxford was able to run out the rest of the clock on the strength of Wadlington running the ball and Cousar making plays to move the chains late. Offensive coordinator Stan Hill praised Wadlington and Cousar’s efforts. The duo totaled 244 all-purpose yards in the game in-

cluding, 158 on the ground.

“I thought Hiram did a good job,” Stan Hill said. “I thought Cousar executed well. Cousar came in and quarterbacked sneaked.

They both made some crucial third downs for us and ran it out at the end.”

Johnny Hill knows that his next opponent, Germantown, will come to Oxford roaring like Vicksburg was and expects the Mavericks to be ready.

“I know (Germantown head) coach Tim Shramek is a really good football coach and he’ll have them fired up,” Hill said. “They are going to play hard. That is one thing they do, they play exceptionally hard and they are going to formation you to death. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

EXTRA POINTS

Wadlington rushed the ball for a season-high 21 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns … Abraham was 23-for-45 for 302 yards and two touchdowns with a fumble lost … Oxford’s one fumble in the game was just the seventh total turnover on the season.

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