Tigers overpower Rebels to take district crown
Southern Sports and Travel, By Darron Thomas
In consecutive seasons the District 5AA title has gone unclaimed until the final regular season game between Centreville and Central Private and while last night’s matchup looked like a toss up after one half of play the end result was much like last season’s as Centreville overpowered host Central Private in the second half to take a 35-14 win back home. With the win Centreville earned a district championship but more importantly a #1 seed and will host Bowling Green in round one of the playoffs next Friday night.

(Above) Centreville defensive back Loren Lafontaine (#20) closes in on Central Private quarterback Seth Stevens (#24)
Centreville looked to jump out early on the Rebels as they took their opening possession and drove 53 yards in 7 plays down to the Central Private 21 yard line but the Tiger’s drive faltered as Ryan Bowman recovered a Hunter Travis fumble at the 29 yard line with 7:15 remaining in the quarter.
Central Private capitalized on the Tiger’s turnover as quarterback Seth Stevens hooked up with wide-out Ryan Bowman at the Rebel 40 yard line. Stevens then picked up a quick 16 yards on a quarterback keeper to put Central Private in Centreville territory at the 44 yard line. Stevens nailed Trevor Shepherd with a 28 yard connection to advance the line of scrimmage to the Tiger 16 yard line and one play later Stevens capped off the drive with a 16 yard scamper to put the Rebels on top 6-0 at the 4:50 mark of the 1st quarter.

(Above) Centreville tailback Randy Bell (#13) looks for room
Central Private quickly bottled up the Centreville offense and looked to regain possession following a Cliff Hurst punt but a critical turnover on a muffed punt set Centreville up at the Rebel 25 yard line.
Centreville cashed in on the turnover as the Tigers knotted the game at 6-6 following six straight Cliff Hurst carries, the last a 2 yard plunge just 6 seconds into the second quarter.
Hurst added the PAT to give Centreville a 7-6 advantage.
Centreville extended their lead to 14-6 after Cliff Hurst powered in from 5 yards out to cap an 8 play, 53 yard drive with 1:41 remaining in the half. Centreville’s defense totally changed the momentum of the game as the Tiger’s held Central Private without a 1st down in the quarter and took a 14-6 lead into halftime.
Central Private’s defense returned the favor in the 3rd quarter as they forced Centreville into three and outs on their first two possessions.

(Above) Centreville capitalized on Central Private turnovers
The Rebels mounted a drive dominated by running back Dustin Johnson that took them from their own 20 yard line to the Centreville 30 yard line but facing a 3rd and 9 Central Private committed their third turnover as Centreville freshman defensive back Colby Shaw picked off a Seth Stevens pass at the 13 yard line to halt the drive.
Both defenses controlled much of the quarter but Centreville only needed 31 seconds to extend their lead to close out the 3rd quarter. Following a Matt Myers punt to the Centreville 18 yard line, Cliff Hurst needed just two plays to give the Tigers a two touchdown cushion. Hurst ripped off a quick 24 yards up to the Tiger 42 yard line on first down and then exploded with a 58 yard tackle breaking jaunt to give Centreville a 21-6 lead and the momentum heading into the final quarter.

After Central Private’s first possession of the quarter resulted in -7 yards Centreville took the life out of the Homecoming crowd. Cliff Hurst struck again as the junior took a first down hand off and went off left tackle for 51 yards with 10:07 left in the game to give the Tigers a 28-6 lead.
Centreville sealed the deal on their next possession as the Tigers pushed 33 yards in five plays. J.T. Doughty capped the drive with a 3 yard burst off left guard with 6:28 remaining. Cliff Hurst added the PAT to put Centreville up 35-6.
Central Private went 82 yards in 11 plays and chewed up just over five minutes for the final score of the night. Quarterback Luke Fryoux went in from 5 yards out and then hit Trevor Shepherd for the 2 point conversion.
Centreville’s Cliff Hurst rushed for 203 yards on 20 carries and 4 touchdowns and sophomore Colton Terrell accounted for 62 yards on 5 carries to lead the District 5AA Champions.
Centreville piled up 296 yards rushing and improved to 7-4 and 4-0 in district.
Central Private slipped to 5-5 and 3-1 and will travel to Pineville to take on Cenla in round one of the playoffs next Friday.
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Post Game Interview:
Centreville head coach Bill Hurst

Glory days, they last forever

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
To quote the words of one of the most famous philosopher’s of my generation, “Glory days, well they’ll pass you by…..Glory days in the wink of a young girl’s eye…..Glory days, Glory days.” These words are from none other than the great Bruce Springsteen and while I humorously refer to him as a famous philosopher of my generation those words have a special and deep meaning that ring true in the hearts and minds of many post high school graduates such as myself.
The years have swiftly sped by but certain things can trigger memories from what most of us “old” folks consider as our “Glory Days.”
Last Friday I made the 275 mile drive north for the DeSoto at Tunica class A game. Having graduated from a small school it doesn’t take long for those memories to be refreshed in my mind. Small things can trigger thoughts and occurrences that took place some 28 years ago whether it’s the smell of freshly cut grass, cheerleaders on the sidelines (My wife was one) or the halftime entertainment that most football players never see.
On most Friday nights I spend lots of time reflecting about the game I just covered as I drive back home and in between text messages and calls I lay out in my mind how to write about that particular game. A portion of that reflection is also directed towards how special those years were for me and it generates a curiosity in my mind as to whether the athletes I see every Friday night will cherish those same things I did.
If you hear someone use the phrase “I wouldn’t have done anything differently” they’re probably not telling the truth. I like to tease some of the kids from time to time that they had better enjoy their high school playing days because they will wake up tomorrow, 45 years old, and asking where all the time went.
As the 2010 football season winds down and teams fight for playoff positions my hope is that along the way you relish the small things. The time spent just before and after the game, the handshakes or pats on the back from supporters, the special camaraderie amongst competitors, the bus rides and of course the butterflies before a game.
There is no substitution for high school football, there are no do-overs. As I frequently whispered into my son’s ear before games, "enjoy every minute of it because it’s special."
With only one game remaining for many and the playoffs on the horizon for some, enjoy the little things, live every play like it’s your last. Whether you’re a starter or a backup make the most of your opportunity to make memories so that you can be that one to honestly say, “I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”

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See ya somewhere..........

North Delta wins seventh straight

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Brad Greer

The North Delta School football team pulled off a rare feat Friday night against home standing Greenville Christian. The No.2 ranked Green Wave scored on all nine of their possessions in route to a 63-14 thumping of the Saints to set up Friday night's regular season finale at Kirk in a District 1-2A clash.
A victory by North Delta, (7-1; 3-0) over the Raiders will clinch the district championship for the Green Wave and will assure them a first round home playoff game which begins next Friday.
Senior tailback Tres Brasell scored four touchdowns as the Green Wave chewed up a season-high 393 yards rushing and 402 yards of total offense in the game. Quarterback Bryan Nickle and backup tailback Taylor Morris scored two touchdowns each while Michael Magee added rushed for 68 yards on four carries which included a 55-yard scoring run in the first quarter. Defensive back Corbin Baker got into the scoring act with a 45-yard interception return in the third quarter.
Nickle led the Green Wave in rushing with 135 yards on four carries while Morris registered 101 yards on only six totes. Brasell followed with 13 carries for 84 yards while Catlin McArthur chipped in with one carry for five yards. Through eight games, Nickle has rushed for 695 yards on 82 carries and eight touchdowns while Brasell has accounted for 571 yards on the ground and a team-high 16 touchdowns.
North Delta set the tone early in the contest by jumping out to a 26-0 first quarter lead as Brasell added scoring runs of one and 14 yards. Nickle got into the scoring act with a 53 yard run to increase the Green Wave lead to 19-0 at the 4:47 mark. Magee followed with the most exciting run of the night as the senior fullback broke through a cluster of would-be Saint tacklers then rambled 55 yards for a touchdown. Kyle Devazier booted his second of three successful point after attempts to push the lead to 26-0.
Brasell added scoring runs of six and nine yards in the second quarter as the Green Wave took a 46-0 lead into intermission. Nickle closed out the first half with a dazzling 49-yard run with four seconds remaining.
Greenville Christian (5-4) got on the board as quarterback Justin Leavy scored on a eight-yard run to open the second half of play. North Delta answered right back as John Cody Dalrymple returned the ensuing kickoff 48 yards to the Saints 32. Three plays later, Morris crashed in from six yards out to push the lead to 51-7. Morris would later finish off the scoring for North Delta with a 36-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Greenville Christian tacked on its final score as Leavy hooked up with David Ray on a 59-yard pass play to make the score 63-14.
Derrick Shawn led the North Delta defense with six tackles while Will Dunlap and Will Magee followed with four stops each. Jim Tom Copeland reeled in the pass reception for the Wave with a nine-yard catch in the second quarter.

Simpson locks up district title

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Dennis Watson

With the playoff picture becoming clearer, the Lamar Raiders were riding a four-game winning streak into Friday night's huge divisional showdown with Simpson County Academy. However, the Raiders were over matched as the visitors dominated both sides of the ball, defeating Lamar 28-14, and capturing an MAIS Division 3-AA title in the process.
"The score did not reflect Simpson's overall dominance in the game," said coach Mac Barnes. "They are a well coached team, and outplayed us tonight."
The Raiders only managed seven first downs the entire game as Simpson totaled 349 yards of total offense and completely controlled the time of possession. The Cougars got on the board with just under 2 minutes to play in the first quarter when Cade Eiland plunged it in from 5 yards out to put the visitors ahead. Garrett Taylor added another score with 4 minutes to go in the half, making it 14-0. Lamar answered quickly with a 74-yard touchdown strike from Tyler Harris to John Clinton McElroy on the second play of the ensuing Raider drive. The Raiders cut it to 14-7 at half, but Simpson was too much. Mid-ways thru the 3rd, Eiland got into the end zone again from 5 yards out, stretching the deficit back out to 14.
The home team tried to muster a little magic and got a huge lift when Will Fulton intercepted a fourth down pass and returned it 62 yards for a score, making it 21-14, Simpson. The Cougs got a huge lift on the Lamar kickoff as the Raiders were tagged with a facemask and an unsportsmanlike penalty. It set Simpson up at the Raider 39 and the Cougs answered with a late touchdown to put the game out of reach. Garret Taylor sealed the deal with 3 and a half to play in the game with a 9 yard touchdown run.
Tyler Harris finished 9 of 13 for 252 yards and the one touchdown to McElroy. Michael Marcello led the defense with 15 tackles. Lamar falls to 5-4 and 2-1 and closes out the regular season with a trip to Leake Academy, setting the stage for a battle for second place in the district.
Junior tailback Cade Eiland rushed for 201 yards on 31 carries and 2 touchdowns and quarterback Brandon Johnston rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries to lead Simpson who improved to 8-2 and 4-0 and is idle this week.

Brookhaven rolls on senior night

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Brett Rutland

Brookhaven Academy resumed its District 4-AA schedule Friday hosting the Columbia Academy Cougars for Senior Night at R.M. “Red” Stuard Field. Thanks to a breakout first half offensively, Brookhaven made it a special night for its seniors with a 45-21 win over the visiting Cougars. Brookhaven improved to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in district play. Columbia fell to 3-7 overall and 2-2 in the district.
“We played pretty well in the first half.” said Brookhaven head coach Herbert Davis. “We were able to jump out to a big lead and get our younger guys so playing time and get our starters some rest at the same time. Both of those things are important for us at this point of the season.” Brookhaven forced a Columbia punt on the opening drive of the game, and the scoring onslaught began for the Cougars. Landon Nettles registered the first points of the game at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter on a six yard run, capping a 5-play, 86 yard drive. Tyler Trout added the extra point for a 7-0 Brookhaven lead.

(Above) Brookhaven quarterback Chandler Rogers (#12) picks up yardage on the ground

At the 2:42 mark of the opening quarter, Chandler Rogers connected with Bubba Keene from 8 yards out, pushing the Brookhaven lead to 14-0 after Trout’s PAT.
Nettles opened the scoring in the second quarter at the 10:50 mark as the Cougars marched 76 yards in 7 plays before Nettles’ one yard run. Trout added the extra point for a 21-0 Brookhaven lead.
Trout added a 38 yard field goal with 4:14 remaining in the half to push the Cougar lead to 24-0.
After Brookhaven’s defense forced Columbia into a quick three and out, Rogers hooked up with Keene on a 62 yard bomb with 1:13 remaining in the half. Trout added the extra point for a 31-0 Brookhaven lead.

(Above) Brookhaven freshman tailback Landon Nettles (#30) rushed for 63 yards and 2 tds
Sophomore Gage Posey took over for Rogers in the second half, and on the opening possession marched the Cougars 69 yards in seven plays before scoring on a one yard run. Trout added the extra point for a 38-0 Brookhaven lead.
Columbia got its first score of the night at the 2:37 mark of the third quarter as Josh Broom scored on a 15 yard run. Logan Cook added the extra point for a 38-7 Brookhaven lead.
Brookhaven responded on its next drive as the Cougars went 67 yards in 15 plays before C.J. Duckworth scored on a one yard run with 7:36 remaining in the game. Trout added the extra point for a 45-7 Brookhaven lead.
Columbia added two scores in the final minutes to cut in to the Brookhaven lead. Broom scored on a 63 yard run with 6:32 remaining and Robert Ward added a 60 yard run with 3:22 remaining, ending the scoring at 45-21.
Chandler Rogers led the Brookhaven offense, completing 12 of his 19 pass attempts for 240 yards and two touchdowns in two quarters of play. He was intercepted once. Posey took over in the second half and 6 of his 12 pass attempts for 90 yards. He also picked up 85 yards on 8 carries and a touchdown. Landon Nettles had 9 carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Bubba Keene was the leading receiver with 6 receptions for 130 yards and two scores. Sidney Chaffin caught 4 passes for 117 yards.
Broom led Columbia, picking up 140 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns. Ward followed with 105 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown.
On defense, C.J. Duckworth led Brookhaven with 12 tackles. Hunter Franklin and Bailey Hodge each registered 11 stops. Alan Michael Allred made ten stops. Gage Posey had two interceptions. Brookhaven concludes the regular season Friday night on the road against Bowling Green. Kick off in Franklinton, La is set for 7 p.m.

**Photos Courtesy of Sherylyn Evans

DeSoto holds off Tunica in district battle

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The DeSoto Thunderbirds moved one game closer to clinching the District 1A crown after taking a 26-21 win over Tunica on the road last night. Dylan Cruz rushed for 321 yards and 2 touchdowns as DeSoto handed Tunica their first district loss. The Thunderbirds can earn a #1 seed with a win over Lee (AR) next Friday night in West Helena.

(Above) DeSoto tailback Dylan Cruz follows the blocking of teammate Matt Barnes (#34)
Tunica looked poised to give their home-standing crowd reason to feel confident after the Blue Devils scored on the first play from scrimmage. Senior tailback Freeman Gray went off left tackle and exploited a gap in the DeSoto defense and sprinted 79 yards to give Tunica an early advantage. Heath Goff added the PAT and the Blue Devils took a 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the contest.
Tunica carried their lead over into the second quarter and looked well on their way to adding another score as the Blue Devils moved from their own 40 yard line to the DeSoto 30 behind the running of Freeman Gray. Gray then exploded for 26 yards to set the Blue Devils up at the DeSoto 4 yard line with just over nine minutes left in the half. It was there that the DeSoto defense stiffened on three consecutive plays to set up a 4th and goal attempt from the three yard line. DeSoto defensive lineman Colton Rico squashed the drive as the junior sacked Tunica quarterback Brandon Holmes at the 11 to turn the ball back over to the Thunderbirds with 7:53 left in the half.
It wasn’t until DeSoto’s fifth possession of the game that the 2nd ranked Thunderbirds found an offensive rhythm as they mounted an 11 play, 83 yard drive that was capped off by a Dylan Cruz three yard plunge with 55 seconds remaining in the half. Cruz added the PAT to knot the game up at 7-7 and give DeSoto the momentum heading into the 3rd quarter.

(Above) DeSoto senior Dylan Cruz (#22) on a sweep left
That momentum was evident on the first possession of the second half. DeSoto set up shop at their own 32 yard line after a 17 yard kick-off return by Cruz. The senior then rambled 23 yards to the Blue Devil 45 yard line. Paden Phillips added 14 yards to advance the line of scrimmage to the Tunica 31 yard line to set up DeSoto’s second score of the night as Dylan Cruz maneuvered his way around the right side and ran 31 yards to give the Thunderbirds their first lead of the night at the 10:58 mark of the 3rd quarter. Cruz added the PAT to give DeSoto a 14-7 lead.
After DeSoto’s defense forced Tunica into a three and out the Thunderbirds marched 57 yards in six plays before fizzling out at the Tunica 10 yard line. A fake field goal by DeSoto was snuffed out on 4th and 9 as sophomore defensive back Austin Hagstrom took Blake Harper down at the 23 yard line as Tunica threatened to regain momentum.
Tunica jumped right back into the thick of things in quick fashion as Brandon Holmes nailed Caleb McCoy on a sideline route and the senior sprinted 77 yards for a touchdown at the 5:37 mark of the 3rd quarter. Tunica’s PAT attempt failed leaving the Blue Devils trailing 14-13.
Tunica’s squib kick was returned by Dillon Wiggins to the Blue Devil 39 yard line giving DeSoto a short field to work with. Two plays later Wiggins took a mis-direction play 14 yards to increase the Thunderbird lead to 20-13.

(Above) Tunica's Austin Hagstrom (#20) pulls in a Brandon Holmes pass for a 2 pt conversion in the 4th quarter
DeSoto forced Tunica’s offense into another three and out and looked prime to run away with the game with a 7 play, 71 yard drive that culminated on Dillon Wiggins’ 5 yard run off left tackle for a touchdown with six seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. Cruz’s PAT was blocked leaving the score at 26-13 as the quarter expired.
Tunica began the final quarter without the services of tailback Freeman Gray who went out with a shin injury midway through the 3rd quarter but the Blue Devils mounted a drive that set them up at the DeSoto 6 yard line with a 3rd and one to keep the drive alive. A critical motion penalty pushed the Blue Devils back 5 yards and the drive was thwarted on the very next play as Blake Harper picked off a Brandon Holmes pass attempt at the 8 yard line aided by heavy pressure from the DeSoto defense.
Tunica showed great resolve and after forcing a DeSoto punt the Blue Devils took just five plays to strike pay-dirt as they marched 77 yards in less than two minutes to get back into the game. Brandon Holmes hit Blake Perry on a crossing route and the senior did the rest as he raced 48 yards to trim the deficit to 26-19 with 4:36 left in the game. Holmes converted the two point conversion as the junior scrambled and found Austin Hagstrom just over the goal line to pull the Blue Devils to within five points at 26-21.

(Above) Tunica's Ali Obad (#75), Chris Manues (#55) and Blake Perry (#12) stop DeSoto's Dylan Cruz
That would be Tunica’s last possession as an onsides attempt was recovered by DeSoto. The Thunderbirds chewed up the remaining 4:36 to improve to 9-0 and 2-0 in District 1A play.
Freeman Gray picked up 163 yards and a touchdown for Tunica, who slips to 5-3 & 2-1.
Tunica will finish up the regular season on the road at Bayou next week.

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Post game interviews:
DeSoto head coach Bill Beck
DeSoto senior Dylan Cruz

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DeSoto, Tunica highlight pressure packed week ten
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
With just two weeks left in the 2010 regular season the remaining games are critical to several squads hoping to advance to post season play. Tight district races will play out in high intensity and pressure packed week ten matchups and will continue as the regular season wraps up in two weeks.
Class A post season qualifying seems simple, the top two finishers in each district advance but the dreaded tie-breaker could come into play in a few districts, particularly District 2A where Deer Creek, Bayou and Greenville Christian are all in contention for the district crown and #1 seed.
In District 1A, which many think is the best Class A district from top to bottom, Tunica can clinch the #1 seed and district title with a win over DeSoto this Friday night in Tunica. A DeSoto victory leaves the door open for a few scenarios to still play out.
In Class AA the top two district finishers qualify but four wildcard teams will also qualify. With two weeks remaining only one team has clinched a district title, River Oaks. The District 5AA race will not be decided until the final week when Centreville travels to Central Private.
In Class AAA three teams; Jackson Academy, Pillow and Jackson Prep have a solid grip on top seeding but a potential week eleven huge game could play out with the surging Copiah Colonels making a late season push. If Copiah gets a home win this Friday night over East Rankin and Oak Forest loses to Jackson Prep, week eleven will pit Copiah at Oak Forest for a top seed.
Spending lots of time studying the playoff brackets and salivating over what could be some great matchups, it appears that Class A could pose some explosive parings in round two and the semi-finals.
A preview of one of those potential playoff pairings will take place this Friday night as #2 DeSoto makes the short trip to battle #6 Tunica.
DeSoto is one of four undefeated teams in Class A and under the direction of head coach Bill Beck, in his 8th season, the Thunderbirds have a state title (2008) and two straight state championship title game appearances.
Tunica and head coach Jimmy Hicks will be hoping to clinch a district championship by beating a team it has had difficulty with over the past decade but the Blue Devils have played DeSoto tough in Tunica the past two meetings and most expect a tight, down to the wire contest.
Two of the better tailbacks in Class A will go head to head this Friday night. Versatile DeSoto senior Dylan Cruz (right) has picked up 1,030 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns, passed for 4 and has 3 touchdown receptions. The senior also has kicked field goals and scored by way of kick-off return. According to DeSoto head coach Bill Beck the only method of scoring the senior hasn’t accomplished in his time with the Thunderbirds is a punt return for a score.
Tunica senior Freeman Gray (Left) is the second leading rusher in the MAIS with 1,531 yards, just 178 yards behind Cody Prewitt of Sylva Bay. Gray broke the MAIS single game rushing record in a week three win over Lee (AR) with 491 yards. Gray has 21 touchdowns to his credit through seven games.

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Below is an audio interview with DeSoto head coach Bill Beck and Tunica head coach Jimmy Hicks:

Central Private sits atop District 5AA after win

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Patrick Tate

With the approach of Halloween and a barrage of scary movies to appear on TV, the Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams may not see anything scarier than the Chucky they saw on Friday. Central Private senior linebacker Chucky Conrad and his defensive team mates limited the Rams to 47 yards of total offense in a 34-6 Rebel victory.
After a scary start for both teams, Central Private exerted its power in the second half to pull away from the Rams. Both teams started the game with interceptions. Caleb Sterling had a interception for the Rams then Joey Harris returned the favor for the Rebels. A fumble for a huge loss forced the Rebels to punt on their next drive. The Rebels then forced a WCCA punt after three plays but again turned the ball over as Sterling recovered a CP fumble. Another stellar series of downs by the CP defense forced a turnover on downs as the Rebels took possession on their 36-yard line. A Dustin Johnson 15-yard blast and a 29 yard strike from Seth Stevens to his favorite target Lance Wicker set up the first Rebel score on the night. Stevens took it in from 14 yards away to put CP up 6-0 when the 2-pt conversion failed. The Rebel defense led by Taylor Fletcher and Morgan Miley again forced the Rams to punt after 3 plays.
The Rams forced a Rebel punt on fourth down but broke through the line and blocked the kick recovering the football on the Rebel 20. It looked like the Rebel defense would answer the call but after a sack by Zach Leblanc the Rebels were called for a penalty which gave the Rams a first down at the 10-yard line. Three rushes up the middle paid off as Ram quarterback Hall bulled in from 4 yards out. The Rebels were able to stop the 2 point conversion and the score remained tied at 6.
The Rebels seemed to acquire a little Les Miles magic right before the end of the half. After 2 sacks and an incomplete pass CP faced a fourth down and 23 yards to go when Stevens launched a pass to Wicker that sailed over his head into the waiting arms of Moak who scooted 40 yards for a Rebel touchdown with :20 remaining. Stevens did find Wicker on the fade route for the 2 pt conversion.
It took the Rebels 11 seconds to score at the start of the second half as Troy Lowe took the kick off 80 yards for the score. Lowe said," I was just trying to get to the wedge before I got hit and then I saw the hole and just ran." Matt Myers was true on the PAT kick and the Rebels finally had some breathing room 21-6.
After an exchange of punts, the Rebels were on the march again. A three play 60 yard drive high lighted by a Luke Fryoux toss to Wicker for 16-yards and a Dustin Johnson 28 yard gallop set the ball on the WCCA 9-yard line. Ryan Bowman finished the drive with a 9-yard sprint around left end into the end zone. The PAT was blocked and CP held a 27-6 lead.
Johnson who rushed for 103 yards on the evening dominated the next Rebel drive as he carried 4 consecutive times on the 4 play 43 yard drive finishing with a 16 yard trot into the end zone. Myers added the PAT to make the final CP 34 WCCA 6.
The win clinched a playoff birth for the Rebels for the sixth straight year and sets up a district championship clash with Centreville Academy in two weeks. The Rebels are off this week and return to action in Baker Friday before Halloween when Chucky returns.

Cougars get back on track with road win

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Brett Rutland

Brookhaven Academy looked to get back to its winning ways Friday night as the Cougars took the field for the first time since their close 34-28 loss to Trinity Episcopal that ended a state best 22 game win streak two weeks ago. East Rankin Academy welcomed the Cougars, looking to register a quality win against the number one ranked Cougars, after a disappointing 2-6 start. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the Cougar offense returned to its typical form as the Cougars topped the Patriots 44-35 in a game that went from a defensive struggle in the first quarter to an offensive shootout in the second half. The Cougars improved to 8-1 on the season. East Rankin fell to 2-7.
Brookhaven senior quarterback Chandler Rogers turned in his best effort of the year stat wise as he completed 13 of his 28 pass attempts for 258 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, he ran 18 times for 78 yards and three more scores. Rogers threw for 199 yards in the first half alone as the Cougars jumped out to a 23-7 lead and looked to have the game under control heading into the second half of play.

“We have to get better in a lot of areas before the playoffs start.” said Brookhaven head coach Herbert Davis. “We gave up big plays tonight. We can’t make those mistakes this late in the year if you want to be successful. Our offense has to execute better, our guys have to keep their assignments and we’ve got to be ready to battle for a full four quarters. We were able to answer their scores tonight and put a lot of points on the board, but it’s about to get a lot tougher as the playoffs get closer.”
Brookhaven overcame a scoreless first quarter to put their first points on the board at the 7:10 mark of the second quarter as Rogers connected with junior wide out Bubba Keene on a 19 yard score, giving the Cougars an 8-0 lead. Four minutes later, Rogers connected with Keene again, this time from 46 yards out, capping a 4 play, 58 yard drive. Tyler Trout added the extra point for a 15-0 Brookhaven lead with 3:56 left in the first half.
East Rankin registered its first score of the night just over a minute later as quarterback Jacob Weldon scored on a 51 yard run. J.D. Houston added the extra point, cutting the Brookhaven lead to 15-7 with 2:37 left in the first half.
It took the Cougars less than a minute to respond as Rogers connected with running back Jennings Mills on a 77 yard strike with 1:48 remaining in the half. Mills added the two point conversion, pushing the Cougar lead to 23-7 at the half.
East Rankin scored the first two scores of the second half to send an uneasy feeling through the visiting crowd. Weldon connected with Colby Crotwell on a 16 yard pass at the 6:33 mark of the third quarter and Weldon added a 63 yard run with 4:18 left in the period, cutting Brookhaven’s lead to 23-20.

The Cougars responded with a quick four play drive that ended with Rogers scoring on a 14 yard run. Trout added the extra point for a 30-20 Brookhaven lead with 2:32 left in the third.
East Rankin answered right back as Weldon connected with Crotwell again, this time from 39 yards out as the Patriots cut the Brookhaven lead to 30-27 with 8:57 left in the game. Rogers and company answered with 7:37 left in the game as Rogers scored on a 13 yard run, pushing the Brookhaven lead to 37-27 after Trout added the extra point.
Rogers added an insurance score with 2:31 remaining as Rogers scored on a 4 yard run, pushing the Brookhaven lead to 44-27 after Trout’s successful extra point.
The final Patriot score came with 24 seconds remaining as Josh Stuart scored on a three yard run and then completed a pass to William Stanton for the two point conversion, ending the scoring at 44-35.
Brookhaven wide out Bubba Keene registered his best performance of the year as well, hauling in 10 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 243 all-purpose yards on the night. Landon Nettles, a freshman for the Cougars, led the ground attack with 120 yards on 13 carries.
“Nettles was big for us tonight.” added Davis. “He’s quick, he cuts and accelerates well and he has great vision. He gives us more options offensively in the passing game and rushing game. He has the chance to be a big player for us as we get ready for the playoffs.”
Jacob Weldon led East Rankin offensively, completing 11 of his 22 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once. On the ground, he picked up 149 yards on 16 carries. Josh Stuart finished with 94 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.
On defense, Bailey Hodge led Brookhaven with 17 tackles. Alan Michael Allred followed with 15 stops and two sacks. Hunter Franklin finished with 13 tackles. Jennings Mills intercepted an East Rankin pass.
What’s more impressive for Rogers is the fact that he set the career touchdown record in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools thanks to his performance Friday night. The previous record holder is a familiar name to Brookhaven Academy fans, none other than standout quarterback Price Sessums, a 2006 BA graduate. Sessums totaled 111 touchdowns in his stellar career with the Cougars. With his six scores against East Rankin, Rogers now holds the record with 115 touchdowns as the Cougars still have two regular season games and the playoffs to go.
“It’s a great honor and privilege to set the record, but all the credit goes to my coaches and teammates.” said Rogers.
Brookhaven returns to R.M. “Red” Stuard Field Friday night for its final regular season home game against Columbia Academy in an important district 4-AA matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

**Photos Courtesy of Sherylyn Evans

Pillow moves closer to North AAA title
Courtesy of The Greenwood Commonwealth
Pillow Academy dominated Heritage Academy from the opening kickoff and moved one step closer to a North AAA Division II championship.
The Mustangs led 28-7 at the half and cruised to a 42-14 victory here Friday night against an outmanned Heritage team.
The Mustangs move to 7-1 overall, 4-1 in the North AAA.
Pillow needs to win just one of its final two games to wrap up its second conference title in Michael Fair's three years as head coach.
"This was a big win for us as we pursue our goal of a conference championship," said Fair, whose team plays at Jackson Academy this week before closing out the regular season at home against Starkville Academy. "We came out ready to play and took it to them early. I am real proud of the way our guys played."
PA quickly went up 7-0 on Heritage on a 2-yard touchdown run by Ja' Quez Taylor. It was the first of four rushing touchdowns on the night for the senior tailback, who finished with a team-high 78 yards on 12 carries.
In the second quarter, junior quarterback Landon Taylor put his team up 14-0 with a 7-yard scoring run.
After Heritage made it 14-7, J. Taylor had a 2-yard touchdown run to put PA back up by 14.
Then right before the half, L. Taylor hit Zack Davis with a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-7 at the break.
J. Taylor closed out the scoring for Pillow in the third quarter with touchdown runs of 4 and 15 yards.
Junior tailback Myers Falls finished with 60 yards on 11 carries as the Mustangs finished with 210 yards on the ground.
L. Taylor completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Senior fullback Luke Kimmel had three catches for 40 yards, while Charles Nause had two grabs for 48 yards and Anthony Ola had two for 30 yards.
"Offensively we ran the ball well early. Our running backs ran hard, and the line played well in front of them," Fair said. "I thought we threw the ball pretty well, and the receivers ran good routes."
Linebackers Luke Kimmel and Conner Sewell led the defense with five solo tackles each. Lineman Richard Shaw had a sack and an interception.
Defensive end Alec Dunn had three tackles, a sack and caused a fumble.

Lamar punishes Winston for 4th straight win
For Southern Sports & Travel, By Daniel Balint
The Lamar Raiders hosted a big game Friday night at Grey-Cobb Field in Meridian as the Winston Academy Patriots came for a visit. A win would almost guarantee a birth in the playoffs for Lamar, no worse than the wild card position. The home team won the toss and elected to receive to begin the game. The Patriots of Winston came ready to play as on Lamar's first drive of the night, they forced a punt after 6 plays. The Raider drive stalled at mid-field. A good end over end punt by Chase Davis set up Junior QB Tyler Sullivan and company at their own 38 yard line. But the Pat's could only muster 17 yards on 5 plays before the drive came to a halt. One of the best punters in the state overall, Rob Moffitt came out and planted a pooch kick at the Raider 4. So the Raiders opened up their 2nd drive of the game 96 yards from the endzone. On the first play of the drive, Junior signal caller for Lamar, Tyler Harris hit J.C. McElroy on a play action route that was good for 38 yards. The Raiders, now out of the shadows of their own goal post, set up shop at their own 38 to continue the drive. 6 plays later, Lamar was halted on downs by the Winston defense at the Winston 28 yard line. On the ensuing drive for the Pat's, Tyler Sullivan got going as he led the Patriots 61 yards down the field. The Lamar defense put a stop to the drive and forced Winston to try a 27 yard field goal, which was good. At the 1:12 mark of the 1st quarter, Winston leads 3-0. The lead would be short lived as the Lamar offense took to an epic drive. The Moffit kick off was downed in the end zone to set up Lamar at their own 20. The Raider offense cooked up a 13 play, 80 yard drive that took 5 minutes and 10 seconds off of the first half clock. The drive was finished by a 9 yard run from JC McElroy out of the wildcat formation. The Tyler Roberts extra point was true and the Raiders took a lead of 7-3 with 7:50 to play in the opening half. Lamar would not let go of the lead, as it set up a monster ending of the first half for Lamar. Winston set up shop at their own 35 after a Dusty Weisner pooch kick. Tyler Sullivan and the Patriot offense moved the ball into Raider territory but a penalty set them back. On 3rd and long, the collision everyone had been waiting for happened midways through the 2nd quarter as Tyler Sullivan, all 6'4 230 pounds, met Will Fulton, the star DE for Lamar. The sack for Fulton was his 7th of the season. The monster shot rocked the core of the Grey-Cobb foundation. On the fourth down punt, the snap went over the head of Rob Moffitt and rolled all the way back inside the 15 yard line. Moffitt picked the ball up and turned to punt, but was met by Will Fulton and another big lick by the Senior. Somehow Moffitt got the kick away but it wasn't much as the ball got to the Winston 20 yard line and no further. The Raiders set up camp deep in Patriot territory at the 20. It took Lamar all of 4 plays to find pay-dirt at the 1:53 mark of the 2nd quarter. Tyler Harris hit Charlie Nosco for 16 yards on a play action pass that was executed to perfection. The Roberts PAT was good and Lamar leads 14-3. Winston took the kick back to the 22 yard line. With just over a minute to play in the half, Winston decided to try and make something of the remaining time but it was to no avail. Sullivan threw his 1st interception of the night as he was picked off on a tip drill by Chase Davis. Davis returned the INT to mid-field. From that point, Tyler Harris hit a 50 yard bomb to McElroy on the first play of the drive. 21-3 Lamar with :23 seconds left in the half. Sullivan and company again set up shop and tried to get greedy, and again the Pat's were denied. Michael Marcello picked off the first play of Winston's drive and returned it 44 yards to the house. The XP was no good by Roberts, but the momentum had already swung. At the half, Lamar 27, Winston 3.
Winston took the ball to begin the 2nd half, but the Lamar defense stymied the Pat attack and forced a 3 and out. After a terrific kick by Moffitt, Lamar took over at their own 35. The Raider offense proved it can strike quick as Harris found McElroy on the first play of the 2nd half for 65 yards. The XP was good, just 1:22 into the 2nd half, Lamar opens up the lead to 34-3. Winston again was forced 3 and out and again the Raider offense responded with a 6 play, 69 yard drive that was capped by another McElroy touchdown, his fourth of the evening. This time, McElroy went 20 yards on a speed sweep. The Roberts extra point was true and Lamar opens it up even further now 41-3 with 7:04 to play in the 3rd. From their Lamar would roll. The defense crashing in on Tyler Sullivan and the Pat attack. The Raider defense would hold the Winston offense to 243 yards. Sullivan would throw 2 more interceptions, 4 total in the game. Winston got on the board for the 2nd time with 3:37 in the 3rd quarter as Sullivan ran the ball in from 6 yards out. 41-10, Raiders. The game got a little chippy, both teams talking alot on the field. It led to a number of personal fouls in the 4th quarter. Lamar took a roughing the passer and an un-sportsmanlike penalty on the same play and it set up Sullivan and company at the Raider 20 late in the game. The Pat attack wouldn't let this scoring opportunity pass them up and Tyler Sullivan ran in his 2nd touchdown of the night from 2 yards out with 4:47 to play. After a Lamar T.O.D.'s, Sullivan came back out for his final drive and on the first play, threw his 4th interception of the night. That led to Lamar in the victory formation to finish the game. Final score, Lamar 41- Winston 17. Tyler Harris went 12/18 243 yards and 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. J.C. McElroy ran 4 times for 51 yards and 2 scores. JC also had 7 receptions for 175 yards and 2 scores. Raider coach Mac Barnes said of his defense, " This was the hardest hitting, most emotional and well played games we have had since the 2006 Oak Hill playoff game. Our kids played tremendous tonight." A career night for McElroy led to the Lamar win. Lamar returns for senior night next week as Lamar host Simpson in a HUGE 3AA showdown that could determine the division champ.

Columbia Academy Cross Country Invitational
Columbia Water Park, Columbia, MS
Tuesday Oct. 12, 2010

Jackson Prep Girls and Columbia Academy Boys took home the first place trophies. Prep’s Girls scored 46 points to beat runner up PCS by 26 points. MRA’s Tavin Lovitt took the individual Championship with 12:54.
In the boys race Columbia Academy placed three runners in the top-10 to beat Presbyterian Christian by 4 points. Jon Luke Watts of Columbia Academy crossed the finish line in 17:33 for his fifth straight MAIS win. Watts finished 2.5 seconds ahead of PCS’s Walker Stayer to remain undefeated in MAIS competition this season.

Girls results:
Individual Winner - Tavin Lovitt, MRA, 12:54
Team Results: (Top-ten)
1. Jackson Prep - 46 Pts.
2. PCS - 72 Pts.
3. Silliman - 91 Pts.
4. MRA - 98 Pts.
5. Canton - 129 Pts.
6. Jackson Academy - 147 Pts.
7. Columbia Academy - 255 Pts.
8. Sumrall - 285 Pts.
9. Laurel Christian - 298 Pts.
10. Purvis - 298 Pts.

Boys Results:
Individual Winner - Jon Luke Watts, Columbia Academy, 17:33
Team Results: (Top-ten)
1. Columbia Academy - 51 Pts.
2. PCS - 55 Pts.
3. Jackson Prep - 70 Pts.
4. Jackson Academy - 96 Pts.
5. MRA - 175 Pts.
6. Lamar School - 212
7. Chamberlain-Hunt - 214 Pts.
8. Lamar Christian - 254 Pts.
9. Laurel Christian - 259 Pts.
10. Sumrall - 262 Pts.

Central Private rebounds to shutout Adams

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Patrick Tate

The Central Private Rebels returned to the winning column on Friday night in a battle of Rebels in Natchez, Mississippi as they took on the Adams County Christian School (ACCS) Rebels in a clash of district unbeatens. The CPS Rebels welcomed back senior linebacker Chuck Conrad as he joined with senior Joey Harris and junior Morgan Miley to spear head the shut out of ACCS 16-0. Defensive coordinator Brian Smith attributed the performance to," playing every play like it was the last play. We played an excellent game and the seniors really stepped it up." Conrad returning from a one week hiatus after suffering a concussion said," Everything was working on all cylinders. Joey Harris did a good job and Basham really pulled his weight. It felt great to be back."
After exchanging punts to begin the game, CPS went on an 11-play 73-yard scoring drive. The drive was fueled by the running of Zach LeBlanc who had 7-carries for 51-yards on the drive. It was LeBlanc's busiest night of the year carrying the football and he explained that it was because," I came hard at practice all week. After the upset loss to Bowling Green last week we came together and played well tonight." Troy Lowe also added 18 rushing yards on the drive. Ryan Bowman finished the drive dashing in from 5-yards out following the blocking of Chuck Conrad and Brennon West who moved from tackle to fullback on the play as CPS switched to the power I formation. Trevor Shepherd added the 2-pt PAT out of the same formation. West who lived every lineman's dream by lining up in the backfield called it,"an awesome new experience."
Central Private would score the only other points on the night with :14 remaining before halftime when QB Seth Stevens found WR Lance Wicker in the endzone from 9 yards away. Wicker said,"It was a fade route to the outside and Seth just threw it up. It was right there." Shepherd again added the 2-pt PAT for the 16-0 lead.
The CPS defense dominated the second half allowing ACCS just 4 first downs for the game and allowed the ACCS offense to only get with in 29 yards of the CP goal line once on the entire evening. With 7:17 left in the ball game Coach Mike Longmire turned the ball over to his offense and asked them to run out the clock. Keeping the ball on the ground and following the ground hog offensive line of Daniel Holloway, Brennon Sullivan, Rhett Seguin, Terrell Stubbs, and Sy Tate, Central Private played keep away. The running of LeBlanc, Lowe, Shepherd, and Bowman gained 4-first downs and gained 45 yards as CP iced the game to move to 2-0 in district play.
ACCS last desperate drive was put to an end with a sack of the ACCS quarterback by senior Taylor Fletcher. CPS quarterback Luke Fryoux continued to improve going 5-6 on the night for 90 yards. Fryoux said that he is," getting better with experience and that the support of the team gives him confidence."
Coach Mike Longmire called it," a complete game. We controlled the football. I am proud of our guys, they keep battling and they came together as a group."
The Rebels return to action on Friday night as they travel to Wilkinson County Christian School for a district tilt. Coach Longmire reminded the boys that they are playing for the playoffs and a chance to play for the district championship with a win.

Centreville's Hunter Devall excels in Florida tourney
Marucci Elite defeated the East Cobb Braves 2-0 Monday afternoon at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida to win the 10th annual WWBA Underclass World Championship.
Marucci went 8-0 in the championship in reigning over a field of 122 teams from around the country. The team, which is based out of Louisiana but features players from nine different states, put on a dominant pitching display, especially in the playoffs, only allowing 1 run over their last four games.
It was quickly evident that the championship game was going to be a pitcher’s dual. LHP Colin Rogers started for Marucci and after working out of a 1st inning jam with the defensive help of 2B Chris Rivera, settled down to throw 3 shutout innings.
East Cobb starter RHP Travis Demeritte, a hard throwing sophomore, more than matched Rogers, holding Marucci to only one hit and no runs over the first 5 innings of play before being relieved to start the sixth inning.
The sixth proved to be the Braves undoing, as RF Chase Rivett greeted reliever Micah Dunn with a double to right centerfield and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. A walk to 3B Luke Stanley and an inside curveball that nicked DH Spencer Trayner loaded the bases for leadoff hitter CF Andrew Velazquez.
Velazquez, who drove in the winning run in Marucci’s 3-1 semi-final win over the East Cobb Astros, came through with a single up the middle to score Rivett with the game’s first run. Marucci’s second run scored on an error and only an outstanding throw by Braves CF Skye Bolt on a potential sacrifice fly saved East Cobb from a bigger inning.
LHP Hunter Devall, who relieved Rogers to start the fourth inning made the 2-0 lead stand up, shutting out East Cobb over the last 4 innings to get the win.
Velazquez, a speedy 5-9 junior from Fordham Prep in the Bronx, New York, was named the event’s Most Valuable Player. He had the key hit for Marucci in the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game and played outstanding defense in centerfield. Strong consideration was given to the Braves Bolt, who went 12-18 during the playoffs, including a combined 7-8 in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Devall, a 5-10 junior southpaw from Centerville Academy in Mississippi was named the event’s Most Valuable Pitcher. Devall went 2-0, 0.00 in two games, allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk. There were a number of other outstanding pitchers given strong consideration for the award, including the Braves RHP Tucker Simpson and RHP Sean McLaughlin and Marucci’s LHP Kyle Twomey, RHP Dustin Cook and RHP Jacob Shempert, but Devall’s championship game performance tipped the scales in his favor.

Second half surge propels Oak Forest
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The 5th ranked Oak Forest Yellow Jackets scored 21 second half points to overcame a first half deficit and take a critical 28-21 District 2-AAA divisional win on the road against East Rankin Friday night. The Jackets have reeled off three straight wins since a week five home loss to Presbyterian and sit atop District 2-AAA with a 2-1 mark and 6-2 overall record.
Oak Forest struck first on Friday night in Pelahatchie when Alex Rimes ran in from one yard out at the 4:10 mark of the first quarter but East Rankin answered with two second quarter touchdowns from Josh Stuart and Jacob Weldon.
Blake Carter’s one yard run halfway through the third quarter tied the game at 14-14 and less than three minutes later the Jackets took the lead at 21-14 when Blake Carter nailed wide-out Drew Misita with an 11 yard touchdown pass with 1:20 remaining in the quarter.
East Rankin struck quickly in the fourth quarter when Jacob Weldon connected with Colby Crotwell for a 74 yard touchdown pass with 11:47 remaining in the game to knot things up at 21-21.
Oak Forest tailback James Peterson broke the 21-21 tie with 3:52 remaining in the game as the senior scored on a 6 yard run. Peterson spent much of the first half of the season with an injured shoulder.
Alex Rimes led the Oak Forest running game as the senior tailback rushed for 115 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Peterson chipped in with 55 yards on 9 carries and a score.
Drew Misita had 4 receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown and Blake Carter went 5/12 for 115 yards passing and a touchdown.
Josh Stuart led East Rankin with 78 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.
Next up for Oak Forest is a road trip to Madison this Friday night to battle the 4-3 MRA Patriots.
East Rankin falls to 2-6 & 0-3 and will host Brookhaven.

#2 ranked North Delta rolls

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Brad Greer

About the only thing missing from North Delta's homecoming Friday night was a pyrotechnic show at the end of the game, but then again it was the Green Wave that provided their own fireworks.
John Cody Dalrymple reeled in four receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns while senior tailback Tres Brasell rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, to lead North Delta to a 61-0 thumping of an out-manned West Memphis Christian squad in a District 1-AA matchup.
With the victory, North Delta inched their way closer to wrapping up the district championship by improving their record to 3-0 and 6-1 overall. West Memphis meanwhile remained winless on the season at 0-6 and 0-3 in district play.
The Green Wave put the game away long before Madison Greenlee was named Homecoming Queen during halftime festivities by jumping out to a 40-0 lead at intermission. Jim Tom Copeland set the tone early for North Delta by returning the opening kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown with Kyle Devazier adding the point after attempt. Copeland later added a 38-yard interception return in the fourth quarter to finish out the scoring.
After West Memphis went three-and-out on their first possession, Green Wave quarterback Bryan Nickle hit a wide-open Dalrymple on a 63-yard touchdown strike with 6:37 remaining in the first quarter to cap off a six-play, 88-yard drive. The senior duo hooked up again the following series as Nickle tossed a 42-yard pass to Dalrymple at the 2:59 mark to increase the lead to 20-0 after Devazier booted the point after.
North Delta tacked on 20 more points in the second period as Brasell scored a touchdown runs of 36,20 and 9 yards. Nickle's punt returns of 23 and 14 yards set up the last two scoring drives. West Memphis could not get anything going offensively as the Black Knights punted six times in the first half and nine of their 13 possessions in the contest.
The second half saw more of the same from the Green Wave as Derrick Shawn's 30-yard punt return to the West Memphis 15 set up North Delta's next touchdown as sophomore Taylor Morris scampered in from 15 yards out on the next play from scrimmage to make the score 47-0 after the first of three Ty Ferguson's successful point after attempts.
Later in the stanza, Will Magee recorded hit of the night as the sophomore made a bone-jarring hit on a West Memphis defender to help spring Shawn on a 49-yard punt return with 8:12 left in the third quarter to make the score 54-0.
North Delta held a 14-3 margin in first downs over West Memphis in the game while finishing with 314 yards of total offense on the night. The Green Wave registered 178 yards on the ground and 136 in the air while limiting the Black Knights to 15 total yards in the contest. West Memphis never crossed midfield in the game.
Morris followed Brasell in rushing for the Green Wave with 47 yards on three carries while Michael Magee added 20 yards on five totes. Nickle finished the evening four-of-five passing for 136 yards. The senior signal-caller has now tossed nine touchdowns on the season for 694 yards and three interceptions.
The Green Wave will now enjoy their second open date of the season this week before returning to action Oct. 22

Lamar on a roll

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Daniel Balint

The Lamar Raiders hit the road for the 2nd time in as many weeks to take on the Hillcrest Christian Cougars. The Cougs were ready to roll as it was senior night in Jackson. Hillcrest entered 0-7, with a 15 game losing streak on the line. Lamar took the ball to begin the game and managed to put a good drive together but was bitten by the turnover bug as Tyler Harris coughed up the ball for the first big break in the game.The Hillcrest offense was stymied all night long, picking up only 2 first downs and only 91 yards of total offense. The Raiders got the scoring started late in the 1st quarter, with :51 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Tyler Harris hit Charlie Nosco on a play action post route. Chuck raced 25 yards to endzone for only his 2nd touchdown of the season. The Tyler Roberts PAT was good and Lamar leads 7-0. Hillcrest was forced 3 and out on the ensuing drive and Harris and company responded with a 10 play 66 yard drive that ended when J.C. McElroy taking the rock in from 3 yards out. Lamar showed a wrinkle in the offense as they put McElroy in the wildcat formation. Another 3 and out from Hillcrest resulted in another McElroy wildcat touchdown run, this from 11 yards out with 5:10 to play in the opening half. After the Raider defense stopped Hillcrest again, Lamar set up and ran the ball deep into Hillcrest territory but a fumble, and the 2nd turnover of the night, gave Hillcrest the ball back. The Cougs could not score before the half, so we go to the locker rooms with Lamar leading 21-0. The Raiders came out un-focused and not ready to play. That quickly changed when Hillcrest picked up a turnover and a 3 and out on Lamar's first 2 offensive possessions. It should be noted that Lamar was without star DE Will Fulton who had an infected elbow, also Coach Mac Barnes gave the teams leading rusher, Michael Marcello the night off offensively.
The 2nd half started with a Cougar fumble on the opening kick. Lamar recovered and cashed in 2 plays later. Harris found a scrambling Dusty Weisner for 19 yards. The extra point was true and Lamar now opens it up to 28-0 with 11:45 to play in the 3rd. Hillcrest could only manage 6 yards on their next drive and was forced to punt. The Lamar offense marched 75 yards in 5 plays to pay-dirt. The drive highlighted by a Dylan Rivers 43 yard catch and run that set up the Raiders inside the red zone. J.C. McElroy got his 3rd touchdown of the game as he caught a 20 yard pass from Tyler Harris. The Raider lead was stretched to 35-0 with 7:11 to go in the 3rd. Hillcrest finally got on the board on their next possession as Sophomore signal caller Malcolm Hopkins hit senior Preston Haynes for a 12 yard score. The Cougs went for 2 and were good, so the score now is Lamar 35 Hillcrest 8. The Cougar drive was highlighted by a Haynes grab that went deep into Lamar's red zone. On the ensuing drive, the Raiders responded and shut the door on Hillcrest. The Raiders went 9 plays and 84 yards, the drive capped by Harris picking up his 4th passing touchdown of the night and Charlie Nosco getting his 2nd receiving touchdown. The Harris to Nosco connection was good for 23 yards. The Roberts PAT was good and the Raider lead was increased to 42-8 with 10:56 to play.On the next possession for Hillcrest,Hopkins was intercepted by freshman Joseph Marcello, who got a lot of offensive snaps and impressed last week. Marcello raced 34 yards the other way for a pick 6. Tyler Robets PAT was again good and the Raiders lead 49-8 with 4:25 to play. The clock rolled, and with 2:54 to play, senior Kevin Nunn for Hillcrest went out with a bang as he returned the ensuing kick 98 yards to the end zone. That's all the points Hillcrest could muster and they went down to the Lamar Raiders, 49-14. The Raiders rolled up 502 yards of offense and held Hillcrest to only 91 yards. Tyler Harris went 18/22 for 258 yards and 4 touchdowns, he also ran the ball for 79 yards on 7 carries. J.C. McElroy had 3 touchdowns, 2 on the ground, 1 via the air. Lamar is an improving team, and if they could cut out the turnovers, could be dangerous come playoff time. Lamar ups its record to 4-3 and will host Winston next week in a critical game for the Raiders. Lamar finishes out the last three weeks of the season with a 3 game gauntlet, vs Winston, vs Simpson and the season finale at Leake.

Trinity halts state’s longest winning streak

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The Trinity Saints had already solidified their standing as the premier football team in class A but after last night Trinity football can now be mentioned amongst the best in the entire MAIS as the Saints beat Class AA top ranked and defending state champion Brookhaven 34-28 in Brookhaven before a packed house. Trinity also halted the state’s longest winning streak at 22 games and now own an MAIS best 14 straight wins dating back to the 2009 season.

(Above) Jennings Mills of Brookhaven (#10) Gets bottled up by Tip McKenzie (#4) and Daniel Dunaway (#35) of Trinity
After battering Class AA and 2nd ranked River Oaks with over 500 yards of total offense last week in a 42-21 win the Saints dialed up 422 yards on top ranked Brookhaven on Friday night. Trinity’s big three, senior quarterback Givonni Dent, senior tailback Kent King and junior wide-out Tip McKenzie, were too much for a Brookhaven defense that was yielding just 14 points a game.
Trinity silenced the Brookhaven crowd quickly as the Saints struck on the first play from scrimmage on a perfectly thrown 68 yard pass from Givonni Dent to Tip McKenzie just 14 seconds into the game. Zach Marshall’s PAT gave the Saints an early 7-0 lead.
Bubba Keene’s 31 yard return on the ensuing kick-off set the Cougars up at their own 47 yard line but Brookhaven’s opening drive stalled following a holding penalty that wiped out a Jennings Mills 21 yard gain down to the Trinity 15 yard line.

(Above) Brookhaven wide-out Bubba Keene (#5) makes a spectacular 29 yard grab in a 3rd quarter Cougar drive
Trinity increased their first quarter lead on their third possession of the night. The Saints rolled 85 yards on 7 plays in just 1:35 to take a 14-0 advantage on a Kent King 2 yard run with 4:52 left in the quarter.
Brookhaven looked to be in jeopardy of getting blown out when Trinity defensive end Logan Sky pressured and stripped Chandler Rogers of the football and rambled to the Cougar 15 yard line at the 3:25 mark of the opening quarter.
Trinity went nowhere fast as the Brookhaven defense bottled up Tip McKenzie for a 9 yard loss and CJ Duckworth sacked Givonni Dent to push the line of scrimmage back to the Brookhaven 28 yard line. Brookhaven regained possession following an incomplete pass to McKenzie in the end-zone on 4th and 23.
Brookhaven mounted their best drive of the opening half with 8:29 remaining. Seven Chandler Rogers completions to four different receivers quickly advanced the Cougars to the Trinity 10 yard line. Following a Bubba Keene two yard gain Brookhaven’s drive stalled when Trinity linebacker Eric James sacked Rogers on a 3rd and 6 to push the Cougars back to the Trinity 23 yard line. Tyler Trout’s 40 yard field goal attempt fell short and Trinity took over at their own 20 yard line.
Trinity’s possession didn’t last long as Brookhaven’s Bailey Hodge picked off Givonni Dent on 1st down at the Saints 33 yard line with just 1:58 remaining in the half.
Brookhaven regained momentum heading into the half as Rogers nailed Jennings Mills with a 21 yard touchdown strike four plays later. The Cougars caught Trinity napping on the PAT as Mills took a quick snap and scampering around the left end for a successful 2-point conversion to trim the deficit to 14-8 with 55 seconds remaining in the half.
Trinity fell just short of regaining the momentum before the end of the half. Facing a 3rd and 10 from their own 39 yard line Dent hit Kent King with a short pass in the flat and King bulldozed his way to the Brookhaven 31 yard line. Dent followed that pass with a hookup to Kevin Brown just inside the Cougar 10 yard line with 10 seconds remaining in the half. Brookhaven’s defense held as Trinity took two shots into the end-zone unsuccessfully to close out the first half with the Saints holding a 14-8 lead.

(Above) Tip McKenzie of Trinity brought down by CJ Duckworth and Jeff Rushing of Brookhaven
Brookhaven took their first lead of the night on the opening possession of the 2nd half. The Cougars produced an 81 yard, 11 play drive that was capped off by a Chandler Rogers keeper from 3 yards out with 3:43 gone in the quarter. Tyler Trout’s PAT gave the Cougars a 15-14 edge.
The huge Brookhaven momentum shift got even larger as the Cougars surprised Trinity with an on-sides kick. Bubba Keene recovered the kick at the Trinity 49 yard line but Brookhaven could only manage a 24 yard Tyler Trout field goal with 6:36 left in the 3rd quarter to extend their lead to 18-14.
The Brookhaven lead didn’t stand long. With Trinity staring at a 2nd and 12 from the Cougar 49 yard line Givonni Dent scrambled to elude immense pressure from the Brookhaven defense and found Tip McKenzie with a 49 yard strike to put the Saints back on top 21-18 following Zack Marshall’s PAT with 4:43 left in the quarter.
In what was shaping up to be a wild 3rd quarter the Cougars answered back. Jennings Mills picked up a quick 21 yards to the Trinity 40 yard line on an option scamper and Bubba Keene made a diving reception of a Rogers pass at the Saints 12 yard line. Two plays later Rogers hit Keene again, this time with a 9 yard touchdown strike at the 2:35 mark of the quarter. Trout’s PAT put Brookhaven back on top 25-21.

(Above) Givonni Dent (#2) gets stopped in his tracks by Brookhaven's CJ Duckworth (#42)
The back and forth continued as Trinity marched into the 4th quarter mounting a drive that appeared to have been slowed with the Saints optioning to roll the dice on a 4th and 4 from the Brookhaven 30 yard line, but an off-sides infraction on Brookhaven set the Saints up with a 1st down at the Cougar 25 yard line. Four plays later Trinity capitalized when Dent hit Kent King with a screen pass and King sliced his way into the end-zone for a 14 yard score. Zach Marshall’s PAT put the Saints on top 28-25 with 10:01 remaining in the game.
Brookhaven answered by quickly advancing to the Trinity 26 yard line in just four plays but the Trinity defense came up with big plays to limit the Cougars to a Tyler Trout 32 yard field goal. Chandler Rogers was sacked by Sky Logan for a loss of 10 yards and Tip McKenzie broke up a Rogers pass attempt in the end-zone to force Brookhaven into a game tying field goal with 6:31 remaining.
The ensuing Brookhaven kick-off went out of bounds but Trinity elected to have the Cougars re-kick and that decision proved to be the most pivotal of the night as Tip McKenzie took in the kick at his 26 yard line, reversed field and jetted 74 yards for what would be the game winning score with 6:16 remaining in the game. Zach Marshall’s PAT attempt went wide right leaving everyone in attendance with speculation as to how the contest may end with Brookhaven’s reputation for late game finishes.
Trinity’s defense stood tall again, highlighted by Eric James’ third sack of Rogers on the night, as they forced the Brookhaven offense into a three and out. Bubba Keene then pinned the Saints back at their own 11 yard line with a beautiful 53 yard punt.
That would be Brookhaven’s last possession as Trinity chewed up the remaining 4:33 of the game. Trinity sealed the deal with a critical 4th and 1 call with 2:06 remaining from their own 35 yard line. Tip McKenzie took a direct snap and busted downfield for 21 yards to the Cougar 44 yard line and Trinity ran out the clock to move to 8-0 on the season.

(Above) Brookhaven wide-out Sidney Chaffin (#8) has a goal line reception broken up in the 4th quarter
Givonni Dent followed up his Southern Sports & Travel Player of the Week performance in last week’s win over River Oaks with another sterling game. The senior was 13/23 passing for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns and picked up 32 yards rushing.
Tip McKenzie turned in another huge game as the junior had 3 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns, 45 yards rushing and 96 return yards including the 74 yard kick-off return for a touchdown.
Trinity picked up 180 yards on the ground led by senior tailback Kent King who accounted for 90 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Trinity senior linebacker Eric James had three sacks on the night and sophomore Logan Sky had a sack and fumble recovery.
Chandler Rogers led Brookhaven with 295 yards on 25/39 passing and two touchdowns.
Bubba Keene took in 10 receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown and senior tailback Jennings Mills rushed for 79 yards and had 8 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Trinity improves to 8-0 and will host Baton Rouge Christian next Thursday night. The Saints have defeated the top two teams in Class AA in back-to-back weeks, a feat possibly one for the record books.
Brookhaven (7-1) suffered their first defeat since a round one playoff loss to Bowling Green in 2008. The Cougars will travel to Pelahatchie next Friday to take on East Rankin.
Post game interviews below........

**Trinity head coach David King

**Trinity senior tailback Kent King

Wayne at Sylva Bay Preview

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Josh Smith

The MAIS District 8-A championship will be on the line Friday night when the Saints of Sylva Bay (7-0) host the Jaguars of Wayne Academy (4-3) in Bay Springs. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.
Wayne Academy comes into this game after a very impressive 35 to 8 victory over previously unbeaten Heidelberg Academy. In that game, junior running back Mackenzie Carney ran for 175 yards on just 11 carries. Carney will need to have a similar performance Friday night. Carney has rushed for 606 yards on 64 carries with 7 touchdowns this season. Carney is expected to carry most of the load for Wayne Academy’s rushing attack, with Tyson Stanley out for a few weeks with a broken foot. Stanley had rushed for 361 yards up until the time of his injury. The Jaguars will look to establish the run on offense with junior quarterback Brett Chancellor at the helm. So far this season, Wayne Academy has averaged 6 pass attempts per game.
For Sylva Bay, it is led by Dandy Dozen all star Cody Prewitt. Prewitt has rushed for 1,316 yards this season and is also the leading tackler on defense. If Prewitt does not have the ball, it could be in the hands of senior running back Zack Gregory. Gregory has rushed for 426 yards this season. Sylva Bay also has a good passing threat with Bryant Baucum. Baucum, a transfer from South Jones has thrown for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2 games as the starting quarterback for Sylva Bay.
Sylva Bay is very good team, I saw them play against Stringer in the first game of the season and Cody Prewitt is extra impressive. Prewitt is nearly impossible to stop, you can really only hope to contain him. In this game, there are three things Wayne Academy must do to win; Wayne must run the ball effectively on offense, not throw interceptions to Prewitt and Tim Sullivan must have a good game on defense. Sullivan is the leading tackler on defense and he needs to have double-digit tackles in this game for Jags to win.
The keys to victory for Sylva Bay will be run the ball with Prewitt and Gregory, stop the run and Baucum must throw the ball effectively and not throw interceptions. Wayne Academy cornerback Blake Pugh has five interceptions this season. Prewitt has seven for Sylva Bay.
In conclusion, the winner of this game will most likely be the district champion. Each team has two district games left after Friday night. Wayne will play Alpha Christian (3-4) and Ben’s Ford (0-6). Sylva Bay will play Prentiss Christian (2-5) and Heidelberg Academy (5-1).
With all of that said, I think it will be good game…………..
Sylva Bay 28
Wayne 21

Girls Softball

Presbyterian - Class AAA State Champions - 23-9-2
Leake - Class AA State Champions - 34-0
Bayou - Class A State Champions - 35-7

Mississippi College Invitational
Choctaw Trails, Clinton, MS
Monday Oct. 4, 2010

Presbyterian Christian Girls and Columbia Academy Boys took home the first place team trophies. PCS Girls dominated their event beating second place Simpson by 64 points. MRA’s Tavin Lovitt took the individual Championship with 12:30.

The boys race was much closer with Columbia Academy placing three runners in the top-10 to beat Jackson Academy by 7 points. CA Sophomore Jon Luke Watts took the lead early and set a blazing pace crossing the 1-mile point at 5:13. With the competition falling further behind, Watts cruised to the finish line in a time of 17:18 finishing 18 seconds ahead of PCS’s Walker Stayer to remain undefeated in MAIS competition.

The next MAIS CC meet will be the Columbia Academy Invitational at 4pm Tuesday Oct. 12 at the Columbia Water Park in Columbia, MS.

Girls results:
Individual Winner - Tavin Lovitt, MRA, 12:30
Team Results: (Top-ten)
1. PCS - 30 Pts.
2. Simpson - 94 Pts.
3. Canton - 101 Pts.
4. Desoto - 121 Pts.
5. Pillow - 146 Pts.
6. Washington - 157 Pts.
7. Trinity - 158 Pts.
8. Jackson Prep - 165 Pts.
9. Jackson Academy - 185 Pts.
10. Christ Covenant - 209 Pts.

Boys Results:
Individual Winner - Jon Luke Watts, Columbia Academy, 17:18
Team Results: (Top-ten)
1. Columbia Academy - 52 Pts.
2. Jackson Academy - 59 Pts.
3. PCS - 68 Pts.
4. Jackson Prep - 124 Pts
5. Chamberlain-Hunt - 145 Pts.
6. Washington - 186 Pts.
7. Lamar Christian - 231 Pts.
8. MRA - 238 Pts.
9. Silliman - 261 Pts.
10. Christ Covenant - 277 Pts.

From the notebook.................

**Girls fast-pitch softball has just crowned champions in all three classes. Presbyterian beat Pillow 4-3 to capture the AAA title, Leake capped off a perfect 34-0 season with an 8-4 win over Silliman for the AA crown and Bayou won their fifth consecutive class A championship.
**Two football milestones were reached recently. Presbyterian’s 41-13 win over Copiah last Friday night not only improved their season mark to 6-1 but it also guaranteed the Bobcat’s first winning season in its’ short history. After spotting the Colonels the first thirteen points of the game Presbyterian stormed back and displayed why they are worthy of their #3 ranking. Hats off to head coach Joey Hawkins and his staff.
Cenla Christian has garnered lots of attention over the past five weeks. Not only are they in the midst of a five game winning streak but under the direction of head coach Kevin Vanek the Lions won their first district game in their short history two weeks ago with a 30-28 win over Glenbrook. What is more impressive is that the Lions have a legitimate shot at finishing the regular season at 7-3 under the direction of a coaching staff whom all have full time jobs away from campus.
**Over the past week Southern Sports & Travel has experienced the highest volume in traffic since its’ conception nearly three years ago. The site will continue to grow, improve and explore partnering with other resources in an effort to provide the most comprehensive coverage of MAIS athletics possible.
**With only four weeks remaining until the playoffs get started penciling in teams in the brackets has begun. Some races are heading to the wire while others are getting clearer each week. Most fans are eagerly awaiting some big matchup possibilities beginning in November.
**Basketball season will get underway soon. Please save my number (985-750-3455) or ask someone to volunteer to text scores during the upcoming season. Preseason rankings will be out the third week of this month.
**This past Friday night we were finally able to work out some issues with reporting football scores. I’m happy to say that by 10 pm all but a handful of MAIS scores were posted on Southern Sports & Travel.
**Many thanks to the schools that have bought sponsorship ads on Southern Sports & Travel. All had been class AA schools until last week when some kind folks at Parklane committed to support the website. Attracting businesses to purchase advertising space has been a challenge but once they discover that approximately 4,000 readers each week see their ad that will change. For sponsorship or business rates call 985-750-3455 or email aafandaman@yahoo.com

Photo of the Week

Sylva Bay senior & Ole Miss signee Cody Prewitt

North Delta wins fifth straight

For Southern Sports & Travel, By Brad Greer

The North Delta Green Wave put their brand new No.5 Academy AA ranking on the line Friday night as they took a trip across the mighty Mississippi River into Arkansas to square off against the Marvell Eagles.
Led by Bryan Nickle and Tres Brasell's two touchdowns each, the Green Wave raced out to a commanding 20-0 halftime lead then cruised home the rest of the way to take a 33-14 victory to improve to 5-1 on the season. Marvell saw their record fall to 4-3 on the year.
The first quarter saw four turnovers as both teams turned the ball over twice each in the first twelve minutes. North Delta coughed up the pigskin on their first possession as Brasell fumbled on the Marvell 37 after a 13-yard gain. After holding the Eagles to three-and-out on their opening drive, Brasell redeemed himself by scoring from 14 yards out to cap off a six-play, 56-yard drive to give the Green Wave a 7-0 lead after Kyle Devazier added the extra point attempt. Following the kickoff, North Delta got the ball back on the very next play from scrimmage as John Cody Dalrymple picked off a Dakota Geisler pass at the Eagle 30-yard line. After a personal foul penalty moved the ball to the Marvell 15, North Delta turned the ball over yet again when Michael Magee was striped of the ball on the Eagle nine-yard line.
The Wave got the ball back on the later in the drive as Will Dunlap pounced on a fumble by Clay Harper at the Marvell 45 with 1:15 left in the quarter.
Six plays later, North Delta capitalized on the turnover as Brasell (photo right) took a toss sweep and raced untouched 32 yards for the score with 11:07 remaining in the half to give North Delta a 13-0 lead after Devazier point after sailed wide right.Brasell finished the night with 12 carries for 93 yards to give the senior tailback 369 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on the season.
North Delta extended their lead to 20-0 with 4:11 left as Nickle finished off a 11-play, 75-yard drive by calling his own number on a 25-yard scoring run with Devazier adding the PAT.
The Green Wave made the most of running only four plays from scrimmage in the third quarter by finding the endzone on two of the plays to extend their lead to 33-0. Following a Eagle punt, Nickle hit Dalrymple on a perfectly-placed 37-yard touchdown pass with 9:12 showing on the clock. North Delta finished out their scoring later in the quarter as Nickle scored again from 25 yards out at the 4:52 mark of the third quarter with Devazier booting the PAT. The drive started on the Eagle 25 after Carson Bailey recovered a Geisler fumble.
Marvell, (4-3), avoided the shutout by scoring on a 34-yard touchdown reception from Geisler to Matthew Box with 37 seconds left in the third period and a one-yard run by Hunter Wilson with 29 seconds remaining in the game.
Taylor Morris followed Nickle and Brasell in the rushing column with seven carries for 23 yards while making six tackles from his linebacker position. Magee added five carries for 42 yards while Catlin McArthur had one carry for one yard. Nickle meanwhile was two-of-seven passing for 45 yards with both of his completions going to Dalrymple. Nickle leads the team with 582 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
Derrick Shawn led the defensive charge with 11 tackles while Sy Pritchard followed with eight stops. Will Reynolds added five tackles while Tyler Toole chipped in with three tackles-for-loss.
North Delta returns home Friday to celebrate homecoming 2010 by hosting West Memphis, (Ark.) in a District 1-AA matchup starting at 7:30