Heritage Academy girls beat Starkville Academy

Sarah Curtis admits there were distractions the last time the Heritage Academy girls soccer team faced its archrival Starkville Academy.

Malebranche anchors stingy defense for MSU women’s soccer

STARKVILLE — Stress is part of Kristen Malebranche’s job.

Archer, Miller lead Volunteer defense that remains stingy

STARKVILLE — The Starkville Academy football team’s defense is on a championship pace.

Karnley, Bulldogs face Louisiana Tech today

STARKVILLE — Hope never has been an idle feeling for Monigo Karnley.

Noxubee County drops matchup with Class 6A foe Meridian

MACON — Kyziah Pruitt broke the post-game huddle and walked back toward the center of the field.

West Point gets back to work to start new streak

WEST POINT

Chris Chambless doesn’t believe in wasting time.

Noxubee County working its way back to better health

MACON — A “next-man-up mentality” isn’t new in football circles.

West Point making do without athletic trainer

Chris Chambless already has a laundry list of things to do.

Oak Hill Academy will try to bounce back in district opener

WEST POINT — Chris Craven wants every member of the Oak Hill Academy football team to be confident.

Volunteers shake off latest adversity to improve to 3-0

STARKVILLE — The pictures and plaques on the left and right walls of the Starkville Academy field house take you through the years and the successes of the football program.

Patriots’ Smith using his size to his advantage

Le’Veon Bell, Leonard Fournette, and Todd Gurley make up a formidable group.

High-pressure approach working for MSU women’s soccer team

STARKVILLE — Courtney Robicheaux wasn’t agitated.

The Mississippi State senior defender merely wanted to make a point. It didn’t matter that there was 1 minute, 7 seconds remaining in the first half and her team was leading Austin Peay 2-0.

McGillivary scores two goals to push MSU women’s soccer team to 6-0

STARKVILLE — Intimidated isn’t a word you would expect Zakirah McGillivary to use to describe her mentality.

Columbus’ Black grew into All-American at MSU

Bob Tyler has seen a lot of football players in his coaching career.

Athletes the caliber of Stan Black don’t come along too often, which is why Tyler, who at the time was the football coach at Mississippi State, was eager to visit Heritage Academy in Columbus to watch Black play.

Black touched many lives off the field

Football was only part of Stan Black’s life.

While being an All-American at Mississippi State and going on to play professional football in the NFL earned Black fame throughout the nation, those who knew the former Columbus resident remember him as a “humble” man who never allowed his athletic accomplishments to change his personality.

Soccer continues to motivate MSU’s Huckaby

STARKVILLE — Soccer has been a source of motivation for Jen Huckaby for as long as she can remember.

Growing up, Huckaby was encouraged to finish what she started, so soccer served as the proverbial carrot that drove her to reach her black belt in Taekwondo.

Oak Hill Academy hopes to learn lessons from first loss

WEST POINT — You could sense the determination every time Ethan Bryan pumped his legs.

The Oak Hill Academy senior running stood a Tunica Academy tackler up inside the 5-yard line and kept driving for the goal line. His push for the Raiders’ first score of the evening ended 1 yard short of pay dirt.

Nicholson, Volunteers building trust with Lewis

Patience is everything.

It can be natural for a coach to see a player’s inexperience and think a rigid plan or limited options is the best way to go.

Chase Nicholson prefers a different approach. It comes from years of dealing with quarterbacks and building a trust that leads to a coach and a player eventually thinking the same thing.

New Hope’s Vogel back on soccer field at The W

Samantha Vogel thought she was done.

Starkville Academy risks undefeated start in state championship game rematch

STARKVILLE — Hang out around Chase Nicholson and you’re bound to hear a few impersonations.