Reddens have plenty of football memories

“Roll Tide, Redden.”

Regardless of which college football team you love, those words have a familiar ring if you live in Columbus or in West Alabama.

That’s because Alan Redden just might be the area’s biggest fan of the University of Alabama.

He holds that title even though he drives a truck for his business, Redden Satellite, that has lettering outlined in blue and orange — the colors or archrival Auburn.

Hinton saw potential in Aberdeen to make title game

Leaders look past the present and to the future.

Marcus Hinton didn’t intend for his Aberdeen High School football career to end last season with a loss to Louisville in the Class 3A North Half State title game.

But as the reality of the Bulldogs’ 41-21 loss to the eventual state champions sunk in, Hinton looked around and saw the potential through a lot of disappointed faces.

He wanted to erase that sentiment and help his teammates re-focus on another goal.

MSU women have plenty to talk about after beating Southern Miss

STARKVILLE — Incomplete.

On paper, the statistics from the Mississippi State women’s basketball team’s 85-52 victory against Southern Miss reflect an impressive evening.

Quinn helps lead Aberdeen’s defense

JACKSON — Decedrick Quinn doesn’t mince words.

As a linebacker on the Aberdeen High School defense, Quinn has watched as opponents have rushed through, around, and over it en route to the end zone.

Quinn vowed his senior year was going to be different.

MSU women will attempt to snap losing streak

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s basketball will see at 7 tonight if has learned its lessons and is ready to move on.

Coach Sharon Fanning-Otis hopes the Lady Bulldogs will be in that position when they take on Southern Miss (3-3) at Humphrey Coliseum.

The game is the first for MSU (4-3) after it went 0-3 last weekend at the 10th annual Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. MSU, which entered the three-day tournament ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25, opened the tournament with a 73-55 loss to then-No. 13 Texas. MSU beat Texas 71-63 last season in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Virges has dominating presence for West Point

JACKSON — As a Junior, it was natural for Curtis Virges’ mother to pick out the nickname “Jun Jun” for her son.

Opponents on the football field likely have a different set of names they call the West Point High School senior defensive lineman.

“The Beast” is one that comes to mind, especially after Virges stood Monday at the front of the conference room in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and towered over teammate and senior running back Xavier Hogan.

Virges usually has that kind of dominating presence on the football field, too.

Tylertown returns to state championship game

JACKSON — Walter Denton hopes to experience a championship feeling this weekend.

Last season, the Tylertown High School football coach left Mississippi Memorial Stadium wondering what could have been.

Tylertown and Louisville played to a virtual statistical dead heat on paper in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A state title game.

But Chris Wraggs’ 11-yard pass to Jordan Christion in the fourth quarter erased a one-point deficit and helped give Louisville a 26-21 victory.

Brandon finds ways to score to lead New Hope to win

Typically, Johnathan Brandon terrorizes defenses with his long-range marksmanship.

A proficient spot-up shooter, the New Hope High School senior guard has a smooth stroke that remains in form well beyond the 3-point arc.

But something felt wrong Tuesday night.

Brandon sensed it in warmups when his shooting touch seemed cold.

But scorers find other ways to beat you.

Brandon shook off the effects a weight lifting session had on his shooting stroke and still scored a team-high 20 points to lead a balanced scoring effort in a 65-57 victory against Caledonia.

Cox helps lead West Point to Class 5A title game

JACKSON — Xavier Hogan had doubts.

After seeing his junior football season at West Point High School end in disappointment with a first-round loss in the Class 4A North Half State playoffs last year, Hogan wanted to make a stand in his final season.

To do that, though, Hogan and his classmates knew the Green Wave needed to find a dependable quarterback.

Ole Miss defense shredded in defeat

STARKVILLE — Gashed. Shredded. Trampled.

Any of those words — and probably a few more would describe the feeling of the University of Mississippi football team defense Saturday after a 41-27 loss to Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl at David Wade Stadium.

Led by sophomore quarterback Chris Relf and senior running back Anthony Dixon, the Bulldogs (5-7, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) rushed for 317 yards against the Rebels (8-4, 4-4), who entered the game as the SEC’s fourth-best team against the run (124.3 yards per game).

Patterson enjoys atmosphere for game, not outcome

STARKVILLE — Pat Patterson enjoyed the setting, but he would have preferred a different outcome.

The former Noxubee County High School standout caught one pass for 17 yards Saturday in the No. 20 University of Mississippi’s 41-27 loss to Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium.

The catch was the 12th of the season for the former Tiger, who said the Egg Bowl game was what he thought it would be.

West Point wins old school

The game plan is simple.

On one side of the football, the West Point High School football team lines up, fires off the line of scrimmage, and dares you to stand in its way.

Its style of play is its brand: West Point football.

On the other side, the Green Wave delight in bringing pressure and flooding to the ball to stop any and all playmakers.

The strategy is straight-forward — old school, if you will — but it has helped West Point control games and dominate opponents.

Cox directs West Point to North State championship

You misjudge Justin Cox at your own peril.

If you don’t think the junior quarterback can beat a defender in a footrace, try him.

If you doubt the first-year starter can make enough passes to wide receiver Michael Carr or tight end Michael Bush to keep defenses honest, pack the box and he will make you pay.

Cox showcased both facets of his game Friday night on the biggest stage of the season to help the West Point High School football team reach an even bigger venue.

Starkville’s Williams ready to tip off pro career

Latavious Williams’ road to the NBA will begin tonight.

The former Starkville High School standout will tip off his professional basketball career at 7 tonight when his NBA D-League Tulsa 66ers play host to the Utah Flash.

Williams was the first of eight players Tulsa selected Nov. 5 in the D-League draft. He went through training camp and scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a preseason loss to the Iowa Energy and is ready to take his first step toward realizing a dream.

West Point offense running on all cylinders

WEST POINT — On paper, Casey Welch knew the West Point High School football team had plenty of weapons to be successful.

But the Green Wave running backs coach wasn’t sure how a mix of senior Xavier Hogan and juniors Lakenderic Thomas and Jacoby Lee was going to fare.

An injury to Hogan early in the season forced the coaches to reshuffle the responsibilities for the running backs, but the Green Wave haven’t broken stride.

Pickens County coach Marchant focuses on goal

REFORM, Ala. — Big plays don’t bother Scott Marchant.

Mistakes don’t faze him, either.

While some coaches like to show their emotions on the sidelines, the Pickens County High School first-year football coach prefers to remain as impassive as possible on the sidelines.

His goal is to set a focused example for his players so they don’t get too high or too low in a game and lose sight of what they have to do on the next play.

Aberdeen travels to Booneville for North State title

This time, Louisville isn’t standing in the way.

The Aberdeen High School football team hopes that proves to be a good omen at 7 tonight when it plays at Booneville in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A North Half State title game.

The Bulldogs (12-2) have won 11 games in a row to get back to the Class 3A North Half State championship game. Louisville defeated Aberdeen 41-21 last season and went on to win its second state title in a row.

Seniors help Trojans develop program

Justin Flye admits he wasn’t very interested in the New Hope High School varsity program as a ninth-grader.

The Trojans weren’t having a lot of success, so it was easy for Flye to come to school Monday not knowing how the varsity team fared Friday.

Pickens County’s defensive line will be put to test

REFORM, Ala. – Tony Easterwood looks down the field at the blank scoreboard.

The numbers on that scoreboard have helped the Pickens County High School football team (12-1) advance to the semifinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A state playoffs.

MSU women will be tested at Paradise Jam

STARKVILLE — The next three days should reveal a lot about the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

After climbing six spots in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 thanks to an impressive home victory against the University of Maryland, the No. 19 Lady Bulldogs will put that ranking to the test in a scenic locale.