EMCC plays Gulf Coast for state championhip

The timing is right for East Mississippi Community College.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the No. 7 EMCC football team will take on two-time defending state champion and No. 3 Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. for the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) state championship at EMCC’s Sullivan-Windham Field.

If EMCC President Dr. Rick Young’s dream comes true, the Lions would be able to play host to playoff games and future state title games at a new multi-sport stadium on campus.

West Point bids for unbeaten district record

WEST POINT — Tommy Keys and his defensive linemates don’t need an elaborate answer to explain their success.

Like their counterparts on the offensive line, Keys and the rest of the West Point High School defensive linemen have a one-track mind and they explode from there.

“You’ve got to want to first,” Keys said. “Everybody else relies on us because if we get blown back everybody else is going to get blown back.”

Aberdeen ready to make run in playoffs

ABERDEEN — Fred Ward and Channing Ward don’t want people to forget about the Aberdeen High School football team.

At the beginning of the season, the Bulldogs were the talk of the area and the state. Many people thought they were going to run the table and secure an easy road to the Class 3A state title game in Jackson.

An injury to starting quarterback Aaron Andrews played a role in an opening-season loss to Class 6A Columbus and a loss to Class 4A Pontotoc in week three, but the Bulldogs have regrouped and are ready to make their playoff run.

Caledonia soccer team begins rebuilding process

CALEDONIA — Everything came together last season for Morgan Mansfield and the Caledonia High School boys soccer team.

The first-year coach needed time to mold a senior-laden team into form, but things took off when the pieces solidified.

This season, the Confederates will have to find a way to replace six seniors who played key roles in a 14-5 school-best season and a trip to the Class 4A North Half State title game.

Even though Caledonia won’t be as experienced as it was last season, Mansfield is excited about what his team can accomplish this season.

Heritage Academy coach Allsup likes mix on his team

Bruce Allsup likes his mix of players.

Sometimes coaches have the luxury of dealing with senior-laden teams that can adjust to nearly every situation.

Other years, coaches have to take a step back and start fresh with inexperienced squads.

This season, Allsup figures to have a mix of both with his Heritage Academy girls basketball team.

Seniors Madison Ford, Morgan Lott, and Carolina Borland will lead a 12-player team that features four juniors and five sophomores.

Central Academy’s Eaves has game to remember

Everything came together Friday night for Trevor Eaves.

It was motivation enough that Eaves and the Central Academy football team had to face archrival Kemper Academy on Senior Night in their regular-season finale.

The game carried added motivation because Kemper Academy knocked Central Academy out of the playoffs last season.

To make matters even bigger, the Vikings needed a victory to help force a tie atop the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools eight-man District I standings.

Pounders lands record ‘river monster’

Joey Pounders usually is prepared for anything when he is out on the water.

But Pounders was lounging Monday with his feet propped up on his 20-foot pontoon boat enjoying a relaxing afternoon.

A tug on the line of his seven-foot pole changed that.

Victory Christian one win from repeat

A variety of weapons has helped the Victory Christian football team overcome an assortment of obstacles this season.

Like many of the other teams in the state of Mississippi, the Eagles have dealt with enough rain to last five seasons. The rain has left Victory Christian’s home field — as well as many of its opponents’ fields — a soggy mess.

Ole Miss women focused on finishing this season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Renee Ladner wants to make sure her players finish what they start this season.

A year ago, the University of Mississippi women’s basketball team lost eight games by nine points or less. Six of those games, including a one-point loss to perennial power Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., came against Southeastern Conference opponents.

Central Academy to play three-way tiebreaker

Central Academy, Veritas, and Calvary Christian decided to Monday to settle things on the field.

Tied atop Mississippi Association of Independent Schools eight-man District I standings with 4-1 records, the teams had planned to use a coin flip Monday to decide the two teams that would advance to the playoffs.

But the teams instead will play a three-way tiebreaker at 5 p.m. today at East Central Community College to decide which teams will represent the district in the playoffs.

New Hope’s Stillman plays through pain

Toughness and commitment are one to Seth Stillman.

It’s something he thinks about when he is on the field and in pain Friday nights with his “brothers” on the New Hope High School football team.

As difficult as it is for Stillman, a senior linebacker, to describe the intensity of that pain, he is somehow able to compartmentalize that feeling and allow his leadership skills to take over.

At no time did Stillman’s presence on the field mean more than it did on Friday night in New Hope’s game against Hernando at Trojan Field.

MSU’s Richard may miss season again

The Mississippi State women’s basketball team is back in a familiar place.

Unfortunately, it’s a situation Marneshia Richard would have liked to have avoided.

But on Oct. 22 the senior point guard, who missed all of last season recovering from a knee injury, suffered what could be another season-ending knee injury.

Heritage Academy’s Ford finalist for award

Madison Ford’s busy schedule is making national news.

The Heritage Academy senior learned a few weeks ago from classmate Morgan Lamb that she is one of 20 of scholar-athletes from the state of Mississippi who is a finalist for the 2009 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award program.

More than 50,000 seniors applied nationwide and from that group, 10,848 school winners were selected. The 20 Mississippi state finalists were chosen from these winners.

Local athletes compete in New York City Marathon

The Golden Triangle was well represented Sunday at the 40th edition of the New York City Marathon.

Six local athletes competed and finished the 26.2-mile event that featured a field of nearly 44,000 competitors that ran through New York’s five boroughs — Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan.

Columbus’ Brad Atkins and his wife, Melissa, posted the best finishes of any local runners. Brad finished 807th with a time of 2 hours, 58.01 seconds, while Melissa had a personal-best time of 3:56.15.

New Hope outlasts Hernando in overtime

Championship programs are made of this.

The New Hope High School football team still has work to do before it earns a title, but it showed Saturday night it just might have the mettle to be a state contender.

Terrance Dentry scored on a 1-yard plunge on fourth down in overtime and the Trojans’ defense swarmed Brandon Dennis on the final play to seal a 35-27 victory at Trojan Field.

Heritage Academy’s Ledbetter earns All-State honor

A slow course wasn’t enough to prevent McGee Ledbetter from earning All-State honors.

The Heritage Academy junior cross country runner finished fourth Monday with a time of 19 minutes, 3 seconds at the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA boys 5-Kilometer run at the Choctaw Trails course used by Mississippi College.

Starkville Academy’s Joseph MacGown was second in the Class AAA meet with a time of 18:52. Jackson Prep’s Daniel Lang won the race in 18:29.

Noxubee County gets ninth shutout of season

MACON — The Noxubee County High School football team is ready for the postseason.

Judging from the left right side of the scoring column, the defense is primed and raring to go.

The Tigers secured a perfect record in Class 4A, Region 4, District 4 on Thursday night with a 42-0 victory against Caledonia at Tiger Stadium.

West Point can take step toward district title

WEST POINT — It’s all about a mind-set for the West Point High School football team.

While some teams revel in the precision pass routes of a spread offense, the Green Wave prefer the direct approach.

It might not be elaborate, but you better may sure your helmet is on tight because the first thing your defense will see when you play West Point is a fast-charging, hard hitting offensive line that is focused on clearing running lanes.

Miller helps build Noxubee County into power

MACON — The toothpick and straw hat have become his trademarks.

Noxubee County High School football coach M.C. Miller can roll a toothpick in his mouth as he shouts instructions to his players or as he talks to a reporter.

The straw hat usually remains atop his head to cover his graying hair and his salt-and-pepper beard.

Victory Christian offensive linemen have special skills

There is something special about offensive linemen.

Typically, the behemoths up front toil in the trenches to clear paths for darting running backs and scampering quarterbacks and seldom receive any accolades.

There is something even more special about offensive linemen in eight-man football.