Timberwolves’ Poe plays key role in first victory

MABEN — A clogged running lane or a solitary tackler isn’t enough to stand in Josh Poe’s way.

If he wants to get to the end zone, he will find a way.

Such was the dilemma for the West Oktibbeha High School running back Friday night in overtime against Noxapeter.

West Point uses ground game to beat Starkville

STARKVILLE — Black, blue, and green.

If West Point High School football coach Chris Chambless had his way, he would rely on a handful of plays and his offensive line and pound away on opponents.

When you have a stable of running backs and a shifty quarterback, it’s easy to keep the ball on the ground.

On Friday night, West Point used a bruising first-half effort and rolled up 269 yards rushing en route to a 33-13 victory against Starkville.

New Hope softball team wins doubleheader from Quitman

The New Hope High School slow-pitch softball team remains a work in progress.

But if the Lady Trojans play defense like they did Saturday afternoon, they just might get another opportunity to play for another state title.

Even with only three players getting more than one hit on the day, New Hope still earned 1-0 and 5-2 victories against Quitman in a doubleheader at Lady Trojan Field.

Storm gives Heritage soccer team needed break en route to win

STEENS — There are no timeouts in soccer.

The fluidity in the action forces coaches to rely on players to adjust tactics and styles of play in the flow of a match.

Sometimes, though, it doesn’t hurt to receive a little assistance.

Mother Nature provided just the respite the Heritage Academy girls soccer team needed Thursday night.

A stoppage of play due to lightning in the area late in the first half gave the Lady Patriots a chance to regroup.

Noxubee County’s defense never rests

MACON — The defense doesn’t rest at Noxubee County High School.

After losing seven starters to graduation from a unit that played a key role in a run to the Class 4A state title, the Tigers’ 2009 defense is out to show it can build a resume that is even more impressive.

Noxubee County (3-0) is coming off a 28-0 shutout against Murrah last week. The shutout was the Tigers’ second this season. They will try for No. 3 at 7:30 tonight when they to Greenville Weston.

Central Academy makes most of having a bye week

MACON — Ronnie Sciple didn’t plan on having a week off this early in the season.

But after a less than scintillating performance in a season-opening victory against Immanuel Christian, Sciple found plenty for his Central Academy football team to do last week in an off week.

The Vikings will try to implement what they worked on in that off week at 7 tonight when they play host to The Veritas School.

West Lowndes anticipates first test of the season

Bobby Berry hopes to make it two in a row this week.

A week ago, the West Lowndes High School football team went on the road and defeated Class 4A Caledonia.

The Class 2A Panthers improved to 3-0 with the victory and set the stage for this week’s game against Class 3A Philadelphia (3-0).

And while Berry credits Boykin and the Confederates, he believes tonight’s (7:30) home game should be a bigger test against another higher classification opponent.

Heritage Academy engages in battle of undefeated teams

Brad Butler and Mac Barnes agree on one thing: Their teams will face their toughest tests of the season tonight.

The coaches are eager to find out which team’s strength will win out tonight (7) when Heritage Academy (3-0) goes on the road to take on The Lamar School (3-0).

The size and the experience of the Patriots’ line play figures to be a strength Butler’s team will try to exploit against an opponent that has only one player who weighs more than 200 pounds on its defensive line and one two who tip the scales at more than 200 pounds on the offensive line.

Macdonald sees potential for MSU soccer team to continue success

Neil Macdonald knows there aren’t any guarantees in soccer.

But Macdonald has seen plenty of positives and improvement in the first two weekends of the season to believe his Mississippi State women’s soccer team can maintain its success.

The Lady Bulldogs (4-0) will try to continue their winning streak at 7 tonight when they play host to Troy University in their home opener at the MSU Soccer Field

MSU will close the weekend with a 1 p.m. match Sunday against East Tennessee State.

Dimino, Spencer contribute in kicking game for No. 2 EMCC

Phillip Dimino and Brett Spencer are used to battling the stopwatch.

While their East Mississippi Community College teammates face off against 300-pound linemen or blitzing linebackers, time is the toughest adversary for Dimino and Spencer.

When you kick the football in college, one or two tenths of a second can be the difference between getting off a successful punt or converting a field goal or extra point.

Victory Christian’s Ellis chosen Player of the Week

Landon Ellis was a little embarrassed.

The Victory Christian junior was enjoying one of the best games of his career Friday night against New Life Academy, but he felt bad his teammates weren’t getting in on the fun.

Ellis rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Parker Eaves to help the Eagles improve to 2-0.

For his accomplishments, Ellis is The Commercial Dispatch Prep Player of the Week.

Lockhart preserves win for Starkville Academy softball team

MACON — Kylie Lockhart didn’t want to be late.

She also didn’t want to give the Central Academy fast-pitch softball team an opportunity to send Tuesday’s game into extra innings.

So the Starkville Academy center fielder took care of two problems at the same time.

Lockhart’s running catch in right-center field to open the bottom of the seventh inning helped snuff out a potential rally and allowed Starkville Academy to hold on for a 4-3 victory in a non-district game.

EMCC football team ranked No. 2 in the nation

The bull’s eye on the back of the East Mississippi Community College football team grew even bigger Tuesday.

Coming off season-opening victories against Copiah-Lincoln and Jones County, EMCC (2-0) moved up four places to No. 2 in the latest NJCAA/JC Football.com regular-season poll.

The ranking is the program’s highest in National Junior College Athletic Association football in school history.

EMCC, which plays host to Holmes C.C. (0-2) at 7 Thursday night at Sullivan-Windham Field, moved up in the poll after the first four teams lost.

Thrasher helps New Hope go to 2-0

Zak Thrasher looks different.

At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Thrasher appears physically to be the same quarterback who helped lead the New Hope High School football team to the third round of the Class 4A North Half state playoffs.

Starkville sweeps volleyball match from Columbus

Volleyball is a lot more than a recreational sport to Lauren Love and Shay Ashford.

But it takes time to change the culture at schools that don’t have the tradition in sports like volleyball, which is still relatively new in the state of Mississippi.

That challenge doesn’t faze Lauren Love or Shay Ashford.

The first-year coaches both have played sports in college and now are focused on bringing their love for volleyball to Starkville and Columbus high schools.

Heritage, Starkville Academy meet in district opener for both teams

Rivalry games always are intense.

But as much as Heritage Academy football coach Brad Butler is looking forward to tonight’s matchup (7) against Starkville Academy, he is more excited that the game will be the Class AAA, District 1 opener for both teams.

To Butler, that fact is crucial for the Patriots (2-0), who will try to build on the momentum they earned last week in a come-from-behind 13-12 victory at Winston County.

Flu bug affects New Hope’s preparation for Amory game

Coaches can prepare for spread offenses or dart-quick running backs.

They also can devise schemes to frustrate even the strongest pass rush.

But New Hope High School football coach Michael Bradley discovered another opponent this week that is even tougher: Sickness.

The Trojans (1-0) had 24 players miss practice at some point this week as they prepared to take on Amory (0-2) at 7:30 tonight.

The flu bug that is affecting the state played a role in more than 100 students being absent Thursday from New Hope High.

Boykin believes in Confederates going into game with West Lowndes

David Boykin admits his football team doesn’t have anything to gain tonight.

If the Class 4A Caledonia High School Confederates beat the Class 2A West Lowndes Panthers, no one will raise an eyebrow because it is what is expected.

But if the Panthers travel to Caledonia and earn the victory, people will be surprised.

Boykin hopes his players will be ready to prevent that from happening.

West Point’s Carr seeks redemption after loss to Shannon

WEST POINT — Michael Carr doesn’t need a DVD player.

He doesn’t need a remote control for a VCR.

The West Point High School senior has all the pictures and replays he needs in his head.

They’re one he would like to forget.

Carr has had two weeks to relive the memory of Shannon’s 27-20 season-opening victory against West Point.

Return to West Point all business for Columbus coach Davis

The colors he was wearing were different, but it was impossible not to recognize the face.

So as Bubba Davis climbed the bleachers on the home side of West Point High School’s Hamblin Stadium, he stopped to greet multiple well-wishers.

Davis smiled as he talked to the fans who were there on that May evening to watch the spring game between Louisville and West Point.