Shorter smiling again as Tigers try to clinch district title

MACON — It’s great to see Tyrone Shorter smile again.

Region play has a way of generating good spirits for the Noxubee County High School football coach.

Heritage Academy focused on bounce-back effort

It’s time to bounce back.

Sean Harrison was ready to do that 20 minutes after the Starkville Academy football team rallied to beta his Heritage Academy squad 17-14 on Friday night at C.L. Mitchell Field. The victory put Starkville Academy in a position where it can clinch the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA, District 2 title tonight with a victory against Leake Academy in Starkville.

Oak Hill Academy will go on road to try to win district title

WEST POINT — Chris Craven is old school.

If football coaches still watched game film or used videotapes to watch highlights of games, Craven likely would wear out the rewind switch on the projector or the back button on his remote. These days, Craven usually spends his spare time parked in front of a

computer with his fingers peppering the back space button and the mouse to review games that have been posted to Hudl, a program that allows coaches to review and analyze games.

Starkville Academy will try to clinch district title

STARKVILLE — Chase Nicholson won’t be in a hurry today.

The Starkville Academy football coach will begin his Thursday like every other day. He’ll drink plenty of coffee and sweet tea to start the day. Nicholson will have lunch with some of the other coaches at the school and then he will prepare for another practice that will include a lot of the same things the Volunteers do every week.

Brooks leads Caledonia back to playoffs

CALEDONIA — Samantha Brooks has to think for a few seconds.

Now in her 11th season as coach of the Caledonia High School volleyball team, Brooks needs a moment to reflect back on her first season as coach at the school. Brooks said earlier this year she had “some of the best times of my life” when she played volleyball at the Mississippi University for Women from 1996-2000, so she understands the role coaches can play in creating lifelong memories and opportunities for their student-athletes.

Calvert fuels West Point’s ground assault

WEST POINT — Chris Calvert isn’t into bragging rights.

That doesn’t mean the West Point High School senior running back doesn’t enjoy a little friendly competition with backfield mates and classmates Marcus Murphy and Nate Montgomery.

Caledonia opens volleyball playoffs at New Albany

CALEDONIA — It’s OK. Go ahead.

If members of the Caledonia High School volleyball team can say they’re short and their overall height leaves a little be desired, what’s stopping you from joining in and calling the Lady Confederates short, too?

Collier, Victory Christian end regular season on positive note

Variety is Kenny Collier’s specialty.

Carlyle wants Falcons to believe hype entering for 2017-18 season

Believe the hype.

Anthony Carlyle is accustomed to the noise that accompanies events like Purple Madness, the season-opening spectacle for the Columbus High School basketball teams.

MSU women make history before playing a minute

The Mississippi State women’s basketball team will make history today before it plays a minute in the 2017-18 season.

That news shouldn’t be surprising given MSU advanced to the national title game last season in its first appearance in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

Fields helps push New Hope into playoffs

Kyree Fields hoped Friday was the night.

After limping off the field after making a catch against Caledonia on Sept. 22, Fields did everything he could in the next two weeks to rehabilitate his sprained left ankle. Still, he wasn’t sure if he would be at 100 percent last week against Leake Central.

Richardson’s touchdown catch lifts Volunteers past Patriots

Noah Methvin walked toward the Heritage Academy sideline and shook his head.

The Starkville Academy quarterback could have screamed in frustration. Methvin could have put his head down. Instead, the senior told himself he needed to do better after short-hopping a throw to Brady Richardson on second down, regrouped, and headed back to the huddle.

Faver, Wolfe fit Vols’ team-first mold

STARKVILLE — Nicknames are a part of nearly every team.

Whether it’s the players of the coaches that come up with them, the playful names often stick and become another part of someone’s given name.

Gray, Griffin play dual-threat roles for Patriots

If Dontae Gray isn’t careful, he is going to come up with a new statistic to chart on Friday nights.

In addition to quarterback hurries, pass breakups, and third-down conversions, high school football coaches routinely keep track of pancake blocks. The eye-catching maneuvers usually are reserved for offensive linemen, who often receive limited glory for their work in the trenches.

West Point, Oak Hill Academy re-focused for this week

WEST POINT — Re-focusing is something the West Point High School football team is used to doing.

This week, West Point and Oak Hill Academy will need to raise their intensity levels to meet similar challenges.

Heritage Academy will play host to Starkville Academy for district title

This one has been circled on the calendar since February.

The Starkville Academy and Heritage Academy football teams have recognized the importance of Friday, Oct. 13, for a long time. But neither squad has allowed the potential ramifications of that date to distract it from its business, which is why both teams enter their Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA, District 2 game at 7 p.m. Friday at C.L. Mitchell Field with a chance to win a district title.

Players of Week: Parker, Meek lead CCA to first victory

Nate Parker admits he wasn’t used to getting as hit as much as he did in the Columbus Christian Academy football team’s first five games.

Columbus prepared to face reigning champion Neshoba Central

Eric Thornton doesn’t anticipate his Columbus High School slow-pitch softball team to be fazed by the prospects of facing five-time state champion Neshoba Central at 5 p.m. today in the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class III State tournament.

Park Place Christian Academy beats Starkville Academy for Division III title

STARKVILLE — Sybil Roberson is used to attracting attention.

Roberson’s speed and technical ability usually mean she sees multiple defenders trying to mark her or slow her down when she is attacking the goal.

The Starkville Academy girls soccer team learned Monday defending Roberson is quite a challenge.

Pruitt helps Noxubee County put away Louisville in rivalry game

MACON — Kyziah Pruitt didn’t mind the extra duty Friday night.