Prep football: In West Point, a winning tradition’s roots

Aeris Williams learned the definition of physicality.

Cooke has been bright spot on MSU special teams

STARKVILLE — Logan Cooke was supposed to redshirt as a freshman last season.

The Mississippi State punter didn’t play in the first four games, but regular punter and kicker Devon Bell injured his groin before the Texas A&M game Oct. 3. The injury happened in warmups, so Bell approached Cooke and told him he might have to play. MSU coach Dan Mullen finally decided to go with Cooke over Bell.

Lack of recent offensive success by Missouri does not change MSU’s plan

STARKVILLE — Manny Diaz doesn’t care what the Missouri offense has done in the last three games.

MSU’s Williams learning, growing into bigger role

STARKVILLE — Aeris Williams relied more on athleticism than technique at West Point High School.

Williams was a four-star recruit and a three-year starter for West Point coach Chris Chambless. He was named the Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year in a senior season that saw him rush for 1,697 yards and 21 touchdowns. For his career, Williams rushed for 3,994 yards.

Bell’s big play sparks Starkville

VICKSBURG — When Maleke Bell makes a tackle, he brings everything he has.

Starkville High School’s 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior defensive lineman pursues ball carriers with reckless abandonment. He doesn’t care who it is, where it is, or when it is. He’s trying to make a big play and change the momentum of the game.

Bell accomplished his goal Friday night, forcing a fumble that Nelson Jordan recovered early in the fourth quarter to stop a Warren Central drive. The turnover propelled Starkville to a 28-10 victory in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 2 game at Viking Stadium.

Cohen finds right fit to replace Thompson

STARKVILLE — Early last week, Wes Johnson was preparing for the 2016 college baseball season at Dallas Baptist.

But Johnson’s plans changed Tuesday when he received a phone call from Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen. That’s when the Patriots pitching coach realized he might have to start a new set of preparations for the upcoming season.

Now, instead of working with the Patriots and getting ready for another season in the Missouri Valley Conference, Johnson will have to learn a new staff of pitchers and adjust to life in the Southeastern Conference. That plan was finalized Friday, when Johnson was introduced as MSU’s new pitching coach at a news conference at the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex.

MSU will name Johnson to replace Thompson

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team has found its replacement for Butch Thompson.

A source confirmed Thursday that Dallas Baptist University’s Wes Johnson will be introduced as the team’s new pitching coach at 11:30 a.m. today at a news conference.

MSU football team will start 2016 season with two home games

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team will start the post-Dak Prescott era with two home games.

MSU will open the 2016 season Sept. 3 at home against South Alabama and will face Southeastern Conference rival South Carolina Sept. 10 at Davis Wade Stadium, according to the SEC’s release of all of the 2016 football schedules on Thursday afternoon.

MSU most likely will turn to Nick Fitzgerald and Elijah Staley next season when MSU moves on after losing Prescott to graduation.

After the first two home games, MSU will play Sept. 17 at LSU. Also in September, MSU will play Massachusetts on Sept. 24 at Foxborough, Massachusetts, at Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots.

The Bulldogs’ open week will be Oct. 1.

Starkville begins stretch run to region title

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School football coach Ricky Woods would love to be undefeated right now.

But a season-opening loss to Noxubee County has fueled what his team has done since then.

Starkville will put its eight-game winning streak on the line at 7 tonight when it faces Warren Central in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 2 game.

Prep football: Columbus heads to South Panola for showdown

When Lance Pogue took over the South Panola High School football team, there was no magic formula to sustain the success that had been built in Batesville.

Starkville Academy enjoy depth at running back position

STARKVILLE — When Starkville Academy coach Chase Nicholson looks at his running back group, he smiles.

Hutcherson enjoying bigger role in MSU passing offense

STARKVILLE — Darrion Hutcherson was just thinking about his team when he decided not to redshirt last season.

Depth at guard could be difference for Howland, Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Ben Howland has some talented players, but the position group he is most excited about is guard.

Calhoun’s leadership role growing for MSU football team

STARKVILLE — Taveze Calhoun’s leadership role has increased.

Dietrich won’t replace veteran Thompson as pitching coach

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team’s search for a new pitching coach continues.

A source said Monday that MSU coach John Cohen and Jason Dietrich, an assistant coach at California State University at Fullerton, decided mutually to go in different directions. Dietrich flew to Starkville on Friday and met with Cohen all weekend before leaving Sunday. Although reports surfaced that an offer had been extended and Dietrich turned it down, the source said no offer was made.

SEC honors Prescott for six-touchdown effort

STARKVILLE — Dak Prescott has given the Mississippi State football team some performances it never will forget, but he might have had his best performance Saturday night.

The Southeastern Conference agreed Monday, when they named the senior quarterback its Offensive Player of the Week. It is the fourth time Prescott has won the award in his career, a new school record.

Bowl-eligible MSU will take break before facing Missouri

STARKVILLE — Bowl games have become expected at Mississippi State.

Seventh-year coach Dan Mullen took over the school’s football program in 2009 and finished 5-7 in his first season. Since that season, the Bulldogs have qualified for a school-record six-straight bowl games. MSU earned another bowl appearance Saturday with a 42-16 victory against Kentucky at Davis Wade Stadium.

Dietrich appears to be MSU’s leading candidate to replace Thompson

STARKVILLE — Jason Dietrich has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Butch Thompson as the Mississippi State baseball team’s pitching coach, a source confirmed.

Thompson was hired Thursday as the new head coach at Auburn. He replaces Sonny Galloway, who was fired for cause after two seasons. D1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers reported Dietrich, who has spent the past three seasons at California State University at Fullerton, flew to Starkville on Friday and met with MSU baseball coach John Cohen. Rogers reported a deal was expected to be done.

Work in summer has helped Holloway’s receiving skills

STARKVILLE — Brandon Holloway has never taken a summer off.

The Mississippi State junior running back has worked on his game the last three summers to prepare for the season. In the first two summers, he mainly focused on the running back position, but this summer he decided to focus on his pass catching. It paid off Saturday in MSU’s 42-16 victory against Kentucky at Davis Wade Stadium.

MSU’s defense answers call after first quarter

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team’s defense doesn’t like the first quarter.

The Bulldogs have struggled in the first quarter all season, and it was no different Saturday night against Kentucky. The Wildcats scored a touchdown and made a field goal in the opening quarter to take a 10-7 lead.

But MSU’s defense found its rhythm after the first 15 minutes and delivered a dominating final three quarters that fueled a 42-16 victory at Davis Wade Stadium.