Starkville’s defense key in victory

STARKVILLE — The Starkville High School football team used a stingy effort from its defense Friday night to beat DeSoto Central 9-3 for its first victory of the season.

Starkville (1-4, 1-0 Class 6A, Region 1, District 2) allowed less than 100 yards total and 1 yard rushing to win the district opener for both teams at Yellow Jacket Field.

Aberdeen throttles Houston

ABERDEEN — The Houston High School football team made a game of it for the first five minutes here Friday in a non-division matchup. But the rest of the night proved to be a long one for the Hilltoppers, as Aberdeen scored 73 unanswered points and rolled to a 73-7 victory at Lester Miley Stadium.

Pickens County shuts out Aliceville

REFORM, Ala. — Pickens County High School football coach Scott Marchant knew it would be important for his team to score early on a sloppy surface at G.S. Spruill Field.

The Tornadoes did just that, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions Friday night to beat county rival Aliceville 13-0.

Hebron Christian softball wins district championship

PHEBA — Cass Tapley was at a loss for words a month ago.

The Hebron Christian fast-pitch softball team had just lost to Heritage Academy 8-1 in a lackluster effort that left Tapley wondering if his players would realize their potential.

Second-quarter spurt sparks New Hope

On most Friday night football games between county rivals New Hope and Caledonia high schools, the stadium exudes excitement and features packed bleachers, the aroma of charcoal grills permeating the air, bands playing fight songs, and cheerleaders keeping the spirit and enthusiasm alive.

The 2009 version of this contest was anything but normal.

Wraggs, Louisville beat Columbus

Louisville High School quarterback Chris Wraggs said his team’s game Friday night against Columbus was exciting because it was sloppy.

Wraggs meant the playing field, as rain delayed the start of the game an hour due to the rain, and continued through the first half.

The field wasn’t the only aspect of the game that was sloppy.

MRA too much for Heritage Academy

MADISON — It’s called “The Blind Side.”

The book has been made into a soon-to-be-released movie about former University of Mississippi left tackle Michael Oher.

The left tackle position is one of the highest paid in the NFL because he protects the quarterback’s blind side.

On Friday night late in the third quarter, Heritage Academy senior quarterback Will Swedenburg had the Patriots on the move trailing Madison-Ridgeland Academy 21-3.

West Lowndes overcomes rain, Wheeler

It is a football game that no West Lowndes player will soon forget.

The Panthers won’t forget their 20-0 victory against Wheeler on Friday night not because there were so many storylines.

Rain forced the school’s homecoming festivities to be moved into the gym. Then, a two-hour rain delay forced West Lowndes and Wheeler to wait it out and to wonder if they would play.

Aberdeen shuts out Okolona

OKOLONA — Despite a 24-0 lead, Aberdeen High School football team offensive coordinator Kris Pickle had a spirited meeting with his offense late in the third quarter Friday night.

Unhappy with his offensive line in particular after three unproductive offensive possessions in the quarter, Pickle didn’t mince words with his charges.

Ragtime, jazz, patriotic tunes to highlight ‘Pops on the Plaza’

The Starkville-Mississippi State University Symphony will be joined Tuesday, Sept. 29, by the city-campus’ Brass Quintet for a performance at the downtown Cadence Bank plaza at the corner of Main and Jackson streets in Starkville.

Children’s writers, illustrators research workshop set

On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Southern Breeze Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) will host local archivist Mona Vance at 1 p.m. at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library for an introduction to primary source research.

MSU invites adults to tickle the ivories

Beginning Monday, Sept. 21, Mississippi State University will offer a limited-member series of 10 adult evening classes on the basics of playing the piano.

Immanuel, Victory Christian seek momentum from wins

Coming off big wins last week, the Immanuel Christian and Victory Christian football teams will try to keep their momentum going tonight.

Immanuel (1-3) will play host to Winona Christian, while Victory Christian (4-0) will play host to Victory Baptist. Both games will start at 7 p.m.

Immanuel coach Shawn Gates, who earned his first career victory as a head coach last week, said everybody on the team, including the coaches, has been doing their part to try to help the team continue its winning ways.

EMCC has win streak snapped by Gulf Coast

SCOOBA –– East Mississippi Community College carried a No. 2 national ranking in the NJCAA/JCfootball.com poll and an undefeated record into Thursday night’s game against rival No. 13 ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.

A soggy field and the threat of rain didn’t deter fans from filling EMCC’s Sullivan-Windham Field for the much-anticipated matchup.

 The Lions seemed to be in gear to continue their winning ways and offensive domination when All-America quarterback Randall Mackey hit wide receiver Lance Lewis in stride for an 80-yard opening play touchdown. With barely 18 seconds elapsed, EMCC led 7-0.

But the lead was short lived as EMCC suffered a 43-26 loss.

Rob Hardy: Everyday life in Joyce’s “Ulysses” analyzed

James Joyce’s “Ulysses” has had two big strikes against its reputation ever since it was published in 1922. One is that it is a dirty book. This is a false and silly charge. Long ago the courts decided that it could be imported into the U.S. because it is not obscene, and anyone looking for stimulation by searching for the “good parts” is in for frustration. The other strike is that it is a difficult book. This charge is more accurate. “Ulysses” is certainly not a novel that is as accessible as “Gone with the Wind,” for instance.

Nettleton gets physical in beating Caledonia

CALEDONIA — The Nettleton High School football team approached its game Friday against Caledonia with a game plan.

Coach Jack Clark knew coming in that the Tigers to wear out the Confederates up front before they could run the football. He said he drilled his team harder on being physical to help his players move the Confederates up front.

The strategy paid off in the third quarter as the Tigers shut down the Confederates’ momentum en route to a 29-7 victory.

Heritage Academy has one of those days against Lamar School

MERIDIAN — Heritage Academy first-year football coach Brad Butler walked up to a fan after Friday night’s game against the Lamar School and said, “Mama said there were going to be days like this.”

Friday night was a day Butler would just as soon forget, as the Patriots suffered a 49-12 thrashing at the hands of top-ranked Lamar School at Grey Cobb Field.

Senior quarterback Witt Haggard and wide receiver Bo Bidgood combined for four touchdown passes to hand the Patriots their first loss in four games this season.

Aberdeen rolls past Amory for A-Trophy

AMORY — There’s nothing like a blowout against a traditional county rival to silence the boo birds.

That was the case here Friday as the Class 3A Aberdeen Bulldogs rolled to an impressive 36-3 victory against the Class 4A Amory Panthers.

Coming off a 10-3 finish a year ago and ranked No. 3 in The Clarion-Ledger Class 3A preseason poll, Bulldog fans had visions of an unbeaten season and the school’s first state championship.

West Lowndes hit by Tornadoes

If the Philadelphia High School football team keeps this up, it might have to change its mascot.

The Tornadoes came to Lowndes County for a battle of undefeated teams, but it felt more like a Category-5 hurricane hit the area after they took a 48-0 halftime lead en route to a 48-16 victory against West Lowndes.

It took Philadelphia (4-0) 18 seconds to find the end zone, as junior Tyriq Patrick returned the opening kickoff 85 yards to give the Tornadoes a 7-0 lead.

Meet me at the fair

It’s fair time! The Columbus Fair is a community event with a long history of showcasing farm and home products. This year’s fair at the Columbus Fairgrounds on Highway 69 South begins Tuesday, Sept.15, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 19. Youth groups such as Future Farmers of America and 4-H Clubs, as well as adult groups in the area, exhibit their handmade or homegrown items which are judged for ribbon placement.