Amory beats Caledonia for first victory

AMORY — Forest Williams used something Friday night he didn’t know he had.

When the Amory High School sophomore quarterback broke through the line of scrimmage in the third quarter, he outran the Caledonia High School defense on his way to a 55-yard touchdown.

Passing defense concerns Mississippi State’s Mullen

STARKVILLE — Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt isn’t known for his passing ability.

Yet Nesbitt torched the Mississippi State secondary for 266 yards in leading the Yellow Jackets to a 42-31 victory Saturday night.

Case Keenum, the signal caller at the University of Houston, does have a reputation for throwing the football with success.

On Saturday, Keenum was 51 of 76 for 536 yards and five touchdowns in Houston’s 58-41 loss to Texas-El Paso.

MSU baseball team postpones fall practice for a week

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State was supposed to begin fall baseball practice Friday.

The mounds of dirt and the absence of sod at Dudy Noble Field altered those plans.

As of Thursday, the work to cover the new and improved drainage and irrigation system at the home field of the Bulldogs hadn’t been completed.

Rain motivates Starkville High School football team

STARKVILLE — Some high school football teams hate to practice in the rain.

But the poor weather last week motivated the Starkville High School football team.

Junior linebacker D.J. Jordan said it was hard to explain, but when it started raining the Yellow Jackets worked harder.

“It hyped us up,” Jordan said. “We knew it was going to be wet on Friday, so we just went out and got the job done.”

MSU’s Chaney hopes to make a difference against Georgia Tech

Mississippi State linebacker Jamar Chaney watched helplessly in Starkville last season as Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense dominated the Bulldogs.

Chaney was recovering from a broken leg and didn’t make the trip to Atlanta for MSU’s 38-7 loss.

Things got so bad for the Bulldogs, who surrendered 438 yards rushing, that Chaney turned off the television at halftime.

Mullen incorporated option lessons from Ga. Tech

Georgia Tech doesn’t have a monopoly on the option offense.

There are times when Mississippi State uses the scheme in its spread offense.

Nesbitt leads Georgia tech with toughness, courage

It’s not all about the option game for Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt.

Although he’s a key in what the Yellow Jackets try to do running the triple option primarily out of the wishbone, opponents also know Nesbitt can throw the football.

MSU’s Berry is a hit on and off the field

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State senior quarterback Tyson Lee is glad junior wide receiver Leon Berry joined the Bulldogs.

On the field, Berry is a go-to player in coach Dan Mullen’s spread offense.

Berry is equally valuable off the field because he can grill a pretty good steak.

Lee has dined at Berry’s house and said his steaks are the best he has had in a while.

Sidney’s attorney takes fight to Capitol Hill

Donald Jackson, the attorney for Mississippi State men’s basketball signee Renardo Sidney, has taken his fight to Capitol Hill.

In an attempt to get his client eligible to play for the Bulldogs, Jackson has requested intervention from the United State’s House of Representatives and Senate to investigate a pattern of racially selective conduct by the NCAA Enforcement Staff and Eligibility Center.

Those concerns have been raised as Jackson attempts to clear up Sidney’s status as an amateur athlete.

MSU still trying to find its passing rhythm

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen is still trying to get his team’s passing game where it needs to be after four games.

Through spring practice, offseason workouts, preseason drills and four regular-season games in Mullen’s spread offense, the Bulldogs have yet to click on all cylinders.

Close isn’t good enough for Mississippi State’s Mullen

STARKVILLE — There’s no silver-lining in a loss for Dan Mullen.

Mississippi State’s football coach didn’t see anything as a positive coming out of Saturday’s 30-26 loss to seventh-ranked LSU.

“We didn’t win the game and the most important thing is to win the game for us in the end,” Mullen said on his Sunday teleconference. “We’ve preached competition since the first day, but there’s a winner and a loser. There’s really good things that happen to winners and nothing good happens when you don’t win.”

LSU denies MSU

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State was six inches away from scoring a go-ahead touchdown against the No. 7 team in the country.

With 1 minute, 8 seconds left in Saturday’s game against the LSU Tigers, the Bulldogs were turned away.

Dixon moving up rushing lists

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State senior tailback Anthony Dixon continues to add records to his resume.

Dixon scored 12 points on a pair of touchdown runs Saturday in a 30-26 loss to No. 7 LSU to become the school’s all-time scoring leader with 222 points. He also extended his school record with 33 career touchdowns.

Presbyterian Christian defeats Heritage Academy

Presbyterian Christian quarterback David Roberts likes to throw the football.

But Roberts knew Friday night that the field conditions at Heritage Academy’s C.L. Mitchell Field in Columbus would make that difficult.

Roberts completed only 4 of 10 attempts, but he made up for it with his legs, rushing 13 times for 69 yards to help the Bobcats earn a 20-7 victory on the Patriots’ homecoming.

Starkville football team begins district play without Tillery

STARKVILLE — It still could be a couple of weeks or more before wide receiver Chuck Tillery returns from a broken leg to help Starkville High School football tam’s offense.

Until then, the Yellow Jackets will enter the Class 6A, Region 1, District 2 schedule without him.

Starkville High coach Bill Lee said players like Dennis Thompson, Justin Rogers, Perez Young, and Martavius Foster will have to emerge for tonight’s home game against Desoto Central (7).

Despite an 0-4 start, Lee still sees hope as division play begins. 

MSU focuses on stopping LSU’s running game

The numbers say LSU’s running game is 10th in the Southeastern Conference.

Mississippi State’s defensive players see something different on film.

The Bulldogs are preparing like they are about to face one of the conference’s best running teams. One of their goals is to hold the Tigers below their 163.7 yards per game average when the teams meet at 11:21 a.m. Saturday (WCBI-TV) in a Southeastern Conference game in Starkville.

Mississippi State schedules Southern Miss in football

Mississippi State stresses the importance of scheduling in-state schools in football.

MSU took a huge step in that direction Thursday morning by signing a contract to play Southern Miss.

The schools held a press conference at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson to announce plans to play each other to kick off the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

USM, MSU expected to renew football rivalry

STARKVILLE — A press conference to announce details of a football series between Mississippi State and Southern Miss was scheduled for noon today at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson

MSU President Dr. Mark Keenum and Athletic Director Greg Byrne were expected to be joined by USM President Martha Saunders and Athletic Director Richard Giannini.

Former Amory High standout Johnson working hard at LSU

Dennis Johnson is out a dream.

The former Amory High School defensive lineman could have remained at Itawamba Community College to complete his two years of eligibility, but he saw the opportunity to be a part of the LSU football program.

McPhee, Hutchins play key roles for Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen had one priority when he was hired.

Not long after Mullen took the MSU job on Dec. 10, 2008, he visited defensive lineman Pernell McPhee and punter Heath Hutchins at Itawamba Community College.