Walters column: Top-ranked EMCC finds rival in football

Every team needs a rival.

EMCC earns top spot, will play for national title

The East Mississippi Community College football team was coronated Monday afternoon when it earned the top spot in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll of the regular season.

Two-point conversion lifts No. 1 EMCC to state title

On a day of big plays, East Mississippi Community College sophomore wide receiver Daniel Crowell Jr. made the one that meant a championship.

Bibby makes impact in MSU women’s team’s first win

STARKVILLE — Chloe Bibby has never lacked for confidence on a basketball court.

That confidence came in handy when she decided to leave Australia to play basketball in the United States.

Weatherspoons part of unselfish play in MSU’s opener

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State fans finally got to see the brother tandem of Nick Weatherspoon and Quinndary Weatherspoon together on a basketball court.

Ground game will be key for No. 1 EMCC

Tyrell Price wasn’t concerned about the recent lack of focus on a running game at East Mississippi Community College.

The former Lafayette County High School standout knew the program had a rich tradition of strong running backs. He also had confidence in his ability if given a chance to shine.

Walters column: EMCC offense right on pace entering state championship game

Each season, a lot of critical football news is lost during the offseason shuffle.

CHS abruptly fires head football coach

Columbus High School football coach Randal Montgomery had talked with unbridled enthusiasm about the 2018 season.

Players react to news of Montgomery’s firing

Columbus High School defensive end Josh Gray always knew where he stood with coach Randal Montgomery.

Shock hits after learning about Montgomery’s firing

The phone call came as a shock. The disappointment in the caller’s voice was palpable.

Randal Montgomery had placed the call to pass on the news he no longer was the head football coach at Columbus High School. He said he was out after four seasons because officials with the school district told him “they wanted to go in another direction.”

It remains to be seen what direction that is and who will try to steer the program in that direction.

EMCC back at No. 1 prior to MACJC state title game

A strange thing happened on the way to this weekend’s Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) state championship game: the East Mississippi Community College football team became the nation’s top-ranked team.

At 2 p.m. Saturday at Bobby Franklin Field in Senatobia, No. 1 EMCC (9-1) will face No. 4 Northwest Mississippi C.C. (8-1) in a rematch of last season’s state championship game.

Columbus falls to Hernando in finale

HERNANDO — The Columbus High School football team had a chance.

With 19 seconds left and facing a fourth down, Columbus ran a successful play from earlier in the season. Quarterback Laterius Stowers faked a handoff, rolled to the right and overthrew an open receiver in the end zone.

Running game lifts No. 3 EMCC past No. 6 Jones County J.C. in MACJC semifinal

East Mississippi Community College football coach Buddy Stephens has said a championship team in a pass-happy league still has to have a quality running back.

Sophomore running back Tyrell Price is trying to prove his coach correct.

Walters column: King, Falcons play final game Friday

There was a little fear and anticipation.

No. 3 EMCC opens MACJC playoffs at No. 6 Jones

When East Mississippi Community College football players start filling Twitter with senior college scholarship offers, one knows the end of the season is near.

Columbus keeps fighting in loss to South Panola

BATESVILLE — The Columbus High School football team continues to grind and to show a pulse against a difficult schedule.

Continued offensive improvement and some big plays on defense were the highlights of a 41-7 loss to South Panola on Friday night in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 1 game.

Merritt’s returns provide boost to No. 5 EMCC

RAYMOND — East Mississippi Community College sophomore wide receiver Kirk Merritt took extra notes this week during film study.

Caledonia sets sights on 2018 after season-ending loss

CALEDONIA — Senior lineman Logan Canerdy had a sack on the Caledonia High School football team’s final defensive possession of the season.

Undeterred, Itawamba Agricultural High kept driving. It moved the football until a strip and fumble recovery by sophomore linebacker Kelvin Robinson.

If it felt like a passing of the torch, that would make sense.

Starkville High girls basketball team awarded 2017 title

Starkville High School girls basketball coach Kristie Williams always has strived to be a state championship coach.

Williams never dreamed her first title would come in October.

Walters column: Starkville goes from underdog to state title contender

In his long high school football coaching career, Chris Jones has not walked into many stadiums as an underdog.