Articles by Scott Walters
Johnson ready to make most of second chance at EMCC
Last August, De’Andre Johnson had a critical decision to make.
Beckom grows into leadership role for Columbus High football team
Veteran football coaches may downplay expectations for a standout player.
Columbus High School football coach Randal Montgomery goes the other way with senior cornerback/strong safety Derrick Beckom.
Hill ready to make run at state championship with Columbus
Columbus High School senior Kylin Hill feels good about his future after giving a verbal commitment to Mississippi State earlier this summer.
Murphy, West Point set high goals for 2016 season
WEST POINT – West Point junior Marcus Murphy considers himself a quick study.
Bradberry enjoys returning home to EMCC
SCOOBA – After leading East Mississippi Community College to its first National Junior College Athletic Association football national championship in 2011, coach Buddy Stephens called himself a “junior college lifer.”
Starkville Academy ready to build on last season’s success
STARKVILLE – Starkville Academy second-year football coach Chase Nicholson does not want to use the term “inexperienced” in connection with his team.
Columbus High’s Sykes commits to Southern Mississippi
When the going was tough at Southern Mississippi Elite Camp, Columbus High School senior defensive end Tahj Sykes needed a push.
“I was ready to tap out because my thighs had given out,” Sykes said. “My dad (Timothy) told me I couldn’t quit then. He told me I had come too far to quit halfway through (the camp). He really pushed me to finish the day. I am glad he did.”
Netflix series will shine on EMCC
In his first eight seasons as coach of the East Mississippi Community College football program, there is little question Buddy Stephens has created a national image.
The Lions have won three National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championships and made headlines on and off the field.
Even still, the program has found new platitudes to explore.
EMCC football faces challenging schedule in 2016
For the East Mississippi Community College football team, the challenges will come early and often this season.
Walters column: Finishing off another set of prep football questions
Teams are now gathering for photo shoots.
Running backs have chance to shine for EMCC
All Jacquez Horsley wants is a chance.
After suffering a series of injuries at Starkville High School, Horsley has waited patiently for that breakout season and, more importantly, a season of good health.
With a senior college future to plan, Horsley feels the time is right for that breakout season. It could start Sept. 1 when East Mississippi Community College takes on Jones Junior College.
Coaches excited to kick season off at jamboree
When the Noxubee County High School football team played in the 2014 New Hope Jamboree, coach Tyrone Shorter challenged his team to make sure its preseason game and last game were played in the same venue.
For the sixth time in seven seasons, Mississippi State will play host to the event, which showcases several area teams in their first live action of the season. In 2014, Noxubee County played in the jamboree. Four months later, it returned to MSU to win the first of back-to-back Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A State championships.
All-Area Baseball: Griffin earns player of year honors
STARKVILLE – For Starkville Academy’s Caleb Griffin, the high point and low point of his senior baseball season came against the same opponent on the same field.
Former Starkville HIgh standout Brown signs contract with Padres
STARKVILLE — Former Starkville High School baseball and football standout A.J. Brown added to his workload Friday.
EMCC earns lofty preseason national rankings again
If national publications are correct, it will be business as usual for the East Mississippi Community College football team this season.
Plenty of questions loom for start of prep football season
As we look toward the end of July, it is time to think about back to school sales and the return of the prep football season.
Once again, the Mississippi High School Activities Association and Mississippi Association of Independent Schools feel the need to start the football season with jamboree games on the weekend of Aug. 12-13. Hopefully, we will soon skip the summer and start the season in late June.
That being said, players have been hitting the weight room hard and it is time for coaches to put their practice plans together for their two-a-day workouts.
