Carter scores 39 to lead Starkville past West Point

WEST POINT — Starkville High School senior Keith Harris struggles to find the right word to describe his team.

“We aren’t the underdog because we are No. 1 team in the state,” Harris said. “But coach wants us to play like we are the underdog. That is our mentality. This is a new season, and we are going to have to scrap for everything we get.”

Starkville, the reigning Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state champion, used a 19-2 run to pull away late for a 77-59 victory against West Point in the final game of the season-opening West Point Classic on Saturday night.

Stephens says EMCC could alter recruiting focus

SCOOBA — Life can sometimes deal some harsh realities on the recruiting trail.

East Mississippi Community College football coach Buddy Stephens has heard a little bit of it all from recruits and their parents. When you lead the state’s best program, it goes with the territory.

“When we first got here, nobody thought we were going to win,” Stephens said. “Then we started winning. Then you start recruiting better and the state opens up all of a sudden. When the state opened up, now you are recruiting overall and recruiting tactics change.”

West Point keeps rolling into playoffs

WEST POINT — Two numbers — 50 and 28 — are displayed prominently in the West Point High School locker room.

To the casual observer, the numbers might not stand out. To a West Point defensive player, the back story can be shared rather quickly.

“Coach writes down 50 and 28 just about every day,” West Point senior linebacker Nick Melton said. “Everywhere we go, it is somewhere. It means a lot to us. It is the motivation when things are tough. It’s there when we need to be pushed that one extra mile.”

Columbus wants to build momentum for playoffs

On paper, the Columbus High School football team’s Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 1 matchup against Hernando holds little significance.

Columbus (7-3, 5-1 region) has secured a first-round home playoff game against Warren Central or Clinton when the Class 6A postseason begins Nov. 13. Hernando (7-4, 2-4) will see its season end when the final horn sounds.

For the Falcons, though, this game is a really big deal.

EMCC considers changes after playoff ban

SCOOBA — Winning football games has become the business for East Mississippi Community College.

EMCC won the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship in 2011, 2013, and 2014. The Lions also spent parts of the 2012 and 2015 seasons ranked No. 1 in the nation.

EMCC’s Stephens, administrators speak out against melee at Delta

SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College football coach Buddy Stephens isn’t used to being in this position.

In each of the past seven seasons, the Lions played at least one Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College playoff game.

This past Saturday, EMCC was absent when the playoffs opened statewide despite being ranked as high as No. 1 nationally earlier in the season and third late in the season and after winning the school’s fifth-straight MACJC North Division title.

EMCC players not sure what they were supposed to do in brawl

SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College freshman defensive back Alexander Lipscomb hit the weight room earlier than expected this offseason.

“Just about the next day (after his team’s final game), I was (in the weight room),” said Lipscomb, who was a standout at Columbus High School. “The ending of this season really burned me. I think we all feel that way. Next year, it is on.”

EMCC saw its season cut short after a brawl in its final regular season game against Mississippi Delta C.C. in Moorhead. Leading 48-0 with 59 seconds left in the first half, the game was called after about a 10-minute altercation that included several skirmishes on the Jim Randall Stadium playing surface.

Ole Miss prepares for critical three-game stretch starting with Arkansas

Ole Miss completed its Southeastern Conference road sweep of the State of Alabama with Saturday’s victory over Auburn.

No. 1 South Panola ends No. 10 Columbus’ winning streak

BATESVILLE — The No. 10 Columbus High School football team knew its margin for error was slim Friday night against No. 1 South Panola.

The Falcons then went out and fumbled the opening kickoff anyway.

Columbus fought for four quarters — a trait that has punctuated a five-game region winning streak — but the state’s top-ranked team didn’t need any extra favors in a 35-13 victory in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 1 game at Dunlap Stadium.

Begley set to lead EMCC men

SCOOBA — There won’t be a lot of changes on the court Monday when the East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team opens its season Monday night against Tennessee Prep Academy.

Instead, Billy Begley ushered in a new era with a series of changes in the Lions’ offseason program.

Patterson excited for second season at EMCC

SCOOBA — Ki-Ki Patterson always has enjoyed playing basketball.

However, the East Mississippi Community College sophomore and former Columbus High standout is more excited about this season than previous years because she is finally moving back home.

Tyson Carter chooses to play at MSU

Tyson Carter grew up watching video highlights of his father Greg’s playing days at Mississippi State University.

EMCC falls from No. 3 to No. 10 in latest NJCAA rankings

The hard times continue for the East Mississippi Community College football team.

Columbus finds proper balance on offense during region title run

Columbus High School junior Kylin Hill understands his place on the recruiting landscape in the state of Mississippi.

Walters column: Top 10 showdowns highlight Friday schedule

As we prepare to roll the calendar to November, it appears we will have several story lines from the coverage area we will continue to follow.

Ole Miss hopes good vibrations continue at Auburn

After turning things around Saturday in a 23-3 victory against then-No. 15 Texas A&M, the Ole Miss football team hopes it can continue those positive vibes when it hits the road for another Southeastern Conference game.

No. 19 Ole Miss (6-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) will take on Auburn (4-3, 1-3) at 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.

EMCC banned from playoffs

The Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges has banned the East Mississippi Community College football team from this year’s playoffs following an onfield brawl Thursday.

Senior Night special for Falcons in rout

Columbus High School senior strong safety Tyran Smith had an emotional moment Friday night.

On Senior Night at Falcon Field, Smith capped a sensational effort by his defense with a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown. It was the last of five takeaways for the Columbus High football team in its 46-20 victory against Olive Branch in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 1 game.

Melee stops EMCC’s game at Mississippi Delta

MOORHEAD — Thanks to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges mercy rule, No. 3 East Mississippi Community College has been known for playing quick games.

However, Thursday night took the quickness to a new extreme.

EMCC was leading Mississippi Delta C.C. 48-0 at Jim Randall Stadium and on its way to completing its third-straight perfect run through North Division play. But a fight broke out with less than a minute to go before halftime after EMCC sophomore running back D.J. Law caught a pass and was tackled hard out of bounds. A defender then picked Law up and slammed him back to the ground in front of the Mississippi Delta bench.

Ole Miss will try to regroup vs. Texas A&M

The Ole Miss football team has little time to regroup.

After a disappointing loss to Memphis, No. 24 Ole Miss (5-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) will be back on the field at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) against No. 15 Texas (5-1, 2-1) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford. The Rebels will try to remain in the SEC Western Division race after a 37-34 to the Tigers in Memphis, Tennessee.