Former SHS standout Smith making impact at Northwest

Freshman linebacker A.J. Smith breaks out the normal football cliches when he says the Northwest Mississippi Community College football team is taking it one game at a time as it climbs the national rankings.

Then there is a footnote.

Ole Miss will try to duplicate success on road

The Ole Miss football team enjoyed its first road trip in Southeastern Conference football play this season.

Now the Rebels are looking to repeat that pleasure.

After upsetting then-No. 2 Alabama two weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, No. 3 Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0 SEC) will be back on the road this weekend to take on No. 25 Florida (4-0, 2-0). Kickoff is set for a 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) in Gainesville, Florida.

Taylor kicks Columbus past DeSoto Central in region opener

Columbus High School football coach Randal Montgomery had a higher level of confidence in sophomore place kicker Chris Taylor after he hit a 36-yard field goal Friday night.

However, for Taylor, the feeling was the opposite.

Reavis says No. 6 EMCC finding its stride

SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College sophomore defensive back C.J. Reavis admits it took a while for him to return to his comfort zone.

Now flourishing as a standout in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College ranks, the Virginia Tech transfer is working overtime to build up the resume for a return to senior college competition. As he grows and develops, the Lions’ defense is coming along for the ride.

A critical goal-line stand swung the momentum for good Saturday in No. 6 EMCC’s 48-24 victory against Itawamba C.C. in a MACJC North Division game played before a capacity Homecoming crowd at Sullivan-Windham Field.

Columbus rallies to top DeSoto Central in region opener

Highly touted Columbus High School junior Kylin Hill stole the show in this battle of star Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 1 running backs.

Higgins brothers team up to lead Itawamba C.C.

In elementary school, when Keyon Higgins was losing a backyard wrestling match to older brother Stanley, he would remember his mother’s advice.

Senior linebacker Kidd leads emerging Columbus defense

Columbus High School senior linebacker Damonta Kidd never has had a laugh he wouldn’t share with a friend.

With a mischievous smile commonplace, Kidd always knows how to have a good time. It is a large part of the reason why he fits in so well on the Falcons’ defense.

Montgomery, Starkville will open region play

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School senior quarterback Montario Montgomery doesn’t care what the Yellow Jackets did in the first four games of the season.

The Yellow Jackets are 3-1 after five weeks, but the real season will start at Friday. That’s when Starkville travel to Jackson to take on Callaway (4-1) at 7 p.m. Newell Field in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A, Region 2 game.

“We know we’ve got to focus now. We know we’ve got to practice harder every day to get better because these are the games that count,” Montgomery said. “Despite the game we loss and despite the games we won, they don’t matter because these seven games are all that matter.”

Walters column: Big games return for West Point football team

Even though the calendar still says September, players and coaches at West Point High School have the extra step this week.

Burroughs, EMCC gearing up for archrival Itawamba C.C.

SCOOBA — Former Aberdeen High School standout Sammie Burroughs is not worried about the role he plays with the East Mississippi Community College football team.

Godley juggles academics, two sports at Jones County J.C.

An average day for Jones County Junior College freshman Michael Godley starts around 6 a.m. and ends around 9:30 p.m.

“Every day is a long day,” Godley said. “It’s a sacrifice, but it is also a love. I really love what I am doing. It’s hard to get started some days and the nights run long, but I wouldn’t trade a thing. It has been a wonderful experience so far.”

Ole Miss wants to keep focus after beating Alabama

Focus.

After recording one of the biggest victories in school history, the No. 3 Ole Miss football team is ready to move ahead. However, the Rebels know focus will be the most important aspect of practice this week.

Ole Miss surged in the national rankings after defeating then-No. 2 Alabama 43-37 in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It was Ole Miss’ first win at Alabama since 1988. Coupled with last season’s 23-17 victory in Oxford, Ole Miss is enjoying victories against Alabama in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.

MSU racks up 647 yards in rout of Northwestern State

STARKVILLE – Gabe Myles was the butt of many jokes by his teammates last season.

West Point defense stymies Noxubee County

MACON — The West Point High School football team is having fun on defense again.

No. 7 EMCC lays down Law in rout of Northeast

BOONEVILLE — East Mississippi Community College sophomore D.J. Law didn’t create the game plan Thursday night.

However, he sure did endorse it.

Behind a strong performance from the offensive line, No. 7 EMCC rushed for 202 yards to run away with a 56-7 victory against Northeast Mississippi C.C. in a Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges North Division game at Tiger Stadium.

With EMCC leading 21-7 at halftime, the game swung decisively when EMCC recovered a NEMCC onside kick to start the second half. From there, the Lions scored four touchdowns in less than 10 minutes.

Prep football: Noxubee hosts West Point in Friday night clash

West Point High School senior Jeffrey Drake knows the performance level of his football team has been below championship standards the last couple of seasons.

Plenty of key games that will affect region races

As we rapidly head to the end of September and the end of non-region play in the prep football ranks, the region races are starting to take shape.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A schools are in region play. Classes 5A and 6A begin next week. Classes 2A, 3A, and 4A will start in October. The Mississippi Association of Independent Schools members also are counting down to the games that determine which teams advance to the playoffs.

With one-third of the regular season complete, let’s preview the big matchup in each region.

Staggers, No. 7 EMCC gearing up for Northeast

SCOOBA — Allenzae Staggers did a little of everything in his All-State career at Wilkinson County High School.

Even now, the East Mississippi Community College sophomore wide receiver is broadening his horizons.

Staggers earned Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Special Teams Player of the Week honors after returning two punts for touchdowns in EMCC’s 69-0 victory against Coahoma C.C. on Thursday night in Scooba.

It was his first action as a kick returner in a football game.

Aberdeen’s Williams learning to be leader at ICC

FULTON — Josh Williams always has been an integral part of his football teams and always has led by example.

Now a freshman at Itawamba Community College, the former Aberdeen High School standout is trying to find a new way to lead.

“This is a totally different game,” Williams said. “It’s unique when you are used to playing and being out there for every snap in a game. As a quarterback, you are naturally the leader. I have always taken pride in being a leader. You can lead even when you aren’t starting. Right now I am trying to take it all in and learn a little more every day. You can still be a leader while you are learning.”

High-scoring Ole Miss knows things will be tougher vs. Alabama

Becoming the first Southeastern Conference football team to score 70 or more points in back-to-back games hasn’t fazed Ole Miss.

Instead, the Rebels are taking their good start in stride.

The first two weeks won’t have any bearing this week when No. 15 Ole Miss (2-0) faces No. 2 Alabama (2-0) in the SEC opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.