Meridian Star 2011 Football Tab by The Meridian Star

2011 Football Preview

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Fight for Survival MERIDIAN STAR THE

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Enterprise High School dominated on the field in 1986, even as questions circled off it about the viability of their school.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

A lesson in surviving — and thriving The ground Thunders beneath our feet, For we our proud to serve our fleet our heads held high as we walk by “The Bulldogs Number One!” we will cry Our pride is strong our faith is true For we know the task we’ve trained to do our school to defend, our enemies to defeat These are the goals we’ve sworn to meet This team we love and hold so dear Jamie Wachter sports but to our foes we show no fear editor and if in battle our game we lose “DEFEAT” — not "SURRENDER” is what we choose We’ll fight to the end under any condition. To uphold Enterprise Bulldogs well-known tradition. — Enterprise creed

submitted photo

Enterprise’s Carl Murray, Larell Green and Kip Murray hold the South State and state championship trophies aloft after the Bulldogs defeated Noxapater.

Never has that creed or motto been more evident than with the 1986 Enterprise Bulldogs. While they had ever ything needed on the field — great coaching, a little size, speed, and seeing as how it is an Enterprise football team, more than enough toughness — to be champions, those Bulldogs had to overcome obstacles off the field. That is where those Bulldogs — and the rest of the Enterprise community — lived those words. Mired in a seemingly never-ending web of lawsuits, the Enterprise School District was fighting for sur vival. It was fighting to keep its high school open. The entire community — football players and coaches included — were well aware of the fight going on off the field.

But their pride was strong, their faith was true. They showed no fear, and had they lost, it would have been through defeat, definitely not surrender. They did fight — through court battle after court battle — to the end. An end that resuled in federal court keeping the school open. Sports and the lessons they teach really can translate to successes off the field, or off the court. That fight, grit and determination that the Bulldogs have used to win for 80-plus years on the football field translated to a win in the courtroom. They really are traits that come in handy, not just on the gridiron. But those same characteristics were at play on the field. With the controversy circling around, those Bulldogs didn’t give up, didn’t surrender. Instead they rallied. And won. And won, all 13 games and a state title in 1986. And all 13 games and a state title in 1987. There was no obstacle going to stop them. There was no road block that couldn’t be passed. It’s something ever y team will encounter. Those that find the solution, go on to find success, whether it’s just a winning season and playoff berth, or whether it leads to holding a championship trophy aloft. Those that are unable to circumvent the issues presented, find themselves at home early, struggling through a disappointing year. That creed — and the way Enterprise enacted it, lived it on the field in 1986 — is something any team could follow when the football finally takes flight Friday night (or tonight for Clarkdale and Southeast Lauderdale). Which teams will live that fight this season? We’re about to find out.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1986 Enterprise High Bulldogs

Pg. 3

Meridian High

Pg. 6 Pg. 8

• Richmond wants to build family with Bulldogs

Northeast Lauderdale

Pg. 10

Southeast Lauderdale

Pg. 12 Pg. 14

Lamar

Pg. 16 Pg. 18

Calvary Christian

Pg. 20

Enterprise

Pg. 21

Quitman

Pg. 22

Newton

Pg. 23

• Tigers aim to elevate game along with class

Newton County Academy

Pg. 24 Pg. 25 Pg. 26

• Tide working on to-do list amid hype

Pg. 46

• Bulldogs look to rally around embattled coach

Kentucky

Pg. 47

• Wildcats ready for season after overhaul work

South Carolina

Pg. 47

• Spurrier finally feels good about Gamecocks

Tennessee

Pg. 48

• Dooley expects more out of young Volunteers

Vanderbilt

Pg. 49

• Improved FSU could boost reputation

Pg. 50

• Conference gets offensive — in a good way

Pg. 43

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• Ohio St., Michigan no favorites

Big 12 • Oklahoma’s expectations unchanged

Pg. 42

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Pg. 48

• Franklin’s confidence rubbing off on ’Dores

Big Ten

• Devils looking for wins in Morgan’s second year

Alabama

• Cougars eye balanced spread attack

Kemper Academy

Georgia

Pg. 40 Pg. 41

Pg. 46

• Brantley’s development key for Gators

Big East

• Confident Spears takes over Braves

Mississippi Valley State

• Speedy Generals look to run to title

Newton County

Alcorn State

Florida

Pg. 39

• Big expectations for Tigers, Therriault

Pg. 45

• Tigers envision another BCS title in Big Easy

ACC

• Golden Eagles target C-USA title

Pg. 45

• Strong senior class lifts Razorbacks’ goals

Pg. 38

• Bulldogs have no issues with high hopes

Jackson State

• Young Panthers will lean on defense

Pg. 37

• Rebels aim to surprise in SEC

Southern Miss

• Hard-nosed Bulldogs stick with plan

Pg. 35

• Warriors looking for good things

Mississippi State

• Cougars look to bounce back

Pg. 32

• New home, same goals for Lions

Ole Miss

• Warriors taking move to 8-Man in stride

Pg. 31

• Tornadoes look to get over hump

East Central Community College

• Depth a main concern for Raiders

Russell Christian

• ’Jackets depending on backfield newcomers

East Mississippi Community College

• Knights hungry heading into new season

Pg. 30

Pg. 44

• Tigers hoping to overcome big roster losses

LSU Pg. 29

• Rockets hope for health, trip back to playoffs

Philadelphia

• Tigers have raised expectations

West Lauderdale

Auburn Arkansas

Pg. 28

• Confident Warriors hope to build off ’10

Neshoba Central Union

• Trojans look to finish in 2011

Pg. 27

• Wildcats ‘ready to move past’ 2010

Choctaw Central

• Inexperienced Wildcats learning on the go

Clarkdale

• Rams have undergone transformation after title

Kemper County

• Bulldogs won on the field, in court in ’86

Pac-12

Pg. 53

• Expanded conference has big ambitions

Conference USA • Elite QBs lead C-USA favorites

Pg. 54

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THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

1986 ENTERPRISE BULLDOGS

Bulldogs won on the field, in court in ’86 By Jamie Wachter jwachter@themeridianstar.com

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There was no way Enterprise was going to lose. It didn’t matter that the Bulldogs trailed at halftime for the first time all season. It didn’t matter that Enterprise’s unbeaten season was on the line, as well as a trip to the Class A playoffs. Nope, there was no way Enterprise was going to lose. “At halftime, the kids kept saying, ‘We aren’t going to lose,’” then-Enterprise coach Jud Gartman recalled. “As we walked down those steps to go on the field, you could sense it.” And those Bulldogs didn’t. Showing the grit and determination that is synonomous with Enterprise football, the Bulldogs partially blocked a punt in the closing minutes to set up the go-ahead

score. Enterprise 12, Mize 7. “We were able to block a punt,” Gartman said. “That was it.” And from there, it was clear sailing for Enterprise, which finished the year 13-0 and Class !A champions, the first South team to win the small-school title. In their playoff run to the title, the Bulldogs’ closest game was a 21-0 domination of Decatur in the first round. Following that, Enterprise hammered Utica 34-6, dismantled William Winans 40-0 to win South State and then whipped previously unbeaten Noxapater 28-0 for the title. “We had went down to Mount Olive my freshman year and got beat, and then that next year both Mount Olive and Mize had to come to Enterprise,” linebacker Scott Sisson recalled. “We kind of took it to heart and basically just said, ‘This isn’t

See COVER on page 4

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submitted photo

Enterprise coach Jud Gartman led the Bulldogs to undefeated state championships in 1986 (Class 1A) and 1987 (Class 2A). Gartman is an Enterprise alum.

1986 ENTERPRISE BULLDOGS

going to happen.’ “There were a lot of strong-willed personalities on that team. Basically throughout my high school career going from ninth grade all the way through my senior year, there was a lot of strong-willed guys. And we took it to heart, especially when it comes to Enterprise.” The playoffs were just more of the same for Enterprise, which outscored its opponents 403-65 on the year. The only game closer than 20 points was the escape against Mize. While Enterprise was rolling through the opposition, it was based on a complete team concept. The Bulldogs rushed for 2,933 yards in running to the title. Still, there wasn’t a single player with 1,000 yards. Tim Miller, who transferred the year before from Quitman, led the way with 742 yards as a junior. Reggie McGee added 694 and Vic McNair churned out 673. Larell Green also topped 500 yards. That well-rounded backfield came in handy when Miller, who would sign with Southern Miss, got ejected in the first half for throwing, according to the official, a flagrant elbow. In his place, McNair stepped in and rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown. “We could have easily frozen up that game,” Gartman said of the championship. “It was our first time there, it was our first chance to have a state championship in anything. “There was a lot of pride within that school.”

It wasn’t always that easy at Enterprise, not even for Gartman, an EHS alum. Returning to take over the reins of the Bulldogs in 1980, Gartman’s first three teams went a combined 6-23-1. In 1983, though, Enterprise improved to 6-4 and then it took off. In 1984, Enterprise went 10-2 and won the Division 5-2A title and the Bulldogs were 10-0 in 1985 before falling to Mt. Olive in the Division 5-1A subdivision title game. Those successes laid the foundation. “It didn’t just start then,” Gartman said. “In 1984 we played for South State in Class 2A, and lost by a score to Bassfield. The next week they won state 38-0. That’s when our guys realized they could get there. 1984 kind of got it started, really. “A lot of folks think it’s Xs and Os, but really it’s about the Jimmie’s and Joe’s. I went back because I played there. I knew a lot of teams that could have contended over the years, but it was before playoffs existed. I knew a lot of the parents, and I knew as a coach that if I was going to win a championship, I thought it was my best shot at it. “After year three, you could start to see it coming together — but there was a lot of heat on me, a lot of grumbling — but the attitude was changing and the numbers were getting there, too.” And the Bulldogs didn’t just stop there, either. Despite moving back up to Class 2A in 1987, Enterprise kept on winning, again finishing 13-0 with another state championship. “In the years prior to that, you could see a foundation being built,” Sisson said. “The

Building something special

See COVER on page 5

COVER from page 3

GAME-BY-GAME LOOK AT THE 1986 EHS BULLDOGS Game 1 Enterprise 27, Union 7 Big plays and a stifling defensive effort led the Bulldogs past the visiting Yellowjackets. Senior Larell Green scored on his only two carries — 39 and 45 yards — and Reggie McGee added a 40-yard touchdown run. Enterprise’s defense, meanwhile held Union to 129 yards of offense and just one pass completion.

Game 2 Enterprise 31, Clarkdale 0 Enterprise scored 25 points in the first quarter to ease past their rival Bulldogs. McGee caught a 28-yard pass from Richard White and then scored on a 51-yard run. Tim Miller had a 27-yard scoring run and James Williams scored from 31 yards out. Danny May tacked on a score in the fourth quarter from 34 yards.

Game 3 Enterprise 34, Stringer 0 Enterprise, which pitched its second straight shutout, jumped ahead early on a 3-yard score from Miller. However, the Bulldogs broke it open with third quarter scores from Victor McNair (34yard run), McGee (54-yard pass from White) and White (1-yard sneak). Scott Sisson racked up 20 tackles to lead the defense.

Game 4 Enterprise 28, Mount Olive 6 The Bulldogs avenged their lone loss from 1985 with an inspired first half. Jumping ahead of visiting Mount Olive, Enterprise scored on an 11-yard run from Green, a 3-yard run from Miller, a 40-yard interception return from McNair and a 2-yard run from Miller.

Game 5 Enterprise 47, Hickory 13 McGee scored on a kickoff return and rushed for another touchdown as five Bulldogs scored in the rout. In addition McGee’s 86-yard return score and 38-yard scoring run, Enterprise scored on a 52-yard interception return from Charles Goodwin, a 15-yard run from Miller, a 10-yard run from White and a 21-yard run from Sisson.

Game 6 Enterprise 28, Clara 7 McGee and Miller combined for 232 yards rushing as the Bulldogs jumped on top of visiting Clara 14-0 in the first quarter (scoring runs from McNair and Green). Reggie Williams added a touchdown in the second quarter and Miller later scored from 9 yards out.

Game 7

submitted photo

Enterprise’s Vic McNair runs against Decatur in the first round of the Class A state playoffs. McNair was one of four Bulldogs that rushed for more than 500 yards during the championship season.

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Enterprise 33, Beulah Hubbard 6 McGee got the Bulldogs started on the right foot when he returned the opening kickoff 90 yards to get the blowout started. He later added touchdown runs of 15 and 64 yards, while Miller added a 1-yard plunge and McNair scored from 1 yard out.

Game 8

Enterprise 40, Beat Four 13 Ranked No. 3 in the Little Ten poll, Enterprise was in for a challenge from the Tigers for awhile. Leading just 12-7, the Bulldogs used an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Green to break it open. McNair, McGee and White then all tacked on scores.

Game 9 Enterprise 12, Mize 7 In their toughest game of the year, the Bulldogs wrapped up the division title with a comeback win. Trailing in the second half for the first time, Enterprise used a blocked punt with 2 1/2 minutes left to catch fire. McGee got a piece of the punt on fourth-and-15 from the the Mize 9. Three plays later, Miller scored to put Enterprise on top.

Game 10 Enterprise 21, Decatur 0 The Bulldogs opened the Class A playoffs by shutting down the potent Warrior offense, limiting Decatur to just 142 yards of offense. Enterprise scored on the first play of the second quarter when White hit Green for a 39-yard score. A McNair interception and 39-yard return set up a 1-yard score from Miller, who then recovered a fumble at the Decatur 11. Four plays later, the Quitman transfer scored again, this time from the 2.

Game 11 Enterprise 34, Utica 6 The Blue Wave fumbled six times, losing five, and threw two interceptions while being outrushed 212 to 34. Green started the scoring with a 45yard touchdown before the Bulldogs tacked on three scores in the second quarter — a 25-yard run from White, a 22-yard run from Green and an 8-yard run from White. McNair tacked on a score in the third as Enterprise won 11 games for the first time in school history — the Bulldogs had won 10 the previous two seasons.

Game 12 Enterprise 40, William Winans 0 The Bulldogs won South State by harrassing the Eagles’ star quarterback Michael Haynes into an 8 for 20 outing for just 63 yards. William Winans totalled only 91 yards of offense and four first downs. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, scored every time they touched the ball in the first half, including a 34-yard touchdown pass from White to McGee on the last play before intermission that made it 34-0.

Game 13 Enterprise 28, Noxapater 0 The Bulldogs became the first South State champion to win the Class A state title, blanking previously unbeaten Noxapater in Clinton. Enterprise ran for 251 yards and got touchdowns on a 40-yard pass from White to McGee, a 54yard interception return from McNair, a 1-yard run from McNair and a 35-yard run from McGee. “We don’t even have a trophy case at Enterprise,” Gartman said after the game. “But we’re fixing to build one.”

1986 ENTERPRISE BULLDOGS

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

COVER from page 4 first state championship team, I was only a sophomore. I was on the team as a freshman, and even a couple years prior to that, Enterprise had made their way to several playoff games. “By the time I got up to being a freshman, the foundation blocks had been built and there was now a standard, where this is what we’re going to do.” Granted that road was a little bit tougher. After winning six of their first seven games handily, the Bulldogs won their final two division games by a combined 21 points against Philadelphia and Lake. Then, after a blowout against Raymond to open the Class 2A playoffs, the Bulldogs won the next three by a combined 34-20. Enterprise edged Gulfport-St. John 7-0, Lake 6-0 for South State and then squeezed past Mound Bayou 21-20 for the title. “We had a lot of starters coming back,” Gartman said. “Winning it, getting there, it was a big confidence boost to that. They felt like they could win it

again, but I don’t think they understood it was going to be that hard. “It was a pride thing. They didn’t want to lose a game. The 1987 seniors, once they got into the ninth grade and through their senior season, they went like 46-3. They were very proud of that.” Added Sisson: “After the first one, when we came into summer camp, we basically said it’s happened once and we didn’t want to be the team that didn’t make it happen again. “Repeating was basically on everybody’s mind, and we really just hated the word loss and losing.”

The fight for survival But the biggest motivation for the Bulldogs didn’t come in keeping the winning streak alive. Or in building off the recent turnaround. These Bulldogs were playing for something more. They were playing for not just themselves, but for the entire school, the entire community. As Enterprise was dominating on the football field, its school

board was battling in court to keep the school open. “Man did we ever have to battle to stay on solid ground,” former ESB Board of Trustee Cecil Melton said. “We were being pulled from two directions, Quitman was pulling on us and Clarkdale was pulling on us. “We were in lawsuits all the time about students going where. We were missing students and they were missing students, it was a hassle tr ying to keep track of ever ybody.” Added Gartman: “It really was a stor y within a stor y. While we were playing football, there were a handful of supporters that were battling in court. It was a fight for sur vival of our school.” That fight eventually led to federal court where Enterprise won their district, sur vival and eventually, great success. Enterprise was named a Star District last year. “We really had to battle all the time, and I’ll tell you how we got out of it,” Melton said. “We were battling in court here and in court there, and our attorney said we’re fixing to go into a law-

suit and going into federal court. “And we did, we got it into federal court. The first thing the judge told us when we got up to the court house in Lauderdale County that first morning was, ‘My job is not elected. And I can make anybody mad that I want to and I’m going to make all of you made before this over.’ “And he did. He was letting us know that he was going to make a decision according to what he thought, not any pressure. And what he decided ended up being good for us.” With all that circling around Enterprise, the Bulldogs were well aware. Gartman said it was a topic that came up frequently. “We realized it was going on,” he said. “We used it. We talked about it a pretty good bit. I’m not going to say football saved the school. But it helped. A lot of those supporters would wear their Enterprise shirts and caps to court. “Those guys can look back along with those supporters and the school board, and see where we were and where Enterprise is now.” Said Sisson: “It was a big

5 factor in it. We took it to Enterprise, Enterprise was our school and we basically wanted to tell ever ybody, hey this is Enterprise, this is the Enterprise community, which still today is a strong community, and we kind of rallied at that. “Basically, we wanted to let ever yone know we were going to send a message. And you can rea between the lines how you want to take the message.” But the motivation wasn’t just a one-way street. While the Enterprise football team took the fight for existence to push them on the field, Melton said the school board and lawyers took pride in the on-field accomplishments and it helped spur the fight, as well. “Our football team, back when Jud was here, he had some doozies,” he added. “Jud is a good coach, and he had some good teams. “That was a motivation. We wanted to stand behind them where we could. And where we could was through the board. And we did do that.” In the end, there was no way Enterprise could lose.

MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Meridian High School Wildcats

Inexperienced Wildcats learning on the go WILDCATS AT A GLANCE

By Jamie Wachter

"We'll stay at it, they'll stay it and we'll just keep working." That work begins at quarterback where the Wildcats are lookWhat a difference a year ing to replace Antoinne Adkins makes. and Luke Stanley, who both startA year ago, Meridian headed ed over the past two seasons. into the season with seniors and Seniors Jibril Cox and Shanton experience dotting the lineup. Murphy are leading the competiThis year, those seniors are gone tion in the backfield, although junand the Wildcats that are back ior Kyle Russell, sophomores from the 14-1 Class 6A state runRichard L. McQuarly and Kereon ners-up are young and inexperiWallace and freshman Jmar Smith enced. are all competing as well. Murphy "It's kind of a slow go," completed 9 of 15 passes last year Meridian coach Larry Weems. "Just to show that consistency, it's for 123 yards and a touchdown, been a slow go because there's so while Cox completed 2 of 5 attempts for 13 yards. many new guys. They're taking "The two seniors know more inturns messing up, today this one depth about the offense as far as may do it right and then there's one or two that mess up. So just to that goes," Weems said. "We may play the first two or three games see that consistency is hard and that comes with inexperience and and we'll take this preparation camp time and the nondivision having a young team. "That doesn't mean everyone is games and see what our best combination is and who our best playa freshman or a sophomore, you ers are based on performance and can have 11th and 12th graders try and get ready to go for when that are inexperienced simply because they didn't play last year. we get to division play and try to make the playoffs." So we have a lot of inexperience But in addition to needing to regardless of our age, and that takes time. find a quarterback, the Wildcats jwachter@themeridianstar.com

2010 record: 14-1 2010 finish: Lost 28-7 to South Panola in Class 6A state championship Head coach: Larry Weems (sixth year, 61-11) League: Division 36A Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7

Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 4

Weems

2011 schedule at Clinton Wayne County at Canton Quitman Natchez at Hattiesburg Oak Grove

are also looking for playmakers at running back and that adds to the dilemna. Cox, who started at cornerback last year and will play there again, is also one of Meridian's top running backs and the Wildcats have to piece together the right backfield puzzle, especially with senior running back Michael Hubbard suspended the first three weeks.

at Brandon at Petal Terry Forest Hill

2010 results West Lauderdale Wayne County Starkville Quitman Natchez Hattiesburg Oak Grove Brandon Wingfield Jim Hill Terry • Ocean Springs • Gulfport

28-7 26-6 14-7 20-0 24-20 37-12 35-6 14-0 36-12 48-8 42-7 22-0 37-7

"Honest to goodness, I need another guy to step up at quarterback," Weems added. "(Cox) is a very good running back, and we need that, we don't have a lot of depth there. I need him at running back and I need him at cornerback. So when you look at all the things you need them to do, I need a kid to step up and handle that position because that would

• Oak Grove • South Panola

34-0 7-28 • — denotes playoff game

Last 10 years 2010 14-1• 2009 11-2• 2008 14-1• 2007 11-3• 2006 11-4• 2005 11-4• 2004 9-2-1• 2003 8-5• 2002 3-8 2001 4-7 10-year record: 96-37-1 Record since 1921: 653-267-3 • — denotes playoff appearance

make us better as a team. "That's kind of what I was alluding to, what makes us best as a team on how this thing shapes up and how should we approach this season and a lot of that depends on how these other guys can handle the quarterback position, or if they can."

See WILDCATS on page 7

MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

MERIDIAN ROSTER No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Name Dequan Anderson Emmanuel Grant Aaron Finley C.J. Hampton David Hood Isaac Johnson Jathondrae Rhone Shelton Cole Alex Brooks Jibril Cox Richard L. McQuarly Terrell Johnson Boderick Oliver Shanton Murphy Jmar Smith Quadry Burrage Kyle Russell Andre Ratliff Todrian Laphand John Griffen Laderick Roberts Dannika O'Hara Michael Hubbard Kelvin Harris JaKari Houston Marquez Moton Jamarlon Moffite J.C. McElroy Ladarius Armstrong Jaquarius Cole Ed Glenn Juantavious Matthews Austin Holt Caleb McWilliams

Grade Jr. Sr. Sr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fresh. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Jr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Fresh. Jr. Soph. Soph.

No. 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 43 44 46 47 50 51 52 54 55 56 58 59 60 61 65 72 76 81 84 85 86 87 88 90 91 95 99

Name Jalen Heath Kereon Wallace Kadarius Bush Quendarius Graham Jaquarius Ratliff Tobias Griffin Bryston Brown Rodney Hall Andrew Bator Keyaurda Davis Johndarik Washam Quez Scott Temarcus Miller Jesuan Straughter Jamal Horne Harvey Anderson Pierre Byrd Malcolm Bland Cohlby Sims Benjahmin Gathwright Michael Reed Lamonta Hutton Ladaryl Dean Autin Rowell Anthony Boudreaux Rico Andrews Tyler Henderson Eddie Barrett Antonio Owens Richard E. McQuarley Pieter Both Kyle Boykin Arron Garrett D.J. Jackson

Grade Sr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Jr. Soph. Sr. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Sr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Soph. Soph. Fresh.

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

Meridian wide receiver Isaac Johnson turns upfield after a catch against Ocean Springs in the Class 6A playoffs last season.

Paula Merritt/ The Meridian Star

Meridian linebacker Laderick Roberts causes a fumble as he hits Starkville quarterback Jaquez Johnson last year at Ray Stadium

linemen by Friday." The MHS defense, which allowed just 8 points per game last year, was also decimatWhoever emerges at quarterback ed by graduation. Senior Laderick Roberts should have options to throw the ball to returns at linebacker after amassing 60 with a trio of experienced wideouts return- tackles last year and Cox is back at cornering. Shelton Cole and Emmanuel Grant, back. Other than that, Meridian will play a both seniors, saw time there last year and host of new faces. junior Isaac Johnson started last season. On the defensive line, Jalen Heath and Lamar transfer John Clinton McElroy and Terrell Johnson will play as will several of senior Tyrone Henderson will also play the offensive linemen. some at receiver. Johnson led MHS with 26 "We don't have many linemen," Weems catches for 323 yards and three touchsaid. "We're going to have to do it by comdowns last year, while Cole added 14 recepmittee." tions — three touchdowns — and 245 David Hood, Tobias Griffin and John yards. Grant hauled in nine passes for 112 Griffen figure to join Roberts at linebacker. yards with two scores. The Wildcats' inexperience also includes Other than Roberts' 60 stops, the others combined for four tackles and one intercepthe offensive line where at most, Meridian tion. will feature just one senior in Malcolm Bland. Other linemen battling include junAnd alongside Cox at defensive back will iors Quez Scott and Ben Gathwright and be McElroy with C.J. Hampton, Aaron sophomores Harvey Anderson and Pierre Finley and Isaac Johnson playing safety. Byrd. "We think JC can help us, he has a "Think of all those skill spots and you chance to start for us at DB, but he'll have have people that are young or haven't a chance to play on offense," Weems said. played much and it's not like we have an "He runs well and has some hands, it's just offensive line up there that can help them teaching him what to do. He's having to along and cover that up a little bit," Weems learn everthing new on both sides of the said. "They're all young. And we’re pretty much starting from scratch there, too. And ball. A lot of what we do is very in-depth with the verbiage and making calls on the I think most of those guys are going to be solid offensive linemen by the time they get line. "He's a senior and a good athlete, it's done with high school, it's just they're all just a lot to learn.” young. Pieter Both, a senior, returns at kicker "The good thing is at least next year after handling kickoffs last year and Arron we'll say we've got some experience there. But as for right now, I think they all can be Garrett may handle the punting duties in addition to backing up Both at kicker. good linemen but I need them to be good

WILDCATS from page B1

CLARKDALE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Richmond wants to build family with Bulldogs First-year coach guides Clarkdale into Class 2A “And then our mission is the jwachter@themeridianstar.com goals that we set and if we can reach those goals, I think we’ll be a better team. Our main goal is to One family. One mission. That is the slogan Clarkdale is get better every day, to get better taking into Chris Richmond’s first spiritually, to get better mentally in school and to get better physiseason at the helm. Richmond, a cally in football. And if we can do former defensive coordinator at that and get better every day then Kosciusko and West Lauderdale, we’ll be able to achieve whatever replaces Jud Gartman in guiding we set our minds to.” the Bulldogs, who went 3-9 in Right now, Clarkdale is just setmaking the playoffs for the secting their minds on overcoming ond straight season in Class 3A. Clarkdale has since dropped down the lack of depth that comes with a 29-man roster and having to play to Class 2A. both ways. Leading that ironman “What that means is we’ve got philosophy will be Micah to come together as a family,” Richmond said, explaining the slo- Redmond, who in addition to playgan. “When we started this in the ing quarterback and safety, will also handle kicking and punting spring we had a lot of individuals duties. The senior has seen his and it didn’t seem like we liked season cut short by broken ankles each other very much. So, I’ve each of the past two years. been preaching that we have to come together as a family. Needless to say, his health is a By Jamie Wachter

BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 3-9 2010 finish: Lost 49-0 to Forest in first round of Class 3A playoffs Head coach: Chris Richmond (first year) League: Division 72A Aug. 18 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23

Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28

at Taylorsville Enterprise at Bay Springs St. Patrick Mize 2010 results

Richmond

2011 schedule at SE Lauderdale at Sebastopol Union at Lake Richton Nanih Waiya

major priority for Clarkdale and Richmond. “We’ve got to keep him healthy, and if we can keep him healthy I think we have a chance to win ballgames,” Richmond said. “Without him right now, we’ll have to change a lot of the stuff we do. Our backup is a ninth-grader and while he’s doing a good job, he’s just not ready to take the

Richton Enterprise Union Lake Scott Central Pisgah Philadelphia Heidelberg Kemper County Choctaw Central SE Lauderdale

12-0 20-27 15-42 24-27 16-54 26-27 7-37 41-38 7-14^ 20-50 0-35

full load. “We have to watch what we do with him. He hasn’t been 100 percent in two years. He’s broken an ankle both years, so now he’s got titanium ankles and we’re hoping he’s got ankles that can last this year.” Joining Redmond as a bright spot in Clarkdale’s lineup is the offensive line of senior Jake

Clarkdale High School Bulldogs

• Forest

0-49 • — denotes playoff game ^ — denotes forfeit win

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 38-68 All-time record: 138-348-5

3-9• 4-8• 1-9 2-8 6-5• 6-4• 4-6• 2-8 7-4• 3-7

• — denotes playoff appearance

Welburn, juniors Brad Burcham, Sean Datuch and Matt Warren and sophomore Colin Duke. “The line I think is where we’re most solid at right now if I said we’re solid anywhere,” Richmond added. “I’m real pleased with our line right now.” Senior Gabe Shelby is at full-

See BULLDOGS on page 9

CLARKDALE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

BULLDOGS from page 8 back along with wingbacks Tyler Dearman, Kyle Hales, James Glover and Dustin Alsup. The Bulldogs are also light on experience at wide receiver. “We’re going to have to grow up and grow up in a hurry,” Richmond said. “I

think we have a lot of guys that have to mature quicker than they needed to. But we’re looking to make some noise this year. “That’s what I tell the kids, you gotta believe.” Those same Bulldogs that lined up on offense will also fill roles on the defensive side with Welburn, Warren, Burcham and Datuch rotating on Clarkdale’s three-down

front. Senior Chad Hinton will start at one outside linebacker position and all three inside linebackers are seniors in Shelby, Dearman and John Caldwell. Joining Redmond in the secondary will be cornerbacks Glover and Alsup. “We’re struggling right now with getting in shape enough to go both ways,” Richmond said. “That’s the reality of where we’re at. We have no depth. We’re working

hard, the kids are working hard and doing everything we ask them to do. “I think the drop to 2A helps us because there will be teams with our same problem. They also won’t have depth and are playing guys both ways and by the fourth quarter we’ll be equally tired and at that point, it’ll just be who can gut it out. I think that will help us tremendously.”

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

Clarkdale linebacker Gabe Shelby races down the Bulldogs sideline after scooping up a Kemper County fumble last season. Shelby scored on the play.

WE LOVE OUR BULLDOGS! BEST WISHES TO CHS FOOTBALL! ZERO COMMUNITY STORE 5006 Zero Road • 601-693-6513

CLARKDALE ROSTER No. 2 3 6 7 8 9 11 15 16 17

Name James Glover Tyler Dearman Blake Mauldin Jamal Neal Dontae Shelby Trae Rutherford Chad Hinton Gabe Shelby Brett Bonner Travis Logan

Pos. Grade RB/DB Soph. RB/DB Sr. WR/DB Jr. WR/DB Fresh. QB/FB/LB Fresh. WR/DB Soph. TE/LB Sr. FB/LB Sr. WR/LB Fresh. WR/LB Sr.

No. 18 19 20 21 22 44 50 51 52 53

Name Conner Moheb Arron Singleton Justice Morris Micah Redmond Dustin Alsup Cal Hales John Caldwell Austin Emmerson Colin Duke Jake Welborn

Pos. LB/RB LB/FB LB/RB QB/DB RB/DB RB/DB LB/OL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL

Grade Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Sr. Fresh. Jr. Sr. Fresh. Soph. Sr.

No. 59 60 63 64 67 68 70 71 88

Name Chris Agent Andrew Strickland Sean Datuch Matt Warren Brad Burcham Jarrod Hyde Josh Beatty Thorton Moffett Tanner McQueen

Pos. DL/OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL DL/OL DL/OL LB/TE

Grade Soph. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fresh. Fresh. Jr. Soph.

NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Northeast Lauderdale High School Trojans

Trojans look to finish in ’11 Northeast eyes division title after slow finish proved costly By Josh Taylor The Meridian Star

Northeast Lauderdale’s Steve Nelson enters his 10th year as head coach of the Trojans with the same grit and determination that has been with him throughout his coaching career. As the dean of Lauderdale county public school coaches, Nelson’s message is simple. “Finish,” said Nelson. “That’s been our battle cry this offseason. Our goal is the same as always, to win a division championship.” The Trojans finished the 2010 season at 85, advancing to the second round of the play-

TROJANS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 8-5 2010 finish: Lost 22-17 to Forrest County AHS in second round of Class 4A playoffs Head coach: Steve Nelson (10th year, 46-53) League: Division 5-4A 2011 schedule Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30

Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.

7 14 21 28

Newton County NE Jones at Laurel at West Lauderdale 2010 results

Nelson

at Newton Jackson Aca. at SE Lauderdale Neshoba Central Philadelphia at Morton at Quitman

offs after dropping their final two Division 54A games with a chance to secure that elusive district crown. Inexperience will be their biggest hurdle to improving on that in 2011. Northeast only has three returning starters on offense and five on defense. All four of last year’s receiving corps and a number of offensive linemen are gone. “We don’t have a lot of experience right

Morton Collins SE Lauderdale Neshoba Central Gulfport Newton County Quitman South Jones NE Jones Laurel West Lauderdale

22-15 16-14 14-33 14-7 28-42 36-18 23-22 24-21 21-14 21-28 15-22

now,” said Nelson. “We’ve got to get these guys some game confidence. We’ve got a lot of growing up to do.” The Trojans do have experience in a number of key positions. Senior quarterback Alex Nicholson picks up where he left off last year as the captain of the red brigade. In his first year starting, Nicholson threw for more than 1,700 yards.

• Magee • Forrest County AHS

40-18 17-22 • — denotes playoff game

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 49-60 All-time record: 274-276-13

8-5• 6-5 1-9 6-5• 7-4• 7-4• 2-8 5-7• 4-6 3-7

• — denotes playoff appearance

“I’m feeling pretty good right now,” said Nicholson. “Our chemistry is really coming together. I’m hoping we get the experience we need before we get to district. More than anything, I’m ready to get back on the field and get going.” The Trojans balanced attack is support-

See TROJANS on page 11

NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE ROSTER No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 22 24 25 27 28 30 32 33 34 35 42 50 51 54 55 58 59 61 62 64 65 66 68 69 71 72 74 75 80 81 82 83 84

Name Jakari Rush Cody Crowe Josh Carlson Kevin Williams Kenderius Naylor Hayden Lee Josh Everett Kenny Gardner Kyle Turnipseed Ladale Cockrell Keatron Butler Jesse Lang Gerry Parker Logan Powell Alex Nicholson Troy Neely Nick Ballou Davion Sutton Stevie Sanders Johnny McDonald Phillip Everett Cassie Collins Aaron McMillan Robert Collins Jaterris Powell William Serton Weston Lindemann Jamal McMillan Reginald Hopson Cordarion Porter Tyler Granger Tarabio Brown Jacarrius Gaddis Bernard Hannah Shuyrain Macon Matthew Ward Detarious Haynes Nick Kosier Jamorrious Moore Trenton Smith Austin Randall William Spinks Otis Mosley Richard Moore Brandon Windham Dustin McDaniel Greg Rice Antwan McDonald Demondrez Hopson T.K. Hill

Pos. WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB RB/LB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB P/K WR/DB WR/LB QB/LS QB/DB WR/DB WR/LB RB/DE WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB OT/DL OG/LB OG/DT OG/DT OG/DT OG/DE OG/DT OG/DT DE OG/LB OG/DT C/DT C/DT DT OG/LB OT/DT OG/DT TE/DE TE/DE WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB

TROJANS from page 10 ed by returning junior running back Phillipp Everett. Everett will likely carry the load early on for the Trojans as the new receiving corps settles in. Everett rushed for close to 1,000 yards as a sophomore. Senior Cordarian Porter heads up an enthusiastic defense. “We’re looking forward to a

Grade Sr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Soph. Fresh. Jr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Jr. Fresh. Jr. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Jr. Fresh. Fresh. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh.

Paula Merritt/ The Meridian Star

Above, Northeast Lauderdale running back Phillip Everett follows a block against Laurel last season. L e f t, Trojans quarterback Alex Nicholson looks for an open target against a rush from the Golden Tornadoes.

great season,” said Porter. “We’re progressing fast and I feel like we’re really coming together.” When asked to sum up the mantra of the team heading into the 2011 season, Porter responded with one word. “Effort,” said Porter. “We can go a long way with effort.” Northeast opens Aug. 19 at Newton, before hosting Jackson Academy on Aug. 26 in the home opener.

SOUTHEAST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Tigers have raised expectations Southeast looks to build on first 10-win season in program history By Josh Taylor The Meridian Star

The bar has been raised at Southeast Lauderdale. The Tigers finished the 2010 football season with a 10-3 record. That’s the first 10-win season in school histor y. And third-year head coach Boo Smith is looking for more in 2011. “We’re always striving to get better,” said Smith. “We’ve been working all summer, getting ready to play and improve on the success we had last season. The nucleus is there.” The Tigers are in good position with a strong senior class

returning for the 2011 season. Senior running backs Ledarious Clark and Terreon Larkin are certainly no strangers to the gridiron. The duo will likely be the workhorses of this offense. Clark rushed for 905 yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding 526 yards and three scores on 34 receptions, a team high. Larkin added 71 yards rushing on 24 carries, while fullback Lakelvin Newell finished with 293 yards on 60 carries. Junior quarterback Andrew Black replaces three-year starter Shelby Moseley under center to give the Tigers’

TIGERS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 10-3 2010 finish: Lost 31-7 to Tylertown in second round of Class 3A playoffs Head coach: Boo Smith (third year, 15-10) League: Division 53A Aug. 18 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23

Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28

Smith

2011 schedule Clarkdale at Newton County NE Lauderdale at West Lauderdale Lumberton at Quitman

offense the leadership that helped it succeed in 2010. On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers are returning all of last season’s linebackers and secondar y core. The only real question mark for the Tigers is offensive and defensive line. Both sides of the

Kemper County at Philadelphia at Choctaw Central Heidelberg Newton

2010 results Scott Central Newton County NE Lauderdale West Lauderdale Newton North Forrest Kemper County Philadelphia Choctaw Central Heidelberg Clarkdale

33-10 6-7 33-14 13-3 33-12 16-6 7-18^ 7-45 33-0 42-14 35-0

line will see a lot of new faces heading into 2011. One face that remains the same is senior offensive tackle Jontre Goudy. “We lost some key guys on the line, but the young guys are really stepping up to the challenge,” said Goudy. “We’ve been working with them and they’ve

Southeast Lauderdale High School Tigers

• Velma Jackson • Tylertown

36-26 7-31

• — denotes playoff game ^ — denotes forfeit win

Last 10 years 2010 10-3• 2009 5-7• 2008 4-6• 2007 6-5• 2006 8-5• 2005 2-8 2004 5-5• 2003 1-9 2002 1-9 2001 3-6 10-year record: 45-63 All-time record: 208-281-6 • — denotes playoff appearance

responded well. Right now we’re anxious, ready for play some of our brand of ball.” Goudy shares the attitude of much of the team. “I feel like we got their attention last year,” said Goudy. “We

See TIGERS on page 13

SOUTHEAST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

TIGERS from page 12 did good last season, but we can do better.” Added Smith: “Our season depends on how the offensive and defensive lines play. These young guys have got to step up. So far, they’ve been doing that.” The 3A Tigers face a daunting task with four 4A teams on the schedule. The Tigers open Aug. 18 at home against rival Clarkdale.

Smith is supported by a confident pair of assistant coaches. Charles Black handles the defense while Darr yl Jones primarily works with the offensive line. Right now, the future looks bright for the boys in blue. “Keep building,” said Goudy. “That’s been our motto this offseason.” Added Smith: “With teamwork, we can get it done.”

SOUTHEAST LAUDERDALE ROSTER

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

Above, Southeast Lauderdale’s Ledarious No. Clark looks to outrun a Philadelphia defender. Right, Southeast’s LaKelvin Newell 1 2 sizes up a Northeast Lauderdale defender.

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3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 15 18 22 23 24

Name Ledarious Clark Jadarius Edwards Javaris DeLoach PaDarius Martin Terrion Larkin JaGradi Webster Jacob Fraysur Anthony Donald Andrew Black Desmond Griggs Trent Hudson Damion Willis C.J. Scott Dalton Hodgins Josh Swint Malik Hill

Grade Sr. Sr. Fresh. Fresh. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fresh. Fresh. Sr. Fresh. Jr. Fresh.

No. 25 27 29 31 32 33 34 38 40 53 55 56 57 58 60 63

Name Quan Naylor Kriston Eadie Jarrett Jenkins Stefan Lewis LaKelvin Newell Rodrigo Hilkner JaQuinton Horner JaKobe Wilson Shane Mitchell Logan Miller Richard Terrell Johntre Goudy Johnny Robinson Christian Shelby Habib Ruffin Robert Edwards

Grade Jr. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fresh. Sr. Fresh. Sr. Sr. Fresh. Jr. Fresh. Fresh.

No. 64 65 66 70 72 73 75 76 77 78 81 82 83 85 90

Name Colby Ramey Jerry Ivy Jake Miller Josh Frazier Johnny Blanks Mignon Madison Trey Joiner Tommy Curtis Ian Gibson Michael Greer Damonta Barrett DaWyll Hopson Lenny Fetscher LaDarius Shoemaker Jacob Minor

Grade Sr. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Sr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Fresh.

WEST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

West Lauderdale High School Knights

Knights hungry heading into new season Hunger won’t be an issue for West Lauderdale. After scuffling to a 1-10 record in 2010 — losing their first 10 before knocking off rival Northeast Lauderdale in the season finale — the Knights have been eager to get back on the field. “They all came back with a purpose after the spring, they all came in with a purpose and that’s kind of to make sure what happened doesn’t happen again,” West coach Glen Sanders said. “They’ve worked hard and we really haven’t had any problems tr ying to get anyone motivated to go and practice.” It has also helped fuel the hunger that the Knights return a host of players, particularly in the backfield. Leading those returners is senior quarterback Daniel Lott. After sharing time last season, the keys to the Knights’ Wing-T have been fully handed to Lott. “He knows the job is his,” Sanders said. “We just ask Daniel to just be efficient in what we do, run the offense and don’t tr y and do too much, just stay within the confines of what we do on offense. “He’ll do that. This is his third year to

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defense as well, particularly up front. Rotez Johnson, who started on the offensive line last year, and Fletcher McKee, who started a couple of games at defensive end, figure to anchor the Knights’ defensive line. They will be joined by Corey Fox and Chase Harris at the nose. “We’ve put the biggest guys on the team on the defensive line,” Sanders noted. “And those guys have to do a good job for us.” If they do a good job, it will open up playmaking opportunities for outside linebackers Thomas, who returns at the strongside end, Monterio Ridgeley, Dominick Goucher, Whitson Lewis, Grace and Sillimon. Plugging the inside will be Derek Schulte, Chase Irby and Grant Hill. “We’re a bit undersized on the inside,

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season about stepping up and he’s worked hard in the weight room. His challenge from us is to be the guy, and that’s what we’re hoping for.” Also returning on offense is senior wide receiver Deondra Williams, who will be joined out wide by Jalen Terrell and Antron Brooks. Seth Mitchell, who started opposite Williams last year, has been moved to tight end. One place where West isn’t experienced, though, is on the offensive line. There the Knights have just two players with any varsity experience, led by senior center Reid Johnson. Johnson started against Northeast Lauderdale in the season finale last year. Joining Johnson on the line will be seniors Tyler Vick and Adam Swanner and sophomores Dalton House, Josh McDaniel and Montgomer y Campbell. That inexperience extends to the

75_2742

By Jamie Wachter

be a quarterback and his second full year as a starter. He won’t be looking over his shoulder, he knows we’re counting on him and he’s stepped up and been a leader for us. We’re expecting him to allow us to be successful offensively.” Also helping that success level will be the return of senior fullback Robert Sillimon as well as running backs Dejuan Grace and Shydai Lewis. Grace, a senior, and Lewis, a junior, will also be joined by Rick Thomas and Jonathan Williams. But the key is Sillimon, a three-year starter. “We’ve challenged Robert to be the guy, that’s what we’ve done,” Sanders added. “We’ve talked to him about being the guy this year, about him stepping up and being the back we need him to be. He had a great sophomore year and then his junior year, ever yone knew about him and it was harder. “So we’ve challenged him in the off-

75_2747

West aims to atone for 1-win showing

WEST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

KNIGHTS from page 14 but those are 2-3 guys that can really make plays,” Sanders said. One place West does have some experience is in the secondar y where

Williams and Warren Trussell return at safety. Both seniors are three-year starters after moving to safety last season from cornerback. At cornerback, though, West is turning to the untested Dami Roberts and Marquez Clayton. “They both have the ability,” Sanders

said. “They can run and are agile. They just lack the experience.” Also lacking experience is kicker Chris Mallette. The soccer star joined the football team over the summer, and despite that inexperience Sanders is expecting a solid performance alongside

Lott, returning at punter, and McKee, returning as West’s deep snapper. “He’s learning how to kick and we expect big things out of him,” Sanders said. “I think we have a good snapper, a good punter and hope we have a good kicker.”

KNIGHTS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 1-10 2010 finish: Beat Northeast Lauderdale 22-15 in regular season finale Head coach: Glen Sanders (third year, 10-13) League: Division 5-4A

Gulfport SE Lauderdale Newton County Louisville Laurel NE Jones Quitman South Jones NE Lauderdale

2011 schedule Sanders Aug.19 Forest Aug. 26 at Neshoba Central Sept. 2 Philadelphia Sept. 9 SE Lauderdale Sept. 16 at Morton Sept. 23 at Newton Sept. 30 Laurel Oct. 7 at NE Jones Oct. 14 at Quitman Oct. 21 Newton County Oct. 28 NE Lauderdale 2010 results Meridian Neshoba Central

0-38 3-13 14-17 7-21 7-26 18-30 14-42 15-42 22-15

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 74-45 All-time record: 236-272-12

7-28 6-28

1-10 9-3• 8-4• 6-6• 8-3• 12-1• 11-4• 9-3• 3-6 7-5•

• — denotes playoff appearance

WEST LAUDERDALE ROSTER

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No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 36 37 38 39 40

Name DeJuan Grace Jalen Terrell Daniel Lott Shydai Lewis Marquez Clayton Seth Mitchell Derek Schulte Deondra Williams Rick Thomas Monterio Ridgeley Warren Trussell Noah Nix Tyrin Henry Kadeja Thams Bailey Mayatt Parker Watson Dami Roberts Antron Brooks Dominick Goucher Jonathan Williams Lagarian McDaniel Jonathan Poe Winston Lewis KJ McDonald Tony Powers Logan Hudnall Brandon Lee Robert Sillimon Joseph Elfe Blake Anderson Spencer Brewer Brooks Breland Grant Hill

Pos. RB/LB WR QB/K RB DB TE LB WR/DB LB/RB LB/RB DB RB WR WR DB TE DB WR LB RB RB WR LB RB DB LB LB RB/LB RB LB LB LB LB

Grade Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fresh. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Jr. Soph. Jr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Jr. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Sr.

No. 41 42 44 45 46 48 49 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 59 60 61 62 63 65 68 69 70 71 72 73 75 78 80 84 86 88

Name Jared Overby Jackson Little Dalton Williams Marcus Brooks Dylan White Pavel Nasarev Dre Ratcliff Alex Vick Luther Ellis Dalton House Grant Hartman Adam Swanner Corey Fox Tyler Vick Chase Irby Reid Johnson Rotez Johnson Levi McGuire LK Kinney Alex Smith JT Regan Chase Harris Brandon Brown Noah Dooley Andrew Regan Josh McDaniel Montgomery Campbell Rob Bible Aaron Ricks Fletcher McKee Mason Wooldridge Nathan Chisolm

Pos. LB DB LB LB LB LB DL DL DL OL OL OL DL OL LB OL DL OL OL OL DL DL OL DL DL OL OL DL WR DL LB WR

Grade Soph. Soph. Soph. Sr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Fresh. Sr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Soph. Soph. Sr. Soph. Soph.

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

Above, West Lauderdale running back Shydai Lewis cuts upfield against Southeast Lauderdale last season. B e l o w, Knights running back Robert Sillimon plows ahead against the Tigers.

LAMAR SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Lamar School Raiders

Depth a main concern for Raiders By Daniel Rigdon

LAMAR ROSTER No. 4 9 10 11/60 12 14 15 16 18 20 22 25 31 40 51 55 57/88 62 63 64 66 68 69 74 76

Name Tyler Harris Chris Scott Barrett Dudley Andy Shine Dusty Weisner Joseph Marcello Gane Duggan Danny Weisner Michael Marcello Corey Skinner Chase Davis Lee Martin Shane Blanton Jesse Seale Peyt Mosley Brett Stewart Jonathan Young Adam Goodman Brock Williams Nathan Millerr Andrew Wallace Trevor Boling Chris Waldron Shane Brewer Josh Rankin

Pos. QB DB QB TE LB DB RB WR RB/LB RB/LB WR RB/LB DE DE DL OL DL LB OL OL OL OL OL OL OL

Grade Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Sr. Jr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Jr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Jr.

division contests being in the last three weeks of the season, they will have to play through the first eight games coming into their own while staying healthy at the same As the 2011 season kicks off for Lamar time. one thing jumps right out. That is the fact "We are going to have to stay healthy," that the Raiders only have 26 players on added Barnes. "Depth is our main concern. their roster. Our division games are our last three However, to 11th year head coach Mac games so we are going to have to use the Barnes, there is a big difference between games leading up to that to really find ourhaving 24 guys that can actually play the selves. I like that part of it, but it's just the game of football and having 40 that are just deeper you get into the season the more the bodies taking up space on the sideline. injuries and lack of depth begin to sink in. "This is a good group," said Barnes. The real key with us is making sure our 24 "Right now we only have 24 guys that are ready to go. We have two others that are bat- guys are able to play. An injury here or there really affects us in a bad way." tling some injury issues and we really don't The offense will be led by either last know what their status is. That's not a lot, but we are only starting two guys both ways. year's starting quarterback Tyler Harris or Barrett Dudley. The two were battling for We are going to play a lot of guys and I the starting job last season until a shoulder think we have good athletes with a good injury took Dudley out of the running. combination of size and speed. We've also Dudley took all the snaps during summer got a good bit of talent. practices because Harris went down with a "You know there are a lot of teams right broken arm in Lamar's spring game. now that might have 35 or 40 players right Barnes will look for his offense to run now, but might not have 24 players that can actually play. So why we don't have the num- several formation as he has several players capable of making plays, especially through bers as far as bodies, all our guys can play." the passing game. With such small numbers Lamar will "We are still going to be in the shotgun have to cross its fingers in order to avoid this year," said Barnes. "We are better at the injury bug. And with all of the Raiders drigdon@themeridianstar.com

throwing the ball than running it. We are still trying to put together the right combination on that offensive line. It takes time to develop that offensive unity. "One thing I like is that we have guys that can go into the backfield and run it or catch it so we will probably use more formations this year and try to get people in good matchups." Senior running backs Michael Marcello and Gane Duggan as well as Clarkdale transfer Corey Skinner are three of those versatile athletes the Raiders plan to utilize.

See RAIDERS on page 17

GOOD LUCK RAIDERS! NORTH HILLS Shell HAMPTON Shell TOOMSUBA Shell

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

LAMAR SCHOOL

17 RAIDERS AT A GLANCE

2010 record: 5-6 2010 finish: Lost 35-14 to Simpson County Academy in first round of MAIS Class Barnes AA playoffs Head coach: Mac Barnes (11th year, 7845) League: MAIS Division 4AA 2011 schedule Aug. 19 Heritage Aca. Aug. 26 at Enterprise

Sept. 2 Winston Aca. Sept. 9 at Central Hinds Sept. 16 at Jackson Aca. Sept. 23 Leake Aca. Sept. 30 Newton Aca. Oct. 7 at East Rankin Oct. 14 Wayne Aca. Oct. 21 at Sylva-Bay Aca. Oct. 28 Simpson Aca. 2010 results East Rankin Aca. 0-17 Starkville Aca. 21-20 Central Hinds 14-31 Heritage Aca. 14-22 Canton Aca. 48-13 Oak Hill Aca. 56-21 Hillcrest Christian 49-14 Winston Aca. 41-17

RAIDERS from page 16 Former Enterprise and Clarkdale coach Jud Gartman will be taking over the reigns of the defense this season. With the lack of size on that side of the ball, the Raiders will have to rely on their speed according to

Simpson Aca. Leake Aca. • Simpson Aca.

14-28 31-56 14-35

• — denotes playoff game

Last 10 years 2010 5-6• 2009 12-2• 2008 9-3• 2007 11-2• 2006 9-4• 2005 4-7• 2004 7-5• 2003 11-2• 2002 7-5• 2001 3-9 10-year record: 78-45 All-time record: • — denotes playoff appearance

Barnes. "Hopefully we are going to be fast and be good tacklers," added Barnes. "We are starting five sophomores on that side of the ball. We aren't very big, but we do have good speed and good athletes. I'm really excited about coach Gartman coming back with us to be our defensive coordinator."

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

Lamar running back Michael Marcello pushes ahead against Simpson County Academy last season.

RUSSELL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Russell Christian Academy Warriors

By Jamie Wachter jwachter@themeridianstar.com

It is a season of change at Russell Christian Academy. The Warriors are moving back into the MAIS 8-Man classification after two years playing 11-Man in Class A. RCA is also welcoming a new head coach — its third in three years — in Nate Ballard. With all the change around, though, Ballard is sticking with what he knows: the Wing-T. “We’re going to run the Wing-T and there’s not going to be a lot of trickery,” he said. “We’re going to run it right at them and if they can stop us, they can stop us.” Helping that cause will be an experienced lineup led by four starters returning on the offensive line. That provides depth in 8-Man, where teams utilize just three down linemen. Wesley Kelly, a 5-foot-10, 265-pound sophomore will anchor the line at center with Nathan Gordon and Baylie Etheridge, also sophomores, flanking him

at guard. “As freshmen they led our junior varsity that went 6-2 last year and were also our starters on varsity,” Ballard said. “They’re coming up and should be a real strength.” Behind those three sophomores will be a senior and a sophomore splitting time at quarterback. In replacing last year’s starter Zac Harper, the Warriors are turning to Andrew Culpepper and Jacob Howse to run the offense. The duo each bring their own strengths to the spot. “Culpepper does a lot of the running for us — running the option and the bootleg plays,” Ballard said of his senior. “Jacob Howse is going to be more of our throwing quarterback. “They both run the offense effectively. They both have different qualities. We don’t have a starter and whoever is hot will finish the game. They both can throw it and both can run it, but to break them down that’s how they differ.”

See WARRIORS on page 19

30_2085

Warriors taking move to 8-Man in stride

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THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

RUSSELL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

RUSSELL CHRISTIAN ROSTER

GOOD LUCK TO ALL TEAMS!

No. 1 2 4 5 6 13 18 25 39 44

Name Camryn Lee Jacob Stephens Jacob Howse Jesse Barksdale Jacob Palmer Josh McQueen Andrew Culpepper Adam Shaw Ben McGraw Arik Washington

Pos. RB/LB WR/DB QB/DB RB/LB WR/LB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DE WR/DB RB/LB

Grade Sr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph.

WARRIORS from page 18 Arik Washington, a sophomore, will start at fullback after starring on the Warriors’ junior varsity last year. Camryn Lee, a senior, will play running back, in his first year playing football. At wide receiver, Jacob Palmer is Russell’s top target. On the defensive side, where Russell is still getting accustomed to playing man-toman after being a zone team last season, Ballard looks to senior Joseph Spurlock to lead the way from his middle linebacker position. “He’s going to be our anchor on defense,” Ballard said. “We’re going to play a three-stack defense.” In front of Spurlock will be Cortez McDonald and Mikial McDonald at nose tackle, with freshman Dylan Joles at a defensive end. Flanking Spurlock at outside linebacker are sophomores Jesse Barksdale and Ben McGraw, both returning starters. At cornerback, senior Josh McQueen returns and is joined by sophomore Jacob Stephens. “The big thing is just going to be coverage,” Ballard said. “In 8-Man, there’s really no way to play a zone, so playing man-toman is going to be our hardest thing to do. “We’re 3-5 and you can blitz, but the field is so wide and there’s so much to cover. We’ll blitz some but for the most part we’ll try and guard them man-to-man. That to me is the hardest transition I’ve seen so far.” Stevens will handle kicking duties for the Warriors, while Culpepper and Howse will punt.

No. 50 51 55 56 61 70 73 77 83 98

Name Michael Harwell Nathan Gordon Jacob Knost Dylan Joles Baylie Etheridge Mikial McDonald Wesley Kelly Cortez McDonald Joseph Spurlock Joshua Acosta

Pos. G/DT G/DE G/DE/TE G/DE G/DT NG/G C/NG NG/C WR/LB C/NG

Grade Jr. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Sr. Jr.

WARRIORS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 2-8 2010 finish: Lost 62-28 to Wayne Academy in regular season finale Head coach: Nate Ballard (first year) League: MAIS 8-Man District 1 Ballard 2011 schedule Aug. 19 at Christian Collegiate Aug. 26 at Clinton Christian Sept. 2 Rebul Aca. Sept. 9 Delta Aca. Sept. 16 North Sunflower Sept. 23 Calvary Christian Sept. 30 at Central Aca. Oct. 7 Marvell Aca. Oct. 14 Kemper Aca. Oct. 21 at Calhoun Aca.

2010 results Heidelberg Aca. Alpha Christian Greenville Christian Clinton Christian Newton County Aca. Ben's Ford (La.) Porter's Chapel University Christian Bayou Aca. Wayne Aca. Last 4 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 All-time record: 8-32

7-47 0-26 6-48 40-21 29-62 20-14 0-62 0-45 0-61 28-62 2-8 2-8 2-8 2-8

CALVARY CHRISTIAN

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Cougars look to bounce back Calvary followed back-to-back state titles with losing record By Jamie Wachter jwachter@themeridianstar.com

After two straight MAIS 8Man state championships, Calvary Christian stumbled to a losing record in 2010. However, the Cougars’ expectations haven’t changed, even if their offensive philosophy has. “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t think playoffs,” Calvary coach Kirby Newell said. “We’re capable. We have the potential to be a playoff team. Whether these kids believe that or believe in themselves enough right now is something we’ll have to find out when we get out there and play.” But in getting back to that level, Calvary is looking to an improved running game to lead

the way not the four-wide passheavy style that led to the 19-3 combined record in 2009-10 and the two titles. “The things we really needed to work on as far as running the football, which you and me both know we’re going to do this year, we’re a little behind there in the running game,” Newell added. “Calvary football is four-wide, we haven’t junked it. If we need it, it’s there. But we’re going to establish the run. That’s what we’re going to do.” In the new run-oriented offense, Calvary looks to lean on Jeremy McFadden and Josh Carraway to do the heavy lifting out of the backfield. The duo will also be utilized through the passing game, as the Cougars hope to get them the ball about 12

COUGARS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 4-6 2010 finish: Lost 44-20 to North Sunflower Academy in regular season finale Head coach: Kirby Newell (fourth year, 23-9) League: MAIS 8Man District 1 Aug. 19 Aug. 26

Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Newell

2011 schedule Central Aca. at Kemper Aca.

times each a game. Making sure the ball gets into those two playmakers’ hands will be senior quarterback Brett Johnson. Calvary began fall practice July 26 without Johnson, who was planning at that time to enter the military. However, Johnson reconsidered and now gives freshman Hunter Baskin a chance to grow into the position. “We’ve put in some different

Calvary Christian Cougars

at North Sunflower Calhoun Aca. at Russell Christian at Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Kemper Aca. Delta Aca. at Central Aca.

2010 results Tensas (La.) Aca. Park Place Christian Rebul Aca. Mt. Salus Christian Veritas Delta Aca.

8-44 32-6 12-13 36-6 56-66 48-20

protections and he’s already starting to feel more comfortable back there,” Newell said about Johnson’s return. “His first instinct was to take off and run, and you can’t blame him, he had people breathing down his neck. Here in practice, he’s sat back in the pocket and has started to see he may have a little more time. He’s got a heck of an arm when he gets to throw it, it’s just his

Calhoun Aca. Kemper Aca. Central Aca. North Sunflower

42-20 6-54 14-44 20-44

Last 5 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 All-time record: 31-15

4-6 10-1• 9-2• 8-2 0-4

• — denotes playoff appearance

first instinct is to run all the time. “We shore that up, I promise you we’re going to be a better football team.” If the Cougars’ ground game is going to get moving, it will be up to Dustin Kellogg, Zach Richardson, and brothers Fred and Will Dunn up front to lead

See CALVARY on page 55

CALVARY CHRISTIAN ROSTER No. 2 7 8 9 10 12 13 28 33 50 52 55 56 57 63 66 70 75 82 84 88 89

Name Hunter Baskin Carl harper Josh Roberts Brett Johnson Jacob McClaney Josh Bartlett Dalton Baskin Jeremy McFadden Will Dunn Drew Espey Fred Dunn Justin Hancock Dustin Kellogg Beau Miller Beto Medina Luis Medina Taylor Johnson Hampton Jones Zach Crain Cody Gentry Josh Carraway Zach Richardson

Pos. QB TE WR QB WR LB WR OL/LB OL OL OL LB/WR OL/QB DB OL LB OL LB WR DT WB/LB OL

Grade Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Jr. Sr. 7th Jr. Jr. 7th Soph. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Sr. 8th 8th 8th Jr. Jr. Jr.

ENTERPRISE HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Enterprise High School Bulldogs

Hard-nosed Bulldogs stick with plan Enterprise hopes to run way to improvement in Division 7-2A By Jamie Wachter jwachter@themeridianstar.com

ENTERPRISE — Hard-nosed football runs deep in Enterprise. About as deep as the length of time the Bulldogs have utilized their physical style of play. And that run-first style isn’t about to

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change, ninth-year head coach Joel Speed said as the Bulldogs look to improve on last year’s 6-5 mark and playoff berth. “Generally speaking, here, this has always been a program where whether it’s been coach (L.J.) Davis or coach (Jud) Gartman or myself, that we’re going to look and try to run the football,” Speed said. “That usually suits us best with the kids we generally have come through here. Occasionally we may get some receiver types and a quarterback that can throw it 30 times a game. But it’s rare that we get the quarterback and 3-4 receivers that you can throw it that many times. “Our kids take a lot of pride in running the football or trying to run the football. That’s something the parents here that played here have done the same thing, and that won’t change. We’re going to try and run the football, and then if we think we can do play-action or some different things to throw the ball to keep the defensive backs and all of 11 of them from pil-

BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 5-6 2010 finish: Lost 38-0 to Bassfield in first round of Class 2A playoffs Head coach: Joel Speed (ninth year, 55-38) League: Division 7-2A Speed 2011 schedule Aug. 26 Lamar Sept. 2 at Poplarville Sept. 9 Union Sept. 16 Lake Sept. 22 at Choctaw Central Sept. 30 Bay Springs Oct. 7 at Clarkdale Oct. 14 Mize Oct. 21 at Taylorsville Oct. 28 at Pisgah

2010 results Clarkdale Lake

27-20 34-18

ing up at the line of scrimmage, we’ll do it.” And with senior Maxwell Harmon back for his third year starting at quarterback, the Bulldogs possess the weapon in the

Union North Forrest Seminary Taylorsville Mize St. Andrew's Bay Springs Stringer • Bassfield

27-25 7-32 21-34 7-55 12-35 34-28 20-14 14-28 0-38 • — denotes playoff game

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 70-46

5-6• 6-5• 8-3• 11-3• 10-2• 3-7 5-6• 7-6• 9-3• 6-5•

• — denotes playoff appearance

backfield to throw it when they need to. Harmon threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns last season, while adding 459

See ENTERPRISE on page 55

QUITMAN HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Young Panthers will lean on defense Quitman lost 24 seniors off 2010 division champs "Our strong point has got to be our defense this year," said Douglass. "We lost a lot of guys last year, 24 seniors. Most of our At this time last year things experience and people that are were looking very good for sixthcoming back are on the defensive year Quitman head coach John side of the ball so we are going to Douglass. He had 16 of his 22 rely on those guys a lot this year starters returning. to keep us in ballgames and what That team went on to capture the Division 5-4A crown, compiled not." Some of the players Douglass an 8-5 record and made it to the second round of the Class 4A play- will look for to step up are seniors Fred McGruder, Eric Ransom, offs. Bakarri Rembert, Aldarius However, this year Quitman will be without 24 of those players Hopson, Montrell Owens and Phakezian Walker. These battlethat were lost to graduation. Douglass believes that defense tested upperclassmen are spread out evenly in the defense with will have to be the Panthers’ McGruder and Ransom anchoring strong point in 2011 if they are to be successful. The experience that the defensive front, while Rembert and Hopson lead the remains from the 2010 team is linebacking corp. Owens and concentrated on that side of the ball. Walker will try and make big By Daniel Rigdon

drigdon@themeridianstar.com

PANTHERS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 8-5 2010 finish: Lost 28-22 to St. Stanislaus in second round of Class 4A playoffs Head coach: John Douglass (sixth year, 31-26) League: Division 54A Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16

Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28

SE Lauderdale NE Lauderdale at Laurel West Lauderdale at NE Jones at Newton County 2010 results

Douglass

2011 schedule Neshoba Central Greene County at Heidelberg at Meridian at North Forrest

plays and hits at the cornerback and safety positions. Offensively, Quitman will continue to rely on its speed as it has the past couple of years. However, the Panthers will have to face this season without last year starting quarterback and The Meridian Star Player of the Year Eric Godette taking the snaps. QHS

Pearl Heidelberg Louisville Meridian Bassfield Lawrence County NE Lauderdale Laurel West Lauderdale NE Jones

18-16 39-0 14-26 0-20 16-41 43-24 22-23 41-34 42-14 30-0

also will have to replace the majority of its offensive line. "We've still got a lot of speed coming back on offense," added Douglass. "I think the big thing we have to replace is the offensive line. Four of the five guys that had started for us on the line for two years are gone. We're really inexperienced up there and not nearly

South Jones • Newton County • St. Stanislaus

28-14 40-14 22-28

• — denotes playoff game

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 60-51

8-5• 6-6• 10-2• 5-5 2-8 5-5• 4-5 7-5• 4-7• 9-3•

• — denotes playoff appearance

as talented as we have been in the past, but you know those guys are working hard and they’re coming along. "We are going to have to be pretty creative at times to help those guys out and hopefully take a little pressure off them."

See PANTHERS on page 55

AREA DIVISON STANDINGS Division 3-6A Overall Region W L W L PF PA Meridian 14 1 7 0 427 120 Brandon 7 6 5 2 316 219 Natchez 9 3 5 2 376 202 Oak Grove 8 5 5 2 357 272 Hattiesburg 4 7 3 4 158 280 Terry 4 7 2 5 214 305 Wingfield 3 8 1 6 147 307 Jim Hill 1 10 0 7 84 373 Class 6A First Round Brandon 28, George County 0 Gulfport 38, Natchez 27 Meridian 22, Ocean Springs 0 Oak Grove 35, Petal 34 Madison Central 48, Tupelo 10 NW Rankin 36, Southaven 33 Olive Branch 42, Clinton 14 South Panola 56, Grenada 0 Class 6A Second Round Meridian 37, Gulfport 7 Oak Grove 37, Brandon 12 Madison Central 27, NW Rankin 20 South Panola 24, Olive Branch 13 Class 6A South State Meridian 34, Oak Grove 0 Class 6A North State South Panola 43, Madison Central 7 Class 6A State Championship South Panola 28, Meridian 7 Division 2-5A Overall Region W L W L PF Ridgeland 13 1 7 0 435 Pearl 8 4 6 1 394 Callaway 9 3 5 2 330 Provine 5 7 4 3 223 Neshoba 5 6 3 4 289 Canton 3 8 2 5 240 Lanier 3 8 1 6 187 Yazoo City 2 8 0 6 146 Class 5A First Round Brookhaven 23, Long Beach 21 Vancleave 34, Picayune 23 Wayne County 35, Moss Point 28 West Jones 31, D’Iberville 7 New Hope 46, Callaway 22

PA 291 306 216 232 231 363 297 247

Oxford 49, Pearl 14 Ridgeland 31, Lake Cormorant 19 West Point 36, Provine 14 Class 5A Second Round Brookhaven 21, Wayne County 14 West Jones 25, Vancleave 0 Ridgeland 34, New Hope 27 West Point 27, Oxford 12 Class 5A South State Brookhaven 27, West Jones 26 Class 5A North State West Point 47, Ridgeland 0 Class 5A State Championship West Point 21, Brookhaven 3 Division 5-4A Overall Region W L W L PF PA Quitman 8 5 4 1 355 253 Laurel 7 5 3 2 309 244 NE Laud. 8 5 3 2 305 262 NE Jones 4 8 2 3 136 243 South Jones 4 5 2 3 174 160 West Laud. 1 10 1 4 113 300 Division 6-4A Mendenhall 10 5 5 0 391 276 Magee 7 4 4 1 244 209 Florence 4 7 3 2 282 284 Newton Co. 6 5 3 2 237 217 Raymond 2 9 1 4 133 284 Richland 3 8 0 5 150 276 Class 4A First Round Forrest County AHS 37, Port Gibson 14 Laurel 41, Florence 16 Mendenhall 25, NE Jones 22 NE Lauderdale 40, Magee 18 North Pike 26, Greene County 22 Purvis 30, South Pike 0 Quitman 40, Newton County 14 St. Stanislaus 30, Lawrence County 21 Center Hill 35, Itawamba AHS 21 Greenwood 14, Amory 7 Kosciusko 33, Cleveland 10 Lafayette County 49, North Pontotoc 7 Louisville 32, Greenwood Elzy 8 New Albany 45, Tunica Rosa Fort 9 Noxubee County 37, Lexington McClain 0 Shannon 48, Senatobia 26 Class 4A Second Round

Forrest Co. AHS 22, NE Lauderdale 17 Mendenhall 27, Purvis 21 North Pike 38, Laurel 30 St. Stanislaus 28, Quitman 22 Lafayette County 44, Louisville 12 New Albany 28, Kosciusko 0 Noxubee County 12, Center Hill 6 Shannon 42, Greenwood 8 Class 4A Quarterfinals Mendenhall 27, St. Stanislaus 21 North Pike 14, Forrest County AHS 10 Lafayette County 35, New Albany 0 Noxubee County 28, Shannon 7 Class 4A South State North Pike 20, Mendenhall 0 Class 4A North State Lafayette County 20, Noxubee County 0 Class 4A State Championship Lafayette County 31, North Pike 6 Division 5-3A Overall Region W L W L PF PA Philadelphia 12 1 5 0 540 112 SE Laud. 10 3 4 1 301 188 Choctaw Cen. 7 5 3 2 254 348 Clarkdale 3 9 2 3 188 400 Kemper Co. 2 9 1 4 243 209 Heidelberg 1 10 0 5 140 380 Class 3A First Round Forest 49, Clarkdale 0 Franklin County 27, Collins 6 Hazlehurst 32, West Marion 0 Jefferson County 28, Seminary 23 Morton 22, Choctaw Central 12 Philadelphia 42, Raleigh 20 SE Lauderdale 36, Velma Jackson 26 Tylertown 63, St. Patrick 0 Aberdeen 50, Kossuth 6 Belmont 43, South Pontotoc 0 Charleston 69, Riverside 6 Cleveland East Side 38, South Delta 18 Leland 18, Marks Palmer 14 Ruleville 30, Leflore County 24 Water Valley 28, Corinth 0 Winona 37, Booneville 21 Class 3A Second Round Forest 43, Franklin County 7 Hazlehurst 16, Philadelphia 14

Jefferson County 58, Morton 20 Tylertown 31, SE Lauderdale 7 Aberdeen 42, Leland 0 Belmont 49, Cleveland East Side 26 Water Valley 31, Ruleville 0 Winona 28, Charleston 13 Class 3A Quarterfinals Forest 30, Hazlehurst 0 Tylertown 33, Jefferson County 12 Aberdeen 37, Belmont 14 Winona 10, Water Valley 7 Class 3A South State Forest 21, Tylertown 0 Class 3A North State Aberdeen 28, Winona 0 Class 3A State Championship Forest 10, Aberdeen 8 Division 5-2A Overall Region W L W L PF PA Scott Central 10 3 5 0 376 187 Union 6 7 3 2 342 309 Newton 6 6 3 2 253 338 Pelahatchie 6 6 3 2 283 305 Lake 4 6 1 4 235 314 Pisgah 5 6 0 5 287 341 Division 7-2A Taylorsville 13 1 4 0 436 150 Mize 10 4 3 1 348 281 Stringer 4 8 2 2 236 284 Enterprise 5 6 1 3 203 327 Bay Springs 0 10 0 4 54 301 Class 2A First Round Bassfield 38, Enterprise 0 Lumberton 39, Stringer 14 Mize 27, East Marion 20 Puckett 39, Pelahatchie 0 Scott Central 31, Madison-St. Joseph 13 Taylorsville 33, North Forrest 6 Union 47, Loyd Star 14 Wesson 42, Newton 8 Baldwyn 58, West Lowndes 24 Calhoun City 40, Hamilton 3 Coahoma Co. 26, Greenville O’Bannon 6 East Webster 35, Bruce 20 Eupora 26, Walnut 13 Hollandale Simmons 38, Broad Street 26

Mound Bayou JFK 39, Coahoma AHS 12 West Bolivar 52, West Tallahatchie 0 Class 2A Second Round Bassfield 46, Wesson 0 Lumberton 44, Puckett 36 Mize 21, Scott Central 10 Taylorsville 33, Union 12 Calhoun CIty 48, Hollandale Simmons 6 Coahoma Co. 26, Baldwyn 9 East Webster 38, Mound Bayou JFK 12 West Bolivar 14, Eupora 6 Class 2A Quarterfinals Lumberton 52, Mize 14 Taylorsville 42, Bassfield 41 Calhoun City 23, East Webster 21 West Bolivar 28, Coahoma Co. 14 Class 2A South State Lumberton 18, Taylorsville 6 Class 2A North State Calhoun City 30, West Bolivar 19 Class 2A State Championship Lumberton 26, Calhoun City 24 MAIS Division 3-AA Overall Region W L W L PF PA Simpson Aca. 9 3 4 0 377 163 Leake Aca. 11 3 3 1 543 218 Lamar 5 6 2 2 302 274 Canton Aca. 3 8 1 3 169 335 Hillcrest Chr. 0 11 0 4 160 446 Class AA First Round North Delta 34, Manchester Aca. 0 Simpson Aca. 35, Lamar 14 Winston Aca. 32, Indianola Aca. 7 Leake Aca. 30, Marshall Aca. 0 River Oaks (La.) 35, Central Hinds 0 Centerville Aca. 34, Bowling Green 7 Brookhaven Aca. 52, Adams Christian 28 Cenla Christian 16, Central Private 6 Class AA Second Round Leake Aca. 23, Winston Aca. 21 North Delta 28, Simpson Aca. 17 Brookhaven Aca. 50, Cenla Christian 18 River Oaks (La.) 21, Centreville Aca. 13 Class AA South State River Oaks (La.) 17, Brookhaven Aca. 14 Class AA North State

Leake Aca. 42, North Delta 35, OT Class AA State Championshio River Oaks (La.) 40, Leake Aca. 13 MAIS Division 5-A Overall Region W L W L PF PA Univ. Chr. 9 3 3 0 335 180 Newton Aca. 7 5 2 1 332 344 Porter’s Chap. 5 6 1 2 261 302 Russell Chr. 2 8 0 3 130 447 Class A First Round Newton Aca. 38, Claiborne (La.) 34 Sylva-Bay Aca. 71, Tallulah (La.) 6 Trinity Episopal 41, Wayne Aca. 13 Univ. Christian 31, Riverfield (La.) 14 DeSoto (Ark.) 33, Bayou Aca. 0 Tri-County Aca. 48, Immanuel Christian 0 Tunica Aca. 48, Greenville Christian 7 Winona Christian 28, Benton Aca. 7 Second Round Sylva-Bay Aca. 38, Newton Aca. 0 Trinity Episcopal 55, Univ. Christian 14 Tri-County Aca. 35, DeSoto (Ark.) 28 Tunica Aca. 27, Winona Christian 6 Class A South State Trinity Episcopal 43, Sylva-Bay Aca. 13 Class A North State Tri-County Aca. 21, Tunica Aca. 14 Class A State Championship Trinity Episcopal 46, Tri-County Aca. 14 MAIS 8-Man District 1 Overall Region W L W L PF PA Kemper Aca. 10 0 6 0 533 84 Central Aca. 10 2 5 1 408 298 N. Sunflower 6 3 4 2 364 172 Veritas 6 4 3 3 322 378 Calvary Chr. 4 6 2 4 274 317 Delta Aca. 2 7 1 5 134 340 Calhoun Aca. 1 9 0 6 186 357 8-Man Semifinals Kemper Aca. 80, Briarfield (La.) 20 Central Aca. 22, Tensas (La.) 20 State Championship Kemper Aca. 56, Central Aca. 18

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL

Newton High School Tigers

Tigers aim to elevate game along with class By Jamie Wachter

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NEWTON — Ed Stanley's first season at the helm of Newton High School has to be qualified a success: a trip to the Class 2A playoffs and a berth in a division championship game. However, Stanley knows the task is much tougher heading into his second season as his Tigers have now moved up to Class 3A. “Last year was a getting to know year for the players and coaches,” Stanley said. “Last year was a good year that we can build off of, but it really has taken a turn with the move up that we really haven't had much time to think about the fact we played for a division championship last year. And that was a very good thing for us. “Now we've moved up to Class 3A and our division is much tougher and our schedule is much tougher. But we're a much better team.” Part of Stanley's optimism surrounding the improvement of the Tigers stems from the familiarity between the players and the coaches' expectations. Nowhere is that more evident than in the offseason weightlifting program. “Our kids have gotten more acquainted with how we want to practice,” he explained. “We've gotten better, but the challenge has really been out there for us

in moving up in classification. “We've had a very good offseason and a very good summer. We've improved tremendously in the weight room, even if we haven't had long enough. It usually takes three or four years to get your program established and we're only in our second year. But they are working hard. I can see a lot of improvement.” That increased strength will be needed as Stanley is looking for Newton to improve its running attack as a way to compete in Division 5-3A. “We've really worked hard at getting better at running the football,” he said as J.J. Brown is among the Tigers competing at running back. “We're going to try and utilize our speed in running the football. We're going to try and use motion as help to our running game and passing game. “We've got guys that run well and we want to get them the ball more in the run game.” Beside them in the backfield will be returning quarterback DeKarion Beasley and Junior Watts, who missed last season after being injured in a car accident. Beasley, a senior, threw for 1,938 yards and 11 touchdowns last year while rushing for 378 more. “He's a very good athlete and will probably be playing in a dual role as a quarterback and running back,” Stanley said.

See NEWTON on page 56

NEWTON COUNTY ACADEMY

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Speedy Generals look to run to title GENERALS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 7-5 2010 finish: Lost 38-14 to Sylva-Bay Academy in second round of MAIS Class A playoffs Head coach: Robert Roberts (sixth year, 26-28) League: MAIS Division 4-A

Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28

Roberts

Tri-County Aca. Sylva-Bay Aca. Russell Christian Wayne Aca. University Christian Leake Aca. Hillcrest Christian Porter's Chapel • Claiborne (La.) Aca. • Sylva-Bay Aca.

20-26 14-58 62-29 28-26 6-7 6-59 54-26 40-27 38-34 14-38

• — denotes playoff game

2011 schedule at Oak Hill Aca. Wayne Aca. Porter's Chapel Prentiss Christian at Heidelberg Aca. at Lamar Tri-County Aca. Leake Aca. at Park Place at Ben's Ford

2010 results Hebron Christian Heidelberg Aca.

By Jamie Wachter

38-0 26-14

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 47-58 All-time record: 141-250

7-5• 3-7 6-5• 6-5 4-6 6-4 8-3• 5-5 2-8 0-10

• — denotes playoff appearance

jwachter@themeridianstar.com

Robert Roberts isn’t used to this kind of Newton County Academy team. Heading into his sixth year at the helm of the Generals, Roberts has coached teams that won — NCA went 6-5 in 2007 and 2008 and finished 7-5 last year before falling to Sylva-Bay Academy in the second round of the MAIS Class A playoffs — but he hasn’t had a team that resembled this one. “We have more speed that we’ve ever had before,” he said. “We have four kids that run under 4.6, that are running in the 4.5s in the 40. “We have so much speed.” And the Generals, who open the season atop the MAIS Class A rankings from the Jackson ClarionLedger, plan to utilize that speed, especially on the defensive side. “We have a lot of speed on the defensive side,” Roberts added. “We’re going to put them out there Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star and let them go.” Newton County Academy running back Dillon That speed will come from linebackers Alex Williams runs past a Russell Christian Academy Harrison (a transfer from Newton County), Zach defender last season. Shelton, Kizer Ables and Regan Reiss (a transfer from Scott Central), as well as safety Thomas Jones ior Samuel Williams. The hope is those players play well enough that (also transferred in from Newton County) and cornerbacks Cody Hollingsworth and Joseph Little. Roberts won’t have to put Dillon Williams on the The defensive line will feature seniors Jentzen Jones, Kendall Roebuck and Mason Posey and jun- See GENERALS on page 56

Newton County Academy Generals

NEWTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Newton County Cougars

Cougars eye balanced spread attack By Jamie Wachter jwachter@themeridianstar.com

DECATUR — One thing Charlie Boren brought with him from Alabama when he took the Newton County job in April was the spread offense. But don't expect the Cougars to start throwing the football all over the field. Rather, Boren's spread offense relies on the run as he looks to get Newton County into the playoffs for the fifth straight season and for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons. The Cougars, who went 6-5 last season, open the season a week later than most schools, hosting Southeast Lauderdale on Aug. 26 in Boren's debut. “Football at any level, you've got to be

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able to run the football to have success,” said Boren, who amassed a 109-75 record in 17 seasons at four schools in Alabama. “There's obviously some things we're doing differently out of the spread concepts. “A lot of times when people hear spread, they think people all over the place throwing the football and not running it. We're still running the football. We're spreading the field, we want to make people defend the whole field, but we're still going to be running it.” Leading that charge at keeping the Cougars' offense running will be sophomore back Jamoral Graham. Last season, Graham led Newton County with 447 rushing yards while hauling in 17 passes (tied for the team lead) for 320 yards. He added 14 touch-

NEWTON COUNTY ROSTER No. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23

Name Joe Wansley Jamoral Graham Tevin Campbell Jadarus Patrick DeRyan Wansley Patrick Ross Zach May Ken Jones Jordan Walker DeAndre Wansley Jacob Edwards Davontae Smith Cole Ballard Roderick Smith Tommy Griffin Dan Nelson Xavier Sharkey Anterrian Martin Caleb Weaver

Grade Jr. Soph. Soph. Jr. 8th Fresh. Sr. Sr. Sr. Soph. 8th Jr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Sr. Jr.

No. 24 25 30 32 34 35 40 42 43 48 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 58 60

Name Grade Xavier Willis Sr. Sed Johnson Sr. Michael Lee Sr. Demetri Mcleon Jr. Demetrius Gooden Soph. Brandon Ellis Jr. David Brand Cale Hollingsworth Soph. Cody Buckley Soph. Lee Wallace Soph. Walter Williams Fresh. Wesley Finley Jr. A.J. Dendis Soph. Daniel McMahon Soph. Kieron Evans Soph. Charles Thorn Jr. Acea Ange Jr. Stefan McClellan Soph. Rusty Potts Soph.

downs. “He has all the talent in the world,” Boren said. Joining Graham in the backfield will be senior quarterback Jordan Walker, who threw for 656 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago. Among his leading targets will be junior Joe Wansley, sophomore DeAndre Wansley, eighth-grader DeRyan Wansley

No. 61 62 63 64 65 66 68 70 72 74 75 76 80 81 82 85 86 88

Name Tyler White Lee Jones Sammy Hand Lane Sessums Levonte Buckley Jamey Seals Charles Wansley Jacob Mason Michael Evans Bryant Wiliams Cameron Kelly

Grade Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Jr. Sr. Soph. Brandon Hollingsworth Soph. Lane Wilkerson Soph. Tim Ealy Fresh. Nathon Perkins Soph. Joseph Page Soph. Alex Harrison Jr. Brandon Davis Jr.

and senior Zach May, who didn't play football before but has starred for the Newton County baseball team. “We think we're two deep at receiver with guys that can play,” Boren said. “That may be our biggest strength heading into the year.

See COUGARS on page 58

KEMPER ACADEMY

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Kemper Academy Rams

Rams have undergone transformation after title RAMS AT A GLANCE

By Rocky Higginbotham Special to The Star

DEKALB — When Kemper Academy takes the field for its first game Aug. 19 at the Veritas School, head coach Pete McCleskey will officially have coached in parts of five decades. It's unlikely, however, McCleskey has ever seen a transformation for a team from one season to the next that's quite as drastic as the one undergone by his current squad in the last nine months. Kemper Academy put up jaw-dropping numbers during a record-setting, statechampionship season a year ago — when the Rams were unchallenged during a run to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools 8-Man crown. But while the Ram faithful was enjoying such eye-popping numbers as 53.3 points per game and more than 469 yards of offense per outing in last year's perfect, 10-0 campaign, consider these numbers for the 2011 squad: Just five lettermen return from 2010, and just three of them started last season. "Yep, things are different," McCleskey chuckled as his team entered its third week of practice for the 2011 season. Kemper rolled to its first-ever official

KEMPER ACADEMY ROSTER

Delta Aca. Tensas (La.) Aca. North Sunflower Veritas Calvary Christian Central Aca. • Briarfield (La.) Aca. • Central Aca.

2010 record: 10-0 2010 finish: Beat Central Academy 56-18 to win MAIS 8-Man state championship Head coach: Pete McCleskey (second year of current tenure, 10-0) League: MAIS 8-Man District 1

44-0 48-12 32-22 61-0 54-6 54-0 80-20 56-18 • — denotes playoff game

McCleskey

2011 schedule Aug. 19 at Veritas Aug. 26 Calvary Christian Sept. 2 North Sunflower Sept. 9 at Calhoun Aca. Sept. 16 Central Aca. Sept. 23 at Delta Aca. Oct. 7 at Calvary Christian Oct. 14 at Russell Christian Oct. 21 Marvell (Ark.) Aca. 2010 results Christian Collegiate Calhoun Aca.

68-0 36-6

state title last season with blazing speed, a stingy, swarming defense and depth not usually enjoyed in the 8-Man game. But after the Rams were hit extra heavy in the graduation department, McCleskey is trying to piece together a new team.

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 48-42

10-0• 4-5 7-3 10-0 1-0 1-9 4-6 3-7 5-5 3-7

No. 1 2 4 9 10 12 20 22 32 44 50 55 66 70 72

Name Dustin Davis Hayden Roberson Jordan Jones Lee James Tanner Hollingsworth Jason Craig Cole Thomas Hunter Hall Clint Quinn Glenn Rawson Jake Owen Cory Fleming Dalton Thomas Dow Hailey Dylan Bobo

Grade Soph. Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Sr. Fresh. Jr.

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• — denotes playoff appearance

A year ago, KA had the luxury of 12 seniors. This year, McCleskey hasn't had more than 10 high-schoolers. Among Kemper's 18-man roster are five

See RAMS on page 57

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THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

KEMPER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

Kemper County Wildcats

Wildcats ‘ready to move past’ 2010 By Rocky Higginbotham Special to The Star

DEKALB — Kemper County High School's 2010 football season has been wellchronicled as a year of "what ifs" after the Wildcats had a record-setting campaign nullified because of seven forfeited victories. But despite the bad taste of 2010, the loss of about a dozen key contributors and arguably the toughest non-division schedule in school history — the Wildcats are chomping at the bit to get their 2011 campaign started. "We can't change what happened to us last

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year, but we're ready to move past it," thirdyear Kemper County head coach Darryl Carter said. "It may have cost us a chance for a deep run in the playoffs ... we'll never know. But these guys are ready to move on." A year ago, Kemper had set a school record for wins in a season when — a few days prior to their regular-season finale with Heidelberg — the Wildcats were forced to forfeit seven victories because the Mississippi High School Activities Association determined KC used an ineligible player. The player in question was a transfer, and apparently, one sheet of paperwork wasn't filed properly. That cost Kemper County seven wins, a fine and probation. The MHSAA later lifted the probation and some of the other penalties, but the seven forfeits stood. On the field, Kemper won nine games and lost only to eventual state champion Forest and a Philadelphia team which finished 12-1. In the record books, the Wildcats were penciled in for a 2-9 season. Gone from that team are nine seniors including a quartet which signed with East Mississippi Community College. Two-way starters Geovontae Carter and Michael Castro have moved on, as have bookend twin tackles Robert and Roderick Miller, linebackers Michael Watts and Kenneth Davis, kicker

KEMPER COUNTY ROSTER No. 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 23

Name Willie McCray Zacharcian Thurman Nicholas Giles Joshua McClelland Trenard Rush Devonta Pollard Darren Bennoman Quinten Pollock Joman Davis Tyler Cole Zacchaeus Cole Anthony Ruffin Jonathan Jones Tevin Roberts Milon Roberts Christeon Crump Ladarius McCoy

Pos. RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB DB/WR WR/DB WR/DB TE/DE WR/DB QB/DB DB/WR DB/WR RB/DB RB/DB WR/DB LB/RB

Grade Soph. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fresh. Sr. Jr. Fresh. Jr.

Chad Hickman and about four others who were expected to contribute but are no longer with the team for various reasons. But don't go feeling sorry just yet for Carter — who guided the school to its firstever home playoff game in 2009. His leading rusher and leading tackler from a year ago both return, as do at least a dozen others who contributed last season.

No. 24 25 28 30 34 50 52 54 55 56 57 60 61 68 70 75

Name Devante Vickers Charles Cross Roshard Simmons Quynndarius Pettus Steven Brazie Tevin Williams Graylin Watt Jaquan Craig Givante Oliver J Karie Johnson Tabias Rencher Drahcir Hoskins Javon Sanders Thomas White Jamorris Cole Fre'Deric Bourrage

Pos. RB/DB DL/TE LB/DB DL/LB LB/DB OL/DL OL/LB LB/DL LB/OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL

Grade Soph. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Soph.

"We did lose some good guys in key spots," Carter said. "But with the lineups and rotations we used last year, we have several guys who have some experience." Senior tailback Tevin Roberts heads up that list after he scampered for 1,595 rushing yards in a breakout season a year ago. Carter

See KEMPER on page 57

CHOCTAW CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Confident Warriors hope to build off ’10 By Jamie Wachter

right pieces to complement the 305pounder. “We're short on linemen this year,” Savell said. “Our skill guys CHOCTAW — After eight straight losing seasons and 11 con- are looking pretty good, but we're hurting on linemen. If we can get a secutive years without a winning line beat into shape, we should be record, Choctaw Central broke OK. But that is where we're hurtthrough in 2010. Now the chore for the Warriors ing right now.” But if Choctaw is able to piece will be to build off that 7-5 mark together an offensive line, Savell is and first playoff appearance since optimistic about the Warriors' 1996. Helping that cause will be the chances, thanks to some talented confidence boost Choctaw got from players at the skill positions. Those the breakthrough season. talented Warriors are led by quar“It meant a lot for the kids,” sec- terback Janerra Bollin, a junior. In ond-year Choctaw head coach Troy spot duty last year, he completed Savell said. “We, as coaches, under- just three passes, although two stand it had a lot to do with our went for touchdowns. But he also schedule. If we had played some added 39 yards rushing and had a tougher games, we probably don't team-high 21 receptions for 291 have the record we did. yards. “But it helped a lot in getting us “He's made great strides,” Savell to believe. And these kids are play- said. “He's throwing the ball better ing hard, and if you play hard you and he's faster than what he was can overcome a lot.” last year. We're looking for big To do that, though, the Warriors things from him. will have to overcome slim pickings “We're spreading people out and on the offensive line. While senior going to let Janerra run the show. center Blake Edwards returns, He's our best athlete and he's the fastest. So why should we have him Choctaw is still trying to find the jwachter@themeridianstar.com

WARRIORS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 7-5 2010 finish: Lost 22-12 to Morton in first round of Class 3A playoffs Head coach: Troy Savell (second year, 7-5) League: Division 53A Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 22 Sept. 30

Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.

7 14 21 28

Kemper County SE Lauderdale at Newton Philadelphia 2010 results

Savell

2011 schedule at Leake Central at Union Newton County Cherokee (N.C.) Enterprise at Heidelberg

hand the ball off all the time.” With Bollin moving to behind center, Kanyon Jimmie, Braxton Amos, Dalton Clegg and Demarquis Wilson look to be his chief targets. Jimmie, also a junior, had a team-leading six touchdown catches last year, hauling in 16 passes for 247 yards. Amos has emerged as Choctaw's top leader

Noxapater Union Newton County Cherokee (N.C.) Morton Ackerman Heidelberg Kemper County SE Lauderdale Clarkdale Philadelphia • Morton

33-13 30-10 24-45 33-28 6-48 21-18 32-14 0-52^ 0-33 50-20 13-45 12-22

and Clegg may be the most talented Warrior of all. “(Clegg) would be the best player to come through here in eight years,” Savell added. “He would be the first one I would tell college coaches that he's a Division I prospect. He's 6-1 or 6-2 and 210220 pounds and probably the strongest player on the team.

Choctaw Central Warriors

• — denotes playoff game ^ — denotes forfeit win

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 33-69 All-time record: 225-216-1

7-5• 5-6 1-9 2-8 3-7 3-6 0-10 4-6 3-7 5-5

• — denotes playoff appearance

“He played a little last year but didn't have any belief or confidence in himself. He made it through the spring game and finally started to realize he could play. He's been in the weight room all summer, working hard. You will hear big things from Dalton Clegg. Just wait and

See WARRIORS on page 58

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

NESHOBA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Neshoba Central Rockets

Rockets hope for health, trip back to playoffs Neshoba Central hasn’t advanced to postseason in eight seasons By Jamie Wachter jwachter@themeridianstar.com

PHILADELPHIA — Neshoba Central blasted off to a quick start in coach Chuck Friend's fourth year back at the helm. However injuries and off the field distractions soon short-circuited that success and the Rockets stumbled to a second straight 5-6 finish and missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season. But with a wealth of experience returning, Friend is hoping better health can lead to a better result. “We feel like we're getting close,” he said. “You've got to take a step back at times, but hopefully, we can take a couple steps forward this year. “We had a couple of good wins early and thought we were going to continue to have a good year. Injuries and some other things kind of took us out of it, and I don't think we ever recovered.” One of those Rockets that missed time last year was starting running back O'Neil McCarty. After rushing for almost 1,000 yards as a freshman, McCarty churned out 536 yards last year despite playing in

NESHOBA CENTRAL ROSTER

No. Name Grade Pos 1 Jimmy Russell DB Sr. 3 Josh Stewart QB Sr. 4 Darrion Burnside DB Jr. O'Neal McCarty RB Jr. just six games. The junior will be joined in 5 6 Cortez Peebles LB Sr. the backfield by fullback Kendrick Thomas McCool LB Jr. McKinney, who added 320 yards rushing. 7 9 Joel Whitney DB Sr. Also returning in the backfield are a pair of quarterbacks, senior Josh Stewart 10 Edrick McClendon WR Fresh. and sophomore Joseph Willis. Stewart, 11 Tanner Elrod DL Soph. who has started the past two seasons, 12 Joseph Willis QB Soph. threw for 206 yards and rushed for 515 14 Tanner Seales DB Jr. more along with seven total touchdowns. 16 Caleb Crenshaw K/WR Jr. Willis, meanwhile, passed for 383 yards 17 Josh Gaines FB Sr. and three scores. 18 Shundrick Russell DB Jr. “They are both working the position 19 Jamien Savage LB Jr. now,” Friend said. “They both will play. 21 Eric Carson DB Soph. Josh is one of our starting defensive 24 Roland Ellerby RB Sr. backs, and he's an excellent defensive 25 Christian Steele DL Soph. player. So they will probably split some 26 Desmond Rush DB Sr. time at quarterback.” 27 K.D. Monroe LB Jr. And the other key component to 28 Patrick Burrage RB Soph. Neshoba's run-oriented attack — the Damien Savage LB Jr. Rockets rushed for 2,830 yards last season 30 — is an experienced offensive line with 31 Kedrick McKinney FB Jr. four starters back in Jamaal White (a 36 Tanner Rhodes LB Jr. three-year starter), sophomores Ken Friend added. Edwards and John Brewer and junior One area where Neshoba doesn't have Adrian Dennis. Rounding out the offensive a good returning nucleus is on the defenfront will be Tyler Spears or Jacob sive line where tackle Syconi Seales is the Stewart, both juniors. lone returner. Looking to fill in around the “We've got a good nucleus on both sides of the ball that we can build off of,” junior are ends Chase Robinson and

No. 38 40 45 54 56 59 62 63 65 67 69 72 73 74 76 78 79 80 82 83 85 86 87 88

Name Devin Skinner Syconi Seales John Tubby Ken Edwards Adrian Dennis Ty Gilmer Tyler Spears Jacob Stewart Gregory Woodson Chase Robinson John Brewer James Kelly Scottie Stewart Kevin Golden Mitchell Savall Nigel Lyons Jamaal White Ryan Moore Alex Henderson Matthew Turcotte Jason Hardy Allen Buckley Will James Nick Warrick

Grade DB DL TE OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL DL DL DL OL OL OL TE TE TE TE DL WR TE

Pos Soph. Jr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Jr. Sr.

Christian Steele. “We're thin in a lot of spots,” Friend said. “We're going to have to rebuild our front a little bit.”

See ROCKETS on page 58

UNION HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Union High School Yellowjackets

’Jackets depending on backfield newcomers

Breland

2011 schedule Aug. 19 Nanih Waiya Aug. 26 Choctaw Central Sept. 2 at Clarkdale Sept. 9 at Enterprise Sept. 16 Leake Central Sept. 23 at Madison-St. Joseph Sept. 30 at Leake County Oct. 7 Pisgah Oct. 13 at Lake Oct. 21 at Sebastopol Oct. 28 Scott Central 2010 results Nanih Waiya Choctaw Central Clarkdale Enterprise

9-0 10-30 42-15 25-27

Sebastopol Kemper County Newton Pelahatchie Lake Scott Central Pisgah • Loyd Star • Taylorsville

28-29 24-30 40-22 29-34 41-28 0-26 35-21 47-14 12-33 • — denotes playoff game

Last 10 years 2010 6-7• 2009 7-5• 2008 5-5 2007 4-6 2006 10-3• 2005 9-2• 2004 10-2• 2003 6-4 2002 10-4• 2001 6-6• 10-year record: 73-44 Record since 1936: 352-385-24 • — denotes playoff appearance

Union returns experience from second-round playoff team By Jamie Wachter

Brad Breland said. “How does he manage the game, take care of the football, not turning it over and limit mistakes. If we have to UNION — Union returns its entire offen- punt, that's fine. We just don't want to turn it over.” sive line. The Yellowjackets bring back a While Union has plenty of experience pair of wide receivers and two punishing fullback off last year's 6-7 team that advanced to backs. the second round of the playoffs, the graduaHowever, it's the two holes that have to tion of quarterback Chance Lowery and runbe filled in the backfield that will determine ning back Forzetra Ealy leaves a pair of big how high these ’Jackets will fly in 2011. “The main thing is going to be how our See JACKETS on page 59 quarterback comes along,” 11th-year coach jwachter@themeridianstar.com

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YELLOWJACKETS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 6-7 2010 finish: Lost 33-12 to Taylorsville in second round of Class 2A playoffs Head coach: Brad Breland (11th year, 73-44) League: Division 5-2A

PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Tornadoes look to get over hump PHILADELPHIA ROSTER

By Daniel Rigdon drigdon@themeridianstar.com

Philadelphia had everything going its way in 2010. A Dandy Dozen linebacker in C.J. Johnson, an undefeated regular season and talent oozing out of its pores. Then came the road block. The Tornadoes, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, were upset by Hazlehurst 16-14 in the second round of the MHSAA playoffs. That was the third straight year Philly had made its exit in the second round. However, this year coach Teddy Dyess says they have searched the program to find a way to get over that hump. He also believes this is the best team he has had in his 20 years of coaching and that there is no ceiling on what this team can accomplish. "We are probably the best that we have been since I have been here," said Dyess. "This group has been together for five years now and they are a very good class. "After last year's loss to Hazlehurst we started to talk about what it was going to take to find those two points. There's something since I've been here where we've lost in close, close ballgames and we really have searched our program to try to find out what it's going to take to get over that hump."

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 23

Name Ray Kelly Caleb Moore Tyson Griffin Pat Conner Tevante Houston Medgal Peebles Caleb Gamblin Dustin Sullivan Montrel Jordan Abe Mars Latimer Smith Jajuan Fuller Tae Moore Malek Moore Anthony Triplett Lee Smith Josh Fulton Keaton Lang Romon Gray Marquise Matthews

Pos. WR WR LB DL LB DE WR DB LB WR LB WR QB LB DE DB RB

Grade Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Sr. Sr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Sr.

Getting over that hurdle will begin with a potent offense spearheaded by four-year starting quarterback Lee Smith. Dyess will look to wide receiver Latimer Smith to come up with some big plays, while relying on running back

No. 24 25 26 27 30 31 33 34 35 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55

Name Fent Mars Pat Seales Luke Eldridge T.J. Hudson Kenshon Henderson John Smith Jacardius Griffin Johntreal Pickens Ken Triplett Levondrick Carter Josh Rush KJ Peebles Kaylon Gray Hunter Ketteringham Breland Gardner Mark Hughes Zack Ingram Will Cole Jerron Bennett Aron McCarty

Grade LB WR WR DB DL DB RB LB DL DE

LB LB OL C

Pos Soph. Jr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Jr. Jr. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Sr. Fresh. Jr. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Sr.

Marquise Matthews, who rushed for more than 1,600 yards last season, to pound the football. In all, the Tornadoes return seven starters on the offensive side of the ball. "We've got a good nucleus on offense to

Philadelphia High School Tornadoes

No. 56 57 60 61 64 65 66 68 72 73 75 76 77 78 80 81 82 87 88 90

Name Vincent Moore Adrian Jones Darell Rosell Gray Moorehead Jarvis Jones Javon Ford Doug Taylor Jaylon Carter Grant Gordon Warchez Spencer Bradley Horne Chris Gill Tevin McNair Tamario Talley Kazio Harrington Chris Coburn Ron Clemens Calvin Moncrease Raheem Johnson Jojo Beard

Grade DE DL K C T T OL DL T T T G TE LB DB WR LB DB

Pos Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Sr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Sr. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Jr. Fresh.

build around," added Dyess. "There is nothing that is going to happen on a Friday night on that field that Lee hasn't seen before."

See TORNADOES on page 59

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

EMCC photo

East Mississippi Community College will begin play in the new Sullivan-Windham Field this season. The $4.7 million, 5,000-seat facility will host its first game Sept. 1 against Gulf Coast.

New home, same goals for EMCC Lions still eyeing championships in new Sullivan-Windham Field By Daniel Rigdon drigdon@themeridianstar.com

After an offseason of construction and hard work, the East Mississippi Community College football team will have a new home when it kicks off against defending MACJC state champion Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sept. 1. That new home being the new Sullivan-Windham Field, which seats 5,000. Even though the Lions welcome the $4.7 million facility, their goals remain just as they have been over the first three years of head coach Buddy Stephens’ tenure.

"Having the opportunity to play in a new stadium is something ever yone is excited about this year," Stephens said in a release. "It remains ver y special to me to be a part of EMCC's total commitment for our entire athletic program, and it is a tribute to our administration for enabling our sports teams to collectively compete for championships on some of the finest athletic facilities to be found anywhere. "One of the things we've done with this program is that we've come to expect to compete for championships ever y year here at EMCC, and this year is no dif-

LIONS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 5-5 2010 finish: Lost 48-21 to CopiahLincoln in first round of MACJC state playoffs Head coach: Buddy Stephens (fourth year, 24-8) League: MACJC North Division Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15

Sept. 22 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 27

Stephens

2011 schedule Gulf Coast at Hinds at Northwest

ferent." EMCC will look to rebound from a disappointing runner-up finish in the MACJC North Division and a .500 record in 2010. The Lions made their exit in the first round of the MACJC playoffs with a 48-21 loss to CopiahLincoln. That came on the heels of a state title and Mississippi Bowl win in 2009.

Itawamba Coahoma at Northeast at Pearl River Delta at Holmes

2010 results Mississippi Gulf Coast Hinds Northwest Mississippi Itawamba Coahoma Northeast Mississippi Pearl River Mississippi Delta

21-40 42-50 19-25 37-10 49-14 42-49 42-36 42-27

"We were ver y, ver y young last year and we were also ver y inmature," recalled Stephens. "This year's team has remained ver y business-like throughout the offseason. The players are staying motivated and now understand the need to work hard ever y day." This season, however, EMCC enters the season ranked No. 16

Holmes • Copiah-Lincoln

38-14 21-48

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2003 2001 10-year record: 42-51

5-5• 11-1• 8-2• 4-5 3-6 2-5 1-8 3-6 3-6 2-7

• — denotes playoff game

• — denotes playoff appearance

in the nation and armed with last year's offense that ranked fourth in the nation last season, looks to bring home its second state title and contend for a national title. The Lions return all of their starters on the offensive line, as well as a handful of receivers — including former Meridian

See EMCC on page 34

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

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THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

NORTH DIVISION SCHEDULES

EMCC from page 32

Coahoma

standouts Hamp Glover and J.J. Harbin as well as former Kemper County quarterback Lacoltan Bester. However, replacing NJCAA All-American quarterback Brad Henderson is a task yet to be accomplished. Arkansas State transfer Bo Wallace, Noxubee County's Termarcus Conner and former Starkville star Jaquez Johnson are all battling for the starting gig. Defensively, Stephens will look for the defensive line to be a cornerstone for the team. Last year the Lions struggled to stop the run. Still, this year's line consists of Division I prospects Denico Autr y — one of the top junior college recruits in the nation — and Damien Jacobs, along with former MHS star Lauren Jackson and Alabama commit Brandon Moore will look to put that memor y to rest. "They are really good," said defensive coordinator and associate head coach William Jones. "We are going to be able to do just about anything we want. It's going to be fun to watch these guys play." In the three years Stephens has been at the helm in Scooba, he has compiled a record of 24-8 (16-2 in division play.) He believes with this year's team has the talent and chemistr y to compete not only for a state title, but a national championship. "We have the talent and ability, along with the team makeup to compete for a state championship,” he said. “With a little luck, we can compete for a national title."

Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 22 Oct. 27

Copiah-Lincoln at Jones County at Holmes Northwest Mississippi at East Mississippi Itawamba Northeast Mississippi at Mississippi Gulf Coast at Mississippi Delta

Holmes Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 22 Oct. 27

at Southwest Mississippi Copiah-Lincoln Coahoma at Northeast Mississippi Jones County Mississippi Delta at Itawamba at Northwest Mississippi East Mississippi

Itawamba Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27

at Hinds Pearl River East Central at East Mississippi Mississippi Delta at Coahoma Holmes at Northeast Mississippi Northwest Mississippi

Mississippi Delta Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 22 Oct. 27

at Jones County Mississippi Gulf Coast Northeast Mississippi Hinds at Itawamba at Holmes Northwest Mississippi at East Mississippi Coahoma

Northeast Mississippi Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27

East Central Southwest Mississippi at Mississippi Delta Holmes at Northwest Mississippi East Mississippi at Coahoma Itawamba at Copiah-Lincoln

Northwest Mississippi

EMCC photos

Above, East Mississippi Community College wide receiver J.J. Harbin, a former Meridian star, hauls in a pass down the sideline last season. L e f t, EMCC defensive lineman Denico Autry is one of the top junior college prospects in the nation.

Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 22 Oct. 27

Pearl River at East Central East Mississippi at Coahoma Northeast Mississippi at Southwest Mississippi at Mississippi Delta Holmes at Itawamba

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ECCC looking for good things and defensive side of the ball. ECCC ranked fourth in total offense and second in total defense East Central Community College in the MACJC and in the top 20 head coach Brian Anderson is excit- nationally. However, East Central still stumed about what is to come for his bled to a 2-7 record despite being football team this season. And why close in almost every contest. shouldn't he be with 2011 marking Costly turnovers and a sub-par the first time the third-year coach has had a team made up of entirely special teams unit plagued the Warriors throughout the season. his own recruits. Anderson was tabbed as the That is something that Anderson interim head coach in 2009 before has spent a lot of time rectifying having the interim tag removed last during recruiting and summer pracyear. tices. "I think that it's important to us "We weren't consistent in special because it's our first year as a staff teams last year," added Anderson. going through an entire recruiting "The thing that excites me about season from start to finish," said this year's team is that when you Anderson. "Every player we have is play well both offensively and one that this staff has recruited. I defensively you give yourself a think we were able to get not only chance to win. When you can't do it good players, but good people. I in the kicking game you are going think our character has improved. I to come up short in a lot of games. think these guys are going to gel." We've got a good punter this year, In 2010, the Warriors enjoyed as good as any in the league in Rob great success on both the offensive Moffett and our kicker Dylan

WARRIORS AT A GLANCE

By Daniel Rigdon

drigdon@themeridianstar.com

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

East Central Community College running back Brandon Willis, a former Philadelphia star, eyes running room last season.

2010 record: 2-7 2010 finish: Lost 20-15 to Southwest Mississippi in regular season finale Head coach: Brian Anderson (second year, 2-7) League: MACJC South Division Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15

Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 27

Anderson

2011 schedule at Northeast Northwest at Itawamba

Alford, we are pleased with. They are better than good at both of those positions so we are excited about special teams. "Absolutely turnovers were a big factor in how we fared last year. That is a big thing we had to address. That's a mental thing and a taking care of the football thing. I think we have a quarterback this

Pearl River at Hinds Gulf Coast at Jones County Co-Lin at Southwest

2010 results Northeast Mississippi Northwest Mississippi Itawamba Pearl River Hinds Mississippi Gulf Coast Jones County

6-34 26-41 14-21 13-44 37-35 16-42 24-14

year that's going to be that coach on the field and understand those situations and the things that you've got to do and the things that you can't do." The quarterback the Warriors will look to for leadership is freshman Mitch Manley, who takes over the reins from starter Blake Matherne, who departed for Mary

Copiah-Lincoln Southwest Mississippi Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 30-59

35-42 15-20 2-7 2-7 4-5 2-7 2-7 3-4 4-5 2-7 3-6 6-4â&#x20AC;˘

Hardin Baylor. Manley was a preseason All-State selection his senior year in Texas. Manley will look to returning wideouts Reggie Hall and Corey Collier to be his biggest targets through the air. Hall will also handle kickoff and punt return duties.

See ECCC on page 36

ECCC from page 35 Also adding to the receiving corps is freshman Greg Timmons. Timmons was tabbed as the top receiver in Texas in

EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE 2009 and was a Parade AllAmerican. Lavadius Lyles, of Forest, will take on the starting role at running back for the Warriors. With all the firepower on the offensive side, Anderson is more

excited about what the defense has to offer. Spearheading that defensive unit, which allowed just 279 yards per game in 2010, is honorable mention All-American linebacker Chris Ficklin. Ficklin

led the state and was second in the nation in tackles in his freshman year. "We are going to look to him (Ficklin) for a lot," said Anderson. "He's a tremendous leader for us."

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

SOUTH DIVISION SCHEDULES Copiah-Lincoln Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 27

at Coahoma at Holmes Hinds at Jones County Southwest Mississippi at Pearl River Mississippi Gulf Coast at East Central Northeast Mississippi

Hinds Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29

Itawamba East Mississippi at Copiah-Lincoln at Mississippi Delta East Central Jones County at Southwest Mississippi Pearl River at Mississippi Gulf Coast

Jones County Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 27

Mississippi Delta Coahoma at Mississippi Gulf Coast Copiah-Lincoln at Holmes at Hinds East Central Southwest Mississippi at Pearl River

Mississippi Gulf Coast Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29

at East Mississippi at Mississippi Delta Jones County at Southwest Mississippi Pearl River at East Central at Copiah-Lincoln Coahoma Hinds

Pearl River Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 27

at Northwest Mississippi at Itawamba Southwest Mississippi at East Central at Mississippi Gulf Coast Copiah-Lincoln East Mississippi at Hinds Jones County

Southwest Mississippi

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

East Central Community College wide receiver Reggie Hall looks for an opening against Northeast Mississippi Community College last season.

Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 27

Holmes at Northeast Mississippi at Pearl River Mississippi Gulf Coast at Copiah-Lincoln Northwest Mississippi Hinds at Jones County East Central

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

OLE MISS

Rebels aim to surprise in SEC By David Brandt

last season. “We want to be a physical football team,” Nutt said. “We have a big, outstanding g offensive line. I want them to continue to OXFORD — During Houston Nutt’s 14get better, get better chemistry, be better year coaching career in the Southeastern Conference, he’s been known to turn a team blockers.” Nutt still hasn’t settled on a starting with low expectations into one of the quarterback. He’s said a three-man position Southeastern Conference’s best. Maybe that’s a good thing for Mississippi. battle between sophomore Barry Brunetti and juniors Randall Mackey, who was an Few expect the Rebels to compete in what NJCAA All-American at East Mississippi looks like a loaded SEC Western Division. Community College, and Zack Stoudt could “That doesn’t bother me,” Nutt said. “I last most of August. The coaches have indidon’t worry about that. I like the position. cated Brunetti, a 6-foot-0, 213-pound transAgain, it’s about what you do on the field in between those lines. You just want a team to fer from West Virginia, has a slight edge in play with an unbelievable amount of passion the race. “He’s really had command of the huddle and spirit ... I love our attitude right now.” the first two days and I think he’s throwing Nutt’s three years at Ole Miss have promuch better,” Nutt said. “But he knows duced some spectacular highs and lows. The Rebels won back-to-back Cotton Bowls he’ll have competition and to me that’s a coach’s best friend. in 2008 and ’09, winning a combined 18 Brunetti and Mackey, a 5-foot-11, 195games for their best two-year stretch in 40 pounder who redshirted last season after years. transferring from EMCC, are both dualBut the program’s fall last season was threat quarterbacks who are just as comequally dramatic. The Rebels finished with a fortable running as throwing. At 6-foot-4 4-8 record and a 1-7 mark in the SEC, puncand 222 pounds, Stoudt is more of a protuated by losses to Football Championship style quarterback who likes to stay in the Subdivision program Jacksonville State and pocket and use his strong arm to deliver a second-straight loss to rival Mississippi passes downfield. State. They’ve been working with new offenNow in his fourth season, the Rebels are sive coordinator David Lee, a veteran coach looking for improvement and stability. who was with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins “Nobody wants to go through what hapthe past three seasons working with quarpened last year again,” junior linebacker terbacks. Joel Kight said. “It wasn’t fun. But we feel “Especially with these freshmen coming like we’ve got the guys to turn this around in, we feel like we’ve got more bullets to quickly.” use,” Lee said. “We can’t ask any of our During the preseason’s early practices, quarterbacks to be perfect because none of it’s become obvious Ole Miss will rely on them have much game experience. But we several true freshmen. Receivers Nickolas do have to avoid disasters.” Brassell, Donte Moncrief and Tobias The Ole Miss defense returns five Singleton could all have prominent roles starters, including sixth-year senior immediately. Nutt is also high on linebacker Kentrell Lockett. The 6-foot-5, 248-pound C.J. Johnson, a former Philadelphia High Lockett should give the Rebels some needstar, and cornerbacks Chief Brown and ed experience. He had 10 tackles for a loss Senquez Golson. and five sacks in 2009, but missed most of All six freshmen are from Mississippi. last season with a knee injury. “We went back to square one and started Unlike the last few seasons, when the with recruiting,” Nutt said. “Felt like we got Rebels’ defense produced NFL draft picks a lot of momentum. Got the best players out like Peria Jerry, Kendrick Lewis and Jerrell of Mississippi.” Powe, this year’s group is void of superOle Miss returns nine starters on stars. offense, including the entire offensive line. But defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix Left tackle is anchored by 6-foot-7, 315said the lack of egos might be a good thing. pound senior Bradley Sowell, who enters Ole Miss gave up more than 35 points per his third season as the starter. game last season, which ranked last in the The team’s three top running backs from league. a year ago — Brandon Bolden, Jeff Scott “We have hopefully 11 guys who love and Enrique Davis — also return. Bolden, a each other and want to lay it on the line 5-foot-11, 221-pound senior, has been a con- every play out there,” Nix said. “When you stant in the backfield for three seasons, and have that accountability, that focus and that rushed for 976 yards and 14 touchdowns Ole Miss freshman C.J. Johnson stretches during practice Aug. 7 in Oxford. love, that’s when great things happen.” AP Sports Writer

Associated Press

MISSISSIPPI STATE

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Bulldogs have no issue with high hopes By David Brandt AP Sports Writer

STARKVILLE — For the first time in a long time, there’s chatter that Mississippi State might be one of the better teams in the Southeastern Conference this year. The Bulldogs return much of their team from a 9-4 season that included wins over Florida, Georgia and Michigan. But for a program that hasn’t been consistently near the top of the SEC since the late 1990s, high expectations are almost a foreign concept. Such expectations have crushed seasons before, but Mississippi State’s third-year coach Dan Mullen doesn’t see any issues. ‘‘I’m sure our expectations are even higher than anybody in the media or how anybody votes us,’’ Mullen said. ‘‘Our goals are to get to Atlanta. Nobody picked us first (in the Western Division) so our expectations are even higher than everybody else.’’ It’s true that even though Mississippi State has newfound respect in the SEC, the program is often lost in the shuffle behind defending national champion Auburn, along with perennial powerhouse programs like Alabama, LSU and Arkansas. As good as the Bulldogs were last season, they were 1-4 in the Western Division, only beating rival Mississippi. And that’s one of many things that keeps players hungry. ‘‘We beat the school up north, but nobody else in the West,’’ junior cornerback Corey Bloomfield said. ‘‘We’re not complacent at all. We haven’t done anything.’’ Mississippi State hopes it has the talent to change that this season. The Bulldogs return quarterback Chris Relf, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior who had a breakout season in 2010, throwing for 1,789 yards and 13 touchdowns while also rushing for 713 yards and five touchdowns. Relf has obviously grown more comfortable with offense. Now Mullen said he wants Relf to reach ‘‘doctorate level’’ in his understanding, which means grasping blitzes, coverages and adjusting plays before the snap. ‘‘Those are the things that I don’t know you can teach — I think it just comes with time,’’ Mullen said. ‘‘It

takes a long time for you to really understand those things.’’ The Bulldogs also return senior running back Vick Ballard, who rushed for 968 yards and a program-record 19 touchdowns last season. He’ll be running behind an offensive line that returns three starting offensive linemen. The only real question is at left tackle, where James Carmon is the likely starter after moving from the defensive line during the spring. At 6-foot-7 and about 310 pounds, Carmon has the athleticism and strength to handle the position. It’s just a matter of mastering the technique at a position that’s vital to protecting the quarterback’s blind side. ‘‘I’m picking it up,’’ Carmon said. ‘‘I’m not trying to take it too fast. I’m just going step by step. But I’ve definitely progressed.’’ Mississippi State returns seven defensive starters, including defensive tackles Fletcher Cox and Josh Boyd. The secondary is also loaded, with all four starters returning from last season. Senior safety Charles Mitchell anchors the group after making 93 tackles last season. The Bulldogs are trying to replace all three starters at linebacker, including Chris White and K.J. Wright, who combined for 208 tackles last season, including 23.5 for a loss. Mullen said there might not be two linebackers who can fill that void by themselves, but there’s a solid group of linebackers that can collectively be very good. Deontae Skinner, Cameron Lawrence, Brandon Wilson, Matthew Wells, Chris Hughes and Ferlando Bohanna could all see extended playing time. Clemson transfer Brandon Maye could also make an impact immediately. The depth at linebacker matches must of the rest of the team, which Mullen says is one of this team’s strengths. ‘‘I think it certainly helps,’’ Mullen said. ‘‘One, depth increases competition at practice. When guys start clawing and scratching just to get a rep at practice you’re going to see drastic improvement. So that’s great for our development within the program. But also when you’re looking at having to play a SEC schedule, you’d better have some guys that are ready to jump in the fire and go play.’’

Associated Press

Mississippi State defensive back Matthew Wells tries to tackle running back LaDarius Perkins during practice in Starkville on Aug. 8.

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

SOUTHERN MISS

Golden Eagles target C-USA crown By David Brandt

very quickly,’’ Fedora said. ‘‘And now as the game’s slowed down for him, he always puts the ball where HATTIESBURG — Austin Davis it needs to be. We know he’s has been the quarterback for three always going to prepare and play at a high level. Now his job as a senreally good football teams at ior is to make sure he raises the Southern Miss. He’s gone to bowl games. He’s won a bowl game. He’s level of everyone around him.’’ He’ll have experienced playmakbeaten teams from BCS conferers around him, including ences. Kendrick Hardy, a 6-foot-0, 217But in his final season with the pound sophomore who rushed for Golden Eagles, Davis doesn’t want 903 yards and seven touchdowns to be just really good again. He last season. Receivers Quentin wants a Conference USA champiPierce and Kelvin Bolden are back onship. after combining for nearly 1,200 ‘‘We’ve been a game or two receiving yards and 10 touchaway, maybe even a play or two downs. away, from winning the Eastern While the offense appears Division,’’ Davis said. ‘‘If you look at loaded, there’s much more uncerthe last three years, we’ve beaten tainty surrounding the defense. the conference champion every The Golden Eagles return seven time.’’ Yet there’s always been a slip-up starters from last season, but that’s not necessarily a good thing conat some point during conference play. Last year, it was heartbreaking sidering they gave up nearly 30 points per game. overtime losses to East Carolina Fedora hired former Illinois and UAB that derailed a promising assistant Dan Disch as a co-defenseason. Now with 15 starters sive coordinator during the offseareturning, Davis hopes this is the team that can finally break through son to help implement a new 4-2-5 and win a conference championship defense. So far, Fedora says things are going smoothly. Programs for the first time since 2003. sometimes have an adjustment periSouthern Miss has already established itself as one of the most od when learning a new defense, but Fedora said the Golden Eagles consistent football programs in don’t have that luxury. Conference USA, with 17 straight ‘‘We don’t have a year,’’ Fedora winning seasons. Only Florida, Florida State and Virginia Tech can said. ‘‘We’ve never said, from the beginning, that we’ve got a year for top that current streak. the learning curve. We gave them More is expected this season. Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora the spring. They had 15 days. And isn’t shying away from the expecta- then over the summer those guys worked at it.’’ tions. Linebackers Korey Williams and ‘‘People should be excited about it. I know I am,’’ said Fedora, who is Jamie Collins return after combining for 168 tackles last season. entering his fourth season at Southern Miss. ‘‘When you’ve got a Williams, a 6-foot-2, 243-pound senquarterback coming back that’s the ior, was particularly effective last caliber of Austin Davis and some of season, with 15.5 tackles for a loss, including three sacks. the other guys around him, you’ve Davis said he’s very excited got to be excited. It should be fun.’’ Davis returns after throwing for about the personnel coming back 3,103 yards, 20 touchdowns and just on both sides of the ball, but the six interceptions last season. The 6- Golden Eagles’ issues have never been about a lack of good players. foot-2, 221-pound senior from West Lauderdale wasn’t highly recruited It’s been inconsistency. He hopes to out of high school, but has matured change that this season. ‘‘In the past, we’ve shown a lot into one of the best quarterbacks in of immaturity by looking past USM history — even threatening several career records held by Brett teams,’’ Davis said ‘‘We don’t need to look past anybody. No one can Favre. afford to do that. Every Saturday ‘‘He’s always been very intelligent and understood the offense you’ve got to come to play.’’ AP Sports Writer

Associated Press

Above, Southern Miss quarterback Austin Davis, a former West Lauderdale star, speaks with offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Blake Anderson during practice in Hattiesburg on Aug. 5. L e f t, Tracy Lampley, a former Wayne County standout, looks to pull in a punt during practice Aug. 5.

JACKSON STATE

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Big expectations for Tigers, Therriault By David Brandt AP Sports Writer

Jackson State coach Rick Comegy believes he’s going to have a good football team this season. And he’s not afraid to say so. “We’ve got guys who are mature and we’ve got guys who can play ball,” said Comegy, who enters his fifth season with the Tigers. “This should be the kind of year where we show how football at Jackson State is played.” Confidence abounds at Jackson State, which is coming off an 8-3 season. Much of that bravado is due to the return of quarterback Casey Therriault, who is coming off one of the best passing seasons in school history. The 6-foot3, 205-pound senior threw for 3,436 yards last season and tied a school record with 31 touchdowns passes. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns in his first season after transferring from junior college. Jackson State was picked to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division in a poll of the league’s coaches. Therriault doesn’t shy away from the expectations, but stressed the Tigers haven’t accomplished anything. “There’s a lot of things I need to improve and the team needs to improve,” Therriault said. “Just because we’re getting a lot of preseason honors doesn’t mean it’ll be that way in the postseason.” Jackson State’s goals have been limited by the NCAA and SWAC this season. The program was banned from the NCAA’s postseason because of subpar Academic Progress Rate scores. During its summer meetings, the conference ruled that ban will also apply to the conference championship game.

Tigers 2011 Schedule Sept. 3 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19

Concordia vs. Tennessee State at Southern Alabama State Texas Southern Arkansas-Pine Blluff at Mississippi Valley State at Prairie View A&M Grambling State at Alabama A&M Alcorn State

“It’s disappointing, but they didn’t cancel our season,” Therriault said. “We want to win every game this year and we think that’s possible.” The Tigers also returning running back B.J. Lee, who rushed for a teamhigh 439 yards last season. Leading receiver Marcellos Wilder, who caught 57 passes for 726 yards and eight touchdowns, is also back. “It could be a pretty devastating year for that group,” Comegy said. “We should be able to run the ball a little better this year and that should really free Casey to make some big plays downfield.” Though the offense should be impressive, the defense isn’t as seasoned. The Tigers will lean on defensive end Donovan Robinson to make big plays. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior made 18.5 tackles for a loss season, including eight sacks. “The defense has matured a lot in the offseason,” Robinson said. “Last year we weren’t very good, but we’re ready to carry our share of the load this season and beat some people up.”

Associated Press file

Jackson State wide receiver Marcellos Wilder tries to escape from Mississippi State defensive back Zach Smith during a game in Starkville on Sept. 5, 2009. Associated Press file

Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy calls out to an assistant coach during a game against Mississippi State in Starkville on Sept. 5, 2009.

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

ALCORN STATE

41 Associated Press file

New Alcorn State football coach Melvin Spears tries on a hat Jan. 19 during a news conference in Jackson.

Confident Spears takes over Braves By David Brandt AP Sports Writer

Associated Press file

Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge, left, runs for a 2-yard gain as Mississippi State defensive lineman Sean Ferguson makes the tackle Oct 2, 2010, in Starkville.

With his sunglasses and swagger, firstyear Alcorn State coach Melvin Spears looks like a cocky guy. Braves’ defensive lineman Brandon Morris says those first impressions are right on target. ‘‘That’s how he is 100 percent of the time. He’s got that swagger and that confidence to him — it’s infectious for us.’’ Morris said. ‘‘But people don’t understand that he’s a really easy person to like. He’s definitely a people person and someone our team really respects.’’ Spears, 51, was hired by the Braves during the offseason after Earnest Collins left to take the head coaching job at Northern Colorado. The 1983 Alcorn State graduate won the Southwestern Athletic Conference title in 2005 while at Grambling. Now he’s trying to do the same thing with the Braves. Spears said he has the pieces to be competitive immediately. ‘‘Certainly having an outstanding quarterback gives you a leg up,’’ Spears said. ‘‘We’ve just go to get some other pieces around him who can play at a high level. We were decimated on defense, but we’ve brought in some folks who I hope can help us out.’’ Alcorn State has one of the league’s young stars in sophomore quarterback Brandon Bridge. Nicknamed ‘‘Air Canada’’ because of his Ontario home, the 6-foot-5, 195-pound Bridge threw for 2,086 yards and 19 touchdowns as a true freshman and was named the SWAC’s Newcomer of the Year. He also rushed for 601 yards and eight touchdowns as the Braves finished with a 5-

Braves 2011 Schedule Sept. 3 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 22 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19

Grambling State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Mississippi Valley State at Texas Southern at Alabama State Concordia College at Southern Alabama A&M Prairie View A&M at Jackson State

6 record. ‘‘We have more of a multiple, pro type of offense that he’ll have to adjust to,’’ Spears said. ‘‘He just needs to have outstanding fundamentals and understand the things that go with our system. He’s a great student in the classroom and that’s carried over to the field. It allows him to learn very fast.’’ Leading running back Gabriel Nash also returns. The sophomore rushed for 612 yards and six touchdowns last season. Alcorn State ranked near the bottom of the conference last season in defense, giving up 29 points per game. Spears hopes some incoming freshmen and junior college transfers can provide depth to make the Braves better. Morris, a 5-foot-10, 265-pound junior, is one of the leading returners with 8.5 tackles for a loss, including 3.5 sacks last season. ‘‘We’re going to be full attack all the time,’’ Morris said. ‘‘We feel like the coaches have given us everything we need to be successful. Now we have to follow up on our end and make plays.’’

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Associated Press file

Mississippi Valley State football coach Karl Morgan, shown in a Nov. 3, 2010, photo, has kept a positive attitude about the future of the Delta Devils even through a rough first season when MVSU played without the use of a stadium on campus.

MVSU looking for wins in Morgan’s second year By David Brandt

on-campus stadium was condemned because of crumbling concrete. Home games were Mississippi Valley didn’t win a played nearly an hour away at a high school field in Greenville, game during the 2010 season, making the season seem like a losing all 10 games by at least constant road show. two touchdowns. But millions were spent in the It wasn’t much fun. But secoffseason to renovate the grandond-year coach Karl Morgan stand and the Delta Devils also says the Delta Devils’ turnraised money for a new weight around is near. room. ‘‘Things are progressing Morgan called that a ‘‘minor steadily,’’ Morgan said. ‘‘I really miracle’’ considering MVSU’s think some positive things are happening at Mississippi Valley.’’ limited budget and fundraising Morgan had one of the tough- capability. Senior receiver Paul est head coaching jobs in college Cox says the new facilities have football in 2010. Not only was he added to the program’s pride. ‘‘That just makes you wake up dealing with a depleted roster and tight budget, but MVSU’s ever y day and work harder,’’ AP Spor ts Writer

Cox said. ‘‘It’s been a blessing. It was tough not having a home stadium because there just wasn’t that home atmosphere that makes playing on campus so special.’’ Now it’s a matter of bringing better talent to campus. Morgan says he believes he’s done that, though the Delta Devils were hit with another blow when starting quarterback Oliver Hughes suffered a season-ending knee injur y near the end of spring practice. Sophomore Carl Davis returns after completing 12 of 21 passes for 73 yards last season. Morgan also said he’s got some junior college quarterbacks coming in to add to the competition.

The new quarterback will Delta Devils have some playmakers around him. Cox led the team with 520 2011 Schedule receiving yards and five touchdowns last season. Junior Chris Sept. 3 Alabama State Williams led the Delta Devils Sept. 10 Murray State with 32 receptions last season. Sept. 17 at Alcorn State Safety Carlos Hollis, a preseaSept. 24 at Prairie View A&M son second-team All-SWAC selecOct. 1 Southern tion, leads the defense. The 6Oct. 8 at Alabama A&M foot-0, 180-pounder Hollis made Oct. 15 Jackson State 52 tackles and had two intercepOct. 22 at Grambling State tions last season. Oct. 29 Texas Southern ‘‘We have eight starters coming back on defense, so I expect Nov. 3 at South Alabama us to be better than last year,’’ Nov. 12 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Morgan said. ‘‘Our talent level should be better than it was last right way. If we do that, we season so that’s a positive. We’ve should be much more competijust got to keep doing things the tive.’’

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Tide working on to-do list amid hype By John Zenor AP Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama’s August to-do list: Pick starting quarterback. Replace Heisman Trophy winner and a few other first-round draft picks. Find left tackle, playmaking receivers and a defensive lineman or two. It’s almost enough to distract the Crimson Tide from all that national title talk. Some of the important pieces have changed and a few key questions remain unanswered, but bluechip replacements keep the preseason conversation in Tuscaloosa consistent. “We want to come out and win a national championship, to be undefeated,” All-America safety Mark Barron said. “Every time we step out on the field, one of our motivating factors is to be special.” It didn’t happen with championship-caliber regularity last season when the Tide viewed its 10 wins as a letdown. The offseason was traumatic with a devastating tornado striking the city in April followed by the May death of left tackle Aaron Douglas in May. Tide players and fans enter this season with heavy hearts — and high hopes. Tailback Trent Richardson steps in for 2009 Heisman winner Mark Ingram. There’s less certainty about the fill-ins for the other firstrounders — defensive end Marcell Dareus, wide receiver Julio Jones and left tackle James Carpenter. But coach Nick Saban has stockpiled highly rated recruiting classes and won 36 games and one national title the last three seasons. Even he doesn’t downplay his team’s talent level much while asserting that a preseason Top-5 projection “means nothing.” “Whatever we do this year, we’re going to have to do it on the field,” Saban said., Richardson brushes off the preseason hype as old hat. “It’s like that every year,” said Richardson, who goes from punishing, flashy backup to the offensive centerpiece. “It’s not a shock to me, but at the same time everybody that picked us to win it, we can’t let them down. We can’t let them down at all.”

Associated Press

Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower works out during preseason drills Aug. 7 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The biggest reason for all the optimism is a defense that yielded the nation’s third-fewest points last season and features five preseason first-team All-SEC picks. Linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw, safeties Barron and Robert Lester and noseguard Josh Chapman are projected as first-teamers, while players like cornerback Dre’ Kirkpatrick have flashed star potential, too. “We have one of the most athletic defenses that’s been through Alabama,” Hightower proclaimed. A new quarterback, a Heisman hopeful runner and a loaded defense is the same formula Alabama used to win the national title two years ago. The combina-

tion is also the reason Saban stresses that he wants quarterbacks AJ McCarron and/or Phillip Sims to play “winning football,” making smart decisions and not sticking that defense into bad spots with turnovers. The sophomore McCarron saw limited action in a backup role last season, while Sims is a redshirt freshman who hasn’t played yet. Both could get into the Kent State game on Sept. 3. “The good news is we have options at the position and a lot of places in the country are searching for a guy to get back there,” offensive coordinator Jim McElwain said. All-SEC guard Barrett Jones could be protecting their blind side

at left tackle, where he has logged practice time since the spring. Freshman Cyrus Kouandjio, one of the nation’s top recruits, also could develop into that role. At receiver, both Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks have experience but always in a supporting role to Jones. Other candidates include redshirt freshman DeAndrew White and junior college transfer Duron Carter — who couldn’t practice to start fall camp while awaiting on approval of his transcript. Hanks will miss the first two games, including a rare visit to Penn State, under the NCAA participation rule because he played in a game as a freshman and wasn’t allowed to claim a redshirt year.

The Tide’s road won’t be easy. Alabama also visits Florida, Mississippi State and defending national champion Auburn. Some of the preseason hoopla stems from the Tide’s going away party last season, when the team blasted Michigan State 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl in a performance that added to the what-could-havebeen sentiment from 2010. The previous game, a collapse against rival Auburn after leading 24-0, led to “Never Again” signs in the weight room and even players’ houses. But the Tide is hoping that finale is a more accurate barometer for this team’s potential. “Finishing is a big thing for this team,” Saban said.

AUBURN UNIVERSITY

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Auburn hoping to overcome big roster losses And besides Emory Blake and tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, no wide receiver is back who had more than three catches last season. Not to mention a schedule that includes AUBURN, Ala. — The Auburn Tigers trips to Clemson, South Carolina, Arkansas, insist they’ve heard it all before. LSU and Georgia. The defending national champions It’s a formidable challenge for such an approach the season with an overhauled roster and a defiant response to anyone who says inexperienced team. Among the quarterbacks, Trotter is the only one who has played they’re headed from perfection to mediocrity as quick as Cam Newton went from obscurity in a game for the Tigers and he has attempted nine career passes. to Heisman Trophy winner. Whoever is assigned to run Malzahn’s ‘‘It’s kind of similar to last year. They didn’t offense will have to labor in the shadow of pick us (high),’’ cornerback T’Sharvan Bell Newton, a dual-threat marvel who was the said. ‘‘But now, no Cam Newton, no Nick No. 1 overall NFL draft pick by the Carolina Fairley. Now they’re like, ’They really don’t Panthers. have a chance.’ You just take that, put it into what you eat in the morning. I already put it A bigger potential challenge: Operating into my breakfast, lunch and dinner. It just behind a line that lost four seniors. Right tackfires me up.’’ le Brandon Mosley is a preseason All-SEC But will that spiced-up menu translate into pick — Auburn’s only first-teamer — after takextra wins? ing over when A.J. Greene was hurt three Newton, the dynamic quarterback, and games into last season. Greene also is back. Lombardi Award winner Fairley moved on to The center battle is between a freshman the NFL as the No. 1 and 13 picks, respective- (Reese Dismukes) and a walk-on (Blake ly. In fact, 18 starters are gone, including eight Burgess), while other freshmen like top apiece on both sides of the ball. recruit Christian Westerman and Gregory The result is a team picked to finish fifth in Robinson could compete for starting jobs on the Southeastern Conference Western the line. Division and a rare defending champ that can The defense also has plenty of unknowns derive its motivation from the underdog role. with only one starter apiece on the line, at ‘‘If I’m not mistaken, this time last year, linebacker and in the secondary. And one of nobody used ’Auburn’ and ’championship’ in those, Neiko Thorpe, is moving from cornerthe same sentence,’’ quarterback Clint back to safety, a position Auburn coaches feel Moseley said. ‘‘So that’s what makes college suits him better. Bell emerged as like the football so great. Everybody’s got opinions Tigers’ best cover corner by last season’s end, and everybody loves this time of year to prestarting in both the SEC championship and dict who’s going to do what. So that’s all good. national title games for the 108th-rated pass I don’t have the time or energy to worry defense. about it.’’ End Nosa Eguae returns on the defensive He’s too busy competing with Barrett line but both interior spots were vacated, Trotter and freshman Kiehl Frazier to replace including the quarterback-abusing Fairley. Newton. That’s where sophomores Kenneth Carter This season, maybe more than last, could be indicative of how much the program really and Jeffrey Whitaker are hoping to go from little-used backups to starters. has stabilized under coach Gene Chizik. The Daren Bates and five-game starter Eltoro Tigers have pulled in back-to-back consensus Freeman are back at linebacker, but vocal Top 5 recruiting classes, but last year’s team won largely with Newton, Fairley and a bunch leader and leading tackler Josh Bynes is gone. Kicker Wes Byrum, who made the gameof seniors. winner in the national title game, and punter The good news for Auburn is that offenRyan Shoemaker are also gone. sive coordinator Gus Malzahn rejected overThe total picture explains the modest outtures from Vanderbilt for its head coaching look most have for this team. Doesn’t mean position, and he has proven adept at groomthe Tigers won’t use it for motivation. ing new quarterbacks and fitting his offense ‘‘That’s kind of been the mentality at to their abilities — and limitations. Auburn for the last couple years because BCS championship game MVP Michael every year we come into it and we’re expectDyer and Onterio McCalebb return at tailed to fail and not to get to where we want, so back after combining for nearly 2,000 yards we’ve embraced the role of playing with a rushing. chip on our shoulder game-in, game-out,’’ The Tigers still have plenty of unsettled Lutzenkirchen said. ‘‘I think you saw a lot of issues, starting with the three-man race to succeed Newton. The offensive and defensive that last year too. We didn’t really get credit until we were 9-0. lines each have one player back who started ‘‘We’re just going in there and we’re going in the national championship game against to try and prove everyone wrong.’’ Oregon. By John Zenor

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press

Auburn running back Michael Dyer runs drills during practice Aug. 5 in Auburn, Ala.

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WEST DIVISION

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Strong senior class lifts Arkansas’ goals By Kurt Voigt AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas linebackers coach Reggie Johnson had just teed off during a preseason golf outing when one of his playing partners offered up a potentially burdensome piece of news. ‘‘Coach, we’ve already reserved our hotel room in New Orleans and can’t wait to see you there,’’ the Razorbacks fan said. Such is life these days for the coaches and players at Arkansas, where thoughts of a Southeastern Conference title and trips to the Big Easy for the BCS National Championship game lean more toward expected than hopeful. The Razorbacks have come a long way as coach Bobby Petrino prepares for his fourth season. After suffering through a 5-7 season in Petrino’s first season in 2008, the Razorbacks went 10-3 last season and reached their first BCS bowl

game. Thirteen true freshmen and seven other redshirt freshmen took the field that first season. The 18 of those who remain are eager to cap their careers with an exclamation mark in the post-Ryan Mallett era. ‘‘That’s what is exciting for me is that senior class,’’ Petrino said. ‘‘The message to them is ‘It’s your last goaround. You’ve done a lot for this program ... You’re the guys who have established our standards and how we operate.’ ‘‘Now let’s go finish it.’’ Mallett left for the NFL following last season after he helped guide Arkansas to 18 wins in two seasons and set the school record for most passing yards in school history. Petrino has yet to name Mallett’s successor at quarterback, though junior Tyler Wilson is perceived to have the edge over sophomore Brandon Mitchell. Wilson threw for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns in relief of Mallett at Auburn last season, and he was selected by his

teammates as one of six team captains. The starter will have an abundance of returning offensive talent at his disposal. That includes junior Knile Davis, who led all SEC running backs with 1,322 yards rushing last season — averaging 147 yards per game over the final seven games of the season. And he will also have expectations hovering over every snap. Replacing Mallett isn’t easy, but Wilson hasn’t shied away from encouraging the high hopes for Arkansas. ‘‘You’ve got to embrace and vocalize those expectations to an extent,’’ Wilson said. ‘‘Because if you don’t have any dreams or goals, then where do you aim? We’re going to take those expectations and ride them as far as we’ll go.’’ Senior Greg Childs is one of four Arkansas receivers named to the preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list, along with Joe Adams, Cobi Hamilton and Jarius Wright. Childs

was the team’s leading receiver when he suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through last season against Vanderbilt. He thought about leaving for the NFL but decided to return because of his closeness with high school teammates Wright and tight end Chris Gragg. Many of those were a part of the freshmen group that suffered through Petrino’s first season, which included being outscored 139-31 during a three-game stretch of losses to Alabama, Texas and Florida. Despite the success of last season, Childs feels like the Razorbacks have unfinished business on the field. ‘‘We got beat down that first season,’’ Childs said. ‘‘But from there to now is a complete turnaround. You’ll never see one of those games again for Arkansas.’’ Senior safety Tramain Thomas was another of the 2008 freshmen, playing in all 12 games. Thomas

Associated Press

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson carries the ball during the second quarter of a scrimmage in Fayetteville, Ark., in April 2009.

said he has ‘‘no doubts at all’’ that Arkansas can compete for both the SEC and national titles, even without Mallett.

LSU envisions another BCS title in the Big Easy By Brett Martel AP Sports Writer

BATON ROUGE, La. — The last two times the BCS national championship game was played in New Orleans, LSU won it. The big game is coming back to the Big Easy this season, and LSU again is among the favorites to be there. The Tigers are as stacked as they’ve been since 2007, the last time they closed out a season with an 85-mile trip to their home away from home, the Louisiana Superdome, to claim the BCS’s coveted crystal football. They have 15 starters back from a squad that went 11-2 last season, along with young but proven players like cornerback Tryann Mathieu and running back Spencer Ware, who did not start in 2010 but made big plays when given the chance. They’ve reported for fall camp supremely confident, not shying away from talk of lofty expectations. ‘‘It’s just having that championship swagger,’’ said Mathieu, a versatile defensive back who is expected to start at cornerback and move to nickel back in passing

Associated Press

LSU defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu (7), Morris Claiborne (17), Ron Brooks (13), and Tharold Simon (24) pose for photographers during media day in Baton Rouge, La.

situations. ‘‘Last year was a disappointing season for us. We finished 11-2 and we finished in the Top 10, but we pride ourselves on being a champion.’’ Should the Tigers realize their ambitions, they’ll have done so after an offseason with its share of distractions.

In July, LSU was placed on one year’s probation after the NCAA cited a former assistant coach for unethical conduct. LSU also announced that it was cooperating with another NCAA probe involving several schools that did business with a scouting service owned by Willie Lyles. The NCAA is concerned Lyles may have sought payment in exchange for influencing recruits’ decisions about where to play, but LSU officials have said they only paid Lyles for permitted video clips. This month, as players reported for fall camp, they learned that Steve Kragthorpe, hired last January as LSU’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Kragthorpe gave up coordinator duties, but is remaining as quarterbacks coach. Head coach Les Miles promoted offensive line coach Greg Studrawa to offensive coordinator. Studrawa, a former Bowling Green offensive coordinator who enters his fifth season at LSU, believes he is ready for the job. He also suggests there are certain advantages to having plays called by the coach who knows the offensive linemen best.

‘‘The first thing I want to know when we call a play is how we’re going to block it,’’ said Studrawa, adding that creative ideas about skill positions amount to little if protection collapses. That should not be a problem for the Tigers, whose offensive line is an experienced group with four starters back and 6foot-6, 325-pound sophomore Chris Faulk expected to take over at left tackle. Miles and Studrawa are confident they’ll have the push up front to allow LSU to control the ball and wear down foes with a punishing running game featuring Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue. At the same time, Studrawa pledged he’ll be aggressive about taking shots downfield to receivers Rueben Randle, Russell Shepard and possibly some standout freshmen like Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry. The success of the passing game will hinge on whether senior Jordan Jefferson has improved as much as Miles claims. LSU ranked last in the Southeastern Conference in passing last season with 155.6 yards per game, but Jefferson also is an effective runner.

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Brantley’s development Georgia looks to rally key for Florida in 2011 around embattled coach By Mark Long

By Paul Newberry

AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — John Brantley never really fit in Florida’s spread offense. He seemed fine sitting on the bench behind Tim Tebow. But when it was his turn, little went right. Brantley struggled to read defenses, missed open receivers and often held the ball too long. Things were so bad that Brantley, a lifelong Gators fan whose father and uncle played in Gainesville, considered following coach Urban Meyer out the door. He eventually chose to stick around under first-year head coach Will Muschamp, swayed by the hiring of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. His decision and his ability to transition to Weis’ pro-style offense could be keys as Florida tries to survive a tough schedule and compete in the Southeastern Conference. The Gators open the season Sept. 3 against Florida Atlantic. They also face Alabama, LSU, South Carolina and Florida State. For Florida to have success, they need more Brantley. Teammates insist they’ve already seen improvement. ‘‘Big difference,’’ receiver Deonte Thompson said. ‘‘He came in confident. He’s taking control of the huddle. He walks around different. His whole swagger’s back right now. We expect big things from him.’’ The Gators expected big things from Brantley last year, too. He completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,061 yards, with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He became the first player to lead Florida in passing and throw more INTs than TDs since Kyle Morris in 1988. That dubious distinction is far from what anyone expected from one of the country’s prized recruits in 2007. Brantley watched and learned from Tebow for three seasons, and some expected Florida’s offense to run as smoothly with Brantley under center. It wasn’t even close. It didn’t help that the Gators were plagued by bad snaps, dropped passes, turnovers, sacks, missed field goals and poor execution in the red zone. All the issues resulted in some of the program’s worst offensive performances in more than two decades. Brantley received the brunt of the blame. Meyer, who quit shortly after the season, tried to spark the floundering offense by experimenting with tight end Jordan Reed and versatile Trey Burton at quarterback. Neither proved to be a long-term solution. ‘‘I definitely learned last year that when

AP College Football Writer

Associated Press

Florida quarterback John Brantley stands on the sideline near the end of Florida's 316 loss to Alabama last Oct. 2.

things aren’t going right or when things are just going wrong, you need to forget about it and just move on,’’ Brantley said. ‘‘You have to keep your head up and keep pushing forward. If your head is down, other people’s heads are going to go down. ‘‘You have to keep moving. Bad things aren’t unavoidable. They’ve going to happen, even if you’re the No. 1 team in the country. A play or two is not always going to be perfect. You just have to forget about it and move on.’’ Muschamp, the former head coach-inwaiting at Texas, said Brantley is the clearcut starter ahead of freshmen Tyler Murphy, Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett heading into the Sept. 3 season opener against Florida Atlantic. Muschamp said Weis’ history of developing quarterbacks — Tom Brady, Brady Quinn, Jimmy Clausen and Matt Cassel are on his resume — should benefit Brantley. ‘‘He’s got great confidence in John. That should give John great confidence,’’ Muschamp said. ‘‘Here’s Charlie Weis, who’s coached some of the best quarterbacks that maybe have ever played the game. ... That ought to give him great confidence as a quarterback, and I think it does.’’ Even though Brantley is a senior and an integral part of the offense, the Gators don’t plan to lean on him in 2011. Muschamp wants a stout running game, with undersized backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey carrying the load, and hopes to get chunks of yards through play-action passes. It could be a good fit for Brantley. At least a better fit than the spread. ‘‘Coming off last year, (Brantley’s) definitely more confident,’’ receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. said. ‘‘He looks more settled. Things should turn around and it should get better.’’

ATHENS, Ga. — All around, the Georgia Bulldogs are surrounded by rivals basking in championship glory. Florida won a national title, followed by LSU. The Gators took another turn at No. 1. Alabama was next in line. And, finally, it was Auburn hoisting the biggest trophy of all last season. Even South Carolina, long a Southeastern Conference patsy, rose to prominence under coach Steve Spurrier. He Associated Press led the Gamecocks to the SEC East crown a Georiga coach Mark Richt looks on during year ago, and they’re favored to win it again practice Aug. 4 in Athens, Ga. this season. As for Georgia, it’s been a slow, steady winner Cam Newton and Florida breaking in slide to irrelevance. a new coach, there’s certainly an opening for If that doesn’t change — probably as a team such as Georgia to claw its way into soon as this season — the Bulldogs could the championship mix. be looking for a new coach. Mark Richt is Richt shrugs off any speculation about feeling the heat, and his players know it, too. his future and insists that he’s optimistic How could they not? All they have to do is about turning things around. watch TV, flip on the radio or check out the ‘‘Everything is geared toward this seaInternet. son, the excitement of it and the fact that we ‘‘It’s extreme motivation to hear people have a chance to have a great year,’’ he said. saying coach Richt might be on the hot ‘‘I’m really as optimistic as any year since seat,’’ defensive end Abry Jones said. I’ve been at Georgia.’’ Richt was the toast of the red-and-black The Bulldogs should get a pretty good world when he led Georgia — which had indication of their chances in the first two not won an SEC title since 1982 — to a pair weeks of the season. of conference championships in his first five They open against Boise State in the years on the job. Chick-fil-A kickoff game at Atlanta, only The program still appeared on the right about an hour from campus and essentially track as late as 2007. A strong finish and a home game. Then, in the actual home Sugar Bowl romp left the Bulldogs at No. 2 opener, Georgia hosts South Carolina to in the final rankings, setting up nicely for a establish an early balance of power in the run at the top spot with a team led by future SEC East. first-round draft picks Matthew Stafford and ‘‘If we win that, we’re in the driver’s seat,’’ Knowshon Moreno. senior center Ben Jones said. ‘‘If we lose, Instead, Georgia has gone the wrong way. we’re at the bottom.’’ Richt’s teams are barely above .500 in the Georgia will have to carry on without its SEC (13-11) over the last three seasons, and best player. A.J. Green left a year early for this group is trying to bounce back from a 6- the NFL, leaving a huge hole in the offense. 7 debacle — the school’s first losing year The Bulldogs don’t have one receiver to since 1996. fill the void, but they’re counting on a group While a highly rated recruiting class effort with King, Marlon Brown and a host eased some of the pressure on Richt, his of others. future will come down to how many games ‘‘What’s his name again?’’ King quipped, he wins. The players are rallying around when asked about Green. him, trying to use the criticism as motivaWith No. 8 now playing in the NFL, this tion. team firmly belongs to sophomore quarter‘‘I love my coach. I love this team. I love back Aaron Murray, who is coming off a this university,’’ receiver Tavarres King said. stellar season that showed both his potential ‘‘Any time someone is criticizing them, I feel and his toughness. like they’re criticizing me. I take things perHardly looking like a redshirt freshman, sonal. So, definitely, it’s in my ear. I wanna he completed more than 61 percent of his go get it.’’ passes for 3,049 yards, with 24 touchdowns With Auburn losing Heisman Trophy and just eight interceptions.

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION

Kentucky readies for season after overhaul work from wire reports LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips has spent the off-season picking up pieces on offense and defense. The second-year head coach had to replace a lot of offensive production: Quarterback Mike Hartline, running back Derrick Locke and wide receiver Chris Matthews all graduated, and junior wide receiver Randall Cobb left for the NFL Draft. In all, the Wildcats had to replace all 26 touchdown passes, 19 of 26 rushing touchdowns and 18 of 26 touchdown catches. The Wildcats’ top 11 tacklers from 2010 return, including senior linebacker Danny Trevathan, who led the Southeastern Conference with 144 tackles last season. But new co-defensive coordinator Rick Minter has taught the team an entirely new defense after a 6-7 season, which included a 27-10 loss to Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl. Minter was hired in December 2010, just a few weeks before the school-record fifthstraight bowl appearance. He waited until after the loss and into spring practice to start installing his new schemes, which call for a number of different formations.

Several veterans even changed positions: senior Winston Guy, second on the team with 106 tackles in 2010, shifted from safety to a hybrid safety-linebacker; junior Martavius Neloms switched from cornerback to safety; and junior linebacker Ridge Wilson switched to a hybrid linebackerdefensive end. Phillips wanted Minter to overhaul the defense, which finished 10th in the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense last year. ‘‘All (Minter) talks about is turnovers and minus-yardage plays and those things, and those are the things that we were looking for when we went out and got Rick,’’ Phillips said. ‘‘For us to be successful ... you’ve got to play dominant defense. Not good, not great defense, you’ve got to play dominant defense. That’s the mindset that Rick has brought to this football team.’’ Another important element for Phillips is new starting quarterback Morgan Newton, a 6-4, 220-pound junior from Carmel, Ind. Newton earned eight starts as a true freshman in 2009 when Hartline suffered a knee injury, and he won five of those games. But he struggled in the BBVA Compass Bowl during Hartline’s suspension.

Newton said he could have been more prepared for his only start as a sophomore. So he spent the offseason studying the playbook, learning the nuances of the offense and working toward understanding his protections with the offensive line. ‘‘I remember coming in to my first camp two years ago and basically not knowing anything, and then playing and still not really knowing a whole lot,’’ Newton said. ‘‘To be able to open that playbook and to talk with my teammates and know what’s going on, that’s pretty refreshing. I feel confident about what’s going on.’’ Having such an experienced offensive line will help Newton tremendously, he said. Four starters return from the line that was second in the SEC last season with just 19 sacks surrendered. The line not only will help Newton, Phillips said it also will especially help his young running backs and wide receivers as they adapt to expanded roles. Phillips said a number of true freshmen could get a lot of playing time, especially at wide receiver. Relying on such youth can be dangerous. But Phillips is comfortable with the improvements on offense, defense and on his staff. ‘‘We got some of our question marks

Associated Press

Junior quarterback Morgan Newton walks with quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders during Kentucky media day at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., on Aug. 5.

answered in the spring. Everybody has questions in the spring and maybe we had a few more,’’ Phillips said. ‘‘We’ll get some more answered here in fall camp and we’ll be ready to go to battle with whoever lines up in front of us.’’

Spurrier finally feels good about Gamecocks By Pete Iacobelli AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Steve Spurrier has waited a long time to feel this good about South Carolina. Spurrier, starting his seventh season, said this will be his strongest team yet with the Gamecocks, a versatile, speedy group that can score when they need to and stop others from answering back. And maybe just bring him what he’s wanted since his return in November 2004 — a Southeastern Conference championship. Associated Press ‘‘The team we’ve assembled, hopefully, is South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon one of our best teams ever,’’ Spurrier said. Clowney goes through a drill during ‘‘Time will tell.’’ practice Aug. 3 in Columbia, S.C. Spurrier has tempered his praise of his league’s top defenses, had gained 93 yards team through the years, knowing he hadn’t and two scores in South Carolina’s upset of yet gotten together the necessary pieces to No. 1 Alabama, and 212 yards and three really compete for the top. These days, scores in the division clinching win at though, he can’t help his confidence. The Gamecocks offense features a pair of Florida, a place the Gamecocks had never won before. frontline playmakers in tailback Marcus Jeffery set single season records last year Lattimore and receiver Alshon Jeffery. Both helped the Gamecocks win the SEC East and with 88 catches for 1,517 yards. Jeffery is so play in their first league championship game. talented, Spurrier says, he tells quarterbacks Lattimore ran through much of the to just throw the ball up somewhere high in

Jefferry’s direction ‘‘and he’s going to get it.’’ Quarterback could be a strength or a liability, depending on your view of starter Stephen Garcia. He’s a second-team preseason all-SEC pick and the leader among returning league quarterbacks with 3,059 yards. He has started the last 28 games and has shown toughness and skill. But he’s been suspended five times by Spurrier, including two this spring. Spurrier said Garcia’s shown better and commitment and leadership since his latest flare-up in April. If he’s as productive as last season, Garcia could leave as South Carolina’s all-time leader in passing yardage. Another difference is the inclusion of last year’s top high-school prospect in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who picked the Gamecocks over Alabama and Clemson last Valentine’s Day. Clowney is considered a once-a-decade talent, a 6-foot-6 dynamo who combines speed and strength. More than 2,000 or so fans turned out for South Carolina’s first practice last week, oohing over just about anything Clowney did. ‘‘I’d never seen that many people for a practice,’’ Clowney said in amazement.

Clowney may gain headlines but he’s only a part of what should be a solid, run-stopping line. Junior defensive end Devin Taylor had 7 1/2 sacks last season while tackle Travian Robertson will benefit from the attention given Clowney gets on the end. If South Carolina had a weakness, it was against the pass. The Gamecocks were 10th in the SEC, giving up nearly 242 yards a game through the air. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore said the defensive staff have simplified the schemes to tighten up in the secondary. Gilmore said the defensive backs have also put in the work to improve and not get beaten over the top so often this season. ‘‘We don’t want that to happen again,’’ he said. The most difficult thing for South Carolina might be handling the lofty expectations. Spurrier has talked to them about playing within themselves, yet he says the team has worked hard the past few years to bring in players who welcome the attention and strive to achieve great things. Gilmore, Jeffery, Lattimore and Clowney were all prep standouts in South Carolina whose goals were to be the best, Spurrier said. Now, it’s up to them to carry that attitude to the Gamecocks.

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Dooley expects more out Franklin’s confidence rubbing off on Vandy of young Volunteers By Beth Rucker

By Teresa M. Walker

AP Sports Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — There’s one very obvious thing about the 2011 Tennessee Volunteers: They’re extremely young. ‘‘We know we’re young. We know we aren’t going to use that as an excuse for failure,’’ coach Derek Dooley said. ‘‘We have some guys who flashed a lot of good things last year but nobody really who played 12 games consistently in a championship way. So it’s time to quit talking, get on the field and see what we can develop here the next few weeks before kickoff.’’ Tennessee has been plagued the past few seasons by player attrition from back-to-back coaching transitions, and the Vols have had their fair share of injuries too. That’s left them with just 26 upperclassmen on scholarship, compared to 27 sophomores and 26 freshmen. Still, there’s a lot of talent and potential among the Vols’ youngest players. ‘‘I think we’re going to need them at just about every position; if not from a starter, from a role guy, from a spell guy and from a guy who can go out there and push the guy ahead of them to be better,’’ Dooley said. ‘‘It’s hard to say you’re not going to need them in some capacity.’’ Tennessee will need them to play well fairly early in the season, too, if it wants to avoid a predicted fourth-place finish in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division. After hosting Montana and Cincinnati, the Vols begin a six-game run that includes a trip to Florida, home games against Georgia, LSU and South Carolina and a trip to Alabama. Tennessee also travels to Arkansas in November. The Vols finished the 2010 season 6-7 in Dooley’s first year with the team, nearly scoring a major upset over LSU and a win in the Music City Bowl against North Carolina. They showed several flashes of potential but even more silly, youthful mistakes. The returning players spent the offseason training with new strength and conditioning coach Ron McKeefery, working on their skills with one another and studying film and the playbook. Dooley said the returning Vols came back bigger, stronger and faster and appeared to retain a lot of knowledge of Tennessee’s schemes. Now he’s waiting to see if that will translate into improved play. A few young players were thrust into major roles last season. Chief among them is sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray, who started the final five games of the 2010 sea-

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — James Franklin is young and exuberant, and his confidence is rubbing off on the Vanderbilt Commodores. Franklin is their third coach in as many years, and at 39, he’s younger than what the Commodores have been used to in recent years with first Bobby Johnson, then Robbie Caldwell last season. That age difference is helping Franklin connect with the Commodores as he pitches his plan to turn the Southeastern Conference’s worst team into winners. Senior linebacker Chris Marve said Franklin has great enthusiasm. ‘‘It’s just something about him you can trust him. From day one when I met him, he had my respect and he had my trust. ... He can relate to us at different levels as well as get in our face when we need it,’’ Marve said. ‘‘He has all the intangibles as a head coach.’’ The SEC’s only private school has one bowl victory since 1955 and only one winning record since 1982, and the Commodores had to win the 2008 Music City Bowl to do that. It’s been a daunting challenge, and Franklin now is in charge of program that hasn’t had consecutive winning seasons since 1974-75 under Steve Sloan, then Fred Pancoast. ‘‘We know what we’ve signed up for,’’ Franklin said. ‘‘We know this is a challenge, a tremendous challenge. We also look at this as an unbelievable challenge.’’ Franklin started off by achieving recruiting successes unseen at Vanderbilt in the first few weeks, and he’s kept up the work on the trail landing enough verbal commitments this summer to set tongues wagging and message boards burning. He put the Commodores to work with strength coach Dwight Galt, and they kept it up during the summer. The new coach said he sees a stronger and faster team. He needs it with Vanderbilt coming off consecutive 2-10 seasons that left players bruised and mentally battered. ‘‘We’re ready to turn it around,’’ quarterback Jordan Rodgers said. ‘‘We’re ready to win games. Anybody that comes in, has confidence, enthusiasm and charisma that coach Franklin has, it rubs off, and it makes us more confident.’’ Franklin has 21 starters back from last season, though he’s promised all jobs are open to promote competition. All 11 are back on offense where quarterback will be

Associated Press

Tennessee tailback Tauren Poole runs the ball during practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn., on Aug. 6.

son and led Tennessee to victory in four of those games. Despite playing a limited number of snaps last season, Bray set team freshmen records by passing for 1,849 yards and 18 touchdowns. The tall yet gangly Bray lost his go-to targets in Gerald Jones, Denarius Moore and Luke Stocker but dedicated his summer to packing on some more muscle, memorizing the Vols’ offense and finding rhythm with wide receivers Da’Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter and center James Stone, all fellow sophomores. The offensive line is stacked with sophomores, but Tennessee got a combined 31 starts out of those players last season. The line struggled at times last year but still managed to pave the way for running back Tauren Poole to gain 1,034 yards. Poole returns as a senior and one of the Vols’ few elder statesmen, and the line has promised him a 2,000-yard season this year. On the defensive side, Tennessee will start the season with just one returning starter in the front seven, senior defensive tackle Malik Jackson. The Vols lost returning starting linebacker Herman Lathers at least for part of the season when the junior broke his ankle in June. Jackson, who finished 2010 with 48 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks, will miss part of fall camp with a sprained right knee but is expected to return before the Vols open Sept. 3.

Associated Press

Vanderbilt coach James Franklin directs his players during practice Aug. 5 in Nashville, Tenn. Franklin has 19 starters, including all 11 on offense, from a team that went 2-10 in 2010.

the most-watched fight. Rodgers is healthy after shoulder surgery late last year, Larry Smith has been the starter the past two seasons and Lafonte Thourogood is one of three freshmen ready to push for the job. Smith isn’t willing to cede the job either. But the Commodores have so much room for improvement after ranking 110th in FBS in total offense and 112th in scoring offense averaging 16.9 points per game. Franklin isn’t disclosing exactly what offense Vandy will run except to say the Commodores will be multiple and able to run or pass when needed. Running will be helped by a healthy Warren Norman, the 2009 SEC freshman of the year, missed the last four games with an injured hand, and Zac Stacy missed the last three games with his own injury. On defense, Marve also is healthy after playing through injuries last season, and senior cornerback Casey Heyward led the SEC in 2010 with 17 passes deflected. Vanderbilt opens against Elon on Sept. 3 before hosting Connecticut and Mississippi. Franklin, a former assistant head coach at Maryland, will get a taste of the SEC with visits to South Carolina and Alabama while Georgia and Arkansas come to Nashville. The coach has been busy selling the program, urging fans to show up early and stay late decked out in black and gold. Marve believes they will give them plenty to cheer with another bowl berth.

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE

Improved FSU could boost ACC’s reputation ATLANTIC DIVISION

By Joedy McCreary AP Sports Writer

FLORIDA STATE Key players: QB E.J. Manuel, WR Bert Reed, T Andrew Datko; DE Brandon Jenkins. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense. Notes: The Seminoles are looking for much bigger things than just their 35th straight winning season. Key test comes in Week 3 against Oklahoma. ... Florida State’s total of 17 returning starters doesn’t include Manuel, whose six career starts came when NFL first-round pick Christian Ponder was injured.

CLEMSON Key players: RB Andre Ellington, C Dalton Freeman; DT Brandon Thompson. Returning starters: 8 offense, 5 defense. Notes: All eyes will be on sophomore QB Tajh Boyd, who replaces Kyle Parker after Parker gave up football for a pro baseball career. ... Tigers lost six defensive starters who combined to make 171 starts, including All-America DE Da’Quan Bowers. ... Ellington and RB Jamie Harper give Clemson a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE Key players: QB Mike Glennon, TE George Bryan; LB Audie Cole, DT J.R. Sweezy. Returning starters: 6 offense, 8 defense. Notes: Glennon, a promising pocket passer, takes over after three-year starter Russell Wilson was released and transferred to Wisconsin. ... Wolfpack have a special teams weapon in T.J. Graham, who has returned three kicks for TDs and is 522 yards shy of the ACC’s career kickoff return yardage record.

BOSTON COLLEGE Key players: RB Montel Harris, TE Chris Pantale; LB Luke Kuechly. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Kuechly led the nation with 14 tackles per game last season. ... Harris was tops in the ACC in rushing and is 1,002 yards shy of the ACC career rushing record. ... Eagles chasing their 13th straight bowl berth.

PINEHURST, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference’s reputation has taken plenty of hits in recent years. Jimbo Fisher figures it’s time to change that, and he hopes his Florida State team is the one to lead the way. From the moment the Seminoles stepped into the ACC 20 years ago, they were the league’s clear gold standard. After yielding that title to Virginia Tech for a while, they seem ready to reclaim it. ‘‘I think it’s important to every conference to have somebody in that (national championship) game or in that limelight, that atmosphere, you know?’’ Fisher said. ‘‘But you have to earn it. You have to get there. We haven’t here recently. Everything goes in strides. Go back in the (1990s), the SEC won a few but they weren’t in it. Florida State was in it. Miami. It all goes in cycles and comes around.’’ And now, it seems the Seminoles have cycled back to being on top. The media that cover the ACC have made Florida State the favorite to win its first league title since 2005 — the year the conference expanded to 12 teams. Since then, the Seminoles had three 7-6 finishes during Bobby Bowden’s final four seasons (2006-09) . In Fisher’s first season as the head coach they finished 10-4 — with two

losses coming by a total six points — and won the Atlantic Division and the Chick-fil-A Bowl. And with the nucleus of that team returning, they have observers thinking that maybe those old, swaggering Seminoles are back. Even if these Seminoles won’t come out and say it. ‘‘I’m not going to say we’re back or anything like that, because that would be taking respect away from those teams that were what Florida State is now,’’ quarterback E.J. Manuel said. ‘‘That’s what we’re working toward. Hopefully we can get to that point and just continue to win games.’’ That certainly can’t hurt the perception of the ACC, which took plenty of hits when bellwether programs Florida State and Miami were sagging. When they struggle, the ACC seems weak, too. Now the across-the-league hope is that when upsets inevitably happen, that’s because the underdogs are improved — and not because the favorites are overrated. ‘‘Sometimes, you had teams that weren’t as good as other teams,’’ Manuel said. ‘‘But now, in this day and age, athletes are good everywhere. It doesn’t matter whether you go to our school, Duke, wherever. It’s still going to have a good program, and you can’t go into a game thinking you’re going to blow out somebody. You have to go in there and make plays, and actually do it yourself, not just in your mind.’’

MARYLAND Key players: QB Danny O’Brien, WR Tony Logan; LB Kenny Tate. Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense. Notes: New coach Randy Edsall enters with serious questions at the skill positions. He must replace WR Torrey Smith and RB Da’Rel Scott. ... Logan returned 31 punts for 560 yards last season. ... Former Division I head coaches Gary Crowton (BYU) and Greg Gattuso (Duquesne) are on Edsall’s staff.

WAKE FOREST Key players: QB Tanner Price, RB Josh Harris; DE Kyle Wilber. Returning starters: 7 offense, 9 defense. Notes: Demon Deacons return four senior starters on offensive line. ... Wake Forest plays nine bowl teams from 2010, including Syracuse and Notre Dame. ... Price started nine games as a freshman, a rarity at a school that prefers to redshirt all incoming players.

Associated Press

Florida State’s E.J. Manual warms up during practice Aug. 8 in Tallahassee, Fla.

COASTAL DIVISION VIRGINIA TECH Key players: WRs Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale, RB David Wilson; CB Jayron Hosley, S Eddie Whitley. Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense. Notes: Hokies are ACC's only recognized champion from 2007-10 after Georgia Tech vacated its 2009 league title. ... Virginia Tech faces a more manageable nonconference schedule (Appalachian State, East Carolina, Arkansas State, Marshall) than in recent years. ... Hokies must replace QB Tyrod Taylor and RBs Darren Evans and Ryan Williams. All eyes will be on QB Logan Thomas.

MIAMI Key players: WR Travis Benjamin; LB Sean Spence, S Ray-Ray Armstrong. Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense. Notes: New coach Al Golden must settle on a quarterback — Jacory Harris or Stephen Morris — after Hurricanes threw 27 interceptions last season. ... Nine opponents played in bowl games last season, including Ohio State, Kansas State and South Florida. ... Spence, on whether the Hurricanes have underachieved: "We have a whole bunch of talent, as you can see. ... To be 7-6, it just doesn't add up. We know that."

NORTH CAROLINA Key players: RB Ryan Houston, QB Bryn Renner; DT Quinton Coples, CB Charles Brown. Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense. Notes: League's biggest question mark is how Tar Heels will respond to late July firing of coach Butch Davis. ... Defensive coordinator Everett Withers steps in as the interim replacement. ... Houston, who elected to redshirt last season, had surgery to repair a broken shoulder blade suffered in the spring game.

GEORGIA TECH Key players: RB Roddy Jones; DT Logan Walls, LB Steven Sylvester. Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense. Notes: QBs Tevin Washington and Synjyn Days are competing to replace three-year starter Joshua Nesbitt. ... Yellow Jackets were made to vacate their 2009 ACC championship and Orange Bowl appearance following an NCAA investigation. ... Jones has averaged 7.46 yards per carry for his career.

VIRGINIA Key players: WR Kris Burd, OG Austin Pasztor; DT Matt Conrath, CB Chase Minnifield. Returning starters: 8 offense, 9 defense. Notes: Cavaliers lead the ACC with 19 returning starters. ... Minnifield's 10 career interceptions lead all active players. ... Coach Mike London must settle on a replacement for QB Marc Verica.

DUKE Key players: QB Sean Renfree, WRs Connor Vernon and Donovan Varner; S Matt Daniels. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense. Notes: Blue Devils welcome back the league's top returning passer (Renfree), top two receivers (Vernon, Varner) and top kicker (Will Snyderwine). ... Duke hopes its 4-2-5 scheme will show improvement after it was the league's worst defense in 2010.

BIG EAST CONFERENCE

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Big East gets offensive — in a good way WEST VIRGINIA

By Ralph D. Russo

Key players: QB Geno Smith; WR Tavon Austin; CB Keith Tandy. Returning starters: 9 offense, 4 defense. Notes: Holgorsen doesn’t have anything to do with the defense, so keeping highly regarded coordinator Jeff Casteel on staff was key. ... West Virginia was second in the nation in sacks last season and No. 3 in scoring and total defense. ... With Noel Devine gone, Mountaineers are looking for a new go-to back. Maybe freshman Vernard Roberts?

AP College Football Writer

CINCINNATI Key players: QB Zach Collaros, LB JK Schaffer, RB Isaish Pead. Returning starters: 5 offense, 11 defense. Notes: The No. 1 goal of Year 2 under coach Butch Jones for the Bearcats: fewer mistakes. Cincinnati was the only team in the Big East to average more than 400 yards per game in offense, but the Bearcats were last in the Big East with a minus 15 turnover margin. ... They also had the second most penalty yards per game. ... Will play two home games at Paul Brown Stadium, home of the NFL’s Bengals.

After a lackluster season in the Big East that finished with none of its teams ranked in the Top 25, the conference that’s forever fighting for national respect is about to get a lot more entertaining. Maybe not better, but definitely more entertaining. There are three new coaches in the conference this season and two of them — West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen and Pittsburgh’s Todd Graham — bring reputations for producing high-scoring and fast moving offenses. Holgorsen was hired after last season to be offensive coordinator and head-coach-in-waiting behind Bill Stewart. He didn’t have to wait long. Stewart was forced out in June. Now Holgorsen, who coached under Mike Leach at Texas Tech and last season directed the third-ranked offense in the nation as Oklahoma State’s coordinator, is a head coach for the first time. Big things are expected of West Virginia’s Geno Smith, the top-rated passer in the Big East last season, playing in Holgorsen’s spread offense. ‘‘I knew about his resume. The quarterbacks he’s had and the numbers he’s put up,’’ Smith said. ‘‘The

offense has been proven, it’s been putting up numbers. I think I give it a different dynamic because I’m able to do more things. I’m athletic. I can run around a little bit, extend plays. And I can make throws.’’ The other half of the Backyard Brawl rivalry will also have a new-look offense. Graham was hired after Pitt’s first pick to replace Dave Wannstedt, Mike Haywood, was fired after being charged with domestic violence in Indiana. Graham is a defensive coach by pedigree, but he’s a proponent of the type of up-tempo, spread offenses that teams such as Oregon and Auburn use. In fact, Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn worked for Graham at Tulsa. Graham had the Panthers moving at a whole new gear during the spring. ‘‘We weren’t even halfway through practice and people, their legs were dead already,’’ safety Jared Holley said. ‘‘I think it’s exciting. You hear about Oregon and their offense and how fast they run plays and wonder what that’s like. ‘‘It’s a bit of a challenge. I think we really bought into it.’’ The other coaching change comes with far less fanfare. Defending champion Connecticut hired longtime Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni to replace Randy Edsall, who left for Maryland.

Key players: DT Kendall Reyes, OT Mike Ryan, CB Blidi WrehWilson. Returning starters: 7 offense, 9 defense. Notes: Paul Pasqualoni is the other new coach in the Big East, new to his current school, that is. Pasqualoni spent 14 years with Syracuse, winning 64 percent of his games. He was not, however, a popular choice among UConn fans to replace Randy Edsall. ... USC transfer D.J. Shoemate could help make up for the loss of Jordan Todman.

RUTGERS Key players: QB Chas Dodd; DE Manny Abreu; WR Mohamed Sanu. Returning starters: 10 offense, 5 defense. Notes: Greg Schiano is entering his 11th season as Rutgers coach. No other Big East coach has been in the league more than two years ... The Scarlet Knights lost their last six games and allowed 144 points in the final three, bringing back memories of the days when Rutgers was just about the worst program in college football. This turnaround shouldn’t be anywhere near as tough for Schiano.

SYRACUSE Key players: QB Ryan Nassib, DE Chandler Jones, RB Antwon Bailey. Returning starters: 7 offense, 5 defense. Notes: Coach Doug Marrone’s rebuilding job at his alma mater kick into high gear last year. The Orange had a winning record and won a bowl for the first time since 2001. ... Defensive gains have made the biggest difference. Orange have gone from 114th to 37th to seventh in nation total defense the last three years, though it looks as if it will be difficult to avoid taking a step back after losing several key players.

SOUTH FLORIDA Key players: QB B.J. Daniels, LB DeDe Lattimore; DE Ryne Giddins. Returning starters: 3 offense, 6 defense. Notes: Remember RB Darrell Scott? He was one of the most heralded recruits in the country in 2008? He washed out in two years at Colorado and transferred to USF. After sitting out last year, he gets a chance to shed the bust label this season. ... Bulls open at Notre Dame, where Skip Holtz graduated from in 1986 and was once an assistant for his father, Lou.

LOUISVILLE

PITTSBURGH Key players: QB Tino Sunseri; DE Brandon Lindsey; S Jared Holley. Returning starters 6 offense, 8 defense. Notes: Panthers need to improve their efficiency in the red zone. They scored only 26 touchdowns in 51 trips inside the opponents 20 last season. That’s too many field goals. ... The nonconference schedule has a trip to Iowa (Sept. 17) and home games against Notre Dame (Sept. 24) and Utah (Oct. 15).

CONNECTICUT

Associated Press

West Virginia head football coach Dana Holgorsen, right, instructs quarterback Paul Millard during practice in Morgantown, W.Va. on Aug. 5.

Key players: S Hakeem Smith, RB Victor Anderson, DE B.J. Butler. Returning starters: 4 offense, 7 defense. Notes: If coach Charlie Strong can continue the progress in his second season that he made in his first, an inexperienced quarterback will have to blossom. Will Stein, who made two starts in 2009, is the front-runner, but freshman Teddy Bridgewater has a chance to play soon. ... Louisville allowed only 17 sacks last season, but has only one returning starter on the line.

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

BIG TEN CONFERENCE

Ohio St., Michigan no favorites in new Big Ten LEGENDS DIVISION

By Ralph D. Russo

LEADERS DIVISION

AP College Football Writer

MICHIGAN STATE Key players: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Edwin Baker; DL Jerel Worthy. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense. Notes: Cousins, a fifth-year senior going onto his third season as starter, holds the school record for career completion percentage at 64 percent. But even he ackowledges the Spartans must run well to win ... Baker ran for 1,201 yards and scored 13 TDs, but he should get plenty of help from fellow sophomore Le’Veon Bell and junior Larry Casper.

NEBRASKA Key players: QB Taylor Martinez, DT Jared Crick; LB Lavonte David. Returning starters: 6 offense; 7 defense. Notes: Martinez started his freshman season looking like a Heisman Trophy candidate, but injuries slowed him and defenses started to adjust. ... Over the past two seasons, Nebraska has allowed the fourth fewest points in the nation. ... The Huskers’ first Big Ten schedule is brutal. They DON’T play Indiana, Illinois and Purdue.

MICHIGAN Key players: QB Denard Robinson; DT Mike Martin; WR Roy Roundtree. Returning starters: 9 offense, 9 defense. Notes: Hoke brings a prostyle offense back to The Big House. Robinson excelled in the spread, averaging 328 total yards per game, but Hoke is confident he’ll be just as good spending less time in the shotgun. ... New defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is switching to a 4-3 scheme.

WISCONSIN CHICAGO — The first Big Ten football championship game will be played in December at the home of the Indianapolis Colts. If neither Ohio State nor Michigan is playing at Lucas Oil Stadium that day, no one will be particularly surprised. The teams that have combined to win 77 Big Ten titles aren’t even favored to win their divisions. Things really have changed in the Big Ten, haven’t they? In Columbus, Ohio, the Buckeyes are coming off a sixth straight season in which they at least tied for first in the Big Ten. But a stormy offseason cost them coach Jim Tressel and quarterback Terrelle Pryor and could lead to NCAA sanctions. Further complicating Ohio State’s season is the suspension of four key players, including running back Daniel Herron and receiver DeVier Posey, for the first five games of the season for their involvement in the tattoo-for-memorablia scandal that led to Tressel and Pryor’s departures. The Buckeyes don’t lack talent, but so much uncertainty could be difficult for iterim coach Luke Fickell to overcome. Of course football players never miss a chance to turn adversity into motivation. ‘‘It is different than the past three years,’’ senior center Mike Brewster said. ‘‘But I think we’re kind of embracing the challenge. Let’s prove people wrong. People are counting us out, but we’re more alive than ever now.’’ Up the road in Ann Arbor, Mich., things haven’t been too rosey lately, either. Three years under Rich Rodriguez produced one winning season and one case of major NCAA violations. Rodriguez was let go after last season and the Wolverines turned to former Michigan assistant Brady Hoke to turn things around.

NORTHWESTERN

OHIO STATE Key players: DT John Simon, OT Mike Adams, WR DeVier Posey. Returning starters: 6 offense, 4 defense. Notes: Who plays quarterback? With Pryor gone, it opens the possibility that freshman Braxton Miller could grab the job. Senior Joe Bauserman might be the frontrunner to start ... Posey, Adams, Herron and DE Solomon Thomas will miss first five games. Of those five, a trip to Miami and the Big Ten opener vs. Michigan State could be problematic.

PENN STATE Key players: LB Mike Mauti, DE Jack Crawford, WR Derek Moye. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense. Notes: QB controversy in Happy Valley? Joe Paterno, entering his 46th season as Nittany Lions coach, hopes not. Rob Bolden started as a freshman last year. Matt McGloin ended the season as the starter. One of them has to emerge for Penn State to succeed.

ILLINOIS

Key players: QB Dan Persa, SS Brian Peters, Jeremy Ebert. Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense. Notes: The school is pumping up Persa, one of the most overlooked players in the country last season, as a Heisman contender in 2011. The campaign slogan is PersaStrong and the school has been sending media members purple 7-pound dumbells in the mail.

Key players: QB Nathan Scheelhaase, CB Tavon Wilson, WR A.J. Jenkins. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense. Notes: The schedule shapes up nicely for coach Ron Zook’s team with road trips to Indiana, Purdue, Penn State and Minnesota and the rest of the Illini’s games at home. ... Can RB Jason Ford become Illinois’ next star runner.

IOWA

PURDUE

Key players: WR Marvin McNutt; CB Shaun Prater; T Reily Reiff. Returning starters: 5 offense, 5 defense. Notes: QB James Vandenberg replaces the departed Ricky Stanzi. Vanderberg was thrown into big games as a freshman in ’09 and had some memorable moments. ... Sophomore C.J. Fiedorowicz could be Iowa’s next All-American tight end.

Key players: DL Kawann Short, DT Bruce Gaston, RB Ralph Bolden. Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense. Notes: QB Robert Marve returns for a knee injury, along with Rob Henry, who filled in for Marve. Coach Danny Hope says he might play both. ... Bolden also returns from a knee injury.

INDIANA

MINNESOTA Key players: QB MarQueis Gray; LB Gary Tinsley; WR Da’Jon McKnight. Returning starters: 6 offense, 8 defense. Notes: What has Minnesota fans excited is Gray being installed as the starting quarterback by new coach Jerry Kill. He was a huge quarterback recruit out of high school, but has mostly played receiver.

Key players: QB Russell Wilson, RB LB Chris Borland, RB James White. Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense. Notes: Coach Bret Bielema called Wilson, the North Carolina State transfer, a ‘‘potential starter’’ during Big Ten media day. In reality, he’s the type of player who could push the Badgers into national title contention ... First true road game comes Oct. 22 at Michigan State. Then Badgers play at Ohio State the next week.

Associated Press

Ohio State head coach Luke Fickell, left, watches quarterback Braxton Miller take a snap during the first day of practice Aug. 8 in Columbus, Ohio.

Key players: WR Demarlo Belcher; RB Darius Willis; DE Darius Johnson. Returning starters: 9 offense, 6 defense. Notes: Former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson takes over a program that has floundered for years. The Hoosiers won’t be any good this year, but there is reason for optimism: five-star quarterback recruit Gunner Kiel from Columbus, Indiana, has committed to the Hoosiers.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE

Oklahoma’s expectations unchanged in Big 12 OKLAHOMA

By Stephen Hawkins

Key players: LB Travis Lewis, WR Ryan Broyles, QB Landry Jones. Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Oklahoma has had double-digit leads in 129 of its 160 games (81 percent) under Stoops. ... With RB DeMarco Murray in the NFL after setting school records for points and all-purpose yards, best candidate to take over is sophomore Roy Finch, who ran for 398 yards in eight games. ... Lewis has 362 career tackles, leading team each of last three seasons.

AP Sports Writer

OKLAHOMA STATE Key players: QB Brandon Weeden, WR Justin Blackmon, S Markelle Martin. Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Blackmon set an NCAA record with at least 100 yards receiving and a touchdown in 12 consecutive games, a still-active streak. ... New offensive coordinator Todd Monken was previously at Oklahoma State when coach Mike Gundy was offensive coordinator. ... Weeden, who played minor league baseball before getting to Stillwater, turns 28 halfway through the season.

DALLAS — There are no more divisions and two fewer teams. Welcome to the new-look Big 12, where one thing hasn’t changed. Oklahoma is still king. The Sooners have won seven of the last 11 titles, including a season ago before Nebraska and Colorado left the 15-year-old conference. Now with confident quarterback Landry Jones throwing to All-America receiver Ryan Broyles and linebacker Travis Lewis fronting a solid defense, Oklahoma is an overwhelming favorite to win another Big 12 trophy and be a national championship contender. ‘‘I think we are,’’ Jones said. ‘‘At OU, we have the talent year in and year out to be at that game.’’ Coach Bob Stoops won a national title in 2000, his second season in Oklahoma. The coach is still looking for No. 2 even though the Sooners have played for the championship three more times since then. Texas, which won the Big 12’s last national title six seasons ago, is trying to recover from the humbling of its first losing season under

Mack Brown. Texas A&M still has to prove it can be consistently good under Mike Sherman while Oklahoma State is loaded on offense for Mike Gundy but has to quickly grow up on defense. Jones led the Big 12 with 4,718 yards passing and 38 touchdowns last season, when the Sooners finished 12-2 with a five-game winning streak after their two-touchdown loss at Texas A&M. The Aggies had a six-game winning streak before their Cotton Bowl loss to LSU that denied them a 10-win season. With a round-robin conference schedule, there are no more worries about divisional tiebreakers — such as the three-way mess three seasons ago when Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech all were 7-1 in the South and 11-1 overall. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M had a three-way tie atop the South last year. ‘‘At the end of the season there won’t be any teams that say that a certain team from the North or a certain team from the South didn’t play each other and didn’t deserve to be in a conference championship game,’’ Gundy said. ‘‘Ultimately at the end of the season, whoever has the best record in the conference will be the conference champion.’’

TEXAS A&M

TEXAS Key players: LB Emmanuel Acho, RB Fozzy Whittaker, S Blake Gideon. Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Only Boise State (140) and Oklahoma (134) have won more games than Texas (133) since coach Mack Brown’s arrival in 1998, even with 57 record last season. ... Nine returners on defense have combined for 131 career starts. ... With Garrett Gilbert’s struggles last season, there could be another McCoy at quarterback — sophomore Case, Colt’s younger brother.

TEXAS TECH Key players: QB Seth Doege, S Cody Davis, RT Mickey Okafor. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense. Notes: New defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow switching from 3-4 to 4-2-5 scheme he helped run past decade at TCU. ... Doege last fulltime starter in 2005, as sophomore in high school before two major knee injuries and then waiting at Tech for his turn. ... All five starting offensive linemen return.

KANSAS STATE

Key players: QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller. Returning starters: 10 offense, 8 defense. Notes: SMU, South Carolina and Toledo are only other FBS teams returning 1,000-yard passer, rusher (Gray) and receiver (Fuller) ... First time Aggies had 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000yard receiver in same season. ... Aggies last season were first Big 12 team to beat Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas in same season — and did in a span of 19 days.

Key players: LB Arthur Brown, DB Tysyn Hartman, QB Collin Klein. Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Couple of transfers, who happen to be brothers from Wichita, expected to make impact. RB Bryce Brown, who came from Tennessee, is younger brother of LB Arthur Brown, eligible after transferring from Miami. ... Since consecutive 11-win seasons (2002-03), coach Bill Snyder has won only 22 games his last four seasons, including two since coming out of a three-year retirement. ... Klein had two 100-yard rushing games last season.

MISSOURI

IOWA STATE

Key players: WR T.J. Moe, DB Kenji Jackson, DE Jacquies Smith. Returning starters: 9 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Best four-year run in school history with 40 wins, including three 10-win seasons. ... Two departed offensive starters were in middle of action — C Tim Barnes and QB Blaine Gabbert. ... Tigers allowed 16 points a game, best in Big 12 and lowest by Missouri since 1981.

Key players: LB Jake Knott, LT Kelechi Osemele, WR Darius Darks. Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Coach Paul Rhoads was born only 10 minutes from Iowa State’s stadium. ... Knott, team’s leading tackler, broke arm two days before spring game. ... Osemele has started 30 consecutive games while playing 36 past three seasons.

BAYLOR

KANSAS

Key players: QB Robert Griffin III, WR Kendall Wright, LB Elliot Coffey. Returning starters: 8 offense, 5 defense. Notes: New defensive coordinator Phil Bennett trying to rebuild defense that lost top five tacklers. ... While going to first bowl since 1994, Baylor set 55 offensive school records — 22 team marks and 33 individual records, many by Griffin. ... Griffin, listed as a junior, received undergraduate degree (political science) in December.

Key players: TE Tim Biere, OL Jeremiah Hatch, LB Steven Johnson. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense. Notes: Jayhawks return players responsible for all their passing yardage, 84 percent of their rushing yards and 72 percent of the receiving yards last season. ... More players from Texas (38) than Kansas (24) on roster. ... Second-year coach Turner Gill could already be facing a win-or-else season.

Associated Press

Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones throws a pass against Connecticut during the second quarter of the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 2.

PAC-12 CONFERENCE

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, Augut 18, 2011

Expanded Pac-12 has big ambitions NORTH DIVISION

By Greg Beacham

SOUTH DIVISION

AP Sports Writer

OREGON Key players: RB LaMichael James, QB Darron Thomas, DB Cliff Harris, DB John Boyett, LB Josh Kaddu. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense. Notes: The Ducks are the class of the new conference after last season’s unbeaten run through the Pac-10. ... Coach Chip Kelly doesn’t believe Oregon’s recruiting investigation will become a distraction. ... Oregon returns enviable offensive talent for Kelly’s fast-paced scheme, including Heisman contender James. ... Tough season opener vs. LSU in Arlington, Tex.

STANFORD Key players: QB Andrew Luck, RB Stepfan Taylor, LB Shayne Skov, S Michael Thomas, OT Jonathan Martin. Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense. Notes: Coach Jim Harbaugh jumped to the 49ers after last season’s stunning run to an Orange Bowl victory, leaving David Shaw in charge. ... Heisman runner-up Luck’s top two WRs are gone, but Taylor returns. ... Cardinal still have ample talent, but recapturing last season’s unexpected momentum will be huge challenge.

WASHINGTON

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — Even before Utah visits Southern California for the first Pac-12 game on Sept. 10, Utes coach Kyle Whittingham is confident his school is getting in on something big. ‘‘You couldn’t be in a better place at a better time, as a school or a program,’’ said Whittingham, whose Utes no longer need to bust the BCS. ‘‘This is a tremendous opportunity for everybody involved in this conference.’’ Utah and Colorado have joined the Pac-10 teams to form a league from Seattle to Tucson, from Boulder to Berkeley — and its footprint is just as big as its ambition. The Pac-12 hasn’t lost its West Coast flair with the addition of two mountain-based schools. The league still has several inventive offenses and an impressive collection of star quarterbacks, including Stanford’s Andrew Luck and USC’s Matt Barkley, while its lucrative new television deal eventually will expose its stars to an even broader audience. Many of those stars are still at Oregon, which is favored to win its third straight league title after last season’s run to the national championship game. Yet the high-octane Ducks begin the season under a cloud of NCAA investigation into coach Chip Kelly’s questionable use of a recruiting service. ‘‘It’s nice to be picked to win,’’ Kelly said. ‘‘It’s nice to be picked top-five in the country, but it doesn’t mean anything until you go out and play the game, so that mindset won’t change. Hopefully, our motivation comes from within.’’

Key players: QB Matt Barkley, WR Robert Woods, OT Matt Kalil, DL Nick Perry, S T.J. McDonald. Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Ineligible for postseason play in final season of bowl ban. ... Coach Lane Kiffin’s staff returns largely intact for 2nd season after stocking roster with talent during NCAA sanctions appeal. ... Junior QB Barkley’s enviable targets include Woods and touted newcomers Kyle Prater and George Farmer.

ARIZONA STATE Key players: QB Brock Osweiler, RB Cameron Marshall, RB Deantre Lewis, LB Vontaze Burfict, DE Junior Onyeali. Returning starters: 11 offense, 9 defense. Notes: All 5 starters return on coach Dennis Erickson’s offensive line in front of Osweiler, the junior who led an OT win over Arizona in his only start last season. ... Sun Devils will debut their slick new uniforms and helmets Sept. 1 vs. UC Davis.

UTAH Key players: QB Jordan Wynn, OL Tony Bergstrom, LB Brian Blechen, DT Star Lotulelei, KR Shaky Smithson. Returning starters: 7 offense, 5 defense. Notes: Utes are coming off 8 straight winning seasons in Mountain West. ... They got the luck of the draw in Pac-12 scheduling, avoiding Oregon and Stanford this season. ... Wynn should fit comfortably into the conference’s class of outstanding QBs, but Utah must rebuild defense on the move.

Key players: RB Chris Polk, QB Keith Price, WR Jermaine Kearse, S Nate Fellner. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense. Notes: Huskies coming off first winning season since 2002. ... Won 4 straight to end season, including first bowl win since 2001. ... Price is likely replacement for Jake Locker, but Washington will rely early on 1,400-yard rusher Polk and a sturdy defense.

CALIFORNIA Key players: WR Keenan Allen, LB Mychal Kendricks, OL Mitchell Schwartz, DB Sean Cattouse. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense. Notes: Golden Bears hope to bounce back from disappointing 2010, which ended streaks of 8 straight winning seasons and 7 straight bowl games. ... Coach Jeff Tedford rehired offensive assistants Jim Michalczik and Eric Kiesau, but Tedford plans to call plays.

ARIZONA

OREGON STATE

Key players: RB Johnathan Franklin, QB Kevin Prince, S Tony Dye, LB Sean Westgate, DE Datone Jones. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense. Notes: Coach Rick Neuheisel knows he’s on hot seat after just one winning season in 3 years, so he hired hungry young coordinators Mike Johnson and Joe Tresey. ... Bruins’ annual injury woes already have started: QB prospect Brett Hundley hopes to return mid-camp after tearing his meniscus playing basketball.

Key players: QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner, RB Keola Antolin, LB Paul Vassallo, CB Trevin Wade. Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Perpetually on-the-bubble coach Mike Stoops has led Wildcats to three straight bowl games, but is 40-45 overall. ... Foles and his top 3 WRs return, but Wildcats must replace offensive line.

UCLA

Key players: WR James Rodgers, S Lance Mitchell, DT Kevin Frahm, OT Mike Remmers, LB Cameron Collins. Returning starters: 7 offense, 4 defense. Notes: Coming off 5-7 season and first bowl miss since 2005. ... Rodgers is back from two major knee surgeries, but coach Mike Riley isn’t sure how much he can play. ... With plenty of new players on defense, Beavers will rely on offense and strong special teams.

COLORADO

WASHINGTON STATE Key players: QB Jeff Tuel, WR Marquess Wilson, WR Jared Karstetter, S Deone Bucannon, DE Travis Long. Returning starters: 9 offense, 8 defense. Notes: The Cougars have won just 5 games in first three seasons under coach Paul Wulff, who could be down to his last chance. ... Idaho State and UNLV provide good chance for 2-0 start.

Associated Press

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck passes during practice in Stanford, Calif., on Aug. 8.

Key players: QB Tyler Hansen, RB Rodney Stewart, S Ray Polk. Returning starters: 9 offense, 8 defense. Notes: New coach Jon Embree thinks Pac12 is much better fit for his alma mater than Big 12. He faces a high degree of debut difficulty: After taking over a program with 5 straight losing seasons, the Buffaloes play 13 games without a bye week. ... Colorado hasn’t won on the road since Oct. 27, 2007, but opens at Hawaii on Sept. 3.

CONFERENCE USA

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Elite QBs lead Conference USA favorites CENTRAL FLORIDA Key players: QB Jeff Godfrey, RB Ronnie Weaver, DB Kemal Ishmael, DB Josh Robinson. Returning starters: 7 offense, 4 defense. Notes: The Knights won their second CUSA championship in four years last season, and also beat Georgia in the Liberty Bowl. ... UCF set a school record with 11 wins in 2010 and finished ranked 21st in the Top 25. ... UCF has led C-USA in total defense the past three seasons.

SOUTHERN MISS Key Players: QB Austin Davis, K Danny Hrapmann, DL Cordarro Law, RB Kendrick Hardy. Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense. Notes: The Golden Eagles have had 17 consecutive winning seasons, which is the fourth-longest active streak in FBS, trailing only Florida State (29), Florida (20) and Virginia Tech (18) ... Coach Larry Fedora hired new defensive coordinator Dan Disch, who will change the defense from a 4-3 base to a 4-2-5 formation.

HOUSTON Key players: QB Case Keenum, KR/PR Patrick Edwards, RB Bryce Beall, OL Chris Thompson. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Keenum has already thrown for 13,586 career yards and 107 touchdowns. .. Beall led C-USA with 12 rushing touchdowns last season. .. Senior linebacker Marcus McGraw has led the team in tackles the last two seasons, with 110 tackles last year.

By David Brandt

MARSHALL

AP Sports Writer

Key players: DE Vinny Curry, WR Aaron Dobson, DB Omar Brown, DB Donald Brown. Returning starters: 5 offense, 9 defense. Notes: Curry was one of the most productive defensive players in the nation last season with 18 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks. .. The Thundering Herd won four of their last five games last season under first-year coach Doc Holliday.

Subdivision history to throw for more than 5,000 yards twice. Joining Keenum and Kinne is East MEMPHIS — Tulsa quarterback G.J. Carolina quarterback Dominique Davis, who threw for 3,967 yards and 37 touchKinne had a phenomenal 2010 season, throwing for 3,650 yards, rushing for 561 downs. There’s also SMU’s Kyle Padron, more and accounting for 38 touchdowns. who threw for 3,828 yards and 31 touchdowns. And don’t forget Southern Miss’ He ranked fourth in the nation in total Austin Davis, who threw for 3,103 yards offense. In Conference USA, he is just another and 20 touchdowns. There is also Central Florida sophomore Jeff Godfrey, face in the crowd. ‘‘Every once in a while, you get a spe- who threw for 2,159 yards and 13 touchdowns as a true freshman to lead the cial year like this,’’ Tulsa coach Bill Blankenship. ‘‘You’ve got a lot of quarter- Knights to the conference title. While all are prolific, each has a backs with a lot of experience surrounded by plenty of playmakers. It should be slightly different way of making his offense go. a really fun season.’’ ‘‘A lot of people are doing a lot of Offense should be easy to find this season in Conference USA, with talented things,’’ Houston coach Kevin Sumlin and experienced quarterbacks on nearly said. ‘‘There’s a million ways to skin a cat. All you’ve got to do is look at the every roster. numbers and it will scare you.’’ Houston senior Case Keenum headIt remains to be seen if one of the star lines the group after the NCAA granted quarterbacks can turn his team into the him a sixth-year of eligibility following a BCS-buster that Conference USA has season-ending knee injury. He’s already coveted, but can’t find. Houston, in the NCAA career top 10 for passing Southern Miss and Central Florida are yards and touchdown passes and is one of just two quarterbacks in Football Bowl the early conference favorites.

TULSA

UAB Key players: QB Bryan Ellis, OL Matt McCants, DL Elliott Henigan, RB Pat Shed. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Ellis finished with 2,940 yards passing despite not becoming the starter until the fourth game of the season. .. Shed rushed for 847 yards last season and caught a team-high 47 passes for 471 yards.

RICE Key players: P Kyle Martens, DB Travis Bradshaw, RB Sam McGuffie, LB Corey Frazier. Returning starters: 9 offense, 9 defense. Notes: McGuffie was one of just three FBS running backs with at least 880 yards rushing and 380 yards receiving last season. .. The Owls are the only team in C-USA to have at least nine starters returning on both sides of the ball. .. Martens averaged 46 yards per punt last season, which ranked third in the country.

Key players: QB G.J. Kinne, DB Marco Nelson, PR Damaris Johnson, OL Clint Anderson. Returning starters: 10 offense, 8 defense. Notes: The Golden Hurricane ended the season on a seven-game winning streak, including a 62-35 victory over Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl. They finished 24th in the Top 25. .. Johnson has 7,796 career all-purpose yards, including 2,693 last season. He had 560 rushing yards, 872 receiving yards, 292 yards on punt returns and 904 yards on kick returns.

TULANE

SMU

UTEP

Key players: QB Kyle Padron, RB Zach Line, OL Kelvin Beachum, DL Taylor Thompson. Returning starters: 10 offense, 8 defense. Notes: Padron’s 3,828 yards passing, 31 touchdown passes and 35 total touchdowns last season all set school records. .. Line rushed for 1,494 yards last year, which was the second-highest total in school history, trailing only Eric Dickerson’s 1,617 rushing yards in 1982.

Key players: DB Travaun Nixon, RB Joe Banyard, LB Jamie Irving, LB Isaiah Carter. Returning starters: 2 offense, 9 defense. Notes: Banyard rushed for a teamhihg 623 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry. .. Of the Miners’ nine defensive starters returning, linebacker Royzell Smith is the most experienced, with 24 starts.

Key players: RB Orleans Darkwa, LB Trent Mackey, QB Ryan Griffin, DB Shakiel Smith. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Darkwa rushed for 925 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, setting school records for a freshman in both categories. .. Mackey had 124 tackles last season, which ranked third in C-USA.

MEMPHIS

EAST CAROLINA Key players: QB Dominique Davis, WR Lance Lewis, DB Emanuel Davis, DB Bradley Jacobs: Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense. Notes: Davis accounted for 46 of the Pirates’ 60 touchdowns last season, earning CUSA Newcomer of the Year honors. .. Coach Ruffin McNeill is noticeably slimmer than last season. During CUSA Media Day, he said he had lost a ‘‘fourth-grader’’ since the 2010 season.

Associated Press file

Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne is pictured during practice in Tulsa, Okla., on Aug. 10.Kinne is one of Conference USA’s top quarterbacks.

Key players: WR Marcus Rucker, DL Frank Trotter, LB DeRon Furr, P Tom Hornsey. Returning starters: 4 offense, 5 defense. Notes: Memphis hopes to bounce back from a brutal first season under coach Larry Porter. The Tigers finished 1-11, losing their last nine games, including the last eight by at least two touchdowns. .. Rucker has caught a pass in 12 consecutive games, and led the team with 704 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season.

2011 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

ENTERPRISE ROSTER No. 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35

Name David Melton Maxwell Harmon Dusty Sullivan Aaron Shirley Zac Morgan Brady Bilello Chance Partin Conner Ethridge Jason McCutcheon Dalton Kamper Freddie Sumrall Daniel Alwell Miles Barrett Ty Reece Reece Williams Cade Gibson Dylan Richie Dylan Taylor Dusty Acreman Cameron Stephens David Stephens Noah Bailey Eric Bruce Brett Carney Ly'Johntay Horton Wesley Robinson Auston Thomas Kadarius Brunson

Grade Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Soph. Jr. Sr. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Jr. Soph. Sr. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Fresh.

No. 41 42 47 50 51 52 53 54 55 57 61 62 63 64 66 67 68 71 72 73 75 77 79 80 83 85 87 88

Name Garrett Thornton Collin Chandler Jackson Turner Caleb Griffin Jage Doss Deante Couch Caleb Mercer Caleb Rozzell Caleb Stallings Ben Moore Dexter Jordan Nick Rigdon Mase Wade Thomas Jay Will Kidd Cody Dickerson Dillon Jeffers Cameron Horne Colby Howard Harley Brownlee Jared Ivy Justin Mayo Arthur Smith Justin Bean Josh Satcher Justin McCoy Zack Broadway Jesse Dotson

Grade Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Sr. Fresh. Fresh. Jr. Jr. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Sr. Soph. Fresh. Jr. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Fresh. Jr. Soph.

CALVARY from page 20

PANTHERS from page 22

the way. Kellogg, a freshman, is 5-foot-10, 260 pounds, and could be a college prospect before his time at Calvary is up, according to Newell. Defensively, Newell is looking for improvement as well with more speed on that side of the ball. Leading the way will be senior middle linebacker Josh Bartlett. Flanking him at linebacker will be McFadden and Carraway with Johnson and Baskin at the corners. “I think we’re going to be better defensively simply because we’re going to have more speed on the edge,” Newell noted. “What we’re thinking is if we can score 20, 25, 30 points a night, we’ll have a chance to win. “Bartlett is the younger brother of JB (Jonathan Bartlett). He’s a different type of player. He’s more of a hardnosed, energetic-type player. Not going to beat you with his speed or his charisma, but we need him to step up.”

Douglass' new quarterback is Franklin Jones and he will be expected to play solid. Also the Panthers will look for a spark from running back Justin Everett, who was the starting back last year until he went down with injury. The senior rushed for 105 yards on 21 carries, while also catching 13 passes for 114 yards. Quitman also returns two-year starter Quintez McDonald at the wideout position. McDonald hauled in 20 passes — secondmost on the team — for 215 yards. As for what to expect from his team this year, Douglass said: "You know a lot of people keep asking me how are we gonna be, how are we gonna be. I told the coaches last night I really never know until we line up and play somebody. So I think that we aren't as talented as we have been in the past, but the last eight or 10 days of practice have been very enthusiastic and competitive. I've been really pleased with their effort and it’s been very enjoyable to be out there with them.

ENTERPRISE from page 21 yards and eight touchdowns rushing. He is joined in the backfield by fellow seniors Zac Morgan and Dusty Acreman at tailback and Dustin Sullivan and Freddie Sumrall at fullback. Morgan led the Bulldogs with 594 yards rushing last year, while Acreman added 504 and Sumrall finished with 29 yards in limited opportunities. Sullivan is in his first season on the Enterprise roster after transferring last year from Clarkdale. Caleb Rozzell and Jage Doss lead the Enterprise offensive line, where the Bulldogs are still looking for some guys to step up alongside them. Dalton Kamper returns at tight end, where Enterprise will also play Zac Broadway. Doss and Rozzell will also see time on the defensive line alongside Will Kidd. Sumrall, Sullivan and Dylan Taylor figure to see time at linebacker with Morgan and Maxwell back at safety and Leslie Robinson, Acreman and Kamper playing cornerback. Paula Merrit/The Meridian Star “We should be better on defense,” Enterprise running back Dusty Acreman slips through a hole against Speed said. “Last year we were so Clarkdale last season. young at linebacker.”

QUITMAN ROSTER No. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Name Justin Everett Jeremy Holloway Ken Barlow Tez McDonald Bakarri Rembert Franklin Jones Charleston Satcher Walker Mosby Montrel Owens Tyler Matthews Jamott Duncan Dalton Smith

No. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Name Mondarius Trotter Phazekian Walker Joshua Robinson Anthony McGee Kyle Colston Jamarious Evans Jeffrey Duncan Jeremy Sumrall James Daniels Tarvarius Moore Toriano Howard Aldarius Hopson

"If they get their feet wet and get some playing experience, which is the whole plan, hopefully they will have played themselves into a solid group by the time we have our first division game with Northeast Lauderdale." Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

Quitman running back Justin Everett tries to shake a Northeast Lauderdale defender last season in the Division 5-4A opener for both teams. Everett rushed for 105 yards, while catching 13 passes for 114 yards last year.

No. 26 27 28 29 30 33 34 37 38 41 43 50

Name Shurnita Shope Tymdrick Parker Lamarius Newbern Christopher Taylor Derrick Nettles Nick Dearman Cordariyon McDyess Deandre Smith Jaquan Godette Jamarcus Bonner Johnny McCarty Dykarius Arrington

No. 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 62 63 69 70

Name Lafredrick Leggett Cordel Pacly Eric Ransom Fred McGruder Chris Berry Reginald Hamilton Trey Irving James Chavez Carlius Brooks Eris Spencer Lance Lyon Erick Anderson Thomas Tucker

2011 FOOTBALL PREVIEW TIGERS AT A GLANCE

2010 record: 6-6 2010 finish: Lost 42-8 to Wesson in first round of Class 2A playoffs Head coach: Ed Stanley (second year, 6-6) League: Division 5-3A Stanley 2011 schedule Aug. 19 NE Lauderdale Aug. 26 at Scott Central Sept. 2 Leake County Sept. 9 NE Jones Sept. 16 at McLaurin Sept. 23 West Lauderdale Sept. 30 Philadelphia Oct. 7 at Heidelberg Oct. 14 at Kemper County Oct. 21 Choctaw Central Oct. 28 at SE Lauderdale

2010 results Kemper County Bay Springs Heidelberg Morton SE Lauderdale Philadelphia Union Lake Pisgah Pelahatchie Scott Central • Wesson

NEWTON from page 23 “(Watts) didn't get to step on the field last year, but we're really expecting some big things out of those guys.” Terrence Evans, Beasley's top target a year ago, graduated but Newton does bring back Chris Turner and Darkenius Bender. Turner, a senior, hauled in 39 receptions for 641 yards and five touchdowns, while Bender added 26 receptions for 442 yards and four scores. Craig Evans, a senior, and Eddie Houston, a sophomore, return to head the Tigers' front line.

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

That same speed that Newton hopes to utilize on offense will be a key component to the Tigers' defensive plan. “We feel like we're going to have good defensive speed,” Stanley said. “We're comfortable with what we're doing. Last year at this time, we weren't totally sure what we were going to do defensively, but now we know what we want to do and can get the kids in the right spot to make plays.” Among the players Newton is relying on to make plays are returning linebackers Roderick Young and Lekendricks Griffin, as well as emerging starters Mitchell Hardy and Qualyn Watts in the secondary, and Tyler Pace and Deandre Wilson on the defensive front.

6-24^ 18-6 37-8 12-26 12-33 0-51 22-40 46-28 32-26 34-13 18-37 8-42

• — denotes playoff appearance

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

Newton’s Fazion Ross stiff-arms a Southeast Lauderdale defender last season. Ross and the Tigers move up to Class 3A this year where they will compete with Southeast in Division 5-3A.

NEWTON ROSTER No. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 16 17 18

Name Chris Turner Kenadaria Watts Qualyn Watts Mitchell Hardy DeKarian Beasley Marcus Quince Ryan Wright Keoddrick Hillie Jerdarius Irby Jodovaka Moncrief Roderick Young Richard Russell Josh Donald Michael McCune Demetrius Wash

Grade Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Sr.

No. 2 5 7 8 12 15 21 23 30 31 34 36 53 54 57 64 65 75 80 88

Name Cody Hollingsworth Zack Meeks Joseph Little Alex Harrison Tanner Smith Clay Upton Zach Shelton Kizer Ables Thomas Jones Dillon Williams Regan Reiss Nate Johnson Samuel Williams Mason Posey Blain Rose Tyler Thorne Shelby Lang Kendall Roebuck Jentzen Jones Tre' Collins

Grade Jr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Sr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Sr. Jr.

GENERALS from page 24

• — denotes playoff game ^ — denotes forfeit win

Last 10 years 2010 6-6• 2009 2-9 2008 5-6• 2007 4-6 2006 2-7 2005 0-9 2004 3-8• 2003 4-7• 2002 8-3• 2001 9-3• 10-year record: 43-64 Record since 1961: 246-271-10

NCA ROSTER

No. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30 31 32 33 35 36 51 53

Name Donnell Caraway Keirris Brown Faizon Ross Robert Jones Rhian Young Darkenius Bender Vintavious Ficklin Demarquan Bolden Jonathan Irby Gerrie Glasper Deon Carter Joseph Buckley Gary Jones Terrance Curry Tyler Pace

Grade Soph. Jr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Sr. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Jr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Jr.

No. 54 55 56 59 60 61 62 64 65 75 78 81 83

Name Robert Seals Kadarius Buckley Lekendricks Griffin Chirstopher Caraway Eddie Houston Cedric Snow Javaris Moore Kirby Harris Albert Parker Deandre Wilson Stephon Leonard Marcus Blaylock C.J. Edwards

Grade Jr. Jr. Sr. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Sr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh.

defensive side. And that is Roberts’ hope because of how valuable the senior running back is offensively. The Division 5-A player of the year as a sophomore then rushed for 1,988 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. At 5-foot11, Williams has added 15 pounds of muscle since last season and is up to 196 pounds total. “He’s tough and is going to be a load,” Roberts said. “He’s worked super hard in the weight room all summer, has never missed a workout. He’s our No. 1 and he’s a hoss. “He can definitely play at that next level.” The Generals, who open the season Aug. 19 at Oak Hill Academy, will especially ride Williams early until quarterback Turner Smith can return from a broken bone suffered during two-adays. Smith, a junior, is expected to return by the start of Division 4-A play Sept. 9. In his place, Reiss and Harrison will share time at quarterback. “We played those two in the jamboree and we’ll rely on the run here early,” Roberts said, adding that junior Zack Meeks returns in the backfield as well. Keeping them upright and paving the way for Williams will be an offensive line that is young outside of returning senior starters Blain Rose and Posey. “We lost everybody up there but those two seniors,” Roberts added. “The rest of them are young. I think we’ll be good, they’re just young and undersized. “We’ve got a small team, but we have a lot of speed.”

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

2011 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

RAMS from page 26 junior-high players, two players McCleskey hadn't seen after two weeks of practice and a couple who weren't able to practice because of injury. "Offensively, we kinda know where most of the guys will play," he said. "Defensively, it's still up in the air." Gone from a year ago are a dozen graduating seniors, many of whom were fouryear starters and longtime fixtures in the program: Kyle Vernon, Tyler Sanderford, Daniel Harrity, Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star Tyler Stovall, Johnny Allen, Kemper Academy quarterback Clint Quinn looks for an Cassidy Coleman, Sonny Leonard, Justin Payne, open receiver against Calvary Christian last season. Justin Jones, Eli McCarty, average of better than 10 Bobo, sophomore Cory Andy Nelson and Clay yards per carry in limited Fleming and Owen will man Hunnicutt, although action (15 rushes for 156 the line up front — while Hunnicutt missed the entire yards), McAdory would Hall, Thomas and sophoyear with a back injury. have been the team's leadmore Dustin Davis could Sanderford ran for a team-high 1,643 yards, while ing returning ground gainer rotate in the backfield. in addition to an anchor on Sophomore Glenn Allen ran for 1,066 yards. defense. Rawson and freshmen Bill Leonard caught 19 passes "That was a big blow, no Sheppard, Craig Cawthorn, for 658 yards; while Allen doubt," McCleskey said. Austin Thomas and Dow and Sanderford combined Hailey could all contribute for 28 catches and 661 yards "Our leading tackler from last year and the fastest man on the offensive line, while receiving. Sanderford we had ... and, he would McCleskey said he was waitscored a team-high 200 have run the ball for us this ing to get a good look at points, and all three of those year, too." sophomore Tanner guys scored more than 100 Instead, KA will rely Hollingsworth and freshwhile McCarty and Jones anchored the offensive line. heavily on the five letterwin- man Jason Craig. ners who do return, as well Dalton Thomas, with 63 And, seven of those 12 registered at least 20 tackles as a sophomore class which stops a year ago, is the leadruns seven deep. ing returning tackler and for a defense which yielded Seniors Clint Quinn, will anchor the defensive just 8.4 points per game, an Hayden Roberson and front — a group which absurd number for 8-Man Dalton Thomas are the could include Fleming, football. In fact, the state's three returning starters and Quinn, Owen and Bobo. No. 2 scoring defense gave will be be leaned on for leadJames, who registered 20 up 19.1 points per contest. ership in 2011, as well. tackles as a freshman, will "Speed and depth," Quinn completed 53 of82 be joined in the linebacking McCleskey said. "We had passes a year ago for 1,378 corps by Roberson — who plenty of it last year and we yards and had an amazing had 43 stops as a corner a were fortunate that we did23-to-3 touchdown-to-interyear ago. The secondary n't have any major injuries ception ratio. could include Hall and once the season got startRoberson, meanwhile, Jones, among others. ed." "With as few a number of The loss of the 12 seniors will move from wideout to high schoolers as we have, was expected, but the unex- tailback, with sophomore Lee James filling in at fullmost of them are going to pected loss of one of the team's top returning players back. That pair combined to have to go both ways all the carry the football seven time," McCleskey said. threw KA for a loop as pretimes in 2010. "Like last year, we were able season practices began. Senior Hunter Hall and to keep (Quinn) on the sideAustin McAdory — who junior Jordan Jones are the lines most of the time when actually led the squad with split ends, while sophowe were on defense. We'd 98 tackles as a sophomore mores Jake Owen and Cole love to do that again, but I last year — moved to Thomas are the tight ends. don't know that we'll be able Noxapater and transferred to another school. With an Thomas, junior Dylan to.”

anchor the defense from his linebacking position. Oliver, Craig, Davis and junior Charles Cross will also join him in the linesaid some college programs have shied away backing corps, while White, Rencher and Quynndarius Pettus could see time along the from Roberts because of his diminutive size defensive front. — but that he's still getting plenty of atten"We've got a lot of tweeners," Carter said. tion after rushing for 16 scores last year. "A lot of guys who can play more than one He will be joined by at least four or five spot and will depending on what set we're others in a rotating backfield, with senior running. We have guys we'll rotate at lineZacchaeus Cole and junior Trenard Rush backer and up front and then rotate seven or expected to split snaps at quarterback. Cole eight guys between corner and safety and threw for 674 yards and six TDs a year ago. some of them will roll down and play lineKemper has no shortage of talent at its backer. wide receiver spots, either, with seniors "Whatever we do, if we stay healthy, we Nicholas Giles and Devonta Pollard joining shouldn't have the same 11 guys starting junior Josh McClelland and sophomores offense and defense. We have lots of differWillie McCray, Devante Vickers, Quinten ent formations and hopefully we can keep Pollock and Z.Z. Thurman all expected to some of the guys fresh." catch passes. Rush, Milon Roberts and junior Anthony The athletic McClelland led Kemper in receiving yards with 482 on 21 catches a year Ruffin, as well as McClelland and Giles, head up a secondary that also includes Vickers, ago, while Giles — the point guard on the Jonathan Jones, Tevin Roberts and junior KC basketball team — also caught 21 balls Roshard Simmons. for 217 yards. The lanky, 6-foot-7 Pollard, Pollock and Rush will likely handle the meanwhile — ranked as high as the No. 4 kicking duties, and Pettus is the punter. prep basketball prospect in the nation — is On the field, Kemper has been the also back on the gridiron. He caught a pair of Region 5-3A runnerup to perennial power touchdowns in Kemper's spring jamboree Philadelphia in both of Carter's two seasons action in May. — and most preseason polls have the Up front, Carter said as many as 10 or more players could see action in an effort to Wildcats pegged to have a chance to do the same thing again in 2011. stay fresh and replace the Millers and "I sure hope we're competing," said Jakeem Short, who graduated. Carter, adding that changing the mindset of Seniors Thomas White and Givante some in the program was a top priority when Oliver and juniors J Karie Johnson and he took over two years ago. Tabias Rencher headline the rotation along "We're still new to success here," he said. the offensive line, while sophomores "But we haven't really done anything yet ... Jamorris Cole, Graylin Watt, Jaquan Craig, Tevin Williams and Javon Sanders and junior with the talent we have here, we're supposed to beat some of those teams. We're supposed Drahcir Hoskins will also see time. "Man" McCoy also registered 104 tackles to win some games. We've got to be able to in 2010 to lead the team, and will be back to expect to win."

KEMPER from page 27

WILDCATS AT A GLANCE Carthage Forest Lake Union SE Lauderdale Choctaw Central Clarkdale Philadelphia Heidelberg

2010 record: 2-9 due to seven forfeit losses 2010 finish: Beat Heidelberg 21-12 in regular season finale Head coach: Darryl Carter (third year, 9-14) League: Division 5-3A Carter 2011 schedule Aug. 19 at Lumberton Aug. 26 at Nanih Waiya Sept. 2 Noxapater Sept. 9 Louisville Sept. 16 at NE Jones Sept. 23 Noxubee County Sept. 30 at SE Lauderdale Oct. 7 at Choctaw Central Oct. 14 Newton Oct. 21 at Philadelphia Oct. 28 Heidelberg

2010 results Newton Nanih Waiya

24-6^ 26-21^

38-22^ 0-43 20-19^ 30-24 18-7^ 52-0^ 14-7^ 0-48 21-12 ^ — denotes forfeit loss

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 26-79 All-time record: 58-167

2-9 7-5• 2-8 1-9 4-7• 1-9 4-5 2-9• 1-9 2-9•

• — denotes playoff appearance

COUGARS from page 25 If it isn't the receiving corps that is the bright spot for the Cougars offense, it may be the offensive line. The Cougars have two juniors — Charles Thorn and Charles Wansley — and two seniors — Tyler White and Bryant Williams — on the offensive line and Boren is expecting them to lead the way in the transition to the spread. “Wansley is a guy we really kind of found in the spring,” he added. “He was a guy that had been on the defensive side and wasn't seeing much playing time. We moved him over and are really pleased with what he's been doing. “I think our offensive line is

2011 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

COUGARS AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 6-5 2010 finish: Lost 40-4 to Quitman in first round of Class 4A playoffs Head coach: Charlie Boren (first year) League: Division 5-4A Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 30

Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.

Boren

2011 schedule SE Lauderdale at Choctaw Central Leake Central Florence NE Jones

going to end up a real strength for us.” While Newton County is relying on the spread offensively, the Cougars are going to be multiple

WARRIORS from page 28 see.” Rounding out Chcotaw's offense will be a running back by committee that includes Magael Cruz, Alex Lacy and Payton Williams. Defensively, Choctaw brings back just four starters but Savell has seen improvement and has a plan of attack ready. “The defense is looking better than they did in the spring,” he said. “They are better making their reads. “We want people to have to throw to beat us. That's what we hope to do.” For that plan to work, a pair of returning starters and a couple of first-time starters on the defensive front will have to lead the way. Lonzo Shoemake, a senior, has moved from tackle to defensive end alongside Cody Anderson, a junior. Inside will be Dallis Steve and Brian Farmer, who have just broken into the lineup. Other returning starters for the Warriors will be Wilson at safety and Cruz at linebacker. Clegg will also start at safety. And the Warriors also include a weapon on

7 14 21 28

at NE Lauderdale Laurel at West Lauderdale Quitman

2010 results Carthage SE Lauderdale Choctaw Central West Lauderdale NE Lauderdale Richland Florence Magee Mendenhall Raymond • Quitman

32-0 7-6 45-24 17-14 18-36 35-0 14-21 21-29 6-33 28-14 14-40

defensively. “We're doing a lot of things differently,” Boren said. “We'll base out of an odd front and run some multiple coverage packages out

ROCKETS AT A GLANCE • — denotes playoff game

Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 77-41 All-time record: 136-100

6-5• 3-8• 11-2• 11-2• 2-8 6-5• 7-4• 6-5• 13-1• 12-1•

• — denotes playoff appearance

there.” Headlining that defense will be Cougars such as Acea Ange, Demetrius Gooden, Demetri Mcleon and Caleb Weaver.

CHOCTAW CENTRAL ROSTER No. 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 20 22 23 24 30 32

Name Magael Cruz Dalton Clegg Jannera Bolin Christian Deon Alex Lacy Tavion Bond Brian Farmer Josh Jim Braxton Amos Kameron Thomas Rafael Cruz Payton Williams Dalen Wheeler Demarquis Wilson Tobiah Ben Ben Guyette Brandon Kennedy

Grade RB/LB WR/DB QB/DB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB DL/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB TE/LB QB/DB DB/WR RB/LB TE/LB

Pos Sr. Jr. Jr. Fresh. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Fresh.

special teams in kicker Ricky Thompson, who had several touchbacks last season. “We've got the ol' flat-toe shoe, he looks like Tom Dempsey,” Savell said. “He can kick a 45Paula Merritt/ The Meridian Star

Choctaw Central’s Lonzo Shoemake forces a fumble against Clarkdale in 2009. Shoemake will move this year to defensive end from a tackle spot.

No. 33 34 40 50 51 52 54 55 56 60 62 66 67 74 81 88

Name Dexton Nickey Tyler Mitch Jashaun Tubby Fabian Anderson Cody Anderson Tyler Lewis Devin Charlie Joey Anderson Lonzo Shoemake Dallis Steve Travis Dumont Blake Edwards Hilowah Davis Truvette Thompson Derald Isom Jaycee Henry

Grade WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB DL/OL DE/OL DL/OL LB/DL OL/DL DE/OL DL/OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB LB/DL

Pos Fresh. Jr. Fresh. Soph. Sr. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Sr. Soph. Fresh. Sr. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Soph.

50 yarder with ease, he just needs more consistency. I've told him when he starts making five in a row in practice, then we'll let you kick one in a game.”

2010 record: 5-6 2010 finish: Lost 48-28 to Pearl in regular season finale Head coach: Chuck Friend (fifth year, 17-25) League: Division 25A Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 4

Friend

2011 schedule at Quitman West Lauderdale Louisville at NE Lauderdale at Yazoo City Callaway at Canton Provine at Ridgeland at Lanier Starkville

2010 results DeSoto Central West Lauderdale Philadelphia NE Lauderdale Yazoo City Callaway Canton Provine Ridgeland Lanier Pearl Last 10 years 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 10-year record: 34-69 All-time record: 265-263-9

43-6 28-6 14-42 7-14 35-6 14-35 42-21 9-21 20-32 49-0 28-48 5-6 5-6 6-4 1-9 4-6 1-9 3-7 5-6• 2-8 2-8

• — denotes playoff appearance

ROCKETS from page 29 Still, the key for Neshoba may be keeping their players on the field. It is something Friend has focused on. “We're optimistic,” he noted. “We were optimistic last year at this time. I think we won our first two games, and then had some internal problems with kids getting in trouble and it seemed like the wheels fell off after that. We just have to make sure that doesn't happen this year and stay focused on what we're doing.”

2011 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

UNION ROSTER No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 17 20 21 22 24 25 30 32 35 40 41

Name Jim Franklin Cody Wilkerson Dalton Thames Ricardo Arreola Laviel Wells Dustin Bates Trey Bogan Jacob Rash Nathan Griffin Jesse Gill Taylor Coker Paul White Thomas Patterson Daniel Giles Kevin amos Jeremy Brazzle Adrian Campbell James Huddleston Jake Rawson Wayne Sanders Najee Thompson Adam Richardson Marvin Norris Demantreo Johnson

Grade WR/DB TE/LB QB/DB FB/LB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB QB/DB QB/LB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB RB/LB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB TE/LB QB/DB RB/LB FB/DL

Pos Sr. Soph. Sr. Jr. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Soph. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Sr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Sr. Fresh. Fresh. Sr.

TORNADOES from page 31 The Philly defense will also return some experienced starters. The Tornadoes return all three of last year's down-linemen along with numerous playmakers in the secondary.

No. 44 48 52 55 56 60 62 63 65 66 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 78 79 80 81 82 83 84

Name Joseph Alford Chrisean Tyson Adam Moore Kolt Hagan Thomas Kornegay Jonathan Parker J.T. Gardner Tyler Hollingsworth Daniel Keneker David Rushing Warren Hardin Josh McGee Ben Killen Emangrel Jones Ryan Baysinger Tristan Smith Jon E. Parker Austin McElhenney Chris Smith Malik Thompson Quinton Campbell Deondre' McDonald Clarence Thompson Kyle Adkins

Grade FB/LB FB/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DE OL/DL OL/DE OL/DL OL/DL OL/DE OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB WR/DB TE/DL WR/DB TE/DE

Pos Soph. Sr. Sr. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Jr. Soph. Sr. Jr. Soph. Jr. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Jr. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Sr.

However, they do have to fill holes left as all of the starting linebackers were lost to graduation, including Johnson, who will know spend his Saturday's playing for Ole Miss. "We are probably by far the fastest on defense that we've ever been. These guys can really run. We've got a lot of experienced

Thames and Trey Bogan as well as a host of offensive linemen. Returning up front are Kyle Adkins and Najee Thompson at tight end, Tristan Smith shoes to fill. Getting those opportunities will be junior at right tackle, Ben Killen at right guard, Warren Hardin at center, Adam Moore at Jesse Gill at quarterback and freshman left guard with Jon E. Parker stepping into Laviel Wells and sophomore Adrian the lineup at left tackle. Campbell at running back. Gill saw time at That experience is something Union quarterback last year in addition to spelling looks to rely on until its backfield finds its Ealy at running back as well. footing. “We've got some people in there that “We're expecting them to make some kind of split some time,” Breland said. “The holes and hopefully make it a little bit easier main one that has to come on is Jesse Gill. on all those young guys that'll be running He played a little bit of quarterback for us and a little bit of tailback for us. And he did the football,” Breland said. That experience extends to the defensive good at both, but now he has to take over side as well with Johnson and Adkins back and be the leader and run the show out at defensive end with Jonathan Parker there on offense. He has to come on. I think he'll be OK, he just has to manage the returning at nose guard. The linebacking corps are handled by seniors Nathan Griffin game. “They both run well. They're not quite and David Rushing on the outside and as shifty as Forzetra, but they both run Moore and Jeremy Brazzle on the inside. well. They'll have to get out in the open and Gill, Wells and Jim Franklin will see time get what they can. I don't know that they at safety, while Jacob Rash, Taylor Coker, are as much of a big-play back like Forzetra Campbell and Jake Rawson figure to man was.” the cornerback positions. Surrounding those newcomers will be Franklin will also be a key part of senior fullbacks Chrisean Tyson and Union's special teams at kicker with Dustin Demantreo Johnson, wide receivers Dalton Bates punting.

JACKETS from page 30

players returning." As for his aspirations for the 2011 season, Dyess wants nothing less than a state title. "We think we can win a 3A championship," said Dyess. "To me if you don't think you can win it every year then you probably shouldn't be in football."

The Tornadoes practice hard which Dyess says turns into playing harder on the field. He thinks his team's chemistry is outstanding. "If the coaches decided to stay at home for practice, these players could run it themselves," Dyess elaborated.

TORNADOES AT A GLANCE 2010 record: 12-1 2010 finish: Lost 16-14 to Hazlehurst in second round of Class 3A playoffs Head coach: Teddy Dyess (fifth year, 42-9) League: Division 53A

Dyess

2011 schedule Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28

42-14 35-10 43-19 51-0 37-7 45-7 43-0 48-0 45-13 42-20 14-16

• — denotes playoff game

Morton Kosciusko at West Lauderdale at Leake County at NE Lauderdale Leflore County at Newton SE Lauderdale at Heidelberg Kemper County at Choctaw Central

2010 results South Leake McClain

Neshoba Central West Lowndes Kosciusko Newton Clarkdale SE Lauderdale Heidelberg Kemper County Choctaw Central • Raleigh • Hazlehurst

49-0 46-6

Last 10 years 2010 12-1• 2009 11-2• 2008 9-3• 2007 10-3• 2006 5-5 2005 11-2• 2004 10-2• 2003 8-3• 2002 7-4• 2001 7-5• 10-year record: 90-30 Record since 1934: 550-267-20 • — denotes playoff appearance

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

Philadelphia running back Marquise Matthews eyes a Southeast Lauderdale defender in a Division 53A game last season.

60 AIR FORCE Sep. 3 South Dakota, 2 p.m. Sep. 10 TCU, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Tennessee St., 3 p.m. Oct. 1 at Navy, Noon Oct. 8 at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 13 San Diego St., 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at Boise St., 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at New Mexico, 2 p.m. Nov. 5 Army, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 12 Wyoming, 2 p.m. Nov. 19 UNLV, 6 p.m. Nov. 26 at Colorado St., 6 p.m. AKRON Sep. 3 at Ohio St., Noon Sep. 10 Temple, 6 p.m. Sep. 17 at Cincinnati, TBA Sep. 24 VMI, 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at E. Michigan, 1 p.m. Oct. 8 FIU, 2 p.m. Oct. 22 Ohio, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 Cent. Michigan, Noon Nov. 3 at Miami (Ohio), 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 Kent St., 2 p.m. Nov. 19 at Buffalo, Noon Nov. 25 at W. Michigan, TBA ALABAMA Sep. 3 Kent St., 12:20 p.m. Sep. 10 at Penn St., 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 North Texas, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Arkansas, TBA Oct. 1 at Florida, TBA Oct. 8 Vanderbilt, TBA Oct. 15 at Mississippi, TBA Oct. 22 Tennessee, TBA Nov. 5 LSU, TBA Nov. 12 at Mississippi St., TBA Nov. 19 Georgia Southern, TBA Nov. 26 at Auburn, TBA ARIZONA Sep. 3 N. Arizona, TBA Sep. 8 at Oklahoma St., 8 p.m. Sep. 17 Stanford, 10:45 p.m. Sep. 24 Oregon, 10:15 p.m. Oct. 1 at Southern Cal, TBA Oct. 8 at Oregon St., TBA Oct. 20 UCLA, 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at Washington, TBA Nov. 5 Utah, TBA Nov. 12 at Colorado, TBA Nov. 19 at Arizona St., TBA Nov. 26 Louisiana-Lafayette, TBA ARIZONA ST. Sep. 1 UC Davis, 10 p.m. Sep. 9 Missouri, 10:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at Illinois, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 Southern Cal, 10:15 p.m. Oct. 1 Oregon St., TBA Oct. 8 at Utah, TBA Oct. 15 at Oregon, TBA Oct. 29 Colorado, TBA Nov. 5 at UCLA, TBA Nov. 12 at Washington St., TBA Nov. 19 Arizona, TBA Nov. 25 California, 10:15 p.m. ARKANSAS Sep. 3 Missouri St., 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at New Mexico, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Troy, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Alabama, TBA Oct. 1 at Texas A&M, TBA Oct. 8 Auburn, TBA Oct. 22 at Mississippi, TBA Oct. 29 at Vanderbilt, TBA Nov. 5 South Carolina, TBA Nov. 12 Tennessee, TBA Nov. 19 Mississippi St., TBA Nov. 25 at LSU, 2:30 p.m. ARKANSAS ST. Sep. 3 at Illinois, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Memphis, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at Virginia Tech, 4 p.m. Sep. 24 Cent. Arkansas, 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at W. Kentucky, 4 p.m. Oct. 8 at Louisiana-Monroe, 7 p.m. Oct. 18 FIU, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 North Texas, TBA Nov. 5 at FAU, TBA Nov. 12 Louisiana-Lafayette, TBA Nov. 19 at Middle Tennessee, TBA Dec. 3 Troy, TBA ARMY Sep. 3 at N. Illinois, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 San Diego St., Noon Sep. 17 Northwestern, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Ball St., 2 p.m. Oct. 1 Tulane, Noon Oct. 8 at Miami (Ohio), 1 p.m. Oct. 22 at Vanderbilt, TBA Oct. 29 Fordham, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Air Force, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 12 Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Temple, 1 p.m. Dec. 10 Navy, 2:30 p.m. AUBURN Sep. 3 Utah St., Noon Sep. 10 Mississippi St., 12:20 p.m. Sep. 17 at Clemson, Noon Sep. 24 FAU, TBA Oct. 1 at South Carolina, TBA Oct. 8 at Arkansas, TBA Oct. 15 Florida, TBA

MAJOR COLLEGE SCHEDULES Oct. 22 at LSU, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 Mississippi, TBA Nov. 12 at Georgia, TBA Nov. 19 Samford, TBA Nov. 26 Alabama, TBA BYU Sep. 3 at Mississippi, 4:45 p.m. Sep. 10 at Texas, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Utah, 9:15 p.m. Sep. 23 UCF, 8 p.m. Sep. 30 Utah St., 8 p.m. Oct. 8 San Jose St., TBA Oct. 15 at Oregon St., TBA Oct. 22 Idaho St., 3 p.m. Oct. 28 at TCU, 8 p.m. Nov. 12 Idaho, TBA Nov. 19 New Mexico St., TBA Dec. 3 at Hawaii, 7:30 p.m. BALL ST. Sep. 3 Indiana, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at South Florida, TBA Sep. 17 Buffalo, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 Army, 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at Oklahoma, TBA Oct. 8 Temple, 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at Ohio, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 Cent. Michigan, 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at W. Michigan, 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at E. Michigan, Noon Nov. 15 at N. Illinois, 8 p.m. Nov. 25 Toledo, 2 p.m. BAYLOR Sep. 2 TCU, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 Stephen F. Austin, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 Rice, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Kansas St., TBA Oct. 8 Iowa St., TBA Oct. 15 at Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Oklahoma St., TBA Nov. 5 Missouri, TBA Nov. 12 at Kansas, TBA Nov. 19 Oklahoma, TBA Nov. 26 Texas Tech, 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3 Texas, TBA BOISE ST. Sep. 3 at Georgia, 8 p.m. Sep. 16 at Toledo, 8 p.m. Sep. 24 Tulsa, 8 p.m. Oct. 1 Nevada, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at Fresno St., 9 p.m. Oct. 15 at Colorado St., 6 p.m. Oct. 22 Air Force, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at UNLV, 10:30 p.m. Nov. 12 TCU, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at San Diego St., 8 p.m. Nov. 26 Wyoming, 2 p.m. Dec. 3 New Mexico, 6 p.m. BOSTON COLLEGE Sep. 3 Northwestern, Noon Sep. 10 at UCF, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 Duke, 12:30 p.m. Sep. 24 UMass, TBA Oct. 1 Wake Forest, TBA Oct. 8 at Clemson, TBA Oct. 22 at Virginia Tech, TBA Oct. 29 at Maryland, TBA Nov. 3 Florida St., 8 p.m. Nov. 12 NC State, TBA Nov. 19 at Notre Dame, 4 p.m. Nov. 25 at Miami, 3:30 p.m. BOWLING GREEN Sep. 1 at Idaho, 9 p.m. Sep. 10 Morgan St., 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Wyoming, TBA Sep. 24 at Miami (Ohio), 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at West Virginia, TBA Oct. 8 at W. Michigan, 2 p.m. Oct. 15 Toledo, Noon Oct. 22 Temple, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Kent St., 1 p.m. Nov. 8 N. Illinois, 8 p.m. Nov. 16 Ohio, 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at Buffalo, TBA BUFFALO Sep. 3 at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m. Sep. 10 Stony Brook, 6 p.m. Sep. 17 at Ball St., 7 p.m. Sep. 24 UConn, 6 p.m. Oct. 1 at Tennessee, TBA Oct. 8 Ohio, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Temple, 1 p.m. Oct. 22 N. Illinois, Noon Oct. 29 at Miami (Ohio), 3:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at E. Michigan, 1 p.m. Nov. 19 Akron, Noon Nov. 25 Bowling Green, TBA CALIFORNIA Sep. 3 Fresno St., 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Colorado, TBA Sep. 17 Presbyterian, TBA Sep. 24 at Washington, TBA Oct. 6 at Oregon, 9 p.m. Oct. 13 Southern Cal, 9 p.m. Oct. 22 Utah, TBA Oct. 29 at UCLA, TBA Nov. 5 Washington St., TBA Nov. 12 Oregon St., TBA Nov. 19 at Stanford, TBA Nov. 25 at Arizona St., 10:15 p.m. CENT. MICHIGAN Sep. 1 SC State, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Kentucky, Noon

Sep. 17 at W. Michigan, Noon Sep. 24 at Michigan St., TBA Oct. 1 N. Illinois, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at NC State, TBA Oct. 15 E. Michigan, 3 p.m. Oct. 22 at Ball St., 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at Akron, Noon Nov. 4 at Kent St., 6 p.m. Nov. 10 Ohio, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 Toledo, 8 p.m. CINCINNATI Sep. 3 Austin Peay, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Akron, TBA Sep. 22 NC State, 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at Miami (Ohio), 1 p.m. Oct. 15 Louisville, TBA Oct. 22 at South Florida, TBA Nov. 5 at Pittsburgh, TBA Nov. 12 West Virginia, TBA Nov. 19 at Rutgers, TBA Nov. 26 at Syracuse, TBA Dec. 3 UConn, TBA CLEMSON Sep. 3 Troy, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Wofford, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Auburn, Noon Sep. 24 Florida St., TBA Oct. 1 at Virginia Tech, TBA Oct. 8 Boston College, TBA Oct. 15 at Maryland, TBA Oct. 22 North Carolina, TBA Oct. 29 at Georgia Tech, TBA Nov. 12 Wake Forest, TBA Nov. 19 at NC State, TBA Nov. 26 at South Carolina, TBA COLORADO Sep. 3 at Hawaii, 10:15 p.m. Sep. 10 California, TBA Sep. 17 Colorado St., 1:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Ohio St., TBA Oct. 1 Washington St., TBA Oct. 8 at Stanford, TBA Oct. 15 at Washington, TBA Oct. 22 Oregon, TBA Oct. 29 at Arizona St., TBA Nov. 4 Southern Cal, 9 p.m. Nov. 12 Arizona, TBA Nov. 19 at UCLA, TBA Nov. 25 at Utah, 3:30 p.m. COLORADO ST. Sep. 3 at New Mexico, 6 p.m. Sep. 10 N. Colorado, 2 p.m. Sep. 17 at Colorado, 1:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Utah St., 8 p.m. Oct. 1 San Jose St., 4 p.m. Oct. 15 Boise St., 6 p.m. Oct. 22 at UTEP, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at UNLV, 6 p.m. Nov. 12 San Diego St., 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at TCU, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26 Air Force, 6 p.m. Dec. 3 Wyoming, 2 p.m. DUKE Sep. 3 Richmond, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Stanford, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at Boston College, 12:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Tulane, TBA Oct. 1 at FIU, 6 p.m. Oct. 15 Florida St., TBA Oct. 22 Wake Forest, TBA Oct. 29 Virginia Tech, TBA Nov. 5 at Miami, TBA Nov. 12 at Virginia, TBA Nov. 19 Georgia Tech, TBA Nov. 26 at North Carolina, TBA E. MICHIGAN Sep. 3 Howard, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Alabama St., 1 p.m. Sep. 17 at Michigan, Noon Sep. 24 at Penn St., TBA Oct. 1 Akron, 1 p.m. Oct. 8 at Toledo, 3 p.m. Oct. 15 at Cent. Michigan, 3 p.m. Oct. 22 W. Michigan, 1 p.m. Nov. 5 Ball St., Noon Nov. 12 Buffalo, 1 p.m. Nov. 19 at Kent St., 1 p.m. Nov. 25 at N. Illinois, TBA EAST CAROLINA Sep. 3 South Carolina, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Virginia Tech, TBA Sep. 24 UAB, TBA Oct. 1 North Carolina, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at Houston, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Memphis, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at Navy, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 Tulane, TBA Nov. 5 Southern Miss., 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at UTEP, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 UCF, TBA Nov. 26 at Marshall, TBA FAU Sep. 3 at Florida, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Michigan St., Noon Sep. 24 at Auburn, TBA Oct. 1 at Louisiana-Lafayette, TBA Oct. 8 at North Texas, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 W. Kentucky, TBA Oct. 22 Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m. Nov. 5 Arkansas St., TBA Nov. 12 at FIU, TBA

Nov. 19 at Troy, TBA Nov. 26 UAB, TBA Dec. 3 Louisiana-Monroe, TBA FIU Sep. 1 North Texas, 7 p.m. Sep. 9 at Louisville, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 UCF, 6 p.m. Sep. 24 Louisiana-Lafayette, TBA Oct. 1 Duke, 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at Akron, 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at Arkansas St., 8 p.m. Oct. 25 Troy, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at W. Kentucky, 4 p.m. Nov. 12 FAU, TBA Nov. 19 at Louisiana-Monroe, TBA Nov. 26 at Middle Tennessee, TBA FLORIDA Sep. 3 FAU, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 UAB, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Kentucky, TBA Oct. 1 Alabama, TBA Oct. 8 at LSU, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Auburn, TBA Oct. 29 at Georgia, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 Vanderbilt, TBA Nov. 12 at South Carolina, TBA Nov. 19 Furman, TBA Nov. 26 Florida St., TBA FLORIDA ST. Sep. 3 Louisiana-Monroe, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Charleston Southern, 6 p.m. Sep. 17 Oklahoma, TBA Sep. 24 at Clemson, TBA Oct. 8 at Wake Forest, TBA Oct. 15 at Duke, TBA Oct. 22 Maryland, TBA Oct. 29 NC State, TBA Nov. 3 at Boston College, 8 p.m. Nov. 12 Miami, TBA Nov. 19 Virginia, TBA Nov. 26 at Florida, TBA FRESNO ST. Sep. 3 at California, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Nebraska, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 North Dakota, 10 p.m. Sep. 24 at Idaho, 5 p.m. Oct. 1 Mississippi, 9:15 p.m. Oct. 7 Boise St., 9 p.m. Oct. 15 Utah St., 10 p.m. Oct. 22 at Nevada, 4:05 p.m. Nov. 5 Louisiana Tech, 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at New Mexico St., 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at Hawaii, 11 p.m. Nov. 26 San Jose St., 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at San Diego St., 8 p.m. GEORGIA Sep. 3 Boise St., 8 p.m. Sep. 10 South Carolina, 4:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m. Sep. 24 at Mississippi, TBA Oct. 1 Mississippi St., TBA Oct. 8 at Tennessee, TBA Oct. 15 at Vanderbilt, TBA Oct. 29 Florida, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 New Mexico St., TBA Nov. 12 Auburn, TBA Nov. 19 Kentucky, TBA Nov. 26 at Georgia Tech, TBA GEORGIA TECH Sep. 1 W. Carolina, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 10 at Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 Kansas, 12:30 p.m. Sep. 24 North Carolina, TBA Oct. 1 at NC State, TBA Oct. 8 Maryland, TBA Oct. 15 at Virginia, TBA Oct. 22 at Miami, TBA Oct. 29 Clemson, TBA Nov. 10 Virginia Tech, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at Duke, TBA Nov. 26 Georgia, TBA HAWAII Sep. 3 Colorado, 10:15 p.m. Sep. 10 at Washington, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at UNLV, 10 p.m. Sep. 24 UC Davis, Mid Oct. 1 at Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at San Jose St., 9 p.m. Oct. 22 New Mexico St., Mid Oct. 29 at Idaho, 5 p.m. Nov. 5 Utah St., Mid Nov. 12 at Nevada, 4:05 p.m. Nov. 19 Fresno St., 11 p.m. Nov. 26 Tulane, 11 p.m. Dec. 3 BYU, 7:30 p.m. HOUSTON Sep. 3 UCLA, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 at North Texas, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 Georgia St., 8 p.m. Sep. 29 at UTEP, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 East Carolina, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 Marshall, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 27 Rice, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at UAB, 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Tulane, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 SMU, TBA Nov. 25 at Tulsa, Noon IDAHO Sep. 1 Bowling Green, 9 p.m. Sep. 10 North Dakota, 5 p.m.

Sep. 17 at Texas A&M, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 Fresno St., 5 p.m. Oct. 1 at Virginia, TBA Oct. 8 Louisiana Tech, 5 p.m. Oct. 15 at New Mexico St., 8 p.m. Oct. 29 Hawaii, 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at San Jose St., 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at BYU, TBA Nov. 19 Utah St., 5 p.m. Dec. 3 at Nevada, 4:05 p.m. ILLINOIS Sep. 3 Arkansas St., 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 S. Dakota St., Noon Sep. 17 Arizona St., 7 p.m. Sep. 24 W. Michigan, TBA Oct. 1 Northwestern, Noon Oct. 8 at Indiana, TBA Oct. 15 Ohio St., TBA Oct. 22 at Purdue, Noon Oct. 29 at Penn St., TBA Nov. 12 Michigan, TBA Nov. 19 Wisconsin, TBA Nov. 26 at Minnesota, TBA INDIANA Sep. 3 at Ball St., 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Virginia, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 SC State, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at North Texas, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 Penn St., TBA Oct. 8 Illinois, TBA Oct. 15 at Wisconsin, Noon Oct. 22 at Iowa, Noon Oct. 29 Northwestern, Noon Nov. 5 at Ohio St., TBA Nov. 19 at Michigan St., TBA Nov. 26 Purdue, TBA IOWA Sep. 3 Tennessee Tech, Noon Sep. 10 at Iowa St., Noon Sep. 17 Pittsburgh, Noon Sep. 24 Louisiana-Monroe, TBA Oct. 8 at Penn St., TBA Oct. 15 Northwestern, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 Indiana, Noon Oct. 29 at Minnesota, TBA Nov. 5 Michigan, TBA Nov. 12 Michigan St., TBA Nov. 19 at Purdue, TBA Nov. 25 at Nebraska, Noon IOWA ST. Sep. 3 N. Iowa, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Iowa, Noon Sep. 16 at UConn, 8 p.m. Oct. 1 Texas, TBA Oct. 8 at Baylor, TBA Oct. 15 at Missouri, TBA Oct. 22 Texas A&M, TBA Oct. 29 at Texas Tech, TBA Nov. 5 Kansas, TBA Nov. 18 Oklahoma St., 9 p.m. Nov. 26 at Oklahoma, 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at Kansas St., 12:30 p.m. KANSAS Sep. 3 McNeese St., 7 p.m. Sep. 10 N. Illinois, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at Georgia Tech, 12:30 p.m. Oct. 1 Texas Tech, TBA Oct. 8 at Oklahoma St., TBA Oct. 15 Oklahoma, TBA Oct. 22 Kansas St., TBA Oct. 29 at Texas, TBA Nov. 5 at Iowa St., TBA Nov. 12 Baylor, TBA Nov. 19 at Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26 Missouri, Noon KANSAS ST. Sep. 3 E. Kentucky, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Kent St., 7 p.m. Sep. 24 at Miami, TBA Oct. 1 Baylor, TBA Oct. 8 Missouri, TBA Oct. 15 at Texas Tech, TBA Oct. 22 at Kansas, TBA Oct. 29 Oklahoma, TBA Nov. 5 at Oklahoma St., TBA Nov. 12 Texas A&M, TBA Nov. 19 at Texas, TBA Dec. 3 Iowa St., 12:30 p.m. KENT ST. Sep. 3 at Alabama, 12:20 p.m. Sep. 10 Louisiana-Lafayette, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at Kansas St., 7 p.m. Sep. 24 South Alabama, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Ohio, 2 p.m. Oct. 8 at N. Illinois, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15 Miami (Ohio), 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 Bowling Green, 1 p.m. Nov. 4 Cent. Michigan, 6 p.m. Nov. 12 at Akron, 2 p.m. Nov. 19 E. Michigan, 1 p.m. Nov. 25 at Temple, TBA KENTUCKY Sep. 1 at W. Kentucky, 9:15 p.m. Sep. 10 Cent. Michigan, Noon Sep. 17 Louisville, 6 p.m. Sep. 24 Florida, TBA Oct. 1 at LSU, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at South Carolina, TBA Oct. 22 Jacksonville St., TBA Oct. 29 Mississippi St., TBA Nov. 5 Mississippi, TBA Nov. 12 at Vanderbilt, TBA

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011 Nov. 19 at Georgia, TBA Nov. 26 Tennessee, TBA LSU Sep. 3 at Oregon, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 Northwestern St., 8 p.m. Sep. 15 at Mississippi St., 8 p.m. Sep. 24 at West Virginia, TBA Oct. 1 Kentucky, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Florida, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Tennessee, TBA Oct. 22 Auburn, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Alabama, TBA Nov. 12 W. Kentucky, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at Mississippi, TBA Nov. 25 Arkansas, 2:30 p.m. LOUISIANA TECH Sep. 3 at Southern Miss., 10 p.m. Sep. 10 Cent. Arkansas, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Houston, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 at Mississippi St., TBA Oct. 1 Hawaii, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Idaho, 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at Utah St., 3 p.m. Oct. 29 San Jose St., 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at Fresno St., 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Mississippi, TBA Nov. 19 at Nevada, 4:05 p.m. Nov. 26 New Mexico St., 4 p.m. LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE Sep. 3 at Oklahoma St., TBA Sep. 10 at Kent St., 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Nicholls St., TBA Sep. 24 at FIU, TBA Oct. 1 FAU, TBA Oct. 8 Troy, TBA Oct. 15 North Texas, 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at W. Kentucky, 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at Middle Tennessee, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 Louisiana-Monroe, TBA Nov. 12 at Arkansas St., TBA Nov. 26 at Arizona, TBA LOUISIANA-MONROE Sep. 3 at Florida St., 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Grambling St., 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at TCU, 2 p.m. Sep. 24 at Iowa, TBA Oct. 8 Arkansas St., 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Troy, TBA Oct. 22 at North Texas, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 W. Kentucky, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Louisiana-Lafayette, TBA Nov. 12 Middle Tennessee, TBA Nov. 19 FIU, TBA Dec. 3 at FAU, TBA LOUISVILLE Sep. 1 Murray St., 6 p.m. Sep. 9 FIU, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at Kentucky, 6 p.m. Oct. 1 Marshall, TBA Oct. 8 at North Carolina, TBA Oct. 15 at Cincinnati, TBA Oct. 21 Rutgers, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 Syracuse, TBA Nov. 5 at West Virginia, TBA Nov. 12 Pittsburgh, TBA Nov. 19 at UConn, TBA Nov. 25 at South Florida, TBA MARSHALL Sep. 4 at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Southern Miss., 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at Ohio, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Louisville, TBA Oct. 8 at UCF, 4 p.m. Oct. 15 Rice, TBA Oct. 22 at Houston, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29 UAB, Noon Nov. 12 at Tulsa, TBA Nov. 17 at Memphis, 8 p.m. Nov. 26 East Carolina, TBA MARYLAND Sep. 5 Miami, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 West Virginia, Noon Sep. 24 Temple, TBA Oct. 1 Towson, TBA Oct. 8 at Georgia Tech, TBA Oct. 15 Clemson, TBA Oct. 22 at Florida St., TBA Oct. 29 Boston College, TBA Nov. 5 Virginia, TBA Nov. 12 at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Wake Forest, TBA Nov. 26 at NC State, TBA MEMPHIS Sep. 1 Mississippi St., 8 p.m. Sep. 10 at Arkansas St., 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Austin Peay, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 SMU, Noon Oct. 1 at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Rice, 12:30 p.m. Oct. 15 East Carolina, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at Tulane, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at UCF, 4 p.m. Nov. 12 UAB, 4:15 p.m. Nov. 17 Marshall, 8 p.m. Nov. 26 at Southern Miss., 4 p.m. MIAMI Sep. 5 at Maryland, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 Ohio St., TBA Sep. 24 Kansas St., TBA Oct. 1 Bethune-Cookman, TBA Oct. 8 at Virginia Tech, TBA

Oct. 15 at North Carolina, TBA Oct. 22 Georgia Tech, TBA Oct. 27 Virginia, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 Duke, TBA Nov. 12 at Florida St., TBA Nov. 19 at South Florida, TBA Nov. 25 Boston College, 3:30 p.m. MIAMI (OHIO) Sep. 3 at Missouri, Noon Sep. 17 at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Bowling Green, 1 p.m. Oct. 1 Cincinnati, 1 p.m. Oct. 8 Army, 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at Kent St., 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Toledo, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 Buffalo, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3 Akron, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Temple, 8 p.m. Nov. 16 W. Michigan, 8 p.m. Nov. 22 at Ohio, 7 p.m. MICHIGAN Sep. 3 W. Michigan, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Notre Dame, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 E. Michigan, Noon Sep. 24 San Diego St., TBA Oct. 1 Minnesota, TBA Oct. 8 at Northwestern, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Michigan St., TBA Oct. 29 Purdue, Noon Nov. 5 at Iowa, TBA Nov. 12 at Illinois, TBA Nov. 19 Nebraska, TBA Nov. 26 Ohio St., TBA MICHIGAN ST. Sep. 2 Youngstown St., 7:30 p.m. Sep. 10 FAU, Noon Sep. 17 at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Cent. Michigan, TBA Oct. 1 at Ohio St., TBA Oct. 15 Michigan, TBA Oct. 22 Wisconsin, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Nebraska, TBA Nov. 5 Minnesota, TBA Nov. 12 at Iowa, TBA Nov. 19 Indiana, TBA Nov. 26 at Northwestern, TBA MIDDLE TENNESSEE Sep. 3 at Purdue, Noon Sep. 10 Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. Sep. 24 at Troy, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 Memphis, 7 p.m. Oct. 6 W. Kentucky, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at FAU, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 Louisiana-Lafayette, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Tennessee, TBA Nov. 12 at Louisiana-Monroe, TBA Nov. 19 Arkansas St., TBA Nov. 26 FIU, TBA Dec. 3 at North Texas, 4 p.m. MINNESOTA Sep. 3 at Southern Cal, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 New Mexico St., 3 p.m. Sep. 17 Miami (Ohio), 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 N. Dakota St., 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Michigan, TBA Oct. 8 at Purdue, TBA Oct. 22 Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 Iowa, TBA Nov. 5 at Michigan St., TBA Nov. 12 Wisconsin, TBA Nov. 19 at Northwestern, TBA Nov. 26 Illinois, TBA MISSISSIPPI Sep. 3 BYU, 4:45 p.m. Sep. 10 S. Illinois, 6 p.m. Sep. 17 at Vanderbilt, 12:20 p.m. Sep. 24 Georgia, TBA Oct. 1 at Fresno St., 9:15 p.m. Oct. 15 Alabama, TBA Oct. 22 Arkansas, TBA Oct. 29 at Auburn, TBA Nov. 5 at Kentucky, TBA Nov. 12 Louisiana Tech, TBA Nov. 19 LSU, TBA Nov. 26 at Mississippi St., TBA MISSISSIPPI ST. Sep. 1 at Memphis, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 at Auburn, 12:20 p.m. Sep. 15 LSU, 8 p.m. Sep. 24 Louisiana Tech, TBA Oct. 1 at Georgia, TBA Oct. 8 at UAB, Noon Oct. 15 South Carolina, TBA Oct. 29 at Kentucky, TBA Nov. 5 UT-Martin, TBA Nov. 12 Alabama, TBA Nov. 19 at Arkansas, TBA Nov. 26 Mississippi, TBA MISSOURI Sep. 3 Miami (Ohio), Noon Sep. 9 at Arizona St., 10:30 p.m. Sep. 17 W. Illinois, TBA Sep. 24 at Oklahoma, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at Kansas St., TBA Oct. 15 Iowa St., TBA Oct. 22 Oklahoma St., TBA Oct. 29 at Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Baylor, TBA Nov. 12 Texas, TBA Nov. 19 Texas Tech, TBA Nov. 26 at Kansas, Noon N. ILLINOIS

MAJOR COLLEGE SCHEDULES

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011 Sep. 3 Army, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Kansas, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Cal Poly, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Cent. Michigan, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 8 Kent St., 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15 W. Michigan, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Buffalo, Noon Nov. 1 at Toledo, 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at Bowling Green, 8 p.m. Nov. 15 Ball St., 8 p.m. Nov. 25 E. Michigan, TBA NC STATE Sep. 3 Liberty, 6 p.m. Sep. 10 at Wake Forest, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 South Alabama, 6 p.m. Sep. 22 at Cincinnati, 8 p.m. Oct. 1 Georgia Tech, TBA Oct. 8 Cent. Michigan, TBA Oct. 22 at Virginia, TBA Oct. 29 at Florida St., TBA Nov. 5 North Carolina, TBA Nov. 12 at Boston College, TBA Nov. 19 Clemson, TBA Nov. 26 Maryland, TBA NAVY Sep. 3 Delaware, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 at W. Kentucky, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at South Carolina, 6 p.m. Oct. 1 Air Force, Noon Oct. 8 Southern Miss., 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Rutgers, TBA Oct. 22 East Carolina, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 Troy, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at SMU, TBA Nov. 19 at San Jose St., 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at Army, 2:30 p.m. NEBRASKA Sep. 3 Chattanooga, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Fresno St., 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Washington, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Wyoming, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Ohio St., 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 Michigan St., TBA Nov. 5 Northwestern, TBA Nov. 12 at Penn St., TBA Nov. 19 at Michigan, TBA Nov. 25 Iowa, Noon NEVADA Sep. 10 at Oregon, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at San Jose St., 4 p.m. Sep. 24 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Boise St., 2:30 p.m. Oct. 8 UNLV, 4:05 p.m. Oct. 15 New Mexico, 4:05 p.m. Oct. 22 Fresno St., 4:05 p.m. Oct. 29 at New Mexico St., 8 p.m. Nov. 12 Hawaii, 4:05 p.m. Nov. 19 Louisiana Tech, 4:05 p.m. Nov. 26 at Utah St., 3 p.m. Dec. 3 Idaho, 4:05 p.m. NEW MEXICO Sep. 3 Colorado St., 6 p.m. Sep. 10 Arkansas, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Texas Tech, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Sam Houston St., 6 p.m. Oct. 1 New Mexico St., 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Nevada, 4:05 p.m. Oct. 22 at TCU, 2 p.m. Oct. 29 Air Force, 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at San Diego St., 8 p.m. Nov. 12 UNLV, 10 p.m. Nov. 19 at Wyoming, 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at Boise St., 6 p.m. NEW MEXICO ST. Sep. 3 Ohio, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 at Minnesota, 3 p.m. Sep. 17 UTEP, 8 p.m. Sep. 24 at San Jose St., 4 p.m. Oct. 1 at New Mexico, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 Idaho, 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at Hawaii, Mid Oct. 29 Nevada, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Georgia, TBA Nov. 12 Fresno St., 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at BYU, TBA Nov. 26 at Louisiana Tech, 4 p.m. Dec. 3 Utah St., 8 p.m. NORTH CAROLINA Sep. 3 James Madison, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Rutgers, 12:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Virginia, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Georgia Tech, TBA Oct. 1 at East Carolina, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Louisville, TBA Oct. 15 Miami, TBA Oct. 22 at Clemson, TBA Oct. 29 Wake Forest, TBA Nov. 5 at NC State, TBA Nov. 17 at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m. Nov. 26 Duke, TBA NORTH TEXAS Sep. 1 at FIU, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Houston, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at Alabama, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Indiana, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Tulsa, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 FAU, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Louisiana-Lafayette, 5 p.m.

Oct. 22 Louisiana-Monroe, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Arkansas St., TBA Nov. 12 at Troy, TBA Nov. 19 W. Kentucky, 4 p.m. Dec. 3 Middle Tennessee, 4 p.m. NORTHWESTERN Sep. 3 at Boston College, Noon Sep. 10 E. Illinois, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at Army, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Illinois, Noon Oct. 8 Michigan, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Iowa, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 Penn St., 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Indiana, Noon Nov. 5 at Nebraska, TBA Nov. 12 Rice, TBA Nov. 19 Minnesota, TBA Nov. 26 Michigan St., TBA NOTRE DAME Sep. 3 South Florida, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 at Michigan, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 Michigan St., 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Pittsburgh, TBA Oct. 1 at Purdue, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Air Force, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 Southern Cal, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 Navy, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Wake Forest, TBA Nov. 12 Maryland, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 Boston College, 4 p.m. Nov. 26 at Stanford, 8 p.m. OHIO Sep. 3 at New Mexico St., 8 p.m. Sep. 10 Gardner-Webb, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Marshall, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 at Rutgers, TBA Oct. 1 Kent St., 2 p.m. Oct. 8 at Buffalo, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15 Ball St., 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Akron, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2 Temple, 8 p.m. Nov. 10 at Cent. Michigan, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Bowling Green, 8 p.m. Nov. 22 Miami (Ohio), 7 p.m. OHIO ST. Sep. 3 Akron, Noon Sep. 10 Toledo, Noon Sep. 17 at Miami, TBA Sep. 24 Colorado, TBA Oct. 1 Michigan St., TBA Oct. 8 at Nebraska, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Illinois, TBA Oct. 29 Wisconsin, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 Indiana, TBA Nov. 12 at Purdue, TBA Nov. 19 Penn St., TBA Nov. 26 at Michigan, TBA OKLAHOMA Sep. 3 Tulsa, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 at Florida St., TBA Sep. 24 Missouri, 8 p.m. Oct. 1 Ball St., TBA Oct. 8 at Texas, Noon Oct. 15 at Kansas, TBA Oct. 22 Texas Tech, TBA Oct. 29 at Kansas St., TBA Nov. 5 Texas A&M, TBA Nov. 19 at Baylor, TBA Nov. 26 Iowa St., 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at Oklahoma St., TBA OKLAHOMA ST. Sep. 3 Louisiana-Lafayette, TBA Sep. 8 Arizona, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 at Tulsa, 10 p.m. Sep. 24 at Texas A&M, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 Kansas, TBA Oct. 15 at Texas, TBA Oct. 22 at Missouri, TBA Oct. 29 Baylor, TBA Nov. 5 Kansas St., TBA Nov. 12 at Texas Tech, TBA Nov. 18 at Iowa St., 9 p.m. Dec. 3 Oklahoma, TBA OREGON Sep. 3 LSU, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 Nevada, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Missouri St., 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Arizona, 10:15 p.m. Oct. 6 California, 9 p.m. Oct. 15 Arizona St., TBA Oct. 22 at Colorado, TBA Oct. 29 Washington St., TBA Nov. 5 at Washington, TBA Nov. 12 at Stanford, TBA Nov. 19 Southern Cal, 8 p.m. Nov. 26 Oregon St., TBA OREGON ST. Sep. 3 Sacramento St., TBA Sep. 10 at Wisconsin, Noon Sep. 24 UCLA, TBA Oct. 1 at Arizona St., TBA Oct. 8 Arizona, TBA Oct. 15 BYU, TBA Oct. 22 at Washington St., TBA Oct. 29 at Utah, TBA Nov. 5 Stanford, TBA Nov. 12 at California, TBA Nov. 19 Washington, TBA Nov. 26 at Oregon, TBA PENN ST. Sep. 3 Indiana St., Noon Sep. 10 Alabama, 3:30 p.m.

Sep. 17 at Temple, Noon Sep. 24 E. Michigan, TBA Oct. 1 at Indiana, TBA Oct. 8 Iowa, TBA Oct. 15 Purdue, Noon Oct. 22 at Northwestern, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 Illinois, TBA Nov. 12 Nebraska, TBA Nov. 19 at Ohio St., TBA Nov. 26 at Wisconsin, TBA PITTSBURGH Sep. 3 Buffalo, 6 p.m. Sep. 10 Maine, 1 p.m. Sep. 17 at Iowa, Noon Sep. 24 Notre Dame, TBA Sep. 29 South Florida, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at Rutgers, TBA Oct. 15 Utah, TBA Oct. 26 UConn, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 Cincinnati, TBA Nov. 12 at Louisville, TBA Nov. 25 at West Virginia, TBA Dec. 3 Syracuse, TBA PURDUE Sep. 3 Middle Tennessee, Noon Sep. 10 at Rice, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 SE Missouri, Noon Oct. 1 Notre Dame, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Minnesota, TBA Oct. 15 at Penn St., Noon Oct. 22 Illinois, Noon Oct. 29 at Michigan, Noon Nov. 5 at Wisconsin, TBA Nov. 12 Ohio St., TBA Nov. 19 Iowa, TBA Nov. 26 at Indiana, TBA RICE Sep. 3 at Texas, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Purdue, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Baylor, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Southern Miss., 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 Memphis, 12:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Marshall, TBA Oct. 22 Tulsa, TBA Oct. 27 at Houston, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 UTEP, TBA Nov. 12 at Northwestern, TBA Nov. 19 Tulane, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at SMU, TBA RUTGERS Sep. 1 NC Central, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 10 at North Carolina, 12:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Ohio, TBA Oct. 1 at Syracuse, TBA Oct. 8 Pittsburgh, TBA Oct. 15 Navy, TBA Oct. 21 at Louisville, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 West Virginia, TBA Nov. 5 South Florida, TBA Nov. 12 at Army, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19 Cincinnati, TBA Nov. 26 at UConn, TBA SMU Sep. 4 at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 10 UTEP, TBA Sep. 17 Northwestern St., 8 p.m. Sep. 24 at Memphis, Noon Sep. 30 at TCU, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 UCF, TBA Oct. 22 at Southern Miss., 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Tulsa, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 Tulane, 3 p.m. Nov. 12 Navy, TBA Nov. 19 at Houston, TBA Nov. 26 Rice, TBA SAN DIEGO ST. Sep. 3 Cal Poly, 10 p.m. Sep. 10 at Army, Noon Sep. 17 Washington St., 6:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Michigan, TBA Oct. 8 TCU, 10:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Air Force, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 Wyoming, 10 p.m. Nov. 5 New Mexico, 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Colorado St., 6 p.m. Nov. 19 Boise St., 8 p.m. Nov. 26 at UNLV, 10 p.m. Dec. 3 Fresno St., 8 p.m. SAN JOSE ST. Sep. 3 at Stanford, 5 p.m. Sep. 10 at UCLA, 10 p.m. Sep. 17 Nevada, 4 p.m. Sep. 24 New Mexico St., 4 p.m. Oct. 1 at Colorado St., 4 p.m. Oct. 8 at BYU, TBA Oct. 14 Hawaii, 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at Louisiana Tech, 4 p.m. Nov. 5 Idaho, 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Utah St., 3 p.m. Nov. 19 Navy, 4 p.m. Nov. 26 at Fresno St., 8 p.m. SOUTH CAROLINA Sep. 3 at East Carolina, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Georgia, 4:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Navy, 6 p.m. Sep. 24 Vanderbilt, TBA Oct. 1 Auburn, TBA Oct. 8 Kentucky, TBA Oct. 15 at Mississippi St., TBA Oct. 29 at Tennessee, TBA Nov. 5 at Arkansas, TBA Nov. 12 Florida, TBA

Nov. 19 The Citadel, Noon Nov. 26 Clemson, TBA SOUTH FLORIDA Sep. 3 at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Ball St., TBA Sep. 17 Florida A&M, TBA Sep. 24 UTEP, TBA Sep. 29 at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at UConn, TBA Oct. 22 Cincinnati, TBA Nov. 5 at Rutgers, TBA Nov. 11 at Syracuse, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 Miami, TBA Nov. 25 Louisville, TBA Dec. 1 West Virginia, 8 p.m. SOUTHERN CAL Sep. 3 Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Utah, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Syracuse, 8 p.m. Sep. 24 at Arizona St., 10:15 p.m. Oct. 1 Arizona, TBA Oct. 13 at California, 9 p.m. Oct. 22 at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 Stanford, 8 p.m. Nov. 4 at Colorado, 9 p.m. Nov. 12 Washington, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Oregon, 8 p.m. Nov. 26 UCLA, 10 p.m. SOUTHERN MISS. Sep. 3 Louisiana Tech, 10 p.m. Sep. 10 at Marshall, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 SE Louisiana, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 at Virginia, TBA Oct. 1 Rice, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Navy, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 SMU, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at UTEP, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at East Carolina, 4 p.m. Nov. 12 UCF, 8 p.m. Nov. 17 at UAB, 8 p.m. Nov. 26 Memphis, 4 p.m. STANFORD Sep. 3 San Jose St., 5 p.m. Sep. 10 at Duke, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at Arizona, 10:45 p.m. Oct. 1 UCLA, TBA Oct. 8 Colorado, TBA Oct. 15 at Washington St., TBA Oct. 22 Washington, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Southern Cal, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Oregon St., TBA Nov. 12 Oregon, TBA Nov. 19 California, TBA Nov. 26 Notre Dame, 8 p.m. SYRACUSE Sep. 1 Wake Forest, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 Rhode Island, TBA Sep. 17 at Southern Cal, 8 p.m. Sep. 24 Toledo, TBA Oct. 1 Rutgers, TBA Oct. 8 at Tulane, 8 p.m. Oct. 21 West Virginia, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Louisville, TBA Nov. 5 at UConn, TBA Nov. 11 South Florida, 8 p.m. Nov. 26 Cincinnati, TBA Dec. 3 at Pittsburgh, TBA TCU Sep. 2 at Baylor, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 at Air Force, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Louisiana-Monroe, 2 p.m. Sep. 24 Portland St., 7 p.m. Sep. 30 SMU, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at San Diego St., 10:30 p.m. Oct. 22 New Mexico, 2 p.m. Oct. 28 BYU, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Wyoming, 2 p.m. Nov. 12 at Boise St., 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19 Colorado St., 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3 UNLV, 2:30 p.m. TEMPLE Sep. 1 Villanova, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Akron, 6 p.m. Sep. 17 Penn St., Noon Sep. 24 at Maryland, TBA Oct. 1 Toledo, Noon Oct. 8 at Ball St., 2 p.m. Oct. 15 Buffalo, 1 p.m. Oct. 22 at Bowling Green, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at Ohio, 8 p.m. Nov. 9 Miami (Ohio), 8 p.m. Nov. 19 Army, 1 p.m. Nov. 25 Kent St., TBA TENNESSEE Sep. 3 Montana, 6 p.m. Sep. 10 Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at Florida, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 Buffalo, TBA Oct. 8 Georgia, TBA Oct. 15 LSU, TBA Oct. 22 at Alabama, TBA Oct. 29 South Carolina, TBA Nov. 5 Middle Tennessee, TBA Nov. 12 at Arkansas, TBA Nov. 19 Vanderbilt, TBA Nov. 26 at Kentucky, TBA TEXAS Sep. 3 Rice, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 BYU, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at UCLA, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Iowa St., TBA Oct. 8 Oklahoma, Noon

Oct. 15 Oklahoma St., TBA Oct. 29 Kansas, TBA Nov. 5 Texas Tech, TBA Nov. 12 at Missouri, TBA Nov. 19 Kansas St., TBA Nov. 24 at Texas A&M, 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at Baylor, TBA TEXAS A&M Sep. 4 SMU, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Idaho, 7 p.m. Sep. 24 Oklahoma St., 7 p.m. Oct. 1 Arkansas, TBA Oct. 8 at Texas Tech, TBA Oct. 15 Baylor, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Iowa St., TBA Oct. 29 Missouri, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Oklahoma, TBA Nov. 12 at Kansas St., TBA Nov. 19 Kansas, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 24 Texas, 8 p.m. TEXAS TECH Sep. 3 Texas St., 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at New Mexico, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Nevada, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Kansas, TBA Oct. 8 Texas A&M, TBA Oct. 15 Kansas St., TBA Oct. 22 at Oklahoma, TBA Oct. 29 Iowa St., TBA Nov. 5 at Texas, TBA Nov. 12 Oklahoma St., TBA Nov. 19 at Missouri, TBA Nov. 26 at Baylor, 3:30 p.m. TOLEDO Sep. 1 New Hampshire, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 at Ohio St., Noon Sep. 16 Boise St., 8 p.m. Sep. 24 at Syracuse, TBA Oct. 1 at Temple, Noon Oct. 8 E. Michigan, 3 p.m. Oct. 15 at Bowling Green, Noon Oct. 22 Miami (Ohio), 7 p.m. Nov. 1 N. Illinois, 7 p.m. Nov. 8 W. Michigan, 8 p.m. Nov. 18 at Cent. Michigan, 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at Ball St., 2 p.m. TROY Sep. 3 at Clemson, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at Arkansas, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Middle Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 UAB, TBA Oct. 8 at Louisiana-Lafayette, TBA Oct. 15 Louisiana-Monroe, TBA Oct. 25 at FIU, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Navy, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 12 North Texas, TBA Nov. 19 FAU, TBA Nov. 26 at W. Kentucky, 1 p.m. Dec. 3 at Arkansas St., TBA TULANE Sep. 3 SE Louisiana, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Tulsa, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at UAB, 4 p.m. Sep. 24 at Duke, TBA Oct. 1 at Army, Noon Oct. 8 Syracuse, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 UTEP, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 Memphis, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at East Carolina, TBA Nov. 5 at SMU, 3 p.m. Nov. 10 Houston, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at Rice, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at Hawaii, 11 p.m. TULSA Sep. 3 at Oklahoma, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 at Tulane, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Oklahoma St., 10 p.m. Sep. 24 at Boise St., 8 p.m. Oct. 1 North Texas, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 UAB, 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at Rice, TBA Oct. 29 SMU, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at UCF, 8 p.m. Nov. 12 Marshall, TBA Nov. 19 at UTEP, 8 p.m. Nov. 25 Houston, Noon UAB Sep. 10 at Florida, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Tulane, 4 p.m. Sep. 24 at East Carolina, TBA Oct. 1 at Troy, TBA Oct. 8 Mississippi St., Noon Oct. 15 at Tulsa, 8 p.m. Oct. 20 UCF, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Marshall, Noon Nov. 5 Houston, 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at Memphis, 4:15 p.m. Nov. 17 Southern Miss., 8 p.m. Nov. 26 at FAU, TBA UCF Sep. 3 Charleston Southern, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Boston College, 8 p.m. Sep. 17 at FIU, 6 p.m. Sep. 23 at BYU, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Marshall, 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at SMU, TBA Oct. 20 at UAB, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 Memphis, 4 p.m. Nov. 3 Tulsa, 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Southern Miss., 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at East Carolina, TBA Nov. 25 UTEP, 7 p.m.

61 UCLA Sep. 3 at Houston, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 San Jose St., 10 p.m. Sep. 17 Texas, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 at Oregon St., TBA Oct. 1 at Stanford, TBA Oct. 8 Washington St., TBA Oct. 20 at Arizona, 9 p.m. Oct. 29 California, TBA Nov. 5 Arizona St., TBA Nov. 12 at Utah, TBA Nov. 19 Colorado, TBA Nov. 26 at Southern Cal, 10 p.m. UCONN Sep. 1 Fordham, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 10 at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 16 Iowa St., 8 p.m. Sep. 24 at Buffalo, 6 p.m. Oct. 1 W. Michigan, TBA Oct. 8 at West Virginia, TBA Oct. 15 South Florida, TBA Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 Syracuse, TBA Nov. 19 Louisville, TBA Nov. 26 Rutgers, TBA Dec. 3 at Cincinnati, TBA UNLV Sep. 1 at Wisconsin, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 at Washington St., TBA Sep. 17 Hawaii, 10 p.m. Sep. 24 S. Utah, 9 p.m. Oct. 8 at Nevada, 4:05 p.m. Oct. 15 at Wyoming, 2 p.m. Oct. 29 Colorado St., 6 p.m. Nov. 5 Boise St., 10:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at New Mexico, 10 p.m. Nov. 19 at Air Force, 6 p.m. Nov. 26 San Diego St., 10 p.m. Dec. 3 at TCU, 2:30 p.m. UTEP Sep. 3 Stony Brook, 9 p.m. Sep. 10 at SMU, TBA Sep. 17 at New Mexico St., 8 p.m. Sep. 24 at South Florida, TBA Sep. 29 Houston, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Tulane, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 Colorado St., 8 p.m. Oct. 29 Southern Miss., 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Rice, TBA Nov. 12 East Carolina, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 Tulsa, 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at UCF, 7 p.m. UTAH Sep. 1 Montana St., 8 p.m. Sep. 10 at Southern Cal, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at BYU, 9:15 p.m. Oct. 1 Washington, TBA Oct. 8 Arizona St., TBA Oct. 15 at Pittsburgh, TBA Oct. 22 at California, TBA Oct. 29 Oregon St., TBA Nov. 5 at Arizona, TBA Nov. 12 UCLA, TBA Nov. 19 at Washington St., TBA Nov. 25 Colorado, 3:30 p.m. UTAH ST. Sep. 3 at Auburn, Noon Sep. 10 Weber St., 8 p.m. Sep. 24 Colorado St., 8 p.m. Sep. 30 at BYU, 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Wyoming, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Fresno St., 10 p.m. Oct. 22 Louisiana Tech, 3 p.m. Nov. 5 at Hawaii, Mid Nov. 12 San Jose St., 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at Idaho, 5 p.m. Nov. 26 Nevada, 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at New Mexico St., 8 p.m. VANDERBILT Sep. 3 Elon, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 10 UConn, 7:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Mississippi, 12:20 p.m. Sep. 24 at South Carolina, TBA Oct. 8 at Alabama, TBA Oct. 15 Georgia, TBA Oct. 22 Army, TBA Oct. 29 Arkansas, TBA Nov. 5 at Florida, TBA Nov. 12 Kentucky, TBA Nov. 19 at Tennessee, TBA Nov. 26 at Wake Forest, TBA VIRGINIA Sep. 3 William & Mary, 6 p.m. Sep. 10 at Indiana, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 Southern Miss., TBA Oct. 1 Idaho, TBA Oct. 15 Georgia Tech, TBA Oct. 22 NC State, TBA Oct. 27 at Miami, 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Maryland, TBA Nov. 12 Duke, TBA Nov. 19 at Florida St., TBA Nov. 26 Virginia Tech, TBA VIRGINIA TECH Sep. 3 Appalachian St., 12:30 p.m. Sep. 10 at East Carolina, TBA Sep. 17 Arkansas St., 4 p.m. Sep. 24 at Marshall, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 Clemson, TBA Oct. 8 Miami, TBA Oct. 15 at Wake Forest, TBA

Oct. 22 Boston College, TBA Oct. 29 at Duke, TBA Nov. 10 at Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. Nov. 17 North Carolina, 8 p.m. Nov. 26 at Virginia, TBA W. KENTUCKY Sep. 1 Kentucky, 9:15 p.m. Sep. 10 Navy, 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Indiana St., 7 p.m. Oct. 1 Arkansas St., 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at Middle Tennessee, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at FAU, TBA Oct. 22 Louisiana-Lafayette, 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at Louisiana-Monroe, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 FIU, 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at LSU, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at North Texas, 4 p.m. Nov. 26 Troy, 1 p.m. W. MICHIGAN Sep. 3 at Michigan, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Nicholls St., 7 p.m. Sep. 17 Cent. Michigan, Noon Sep. 24 at Illinois, TBA Oct. 1 at UConn, TBA Oct. 8 Bowling Green, 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at N. Illinois, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at E. Michigan, 1 p.m. Oct. 29 Ball St., 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at Toledo, 8 p.m. Nov. 16 at Miami (Ohio), 8 p.m. Nov. 25 Akron, TBA WAKE FOREST Sep. 1 at Syracuse, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 NC State, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 Gardner-Webb, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Boston College, TBA Oct. 8 Florida St., TBA Oct. 15 Virginia Tech, TBA Oct. 22 at Duke, TBA Oct. 29 at North Carolina, TBA Nov. 5 Notre Dame, TBA Nov. 12 at Clemson, TBA Nov. 19 Maryland, TBA Nov. 26 Vanderbilt, TBA WASHINGTON Sep. 3 E. Washington, 7 p.m. Sep. 10 Hawaii, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 California, TBA Oct. 1 at Utah, TBA Oct. 15 Colorado, TBA Oct. 22 at Stanford, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 Arizona, TBA Nov. 5 Oregon, TBA Nov. 12 at Southern Cal, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Oregon St., TBA Nov. 26 Washington St., TBA WASHINGTON ST. Sep. 3 Idaho St., 5 p.m. Sep. 10 UNLV, TBA Sep. 17 at San Diego St., 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Colorado, TBA Oct. 8 at UCLA, TBA Oct. 15 Stanford, TBA Oct. 22 Oregon St., TBA Oct. 29 at Oregon, TBA Nov. 5 at California, TBA Nov. 12 Arizona St., TBA Nov. 19 Utah, TBA Nov. 26 at Washington, TBA WEST VIRGINIA Sep. 4 Marshall, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 10 Norfolk St., TBA Sep. 17 at Maryland, Noon Sep. 24 LSU, TBA Oct. 1 Bowling Green, TBA Oct. 8 UConn, TBA Oct. 21 at Syracuse, 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Rutgers, TBA Nov. 5 Louisville, TBA Nov. 12 at Cincinnati, TBA Nov. 25 Pittsburgh, TBA Dec. 1 at South Florida, 8 p.m. WISCONSIN Sep. 1 UNLV, 8 p.m. Sep. 10 Oregon St., Noon Sep. 17 at N. Illinois, 3:30 p.m. Sep. 24 South Dakota, TBA Oct. 1 Nebraska, 8 p.m. Oct. 15 Indiana, Noon Oct. 22 at Michigan St., 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Ohio St., 8 p.m. Nov. 5 Purdue, TBA Nov. 12 at Minnesota, TBA Nov. 19 at Illinois, TBA Nov. 26 Penn St., TBA WYOMING Sep. 3 Weber St., 9 p.m. Sep. 10 Texas St., 6 p.m. Sep. 17 at Bowling Green, TBA Sep. 24 Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Utah St., 8 p.m. Oct. 15 UNLV, 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at San Diego St., 10 p.m. Nov. 5 TCU, 2 p.m. Nov. 12 at Air Force, 2 p.m. Nov. 19 New Mexico, 2 p.m. Nov. 26 at Boise St., 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at Colorado St., 2 p.m.

2011 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

AREA DIVISION SCHEDULES

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011

Division 3-6A Brandon (7-6) Coach Brad Peterson Aug. 19 Vicksburg Aug. 26 Pearl Sept. 2 at Clinton Sept. 9 at NW Rankin Sept. 23 at Terry Sept. 30 Forest Hill Oct. 7 at Petal Oct. 14 Meridian Oct. 21 Oak Grove Oct. 28 at Natchez Nov. 4 Hattiesburg Forest Hill (5-6) Coach Clifton Cotton Aug. 19 Provine Aug. 26 at Wingfield Sept. 2 at Callaway Sept. 9 Jim Hill Sept. 23 Oak Grove Sept. 30 at Brandon Oct. 7 Natchez Oct. 14 at Hattiesburg Oct. 21 at Terry Oct. 28 Petal Nov. 4 at Meridian Hattiesburg (4-7) Coach Trey Dickerson Aug. 19 Murrah Aug. 26 at Laurel Sept. 2 Warren Central Sept. 16 at Harrison Central Sept. 23 at Petal Sept. 30 Meridian Oct. 7 at Terry Oct. 14 Forest Hill Oct. 21 Natchez Oct. 28 Oak Grove Nov. 4 at Brandon Meridian (14-1) Coach Larry Weems Aug. 19 at Clinton Aug. 26 Wayne County Sept. 2 at Canton Sept. 9 Quitman Sept. 23 Natchez Sept. 30 at Hattiesburg Oct. 7 Oak Grove Oct. 14 at Brandon Oct. 21 at Petal Oct. 28 Terry Nov. 4 Forest Hill Natchez (9-3) Coach Lance Reed Aug. 19 at Wilkinson County Aug. 26 Jefferson County Sept. 2 at Ferriday (La.) Sept. 9 Warren Central Sept. 23 at Meridian Sept. 30 Terry Oct. 7 at Forest Hill Oct. 14 Petal Oct. 21 at Hattiesburg Oct. 28 Brandon Nov. 4 at Oak Grove Oak Grove (8-5) Coach Nevil Barr Aug. 18 Aug. 26 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 4

Sumrall at Purvis at Laurel Gulfport at Forest Hill Petal at Meridian Terry at Brandon at Hattiesburg Natchez

Petal (9-3) Coach Steve Buckley Aug. 20 Wayne County Aug. 27 Picayune Sept. 2 at Madison Central Sept. 9 at Brookhaven Sept. 23 Hattiesburg Sept. 30 at Oak Grove Oct. 7 Brandon Oct. 14 at Natchez Oct. 21 Meridian Oct. 28 at Forest Hill Nov. 3 at Terry Terry (4-7) Coach Paul Anderson Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7

McComb at Raymond Ridgeland at Florence Brandon at Natchez Hattiesburg

Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 3

at Oak Grove Forest Hill at Meridian Petal

Division 2-5A Callaway (9-3) Coach Daryl Jones Aug. 19 at NW Rankin Aug. 26 at Warren Central Sept. 2 Forest Hill Sept. 9 at Murrah Sept. 23 Provine Sept. 30 at Neshoba Central Oct. 7 Lanier Oct. 14 Ridgeland Oct. 21 at Canton Oct. 28 at Starkville Nov. 3 Yazoo City Canton (3-8) Coach Peter Brown Aug. 19 Wingfield Aug. 26 Velma Jackson Sept. 2 Meridian Sept. 9 at Bailey Sept. 23 Ridgeland Sept. 30 at Yazoo City Oct. 7 Neshoba Central Oct. 14 at Starkville Oct. 21 Callaway Oct. 28 at Provine Nov. 4 Lanier Lanier (3-8) Coach Damion Longino Aug. 19 at South Delta Aug. 26 Murrah Sept. 1 at Jim Hill Sept. 8 McClain Sept. 23 at Starkville Sept. 30 Ridgeland Oct. 7 at Callaway Oct. 14 Yazoo City Oct. 21 at Provine Oct. 28 Neshoba Central Nov. 4 at Canton Neshoba Central (5-6) Coach Chuck Friend Aug. 19 at Quitman Aug. 26 West Lauderdale Sept. 2 Louisville Sept. 9 at NE Lauderdale Sept. 23 at Yazoo City Sept. 30 Callaway Oct. 7 at Canton Oct. 14 Provine Oct. 21 at Ridgeland Oct. 28 at Lanier Nov. 4 Starkville Provine (5-7) Coach Willie Collins Aug. 19 at Forest Hill Aug. 26 Jim Hill Sept. 2 at Murrah Sept. 9 Clinton Sept. 23 at Callaway Sept. 30 at Starkville Oct. 7 Yazoo City Oct. 14 at Neshoba Central Oct. 21 Lanier Oct. 28 Clinton Nov. 4 at Ridgeland Ridgeland (13-1) Coach Kenny Burton Aug. 19 Mendenhall Aug. 26 Clinton Sept. 2 at Terry Sept. 9 Kosciusko Sept. 23 at Canton Sept. 30 at Lanier Oct. 7 Starkville Oct. 14 at Callaway Oct. 21 Neshoba Central Oct. 28 at Yazoo City Nov. 4 Provine Starkville (5-6) Coach Jamie Mitchell Aug. 19 at Noxubee County Aug. 26 Madison Central Sept. 2 Tupelo Sept. 9 at West Point Sept. 23 Lanier Sept. 30 Provine Oct. 7 at Ridgeland Oct. 14 Canton Oct. 21 at Yazoo City Oct. 28 Callaway Nov. 4 at Neshoba Central Yazoo City (2-8) Coach Tony Woolfolk Aug. 19 at Germantown Aug. 26 at Humphrey's County

Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 3

Greenwood Yazoo County Neshoba Central Canton at Provine at Lanier Starkville Ridgeland at Callaway

Division 5-4A Laurel (7-5) Coach Milton Smith Aug. 19 at South Jones Aug. 26 Hattiesburg Sept. 2 at West Jones Sept. 9 Oak Grove Sept. 16 at St. Stanislaus Sept. 30 at West Lauderdale Oct. 7 Quitman Oct. 14 at Newton County Oct. 21 NE Lauderdale Oct. 28 NE Jones Newton County (6-5) Coach Charlie Boren Aug. 26 SE Lauderdale Sept. 2 at Choctaw Central Sept. 9 at Leake Central Sept. 16 Florence Sept. 30 NE Jones Oct. 7 at NE Lauderdale Oct. 14 Laurel Oct. 21 at West Lauderdale Oct. 28 Quitman Northeast Jones (4-8) Coach Keith Braddock Aug. 19 at Heidelberg Aug. 26 West Jones Sept. 2 South Jones Sept. 9 at Newton Sept. 16 Kemper County Sept. 23 Raleigh Sept. 30 at Newton County Oct. 7 West Lauderdale Oct. 14 at NE Lauderdale Oct. 21 Quitman Oct. 28 at Laurel Northeast Lauderdale (8-5) Coach Steve Nelson Aug. 19 at Newton Aug. 16 Jackson Aca. Sept. 2 at SE Lauderdale Sept. 9 Neshoba Central Sept. 16 Philadelphia Sept. 23 at Morton Sept. 30 at Quitman Oct. 7 Newton County Oct. 14 Northeast Jones Oct. 21 at Laurel Oct. 28 at West Lauderdale Quitman (8-5) Coach John Douglass Aug. 19 Neshoba Central Aug. 26 Greene County Sept. 2 at Heidelberg Sept. 9 at Meridian Sept. 16 at North Forrest Sept. 23 SE Lauderdale Sept. 30 NE Lauderdale Oct. 7 at Laurel Oct. 14 West Lauderdale Oct. 21 at NE Jones Oct. 28 at Newton County West Lauderdale (1-10) Coach Glen Sanders Aug. 19 Forest Aug. 26 at Neshoba Central Sept. 2 Philadelphia Sept. 9 SE Lauderdale Sept. 16 at Morton Sept. 23 at Newton Sept. 30 Laurel Oct. 7 at NE Jones Oct. 14 at Quitman Oct. 21 Newton County Oct. 28 NE Lauderdale

Division 5-3A Choctaw Central (7-5) Coach Troy Savell Aug. 19 at Leake Central Aug. 26 at Union Sept. 2 Newton County Sept. 9 Cherokee (N.C.) Sept. 22 Enterprise Sept. 30 at Heidelberg Oct. 7 Kemper County Oct. 14 SE Lauderdale Oct. 21 at Newton Oct. 28 Philadelphia Heidelberg (1-10)

Coach Jeff Gibson Aug. 19 NE Jones Aug. 26 at Hazlehurst Sept. 2 Quitman Sept. 9 at Bay Springs Sept. 16 at Bailey Sept. 23 at Lake Sept. 30 Choctaw Central Oct. 7 Newton Oct. 14 Philadelphia Oct. 21 at SE Lauderdale Oct. 28 at Kemper County

Scott Central (10-3 Coach Mickey Bounds Aug. 26 Newton Sept. 2 at Leake Central Sept. 9 Morton Sept. 16 at Bay Springs Sept. 23 Forest Sept. 30 at MRA Oct. 7 Leake County Oct. 14 at Pisgah Oct. 21 Lake Oct. 28 at Union

Kemper County (2-9) Coach Darryl Carter Aug. 19 at Lumberton Aug. 26 at Nanih Waiya Sept. 2 Noxapater Sept. 9 Louisville Sept. 16 at NE Jones Sept. 23 Noxubee County Sept. 30 at SE Lauderdale Oct. 7 at Choctaw Central Oct. 14 Newton Oct. 21 at Philadelphia Oct. 28 Heidelberg

Union (6-7) Coach Brad Breland Aug. 19 Nanih Waiya Aug. 26 Choctaw Central Sept. 2 at Clarkdale Sept. 9 at Enterprise Sept. 16 Leake Central Sept. 23 at Madison-St. Joseph’s Sept. 30 at Leake County Oct. 7 Pisgah Oct. 13 at Lake Oct. 21 at Sebastopol Oct. 28 Scott Central

Newton (6-6) Coach Ed Stanley Aug. 19 NE Lauderdale Aug. 26 at Scott Central Sept. 2 Leake County Sept. 9 NE Jones Sept. 16 at McLaurin Sept. 23 West Lauderdale Sept. 30 Philadelphia Oct. 7 Heidelberg Oct. 14 at Kemper County Oct. 21 Choctaw Central Oct. 28 at SE Lauderdale

Division 7-2A

Philadelphia (12-1) Coach Teddy Dyess Aug. 19 Morton Aug. 26 Kosciusko Sept. 2 at West Lauderdale Sept. 9 at Leake County Sept. 16 at NE Lauderdale Sept. 23 Leflore County Sept. 30 at Newton Oct. 7 SE Lauderdale Oct. 14 at Heidelberg Oct. 21 Kemper County Oct. 28 at Choctaw Central Southeast Lauderdale (10-3) Coach Boo Smith Aug. 18 Clarkdale Aug. 26 at Newton County Sept. 2 NE Lauderdale Sept. 9 at West Lauderdale Sept. 16 Lumberton Sept. 23 at Quitman Sept. 30 Kemper County Oct. 7 at Philadelphia Oct. 14 at Choctaw Central Oct. 21 Heidelberg Oct. 28 Newton

Division 5-2A Lake (4-6) Coach Jeff Breland Aug. 19 Sebastopol Aug. 26 at Richton Sept. 2 at Pelahatchie Sept. 9 Clarkdale Sept. 16 at Enterprise Sept. 23 Heidelberg Sept. 30 at Pisgah Oct. 13 Union Oct. 21 at Scott Central Oct. 28 Leake County Leake County (first year) Coach Gerry Anderson Aug. 19 at East Oktibbeha Aug. 26 Leake Central Sept. 2 at Newton Sept. 9 Philadelphia Sept. 16 Williams-Sullivan Sept. 23 at Velma Jackson Sept. 30 Union Oct. 7 at Scott Central Oct. 21 Pisgah Oct. 28 at Lake Pisgah (5-6) Coach Barry Bean Aug. 19 Pelahatchie Sept. 2 at St. Andrew's Sept. 9 at Enterprise-Lincoln Sept. 16 Madison-St. Joseph's Sept. 23 at Puckett Sept. 30 Lake Oct. 7 at Union Oct. 14 Scott Central Oct. 21 at Leake County Oct. 28 Enterprise

Bay Springs (0-10 Coach Ryan Milner Aug. 25 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28

at Stringer at Raleigh Heidelberg Scott Central North Forrest at Enterprise at Sumrall Clarkdale at Mize Taylorsville

Clarkdale (3-9) Coach Chris Richmond Aug. 18 at SE Lauderdale Aug. 26 at Sebastopol Sept. 2 Union Sept. 9 at Lake Sept. 16 Richton Sept. 23 Nanih Waiya Sept. 30 at Taylorsville Oct. 7 Enterprise Oct. 14 at Bay Springs Oct. 21 St. Patrick Oct. 28 Mize Enterprise (5-6) Coach Joel Speed Aug. 26 Lamar Sept. 2 at Poplarville Sept. 9 Union Sept. 16 Lake Sept. 22 at Choctaw Central Sept. 30 Bay Springs Oct. 7 at Clarkdale Oct. 14 Mize Oct. 21 at Taylorsville Oct. 28 at Pisgah Mize (10-4) Coach Kenny Robinson Aug. 18 at Magee Aug. 26 Mt. Olive Sept. 2 at Wesson Sept. 9 at Puckett Sept. 16 Raleigh Sept. 23 Prentiss Oct. 7 Taylorsville Oct. 14 at Enterprise Oct. 21 Bay Springs Oct. 28 at Clarkdale Taylorsville (13-1) Coach Bud Blackledge Aug. 26 at Prentiss Sept. 2 Collins Sept. 9 at Raleigh Sept. 16 at Greene County Sept. 23 Seminary Sept. 30 Clarkdale Oct. 7 at Mize Oct. 14 Bassfield Oct. 21 Enterprise Oct. 28 at Bay Springs

MAIS Divison 4-AA Lamar (5-6) Coach Mac Barnes Aug. 19 Heritage Aca. Aug. 26 at Enterprise Sept. 2 Winston Aca. Sept. 9 at Central Hinds Sept. 16 at Jackson Aca. Sept. 23 Leake Aca. Sept. 30 Newton Aca. Oct. 7 at East Rankin Oct. 14 Wayne Aca. Oct. 21 at Sylva-Bay Aca.

Oct. 28

Simpson Aca.

Simpson Academy (9-3) Coac Billy Wayne Hankins Aug. 19 Leake Academy Aug. 26 at Presbyterian Sept. 2 at Brookhaven Aca. Sept. 9 Wayne Academy Sept. 16 at Sylva-Bay Aca. Sept. 23 Central Hinds Sept. 30 at Winston Aca. Oct. 7 Adams Christian Oct. 14 MRA Oct. 28 at Lamar Sylva-Bay Academy (12-1) Coach Chad Odom Aug. 19 Winston Aca. Aug. 26 at East Rankin Sept. 2 at Manchester Aca. Sept. 9 Heidelberg Aca. Sept. 16 Simpson Aca. Sept. 23 at Columbia Aca. Sept. 30 at Central Hinds Oct. 7 Porter's Chapel Oct. 21 Lamar Oct. 28 at Wayne Aca. Wayne Academy (7-5) Coach Teddy Taylor Aug. 19 South Choctaw (Ala.) Aug. 26 at Newton Aca. Sept. 2 at Richton Sept. 9 at Simpson Aca. Sept. 16 Brookhaven Aca. Sept. 23 Winston Aca. Sept. 30 at Columbia Aca. Oct. 7 Heidelberg Aca. Oct. 14 at Lamar Oct. 28 Sylva-Bay Aca.

MAIS Division 4-A Ben's Ford (La.) (0-10) Coach Aaron Thomas Aug. 19 at Wilkinson Christian Aug. 26 Heidelberg Aca. Sept. 2 Porter's Chapel Sept. 9 at Park Place Sept. 23 at Riverdale (La.) Aca. Oct. 7 Amite Oct. 14 at Prentiss Christian Oct. 28 Newton Aca. Heidelberg Academy (8-3) Coach Jason Soules Aug. 19 Richton Aug. 26 at Ben's Ford (La.) Sept. 2 Amite Sept. 9 at Sylva-Bay Aca. Sept. 23 Newton Aca. Sept. 30 at Wilkinson Christian Oct. 7 at Wayne Aca. Oct. 14 at Porter's Chapel Oct. 21 Prentiss Christian Oct. 28 Park Place Newton County Academy (7-5) Coach Robert Roberts Aug. 19 at Oak Hill Aca. Aug. 26 Wayne Aca. Sept. 9 Porter’s Chapel Sept. 16 Prentiss Christian Sept. 23 at Heidelberg Aca. Sept. 30 at Lamar Oct. 7 Tri-County Aca. Oct. 14 Leake Aca. Oct. 21 at Park Place Oct. 28 at Ben’s Ford (La.) Park Place (2-8) Coach Preston Gordon Aug. 19 Tallulah (La.) Aca. Aug. 26 at Winona Christian Sept. 2 Prentiss Christian Sept. 9 Ben's Ford (La.) Sept. 16 at Porter's Chapel Sept. 23 Hebron Christian Oct. 7 at Central Holmes Oct. 14 at Humphrey's (La.) Aca. Oct. 21 Newton Aca. Oct. 28 at Heidelberg Aca. Porter's Chapel (5-6) Coach Wade Patrick Aug. 19 Union (La.) Christian Aug. 26 Deer Creek Sept. 2 at Ben's Ford (La.) Sept. 9 at Newton Aca. Sept. 16 Park Place Sept. 23 Benton Aca. Sept. 30 at Tri-County Aca. Oct. 7 at Sylva-Bay Aca. Oct. 14 Heidelberg Aca. Oct. 21 Manchester Aca. Oct. 28 at Prentiss Christian Prentiss Christian (3-8) Coach Eddie Carnley

Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28

Columbia Aca. at Wilkinson Christian at Park Place Sumrall at Newton Aca. Hillcrest Christian at Tallulah (La.) Aca. Ben's Ford (La.) at Heidelberg Aca. Porter's Chapel

MAIS 8-Man Division 1 Calhoun Academy (1-9) Coach Cameron Wright Aug. 19 Sharkey-Issaquena Aug. 26 at Central Aca. Sept. 2 Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Sept. 9 Kemper Aca. Sept. 16 at Calvary Christian Sept. 23 North Sunflower Sept. 30 Delta Aca. Oct. 7 at Briarfield (La.) Aca. Oct. 21 Russell Christian Calvary Christian (4-6) Coach Kirby Newell Aug. 19 Central Aca. Aug. 26 at Kemper Aca. Sept. 9 at North Sunflower Sept. 16 Calhoun Aca. Sept. 23 at Russell Christian Sept. 30 at Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Oct. 7 Kemper Aca. Oct. 14 Delta Aca. Oct. 21 at Central Aca. Central Academy (10-2) Coach Ronnie Sciple Aug. 19 at Calvary Christian Aug. 26 Calhoun Aca. Sept. 2 at Delta Aca. Sept. 9 Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Sept. 16 at Kemper Aca. Sept. 30 Russell Christian Oct. 7 at North Sunflower Oct. 14 at Franklin (La.) Aca. Oct. 21 Calvary Christian Delta Academy (2-7) Coach Chad Kelly Aug. 19 Briarfield (La.) Aca. Aug. 26 at Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Sept. 2 Central Aca. Sept. 9 at Russell Christian Sept. 16 Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Sept. 23 Kemper Aca. Sept. 30 at Calhoun Aca. Oct. 14 at Calvary Christian Oct. 21 North Sunflower Kemper Academy (10-0) Coach Pete McCleskey Aug. 19 at Veritas Aug. 26 Calvary Christian Sept. 2 North Sunflower Sept. 9 at Calhoun Aca. Sept. 16 Central Aca. Sept. 23 at Delta Aca. Oct. 7 at Calvary Christian Oct. 14 at Russell Christian Oct. 21 Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Marvell (Ark.) Academy (6-3) Coach Herman Coates Aug. 19 at North Sunflower Aug. 26 Delta Aca. Sept. 2 Calhoun Aca. Sept. 9 at Central Aca. Sept. 16 at Delta Aca. Sept. 30 Calvary Christian Oct. 7 at Russell Christian Oct. 14 North Sunflower Oct. 21 at Kemper Aca. North Sunflower (6-3) Coach Thomas Thompson Aug. 19 Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Sept. 2 at Kemper Aca. Sept. 9 Calvary Christian Sept. 16 Russell Christian Sept. 23 at Calhoun Aca. Sept. 30 at Sharkey-Issaquena Oct. 7 Central Aca. Oct. 14 at Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Oct. 21 at Delta Aca. Russell Christian Academy (2-8) Coach Nate Ballard Aug. 19 at Christian Collegiate Aug. 26 at Clinton Christian Sept. 2 Rebul Aca. Sept. 9 Delta Aca. Sept. 16 at North Sunflower Sept. 23 Calvary Christian Sept. 30 at Central Aca. Oct. 7 Marvell (Ark.) Aca. Oct. 14 Kemper Aca. Oct. 21 at Calhoun Aca.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THE MERIDIAN STA R Thursday, August 18, 2011