NEMCC 2013 Football GameDay - Miss. Gulf Coast

2013 Game Day Program

September 26 vs. Miss. Gulf Coast Community College, 6:30 p.m.

Tiger Stadium, Booneville, Mississippi

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Letter from the President Dear Friends of Northeast:

Thank you for your support of the athletic efforts of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Each coach and each athlete has worked hard to ensure that our teams are ready to give performances that make you proud to be a “Tiger Fan.� Northeast exists to provide educational, recreational and social resources for students and supporters to grow and enjoy their accomplishments.

While you are on campus, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable visit. I trust you will use this opportunity to get to know our students, coaches and staff. We are always ready to assist you to enjoy your time with us.

Thank you for everything that you do to encourage and support our efforts. We are always glad to have you on our campus.

Sincerely, Johnny L. Allen President

Board of Trustees

T. Jack Ramsey

Chairman Tenure of Service: 1983 Tishomingo County/ Banker

Bill Breedlove

Tenure of Service: 1999 Prentiss County Businessman

Ben McClung

Tenure of Service: 2013 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Education

Troy Holliday

Vice Chairman Tenure of Service: 1964 Tippah County Businessman

Randle Downs

Tenure of Service: 2012 Prentiss County Superintendent of Education

Sam McCoy

Tenure of Service: 1988 Prentiss County Businessman

John O. Cunningham Secretary Tenure of Service: 1995 Prentiss County Businessman

Tonya Butler Farris

Tenure of Service: 2012 Alcorn County Businesswoman

Gina Smith

Tenure of Service: 2012 Alcorn County Superintendent of Education

Ken Basil

Tenure of Service: 2008 Union County Superintendent of Education

Douglas Jackson

Tenure of Service: 1995 Tippah County Retired Educator

Luzene Triplett

Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retire Educator

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Alvie Blakeney

Tenure of Service: 2011 Tishomingo County Retire Businessman

Tracie Langston

Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman

Vance Witt

Tenure of Service: 2007 Union County Businessman

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NEMCC Football Coaches

Ricky Smither

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Travis Macon

Head Coach

Defensive Coordinator

Greg Davis

Jonathan Webster

Defensive Line Coach

Defensive Backs Coach

Dustin Jones

Mike Markuson

Wide Receivers Coach

Offensive Line Coach

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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Athletic Support Staff David Robbins Dean of Students Athletic Director

Matt Werner Athletic Facilities/ Head Equipment Manager

Chassie Kelly Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Students/Athletic Director

Blake Long Sports Information Director

Hope Barnes, ATC

Karri Davis

Head Athletic Trainer

Cheerleading Coach

Jeremy Kennedy

Don Knowles

Voice of the Tigers WNAU 1470 AM

Operations Manager Sodexo, USA

Bus Drivers Phillip Moore (left) Marvin Ozbirn (right)

Northeast Mississippi Community College

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2013 Northeast Tiger Football Roster

# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Head Coach: 9 Ricky Smither 10 (6th year - Delta State University) 11 12 Defensive Coordinator: 13 Travis Macon (6th year - University of Mississippi) 14 15 Offensive Line: 16 Mike Markuson 17 (1st year - Hamline University) 18 19 Wide Receivers: 20 Dustin Jones (1st year - Liberty University) 21 22 Defensive Backs: 23 Jonathan Webster 24 (2nd year - Arkansas Tech University) 25 27 Defensive Line: 28 Greg Davis (2nd year - Stephen F. Austin 29 University) 30 34 Head Equipment Manager: 38 Matt Werner 44 (1st year - NEMCC) 45 48 Managers: 50 Tyler Mills, Austin Emerson, Janard Williams, Will Burns, Cody Friga, 53 Devin Sowell 54 56 President: 59 Dr. Johnny L. Allen, Ed.D. (9th year - Mississippi State University) 62 68 71 Athletic Director: David Robbins 73 (1st year - Millsaps College) 74 78 Sports Information Director: 79 Blake Long 80 (1st year - University of Mississippi) 81 90 Athletic Trainer: Hope Barnes 92 (2nd year - University of Southern Miss) 93 94 Student Trainers: 97 Audrianna Green, Jamal Gray, Diamond Abney-Reeder, Rico Coggins 98 99 6

Name Jeremy Liggins Martice Buckley Antwan Wilson Jaquille White Marcus Robinson Jerrard Randall LaVontis Smith Demarrion Haynes Gregdrecus Leland Brady Allen Raymond Gee Ralph Green Khalil Stinson A.J. Jackson Dequinten Spraggins Je’Tavious Turner Johnny Smith Rashad Turner Jonathan Bobo Miguel Graham Shaquille Bush Elisha Wilson Jamel Dennis Matthew Belue Mitchell Cunningham Marquis Allen Tez Lane Corbin White Nick Johnson Chris Cooper Hunter Bull Daniel Ross Antonio Ryland Martavis Ford Romia Wilson Lakendrick Preston Martize Mitchell Damien Rayford Jabari Edwards Michael Davis Kortilous Ellis Jeremiah Dent Justin Barksdale Sean Rogers Robbie Gale Ross Smith Chandler Dexter Ricky Parks Dequan Ivery Anthony Peters Parrish Huddleston Justin Coleman Razean Prather Nhigel Phillips Lemetrius Hollins

Position DL DB DB DB LB QB WR WR DB QB WR WR WR TE DB LB DB WR DB DB WR DB LB TE RB DB RB RB LB K TE DL LB LB OL OL OL OL LB OL OL DL OL OL OL OL TE TE DL DL DL DL DL DL DL

Class Fr. So. So. So. Fr. So. Fr. So. So. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. So. Fr. So. Fr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. So. So. Fr. Fr.

Height 6’4” 5’8” 6’0” 6’2” 6’4” 6’1” 5’10” 5’8” 5’8” 5’10” 6’3” 6’3” 6’1” 6’6” 6’1” 6’0” 6’0” 6’4” 6’3” 6’1” 6’0” 6’0” 5’11” 6’0” 5’8” 5’8” 5’11” 5’11” 5’11” 5’10” 6’4” 6’4” 6’0” 6’0” 6’2” 6’6” 6’0” 6’4” 6’0” 6’0” 6’0” 6’4” 6’2” 6’1” 6’5” 6’6” 6’5” 6’4” 6’1” 6’3” 6’0” 6’0” 6’0” 6’4” 6’0”

Weight Hometown High School 295 Oxford Lafayette County 170 Charleston Lake Cormorant 180 Charleston Charleston 190 West Point West Point 230 Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis East 188 Miami Gardens, Fla. Chaminade-Madonna 170 Maben West Oktibbeha 177 Rosedale West Bolivar 175 Batesville South Panola 180 Corinth Corinth 195 Renova Cleveland 195 Ripley Ripley 205 College Park, Ga. Westlake 265 Riverdale, Ga. Lovejoy 185 West Point West Point 175 Batesville South Panola 180 Starkville Starkville 185 Bruce Bruce 195 Bruce Bruce 190 Maben East Webster 180 Bruce Bruce 180 D’Iberville D’Iberville 220 Oxford Lafayette County 260 Golden Red Bay 220 Ecru North Pontotoc 190 Tupelo Tupelo 160 West Point West Point 220 Nettleton Nettleton 180 Olive Branch Olive Branch 190 Madison Madison Central 235 Southaven Southaven 310 Louisville, Ky. Jeffersontown 255 Brooksville Noxubee County 215 Okolona Okolona 305 West Point West Point 285 Gulfport West Harrison 280 Macon Noxubee County 315 Batesville South Panola 255 Columbus Columbus 305 Kilmichael Montgomery County 270 Charleston Charleston 310 Columbus Tupelo 285 Courtland South Panola 275 Batesville South Panola 310 Hernando Hernando 305 Booneville Booneville 250 Iuka Tishomingo County 265 Hogansville, Ga. Callaway 305 Miami, Fla. Columbia 235 Pontotoc Pontotoc 295 Dorsey Baldwyn 255 Renova Cleveland 240 Ripley Ripley 330 Griffin, Ga. Griffin 290 Madison Madison Central

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2013 MS Gulf Coast Bulldog Football 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 32 33 34 35 38 40 42 41 44 47 50 51 54 55 56 65 66 70 72 74 76 77 92 94 95

Name TJ McCann Darius Jones Tony Bridges Colton Kane Josh Keys Donovan Smith Trey Wafford Ishmel Morrow Nigel Green Justin Brister Marlon Pope Dhaquille Williams Tristan Reynolds Justin Evans Jermey Cutrer Lee Redeemer Terrian Page Jamaar Cole Blake Miley Desmond Taylor Derrick Moncrief Brandin Knight Malik Thompson Cavellis Luckett Dechey Williams Braden Byrd Tim Oster Raco Magee Easton Marshall James Booth Elijah Parker Ian Magandy Antwon Wells Rod Williams Kevin Phillips Craig Murphy Tevarius Bingham David Howell Waytt Smith Phalen Booker Maurice Swain Martinas Rankin Sherman Boyd Nick Proby Gavin Callagan Chris Frigo Alex Horn Cordarrley Gaines Craig Frigo Kyle Reid Cody Vaughn Jonathan Steube Jon Wilson Derrick Lyles TJ Smith

Pos. RB DB DB QB DB WR DB WR DB RB TE WR K DB WR WR QB WR TE DB DB DB DB LB DL DB LB LB TE RB LB LB RB RB P LB DL DL LS DL DL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL DL DL

Classification Freshman Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Freshman Sophomore Freshman Freshman Freshman

Height 5’9 6’1 6’2 6’3 6’2 6’1 5’11 6’0 6’2 6’0 6’4 6’3 5’9 6’0 6’2 5’10 6’1 6’5 6’5 5’11 6’3 5’11 6’0 6’1 6’3 5’10 6’0 5’11 6’2 5’11 6’2 6’3 5’11 5’9 6’1 6’1 6’6 6’2 6’3 6’1 6’5 6’4 6’2 6’1 6’4 6’2 6’3 6’7 6’4 6’4 6’3 6’4 6’6 6’2 6’4

Weight 190 180 190 215 195 190 200 190 180 205 265 210 150 195 170 170 190 195 240 190 225 185 190 230 255 190 215 210 240 230 215 220 205 175 170 220 245 270 225 250 290 280 315 280 310 285 290 360 325 320 290 335 265 280 425

Hometown Leaksville Wiggins Collins Navarre, Fla. Seminary Ocean Springs Fayetteville, Ga. Ocean Springs Jackson D’Iberville Hattiesburg Laplace, La. Petal Wiggins Kentwood, La. Wiggins Taylorsville Columbia Sumeral Picayune Prattville, Ala. Pearl Vancleave McComb Taylorsville Lucedale Ocean Springs Seminary Hurley Gulfport Brandon Long Beach Hurley Bassfield Greenwood Gulfport Mobile, Ala. Ocean Springs Gulfport Waveland Lagrange, Ga. Mendenhall Forest D’Iberville Florence Bay Saint Louis Ocean Springs Jackson Bay Saint Louis Richton Lucedale Gulfport Salem Wesson Columbia, Mo.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

High School Greene. Co Stone Hattiesburg Navarre Seminary Ocean Springs Whitewater Ocean Springs Northwest Rankin D’Iberville Hattiesburg East Saint John Petal Stone Jewel Sumner Stone Taylorsville West Marion Sumrral Picayune Prattville Pearl Vancleave McComb West Jones George. Co Ocean Springs Seminary East Central Harrison Central Brandon Saint Patricks East Central Bassfield Pillow Academy Gulfport Williamson Ocean Springs Gulfport Bay Troup Mendenhall Forest D’Iberville Florence Saint Stanislaus Ocean Springs Provine Saint Stanislaus Greene Co. George Co. West Harrison Salem Wesson Rock Hill 7

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Smith catches on in Tiger receiving core Mississippi Gulf Coast (Perkinston) Date: September 26

Northeast-MS Gulf Coast History Last 10 meetings 2012 -- Gulf Coast, 61-7 2011 -- Gulf Coast, 20-17 OT (Playoff) 2007 -- Gulf Coast, 34-7 2006 -- Gulf Coast, 42-7 2001 -- Gulf Coast, 29-7 2000 -- Gulf Coast, 32-6 1999 -- Gulf Coast, 35-0 1998 -- Gulf Coast, 48-14 1993 -- Northeast, 21-20 1992 -- Northeast, 28-24

LaVontis Smith LaVontis Smith may not be the tallest or largest man on the gridiron, but he was trained early in his life to not allow that be a disadvantage.

The 5-10, 170-pound Northeast Mississippi Community College wide receiver was raised in the small community of Maben, located on the border of Oktibbeha and Webster Counties, and had mostly older children living around him to play with.

While Smith had no clue at the time, the experience he gained while playing in the yards and driveways of his friends has proven instrumental in his playing career.

“I’ve never been big, so around my neighborhood I had older kids that I grew to bond with,” said Smith. “We used to go out and have fun, play ball, and that prepared me as I went on for football because I was so used to playing with older kids that were bigger than me, faster than me and stronger than me.”

The West Oktibbeha High School product also was nearly overlooked when it came to a college choice. After receiving attention as an underclassman from NCAA Division I schools including Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi, the University of Missouri and the University of Tennessee, Smith seemingly vanished from the radar of college coaches.

That is, until he played in the inaugural Northeast Mississippi Football Coaches Association all-star game at Saltillo High School on May 22.

Smith showed out during the contest with a key 36-yard reception from current 8

Series: Miss. Gulf Coast 22-9-2.

Northeast teammate Brady Allen on the only touchdown drive for the East in a 10-7 double overtime victory over the West.

But more importantly for Smith, he caught the eye of newly hired Northeast wide receivers coach Dustin Jones at the event.

“He was just an athlete. He was playing quarterback; he was playing running back; he was doing it all at West Oktibbeha,” Jones said of Smith, who combined for over 2,000 yards passing and rushing with 26 touchdowns for the Timberwolves as a senior in 2012.

“Once he came to the all-star game, we got to see him as a receiver and a DB (defensive back) and just lit it up as far as what he could do. We saw a lot of potential.

I went and got coach (Ricky) Smither and said, ‘Hey, I really like this kid and I think he can help us out a lot.’ He said the same thing.”

The late snag in the 2013 recruiting class has turned out to be very profitable for the Tigers in the opening half of the season.

Smith leads Northeast in the categories of total receptions (15), receptions per game (3.8), total yards (262), yards per game (65.5) and touchdowns (3).

“As far as an impact, you’ve seen it on the field so far,” said Jones. “He’s fast, quick, very smooth when he runs his routes and has got great hands.”

All three of his scores came in last Thursday’s game at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Smith hauled in

touchdown catches of 65, 26 and 25 yards from the quarterback duo of Jerrard Randall and Jeremy Liggins.

“We ran the ball to get them reacting to our run,” Smith said. “That opened up the middle of the field and I just cut up and there was nobody there all night.”

His longest catch of the evening came on a play when Randall was surrounded by the Northwest defensive line. Randall broke two tackles and fired a laser downfield to Smith, who had continued on his route instead of giving up, to complete the score.

“We’ve drilled it into (Smith) a lot more than anybody about making sure he does his route and making sure he does it completely,” Jones said. “It showed on that play that he knew he had trust in Jerrard to be able to continue his route and know that Jerrard could get it to him.”

It is that no quit stance and viewpoint that brought Smith from a team that was banned from the postseason by the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) due to academic issues inside the school district to a squad that is a coleader in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division and aiming for a playoff berth.

The adjustment from playing Class 1A football to the community college level was difficult for Smith, especially with the time constraints of signing in late May. But it’s a change that he embraced and mastered.

See Smith, on page 9

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Smith...

From page 8

“It was tougher, faster, more intense and I just had to react to it quick. I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare myself,” he said.

“You’ve got to be on point, have your assignments done correctly and do everything full speed.”

Missing the playoffs as a senior due to MHSAA ruling was painful for Smith at the time, but has served as a motivator since then.

“It was very heartbreaking. That team was like no other,” said Smith. “Those guys were like my brothers. It just showed me that you never know what’s going to happen. You have to prepare yourself for the good and bad. I got tougher off that situation.”

Smith has found another group of brothers, however, at Northeast in a core of receivers that continues to make playafter-play. Entering tonight’s game against No. 10 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, 12 separate Tigers have caught passes averaging 213 total yards per game with nine touchdowns.

“I’m not the only threat,” said Smith. “When our quarterback drops back you just have to respect every receiver that we have on the field because we all have the talent and the dedication to put our team in a position to win any night.

“You just have to respect the Northeast Tigers.”

A proud sponsor of Northeast Mississippi Community College Football

Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Sodexo cafeteria staff invites the public to stop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner Monday-Friday Breakfast 7-9 a.m.

Lunch 10:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Dinner 4:30-6 p.m.

Sunday lunch buffet open to the public every Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Don’t forget to call for your catering needs 662-720-7260

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New Tiger Fieldhouse

Follow all Northeast athletics at nemccathletics.com

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Northeast Mississippi Community College

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2013 Football Schedule Aug. 29 7 pm

Copiah-Lincoln Wesson

Sept.

5 6:30 pm

Jones Booneville

Sept.

12 6:30 pm

Holmes* Booneville

Sept.

19 6:30 pm

Northwest* Senatobia

Sept.

26 6:30 pm

Miss. Gulf Coast Booneville

Oct. 5 3 pm

Coahoma* (Homecoming) Booneville

Oct. 10 7 pm

East Mississippi* Scooba

Oct. 17 7 pm

Itawamba* Fulton

Oct. 24 6:30 pm

Miss. Delta* Booneville * Denotes MACJC North Division

WWW.NEMCCATHLETICS.COM