By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Nov. 9, 2001
Whether you're a Tiger, a Cougar, a Yellow Jacket, or a Warrior, 2001 has been a fall you don't want to forget.
Of the five schools located in Newton County, four will be participating in the state football playoffs either this week or next.
In Class 3A, Region 5-3A champion Newton County High School puts its perfect 10-0 record on the line against Morton, 5-5, Friday night at Decatur.
The Cougars have gone to the state playoffs three straight years, reaching the 3A South State championship game in 2000. Over that span which began with the arrival of Jeff Breland as head coach in 1999, the Cougars are 31-4.
Division 5-2A champion Newton, 8-2, hosts McLaurin, 5-5, Friday night at E.L. Morgan Field. The last time the Tigers made the playoffs was 1997.
In Class 1A, Union, 6-4, has clinched its first playoff berth in school history as the No. 3 team in Region 3-1A, but has to wait until next week to play at either Bogue Chitto, Enterprise-Lincoln, or Dexter.
On the junior college level, the 6-3 East Central Community College Warriors finished second in the MACJC South Division and travel to Moorhead to take on Mississippi Delta Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in ECCC's fifth-ever playoff appearance.
ECCC and Delta met in the season opener with the Trojans scoring a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the final two minutes for a 14-7 win.
The only team in Newton County to miss the playoffs were the Newton County Academy Generals, who finished 0-10.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for the Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or phone him at 693-1551, ext. 3235.