By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
May 15, 2002
Area football fans can get a spring fix with a pair of spring football scrimmages this week.
Action begins Thursday evening when Clarkdale High School hosts a four-team jamboree. On Friday night, new Meridian High School head football coach Ed Stanley makes his debut when the Wildcats host Jackson Callaway at Ray Stadium for a spring game.
Second-year Clarkdale head coach Bubba Hathorn said the Bulldogs have invited Quitman, Enterprise and West Lauderdale to their spring jamboree.
The field will be split in two allowing all four teams to be in action when the jamboree starts at 5 p.m.
In the opening set, Clarkdale will take on Quitman on one end while West Lauderdale battles Enterprise. Quitman, Enterprise and West Lauderdale all made their respective class playoffs last year.
Quitman finished 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. The Panthers will be under a new coach in Jimmy Don Holloman, who replaces the retiring Charles Faulkner.
The West Lauderdale Knights finished 7-5 and also advanced to the second round in the Class 3A playoffs. The Knights return All-Area running back Carlessio Blanks. Blanks rushed for nearly 2,700 yards last year.
Enterprise went 6-5 under veteran coach and two-time state champion Jud Gartman. The Bulldogs qualified for the 2A playoffs.
Clarkdale was 2-7 under Hathorn in his first season. The team showed vast improvement and Hathorn is looking forward to the spring action.
Hathorn was thankful of the assistance from the Meridian Medical Associates and Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center for its help in sponsoring the jamboree and providing trainer support.