By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
May 17, 2002
All four of the coaches at the Clarkdale spring football jamboree found plenty of things to their liking. For Clarke County football fans, there was a lot to like, specifically the play of Quitman quarterback Jonathan Russell and Enterprise passer Adam Simpson.
Russell threw three touchdown passes on the day covering 40, 30 and 20 yards to lead Quitman to pair of wins over West Lauderdale 12-6 and Clarkdale 30-0. Two of the TDs (40 and 20-yarders) were caught by Roger Laphand while Jermel Thigpen had the other.
Simpson threw three touchdown passes and ran for another. His 40-yard TD pass to Patrick McLoughin was the day's prettiest play allowing the Bulldogs to draw an 18-18 tie with West Lauderdale. Enterprise finished with five TD passes in the two-game jamboree following a 24-6 win over host Clarkdale.
Enterprise head coach Jud Gartman was quite pleased with his team's play.
Coming into the jamboree, Gartman felt the Bulldogs would be an improved team. The jamboree confirmed that feeling.
New Quitman head football coach Jimmy Don Holloman takes over a 9-3 team that made the second round of the 4A playoffs. The Panthers displayed the best defense of the four teams holding their opponent's A-units without a score.
As for Russell, Holloman feels the Panthers have a great building block at quarterback.
Count West Lauderdale head coach Stan McCain as one who was impressed with the Quitman defense.
McCain feels the Knights will have a chance to compete in Region 5-3A again with the likes of Newton County. The Knights made the playoffs for the first time in 16 years last year and won their first round game.
West was led by quarterback C.J. Fountain who had an 8-yard TD pass and a 2-yard TD run. Blanks had a 6-yard TD run. All three scores came against Enterprise. The Knight B-team notched a late score against the Quitman second-unit defense.
Clarkdale head coach Bubba Hathorn knew his team would be in for a tough day against playoff teams like Enterprise and Quitman.
There were bright spots for Clarkdale.