By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Aug. 22, 2002
The Mississippi Private School Association members open their 2002 football season Friday night.
One game matching area teams has the Newton County Academy Generals traveling to Madden to take on Leake Academy.
The Generals are anxious to bury last fall's 0-10 showing that included a 31-6 loss to Leake at Decatur.
Sims is counting on his four seniors to lead the Generals this fall. They are Josh Kennedy (5-11, 220), Jonathan Moore (5-9, 175), Chance Nicholson (6-0, 150), and Nathan Brewer (5-7, 150).
Leake holds a 4-2 lead in the series.
The Winston Academy Patriots under second-year head coach Steve Kelly, head to West Point to square off with Oak Hill. Winston finished with a 9-3 record a year ago. The two teams did not play in 2001.
The Heidelberg Academy Rebels and longtime head coach Tom Lewis hit the road to face Columbia Academy.
Heidelberg turned in a 9-2 worksheet in 2001, losing 33-28 to Mississippi County (Ark.) in the first round of the Academy A state playoffs. The Rebels claimed a 28-13 victory at Columbia in last year's meeting.
The Kemper Academy Rams and second-year head coach Gary Lee host Hebron Christian at DeKalb.
In last year's contest at DeKalb, Hebron took a thrilling 34-28 victory over the Rams, who went on to finish with a 3-7 mark.
The Sylva Bay Saints are looking for big things this fall and open their season at Bay Springs against the Stars of Winona Christian.
Sylva Bay finished 7-3 in 2001, just missing out on the playoffs. The Saints and Stars did not play each other last season.
The Central Academy Vikings also open their season at home against the Saints of Union Academy from Georgetown.
Central went 1-9 last fall with the lone win coming 14-0 over Newton. Central and Union did not meet last year.
In another game of local interest, Wayne Academy plays shots to Lamar School. A full preview on that game will appear in Friday's The Meridian Star.