By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Nov. 15, 2002
The coaches in Region 3-1A like to think they have a pretty competitive league. Three area teams have a chance to solidify that thinking in Class 1A playoffs tonight.
Union, the 3-1A champion hosts Enterprise-Lincoln, Lake travels to Dexter, and Nanih Waiya goes to Mize.
All games are set for 7 p.m.
Enterprise at Union
This first round matchup will be a battle of Yellowjackets. The swarm from Union is 8-3 and riding a seven-game winning streak. Those from Enterprise (near Brookhaven) are 7-4.
Union won the 3-1A title with an 18-13 victory over Puckett last week. Anthony Johnson scored a pair of touchdowns and finished with 161 yards on 24 carries. For the year, the sophomore running back has a region-best 18 touchdowns and has 1,497 yards on the ground.
Union quarterback Quincy Patrick has 11 touchdowns, while wide receiver Derrick Harris has six.
Tonight's game will be the first meeting between the two.
Enterprise, like Union, was eliminated in the first round of the 2001 playoffs.
Among this year's highlights are Enterprise's first win over Loyd Star in 11 years.
Quarterback Justin Kyzar leads 4-1A in passing, while Jerard Vaughn (5-11, 225) has rushed for 1,133 yards and 13 touchdowns. Vaughn runs behind Chase Raiford, who Deere calls "the best blocking back we've had in a long time."
Running back Terrell May and wide receiver Darren Brady have eight touchdowns apiece.
Leading the defense are linebackers Josh Pruden and Matt Runnels.
Lake at Dexter
The Hornets will find a big team awaiting them as Dexter has two linemen in the 300-pound range.
The Hornets improved to 7-4 with a 28-7 win over Pisgah last week. Dexter is 7-2.
Against Pisgah, Terrell Ricks, Marcus Ickom, and Adam Brown each had five tackles. The Hornets had 313 total yards with 268 coming on the ground. LaDonovan Towner had 13 carries for 119 yards.
For the year, running back Damion Gray leads Lake in scoring with a dozen touchdowns. Wide receiver Willie Hickmon has eight, Towner has six, and quarterback Joseph Hunt has four. Bryan Williamson has kicked 27 extra points.
Lake has been relatively healthy throughout the season.
Nanih Waiya at Mize
The Warriors made the playoffs for the first time in a while under Ken McMullan, 19-13 in his third season as head coach at Nanih Waiya.
Quarterback Trevor Stokes leads the Warriors in scoring with 13 touchdowns. Running back Darron Hickman has 12 touchdowns and three two-point conversions, Brent Blackwell has 10 touchdowns, and David Frey has four. Blake Jernigan has kicked 25 successful extra points.
Nanih Waiya is 8-3, while Mize is 9-2.