By By Shawn Wansley/EMG Sports Writer
August 23, 2003
ELLISVILLE Akeem Lofton will be on the field somewhere when the Jones Junior College Bobcats take the field for the 2003 football season.
Lofton, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound athlete, is battling with Derrick Boykin, a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder from Carrolton, Ga., for the starting quarterback slot. But if Boykin is under center, Lofton will be at a receiver slot and vice versa.
In addition, both Lofton and Boykin will be returning kicks this year for head coach Parker Dykes' Bobcats.
Lofton, who led the War Eagles to the 5A state championship last season at quarterback, played at wide receiver before that for Wayne County.
Just the act of talking has been tough for Lofton lately. He had some severe toothaches recently, which caused him some problems.
went and got two teeth pulled. It was tough, but I'm doing a lot better now."
The Bobcats are loaded with freshmen with 37 youngsters making up the 55-man roster. But Lofton, who also signed with Mississippi State University last spring, expects the young players to pull together to make this a successful season.
Another thing Lofton is looking forward to is the first game in the new stadium. JCJC will host Co-Lin Community College on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. and a huge crowd is expected in the 5,500-seat stadium.
The Bobcats open regular season play Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at East Mississippi Community College. On Sept. 13 they meet Mississippi Delta Community at 7 p.m. in Laurel's R.H. Watkins Stadium in the annual Laurel Lions Bowl.