By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 11, 2003
Over the years, the Neshoba Central-Philadelphia football series has been dominated by first one team and then the other.
Philadelphia launched the series in 1960 by winning the first eight meetings. Neshoba Central equaled that with eight straight wins from 1982-89. The Rockets also have a five-game streak to their credit.
Going into Friday's 44th-annual matchup at Philadelphia's Harpole Stadium, the Tornadoes have reeled off six straight wins to grab a 23-20 all-time advantage.
Philadelphia first-year head coach Mike Brown aptly summed up the series: "They don't want to lose to us, and we don't want to lose to them."
Despite being out gained in both of their first two games, the Tornadoes are off to a 2-0 start in 2003, while the Rockets come in at 0-2.
The Rockets held Forest to 33 yards rushing and 82 passing in last week's 12-9 loss to the Bearcats.
Ray has been impressed with the Tornadoes after watching them on film.
Murray had 15 carries for 91 yards in last week's 7-6 win over West Lauderdale. He scored on a 38-yard run.
For the year, Murray has 199 yards on 30 carries. Porter Jordan has completed 9-of-20 passes for 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Lyons has four catches for 67 yards.
A win might be just what the doctor ordered for an ailing Rockets' program that has only four wins in its last 22 games.
Neshoba Central is led by Kevin Marshall's 241 yards on 49 carries. Kyle Vowell and Taylor Petty have combined to complete 2-of-7 passes for 18 yards.
Defensively, Jamaal Peebles leads the Tornadoes with 28 tackles. Jeremy Boler, James Seales, and Anthony Gray each have 20.
Neshoba Central is led by Marshall and Josh Moore with 16 tackles apiece.
Cherokee, N.C., at Choctaw Central
In a rare Saturday night matchup, the Battle of the Nations VIII is set for Choctaw Central's Warrior Stadium.
Cherokee holds a 5-2 series lead between the only two Native American football-playing schools east of the Mississippi River.
Cherokee routed the Warriors 34-0 last year.
Choctaw Central evened its record at 1-1 last week with a 44-14 whipping of Kemper County.
Cherokee's Braves come in with four games already under their belt. A 46-10 loss to unbeaten Robbinsville, N.C., last week dropped Cherokee to 1-3. The 4-0 Black Knights piled up 540 yards in the win with Dusty Anderson passing for 222 yards and four touchdowns.
Cherokee's touchdown, an 8-yard pass from John Davis to Micah Swimmer, is the only touchdown allowed by Robbinsville in 16 quarters.
Davis passed for 154 yards.
Rodgrick Anderson has caught nine passes for 123 yards for Choctaw Central. Geno Mack has 197 yards on 32 carries after picking up 133 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries against Kemper County last week.
Leake Academy at Oak Hill Academy
The 2-1 Rebels suffered their first loss last week as they fell 26-12 to Manchester Academy. Friday finds them hitting the road to West Point to take on Oak Hill, 1-2, for the 24th time.
Oak Hill has a 13-10 lead in the series. The Raiders bombed Delta Academy 46-0 last week.
Jeffery Chancellor leads Leake with 313 rushing yards on 35 carries.
Kemper Academy at Central Academy
Old rivals Kemper and Central square off in Macon Friday with both seeking to rebound from beatings in last week's action.
Kemper, 2-1, fell 44-6 to Newton County Academy, while Central, 1-2, hung in with Heidelberg Academy for nearly all the first half before losing 37-0.
West Point at Louisville
The 2002 Class 4A state runner-up Green Wave ride into Louisville Friday seeking to improve their 2-0 mark. The Greenies have a 42-6 win over Noxubee County to go with a 42-0 blanking of Canton.
After shocking Starkville in their season opener, the Winston County Wildcats fell 16-6 at Noxubee County last week to even their record at 1-1.
Noxapater at Hatley
The Tigers fell 43-6 to Scott Central last week to drop to 1-1. Friday finds Noxapater heading to Hatley to take on an 0-2 squad that is coming off a 46-8 thrashing by Hamilton.