By Staff
from staff reports
Sept. 24, 2004
The task is simple for Southeast Lauderdale. For the Tigers to have a shot at the MHSAA Class 3A playoffs they need to beat Morton, Choctaw Central and Carthage.
While wins over West Lauderdale or Newton County would be nice, the other victories are pretty much a necessity.
The Tigers go into today's 7 p.m. contest with visiting Carthage with a 2-2 overall mark but, like the visitors, are 0-1 in Division 5-3A play. The top four teams in the division will qualify for the playoffs.
Carthage fell 24-14 in a division game against Morton last week. The Tigers lost to Forest 55-0 last week.
The series has been a tight one since it began in 1989. Carthage leads the series 6-3 and has won the last five games, including a 21-0 victory last season. That game saw the widest margin of victory in the history of the series.
Carthage won 22-20 in 1999, followed by wins of 27-25, 17-13, 22-6 and 21-0. The 27 points scored by Carthage in 2000 is the most either of the teams have scored against each other.
Southeast Lauderdale running back Marcus Walker has a fractured thumb and is not expected to play tonight. Aaron Larkin and Brandon Latham will do most of the ball-carrying for the Tigers against Carthage.
Austin Bishop
Florence at
Northeast Lauderdale
A week after a narrow loss, Northeast Lauderdale will get a chance to break out tonight against a struggling division rival.
The Trojans (1-3) will host Florence (0-4) tonight in a Division 3-4A matchup, pitting Northeast Lauderdale against a team that has scored in just one of its four games.
The Eagles have lost by a combined margin of 144-0 to McLaurin, Richland and Wayne County. Florence's only offensive production came against Brandon on Sept. 10, when the Eagles lost 55-14.
Northeast Lauderdale, meanwhile, snapped back into form offensively last Friday against Northeast Jones before coming up short 24-22. A week earlier, the Trojans were shut out by Newton County.
A win against Florence would bring Northeast Lauderdale back to within one game of a .500 record, as well as its first division victory of the year.
Last year in Florence, Trojans quarterback Maurice Langston threw four touchdown passes in Northeast Lauderdale's 35-6 win. In 2004, Langston has already rushed for eight touchdowns and passed for another.
WiIl Bardwell
Parklane
at Lamar
The Lamar Raiders will try to get back on track on homecoming against Parklane Academy tonight at Grey Cobb Field at 7.
The Raiders have battled four teams that participated in their respective state championships last year and the task will not be easier tonight when the 3-1 Pioneers come to town.
The Raiders beat Parklane 32-3 last year and helped keep the Pioneers out of the playoffs the past two seasons.
Lamar has been on a three-game slide with losses to Jackson Prep, Simpson Academy and Jackson Academy.
The game is the second division game for the Raiders and will start a key stretch of Class AAA play.
A couple of players will make a move to offense this week to protect slight injuries to their shoulder. Parker Payne and Dustin Rivers were both injured while making tackles last week and will play on the Lamar offense this week.
Ryan Satcher
Clarkdale at Heidelberg
The Clarkdale Bulldogs will be looking for their first victory of the season when they visit the Heidelberg High School Oilers tonight.
The 0-3 Bulldogs game with Mercy Cross last Friday night was cancelled because of Hurricane Ivan. Heidelberg dropped a 19-14 decision at Hinds AHS and comes in with a 2-2 record..
Gartman said the Bulldogs are ready to take on Heidelberg.
This is Clarkdale's final non-division game before entering Division 5-2A play next week at Lake.
Steve Swogetinsky