By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 4, 2003
Two teams down on their luck in 2002 and off to different starts in 2003 tangle at Neshoba Central's Rocket Field Friday night.
Neshoba Central, 2-8 a year ago, lost its 2003 season opener 28-7 at home to Aberdeen last week.
Forest, 3-8 a year ago, knocked off Newton 24-0 on the road to start the 2003 season under new head coach Brad Peterson on a positive note.
Aberdeen scored on runs of 48 and 71 yards and recovered three Neshoba Central fumbles.
Kevin Marshall led the Rocket ground attack with 135 yards on 27 carries. Leading the Rocket defense were Jermaine Simmons with nine tackles and Marshall with eight.
Forest holds a 13-6 lead in the series following a 12-10 victory over the Rockets last year.
Choctaw Central at Kemper County
Two teams looking for their first win clash Friday in DeKalb.
Choctaw Central lost a 21-15 thriller to Philadelphia last week, while Kemper County fell 16-7 to West Lowndes in its season opener.
Going into Friday's battle, the Warriors hold a 6-0 series advantage over the Wildcats. Choctaw Central won last year's contest 34-18 in the closest of the six previous meetings.
Warrior quarterback Shaun Jimmie had 17 carries for 77 yards and completed 7-of-17 passes for 105 yards with one interception against Philadelphia. Geno Mack had 13 carries for 62 yards. Rodgrick Anderson caught six passes for 65 yards.
Louisville at Noxubee County
In the past few years, this battle may have been for a division championship, but now the teams are in separate leagues. Louisville is in Division 4-4A, while Noxubee County is in 1-4A.
Louisville shocked Starkville 12-7 in its season opener last week, while Noxubee County lost 42-6 at West Point after scoring the game's first touchdown.
Sebastopol at Nanih Waiya
Ken McMullan's Nanih Waiya Warriors threw a big scare into defending Class 1A state champion Puckett last week before losing 14-12 on the road.
Neither the Warriors or Bobcats, a 12-0 loser to Pisgah last week, can afford an 0-2 start to their season when they square off Friday at Nanih Waiya.
Scott Central at Noxapater
Prior to the 2003 season, Noxapater first-year head coach Sam Blaylock said his team needed to steal a win over either Union or Scott Central in the first two weeks of the season to regain some of its confidence lost in last year's 2-9 showing.
The Tigers knocked off Union 8-7 last week on a touchdown run by tailback Desmond Graham and a two-point run by quarterback Deangelo Carter.
Now the Tigers have a chance to really regain their swagger of old when they host Scott Central Friday. The Rebels blanked Edinburg 40-0 in their season opener.
Manchester Academy at Leake Academy
The Rebels improved to 2-0 with a 40-12 spanking of Indianola Academy last week. Quarterback Cory Burns ran and passed for 221 yards and three touchdowns for LA.
The Mavericks come in with a 1-1 mark, beating Central Hinds 13-10 to start the season before losing 27-16 to Madison-Ridgeland Academy last week.
Leake holds a 7-3 series advantage.
Tri-County Academy at Winston Academy
The Patriots, 1-1, look to return to the win column when they host Tri-County. Winston fell 22-7 to Simpson Academy last week.