By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Nov. 28, 2001
JACKSON The young man who will be a big focus of Wayne Academy's preparation for this week's MPSA Academy A state title game was a no show at Monday's championship week press conference here at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Trinity Episcopal quarterback and all-everything return man Chad Ridley did not attend the conference. Saints Head Coach David King apologized to the attending media for Ridley's absence.
Wayne Academy senior safety/running back Cory Cochran, however, has already met Ridley before. They were participants in the Ole Miss Football Camp this past summer in Oxford.
What is pretty good, make that excellent, are Ridley's season stats.
He has accounted for an astounding 41 touchdowns either by rushing, passing or on returns. As a scrambling quarterback, Ridley has rushed for 1,240 yards and 19 touchdowns on 177 carries.
As a passer, he has completed 60 of 177 passes for 1,016 yards and 14 touchdowns.
As a return man, he has run back four kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns, giving him another 733 yards in returns. As a defender, he has returned two interceptions back for scores while making 65 tackles.
Ridley is being recruited by Louisiana Tech, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Delta State.
Wayne Academy head coach Wayne Boszor says he can see why.
Jeff Byrd is a sports writer for the Meridian Star. He can be reached at 693-1551 or by e-mail at jbyrd@themeridianstar.com.