New coaches meet in Friday season opener
By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Aug. 28, 2003
Relatively new rivals Philadelphia and Choctaw Central open their 2002 football seasons Friday at Choctaw.
Both teams come into this fall with new head coaches Willie Coats at Choctaw Central and Mike Brown at Philadelphia.
Philadelphia holds a 10-3 lead in the series which began in 1986. Since 1991, the teams have squared off every year. Of the 13 meetings, only three have been decided by seven points or less, while eight have been settled by at least a 21-point differential.
The Tornadoes have won the last five meetings with the Warriors by an average of 25.8 points and Coats would like nothing more than to end that streak. Brown had just as soon keep it going.
Philadelphia, which drops from Class 3A to 2A this fall, went 7-4 in 2002. Choctaw Central finished 3-7.
Indianola Academy at Leake Academy
The Rebels, a 41-13 winner over Newton County Academy last week, host Indianola Academy this Friday in Madden.
It will be the season opener for the Colonels.
Jeffery Chancellor rushed 14 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns in Leake's rout of NCA.
Indianola took a thrilling 35-34 victory in last year's contest with LA.
Aberdeen at Neshoba Central
After back-to-back 2-8 seasons, the Rockets look to better themselves in 2003. A key to that is winning Friday's home matchup with Aberdeen.
The Bulldogs beat Neshoba 13-10 last year for their first win in the series following nine straight wins by the Rockets. Aberdeen finished 2002 with a 5-6 mark.
Rebul Academy at Kemper Academy
The Rams look to go 2-0 Friday when they host Rebul in DeKalb. Kemper blasted Rebul 42-7 last year.
Kemper beat Hebron Christian 32-21 last week with Kyle Davis running for a pair of touchdowns and passing for two more.
Rebul (1-0) got 299 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries from Adam Kitchens in a 34-25 victory over Riverdale (La.) last week.
West Lowndes at Kemper County
The Wildcats, 1-9 a year ago with the lone win coming against winless Williams-Sullivan, try to get the 2003 season off to a good start Friday when they host the Panthers who finished 3-7 last year.
The two did not face each other in 2002.
