Rockets meet familiar faces in new opponent

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Oct. 9, 2003
Neshoba Central faces a first-time opponent that has several familiar faces when the Rockets host Ridgeland in a Division 4-4A contest Friday night at Rocket Field.
Leading the second-year Titans is Neshoba Central graduate and former Noxapater head coach Kenny Burton. He has previously gone up against the Rockets as an assistant at West Point.
Ridgeland won its second straight contest last week, knocking off Cleveland 21-9, to even its record at 3-3. Cleveland came in averaging 34 points per game.
Cleveland had 254 total yards, but didn't cross the goal line until midway through the fourth quarter.
Keith Whitfield had 78 yards on 20 carries for the Titans against Cleveland, while Derrick Holmes, a transfer from Leland, had 50 yards on six rushes. Blake Hitchcock, son of former Philadelphia head coach Neil Hitchcock, completed two passes for 77 yards and ran for 40 yards.
The Neshoba Central Rockets also had a good outing last week as they pummeled Canton 52-14 with the 52 points tying for 11th place on the school's all-time output. They are the most since a 53-6 rout of Kemper County in 2000.
Neshoba had 391 total yards last week on 69 plays.
Neshoba is 1-2 in 4-4A and 2-4 overall. Ridgeland is 1-1 in league play.
Leake Academy
at East Rankin
The Rebels fell to 2-2 in Academy 2-AA and 5-2 overall with last week's 12-6 loss at Benton Academy. Leake travels to Pelahatchie this Friday to take on East Rankin, 3-4, in a non-division matchup.
Jeffery Chancellor had 81 yards on 17 carries against Benton and has 920 yards on 109 carries for the year. Cory Burns has 420 yard on 77 rushes and has completed 24-of-72 passes for 425 yards.
Kemper County
at Nanih Waiya
The 1-5 Wildcats got their first win of the season last week, beating Williams-Sullivan 26-14 in a Division 5-2A contest to snap an eight-game losing streak.
Derek Welch scored on runs of 15 and 64 yards for Kemper.
Nanih Waiya lost 46-22 to South Leake in Region 3-1A action to fall to 3-3 overall. Darron Hickman led the Warriors with 30 carries for 165 yards and three touchdowns.
However, Nanih Waiya surrendered 157 yards to Letez Fortune and 139 to Chance Parhm.
Kemper Academy
at Calhoun Academy
The Rams may have found the right salve for a five-game losing skid when they travel to Calhoun City to take on the winless Cougars of Calhoun Academy.
Kemper lost 48-0 to Winston Academy last week. While the Rams haven't scored in their last three outings, Calhoun has yet to score in any form or fashion this season. At 0-7, the Cougars have been outscored 297-0.
Tuscaloosa Northridge
at Louisville
Louisville hosts the first-year Jaguars Friday night at R.E. Hinze Stadium. Northridge is one of three schools created by the breakup of Tuscaloosa Central High School.
Northridge lost 8-7 to Selma last week to fall to 0-5. The win was the first for Selma.
Northridge kicker Matt Lowery barely missed a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter. The ball hit the crossbar, bounced high, hit the crossbar again, and fell back into the end zone.
Louisville routed Jackson Bailey 40-0 last week to improve to 4-2.
Pelahatchie
at Noxapater
In a Region 3-1A matchup, Noxapater (3-3 overall, 2-3 in 3-1A) hosts Pelahatchie (1-5, 1-4).
Noxapater knocked off Edinburg 28-7 last week as Desmond Graham scored on runs of 10 and six yards. Robert Lagrone hauled in a 46-yard touchdown pass from DeAngelo Carter and Deon Hudson returned a block 16 yards for the final score.
Winston Academy
at Starkville Academy
After snapping a five-game losing streak with a 48-0 spanking of Kemper Academy last week, the 2-5 Patriots head north to Starkville for this week's contest.
The Class AAA Volunteers come in with a 2-3 record. The Vols lost 17-16 to Pillow Academy in their last outing. Starkville is riding a three-game losing streak with the other two losses coming to Jackson Academy (21-0) and MRA (21-14).