Causeyville hosts A Day in the Country'
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
November 12, 2004
Eight wins, a tie and a loss are in the past for the Meridian High School football team.
The No. 15 Wildcats are now focused on the future, specifically a three-game stretch in the Class 5A playoffs that could lead to Dec. 3's championship game.
Meridian High, which lost its final game of the regular season to Northwest Rankin 30-14, hosts Biloxi in the opening round of the postseason tonight at Ray Stadium. The Wildcats finished second in Region 3.
The Indians (7-3) also come into the game recovering from an end-of-season loss. Biloxi fell to Gulfport 32-6 to finish third in Region 4.
The focus of tonight's game will be on the ground, as both teams enter the contest with rush-reliant offenses.
Biloxi's running game is powered by tailback Damion Fletcher, who has amassed 22 rushing touchdowns and caught one pass for a score this season. Fletcher has rushed for more than 1,700 yards this year.
Meridian High's defense will put the Indians' running game to the test, though, as the Wildcats enter the playoff game surrendering just 233 yards on the ground for the entire year.
Even worse news than the Wildcats' run defense for the Indians is the appearance of Meridian High running back Cordera Eason's return to full strength.
Eason, who was slowed by an early-season ankle injury this year, along with fellow junior tailback Derrick Davis gives the Wildcats a one-two rushing punch that few teams are able to handle.
Eason rushed for more than 100 yards for the third time this season against Northwest Rankin, and Davis, who has scored at least one touchdown in every game this year, has three 200-plus yard rushing games in 2004.
Meridian High expects to have the services of its top cover cornerback Dominique Spinks for today's game. The senior played on a injured leg last week, but Stanley said Spinks' leg has loosened during the week of practice.
Spinks will probably not be at 100 percent in the game against Biloxi, but the cornerback is expected to return to full strength next week, if the Wildcats are still playing.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 tonight, and the first 500 fans entering Ray Stadium will receive a free Wildcat spirit towel. The game can also be heard locally on WJXM (105.7 FM) or WZKR (103.3 FM).
