Over the years, several players named Covington have made theirmark on Lincoln County football.

Over the years, several players named Covington have made theirmark on Lincoln County football. Cody Covington, a junior insidelinebacker for the Loyd Star Hornets, is the latest risingstar.

Covington accounted for 13 tackles and a quarterback sack inLoyd Star’s 20-0 shutout of the North Pike Jaguars last Fridaynight. For his performance, Covington has been selected TheDaily Leader’s Defensive Player of the Week for the fourthweek of the 2000 football season.

Loyd Star head coach Anthony Hart serves as defensivecoordinator. He works closely with the defense and recognizesCovington’s skills.

“Cody played well against North Pike,” said Hart. “Scheme-wise,he was really consistent in what we were doing. He was around thefootball all night.

“Cody works hard in practice and he plays hard,” continued Hart.”He has good quickness and very good technique. He wants to getbetter and he wants to improve.”

Covington (6-1, 205) is one of several new faces in Loyd Star’srebuilding campaign. He watched graduated senior linebackers SethLofton and Jason Miles share Defensive Player of the Year awards onThe Daily Leader’s 1999 All-Lincoln County Football Team.

“I remember Jason and Seth getting (award) two years ago,” saidCovington. “I thought it would be cool to be chosen.”

Loyd Star is off to a 2-1 start this year and Covington said thedefense is playing as one big unit. “We have some people steppingup this year. I think we can make the state playoffs again.”

Asked about the North Pike game, Covington said the Hornetswanted to shut out the visiting Jaguars. “We didn’t want to letthem get one first down. Our defense did real good in the firsthalf. Then we kind of had a letdown in the third quarter but we gotstronger.”

He and fellow inside linebacker Adam Speeg usually put up bignumbers on the tackle charts. Covington credited the defensiveline, featuring Daniel Sisco at nose guard, Logan Portrey and CaseyWarren at end and Beau Morrison at defensive tackle with fendingoff the blockers.

“Beau would make a pile in the middle,” said Covington. “Then meand Adam would make the tackle.”

For Morrison, it was his first action of the year sincesustaining a knee injury in the preseason. “I’m real happy Beau hada good game,” said Covington. “He makes a big difference in ourline.”

Garrieth Calcote, Jermaine Hunter and Chase Coley see time atoutside linebacker in Loyd Star’s defense. Deke Purdy and DemarcusBarnes play cornerback and Seth Britt is at safety.

One of the defense’s main assignments Friday night was slowingdown Clyde Brumfield, North Pike’s bruising 240-pound fullback.”He’s a big fellow and he runs hard up the middle,” saidCovington.

North Pike was limited to 68 yards total offense. Brumfield had26 yards rushing on 9 carries.

Looking ahead to Friday night’s annual Possum Bowl, Covingtonsaid the game with Bogue Chitto “should be a lot of fun.” He benchpresses 275 pounds and squats with 370.

In his spare time, Covington likes to deer hunt on his uncle’sproperty outside Union Church. He and his family lived in Fredrick,Md., for six years before moving back home.

“I’ve been playing linebacker since the eighth grade andfootball is my favorite sport,” said Covington. In the classroom,his favorite subject is math.

Covington said he enjoys playing for Hart. “Coach Hart is like afather to the players. He knows a lot about football.”

He attended the Southern Miss football camp last summer andenjoyed the experience. He likes following the Ole Miss Rebels andMississippi State Bulldogs, too.

Covington’s father, Dwayne, was a standout player at BrookhavenAcademy in the late 1970s. His uncles, Kendall and Gary, bothplayed football at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.