JACKSON – Jake Sessums, Brookhaven Academy’s all-everythingquarterback, finds himself at a new position this week. Sessums isplaying wide receiver for the South All-Stars as they prepare forFriday night’s Mississippi Private School Association All-StarFootball Game.

Kickoff is 6 p.m., at Mississippi College’s Hale-RobinsonStadium in Clinton. Introduction of players begins at 5:30.

Parklane Academy’s Charlie Newlon is serving as head coach ofthe South squad. This is the eighth time for Newlon to coach thedream team.

“Sessums is playing wide receiver for us,” said Newlon. “He’salso on some of our special teams, too. He has shown good hands anda good attitude for us. He has had a good week of practice.”

Quarterbacking the South All-Stars are Seth Smith (6-3,195) ofHillcrest Christian and Mitch Mangum (6-1, 170) of Simpson CountyAcademy. Smith has committed to signing a scholarship with OleMiss.

As a senior quarterback, the 5-foot-11, 155-pound Sessumsamassed some impressive statistics, leading Brookhaven Academy to a6-5 record. He completed 82 of 132 passes for 1793 yards and 16touchdowns. He rushed for 565 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.

On 10 kickoff returns, Sessums averaged 23.2 yards perreturn.

Brookhaven Academy head coach Doug Clanton said Sessums is atalented athlete. He also starts at guard for BA’s basketballteam.

“Jake has good hands and good feet,” said Clanton. “I hope they(South coaches) give him the opportunity to play. He’s a talentedathlete.”

On Wednesday, the South squad practiced in a misting rain.”We’ve had some good practices,” said Newlon. “We have some goodsize in our line and adequate speed. It looks like it’s going to beokay.”

Newlon has two of his Parklane players on the squad: Offensivetackle Mitchell Prine (6-3, 295) and wide receiver/safety JeremyFreeman (6-0, 175).

Newlon said he and his staff are concerned about the North’soverall team speed. They are led by quarterbacks Taylor McNeal(6-1, 180) of Winston, Will Prosser (6-3, 185) of Starkville andKyle Pollard (6-1, 210) of West Memphis.

Another standout is North Delta running back Hayden Sullivan(5-8, 175) who led his team to the Class AAA statechampionship.

“The North team has a lot of speed,” said Newlon. “They havesome good quarterbacks. The kid from Starkville and the one fromWinston have a lot of quickness.

“We expect a lot of option plays,” Newlon continued. “They’lltry to get the ball to Sullivant on the outside.”

All-Star rules: The game will feature 15-minute quarters.Kickoffs from the end zone can be returned. No blitzing will beallowed on defense.