Enterprise senior Shermaine Vaughn shines on both sides of thefootball. In Friday night’s 56-20 homecoming win over Region 4-1Afoe Salem, Vaughn led the Yellow Jacket defense at outsidelinebacker with 14 tackles and one quarterback sack.

On offense at tailback, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound speedster ledthe running game, rushing 143 yards and a 33-yard touchdown. Vaughnalso returned a punt 77-yards for a TD.

For his accomplishments, Vaughn has been selected The DailyLeader’s Defensive Player of the Week for the fifth week of the2001 season. Two weeks ago he blocked an extra point try in the winover Mt. Olive.

“It was a little surprised I got it,” said Vaughn. “I knew Ihad a lot of tackles that night. I feel pretty good about it. I’mproud of it.”

Vaughn runs a 40 in 4.6. He bench presses 300 pounds andsquats 430 pounds.

“Shermaine makes tackles from sideline to sideline,” saidEnterprise head football coach Rickey Deere. “He’s a good one. Hehas done well for us. He’s well built. He works hard in the weightroom. He comes to play every week.”

“As a team, we played pretty good,” stated Vaughn about theoffense and defense in the homecoming win over Salem. “We practiceevery day to get better.”

Enterprise runs a multiple defense and the number oflinebackers depends on the opponent’s offense. The Jackets coulduse three or four linebackers. Vaughn has a lot of help from fellowlinebackers Bobby Smith at middle linebacker; and Chase Raiford andRufus Allen at outside and Matt Runnels at middle.

Seeing action in the seondary are Pierre Harthorne and WhitMcGraw at cornerback, Monti Crotwell at free safety and Caleb Smithat strong safety.

Making up the Enterprise defensive front line are Kody Burnsat end; Jamall Vaughn at tackle; Dale Holmes at tackle and RufusAllen, at end.

“Our goal is to get to the playoffs,” said Vaughn. “We arealmost there. We need to win three more.”

Vaughn said he gets a lot of confidence from Coach Deere.”He knows we can make it to the playoffs.”

Deere expects and gets leadership from Vaughn. “Shermaine isa senior leader for us. When he’s not in the game, we aren’t thesame team. He can run inside and out. Defensively, he lovescontact. He’s not intimidated by anybody.”

This week, Enterprise has a long road trip to face Region4-1A foe Stringer. The 0-4 Red Devils were whipped 45-6 by Dexter’sBulldogs last week.

“We need to go out fired up,” Vaughn said. “We need to getafter them (Red Devils) on offense and defense. We need to go forthe football.”

Vaughn also plays basketball for the Jackets. As a startingpost player, he finished last season with a 13 points and 10rebounds per game.

In his spare time, Vaughn likes to spend time with hisfriends and play football with his brothers.

“I am going to go to college,’ Vaughn stated. He isundecided on a major. “I would like to play football or basketball.I would like to see if I could make it past college (intoprofessional football).”

Vaughn’s favorite college football team is the FloridaGators. In the NFL, he follows the St. Louis Rams. Running backMarshall Faulk is his favorite player.

“The offensive line is getting better ever week,” addedVaughn. “The blocking is pretty good. Our passing game (quarterbackJustin Kyzar) is going real well.

“If we keep on playing like we have, we should have awinning record and be in the playoffs,” Vaughn added. “My main goalis to beat Bogue Chitto in my senior year.”