Possum Bowl Preview
Published 6:00 pm Thursday, August 18, 2011
The Bogue Chitto Bobcats kick off their2011 football season Friday night at home, hosting the Loyd StarHornets in an early Possum Bowl at Troy Smith Field. The gamebegins at 7:30 p.m.
The Bobcats look to rebound from last year’s 35-28 loss to LoydStar.
In other Lincoln Countygames, West Lincoln hosts Ethel and Enterprise travels to Salem fortheir season debut. Brookhaven has another week to prepare for it’sseason opener in Monticello against the Lawrence County Cougars, itwill be played on Thursday Aug. 25.
Bogue Chitto, coached by Gareth Sartin, will face a familiaropponent that will rekindle some Possum Bowl excitement since itrose from the ashes in 2009, after an 8-year absence.
According to Sartin, his Bobcats are ready to get the seasonstarted. He wants to improve on a 6-6 record from last year.
“We are excited to begin the season,” said Sartin. “We have a lotof faces in different position, but we are ready to hit someoneelse than ourselves. Our main goal for this game is to play hardand have a good game.”
Sartin revealed his starting lineup for Friday night. On defense,the ends are Jeremy Blackwell and Damien Terrell. At tackle areCurtis Maness, Devin McEwen and Deonte Dillon.
The linebackers are James Blackwell and Jermaine Blackwell. Themiddle linebacker is Kevin Brothern.
Justin Click and Jimmy McNulty will defend the pass and run as thecornerbacks. Brandon Wells and Dennis Rogers will help as thesafeties.
Cameron Price is the kicker. Jermaine Blackwell will be the punter.Together they will do their part to help pinned the opponent as farback as possible.
On offense, Brandon Wells will start as quarterback. QuarterbackBrock Roberts is in a baseball tournament in New York. Working inthe offensive line: right guard Jermaine Blackwell, right tackleJeremy Blackwell, center Marcus Moak, left guard Kevin Brothern,left tackle Maness.
In the backfield for Bogue Chitto will be Robert Bonds at fullbackand Colton McClendon at the tailback.
Germie Martin and McNulty will be the receivers. As Rogers is attight end.
Asked about Friday night’s opponent, Sartin said, “Anytime you playa county school it will always be a good game. The kids from bothschools know that these types of games give you bragging rights forthe season. Coach Randall Huffman will have his team ready toplay.”
Loyd Star, coached by Randall Huffman, looks to have a better yearas they prepare for Bogue Chitto.
The Hornets are hoping to enjoy the same results as last year’sPossum Bowl after defeating the Bobcats 35-28 on Sambo Field.
According to Huffman, his Hornets are eager to begin the season. Hewants to improve on a 4-7 record from last year.
Coach Huffman revealed his starting lineup for Friday night. Onoffense, Seth Farmer will start his sophomore year as quarterback.Working in the trenches in the offensive line: right guard is JakeCase; right tackle is Emmitt Johnson; center is Logan Smith; leftguard is Mitchell Thornton and left tackle is Austin Martin.
In the backfield for the Hornets will be Josh Butler and MarquiseSims at running back.
The Hornets’ aerial attack will come from Corie Crowe at split end,Kyle Johnson at flanker and J.D. Sones at tight end.
On defense, the Loyd Star’s ends are Jake Case and Sones. At tackleare Dyquavious Thomas and Nick King. The linebackers are JarredCase, Josh Butler and Johnson.
Brandon Canny and Ricky Butler will help defend the pass and run asthe cornerbacks. Bradley Archer, Sims and Crowe will work as thesafeties.
Crowe and Butler will perform all the kicking and puntingduties.
Asked about Friday night’s opponent, Huffman said, “It is the firstgame of the season and neither team really knows what to expect.All I want is for us to play hard. If we can do that, I will behappy.”
Enterprise will be under the direction offirst-year head coach Casey Eubanks.
Coach Eubanks and his Jackets are ready to begin the season as theytravel to Walthall County to battle the Salem Wildcats. The YellowJackets will be looking to improve on a 3-7 record from lastyear.
“We are a very young team,” said Eubanks. “The kids are adapting tothe new offensive and defensive schemes from the coaches. We arelooking to be really good in the next couple of years.”
Coach Eubanks revealed his starting lineup for Friday night. Ondefense, the ends are Forrest Scott and Justin Callender. At tackleare Tim Martin and Matt Greer.
The linebackers are Tony Blair and Chance Boyd. The middlelinebackers are Taylor Rutland and James King.
Blake Fugler and Tomas Newman will be the cornerbacks. Lance Springand Jerrod Johnson are the safeties.
Dylan Smith will perform all the kicking duties.
On offense, Jackson Cole and Spring will both see some time as thestarting quarterback. Working in the trenches in the offensiveline: center Matt Greer, guards are Tony Blair and Chance Boyd.
In the backfield for Enterprise will be Taylor Rutland as thefullback and Tomas Newman at running back.
Mavrick Smith, Neal Ratcliff, Grant Brister, Scott, Fugler andSpring will take part in the Jackets’ aerial attack asreceivers.
Asked about Friday night’s opponent, Eubanks said, ” Salem is a bigand physical team. They really like to run the ball. They have a240-pound running back that can run. Defensively, we need to do ourbest to stop the run and play to our potential.”
West Lincoln under the direction of coachChris Calcote, is playing as an independent team for the next twoseasons to help build up the football program.
The Bears look to improve on a winless 0-11 season last year. WestLincoln is currently fighting an 18-game losing skid.
Coach Calcote and his Bears are excited to start their season asthey open at home against the Ethel Tigers.
“We had a good three weeks of practice to prepare for the season,said Calcote. “Our defense should be really good due to everyone isback. We made a lot of progress in our offense by getting ourtiming down. We are looking to have a good and successfulseason.”
Calcote revealed his starting lineup for Friday night. On offense,Jonah King will start his sophomore year at quarterback. Working inthe trenches in the offensive line: right guard Grant Montgomery,right tackle Zach McMurray, center Jarrod White, left guard LandryBarrilleaux and left tackle Nathaniel Fauver.
In the backfield for the Bears will be Jeremy Laird at fullback andDeon Moore at tailback.
The Bears’ receiving core will be Jacob Lea at wingback, AustinMontgomery at split back and Sloan Nations at tight end.
On defense, the West Lincoln ends are Tyler Roberts and White. Attackle are Wade Cagle and Luke Barrilleaux.
The linebackers are Austin Phelps and Austin Montgomery. The middlelinebacker are Garrett Rushing and Laird.
Jacob Lea and Tyler Malone are cornerbacks. Hunter Fauver will workat the safety.
Laird is the kicker. Phelps will be the punter.
Asked about Friday night’s opponent, Calcote said, “Ethel will be acompetitive team with a lot of speed. They look really good onfilm. We should match up really well against them.”