By Laurence Hilliard
Winston County Journal
Eight high school seniors – six from Louisville and two from Nanih Waiya – signed letters of intent to continue playing football at the next level during ceremonies last Wednesday at the Louisville School District office.
For Nanih Waiya, the dynamic running back duo of Chris Smith and Taemaus Glass were the honored guests. Smith signed with Louisiana Lafayette and Glass with East Mississippi.
“I'm really excited for these two guys,” said Nanih Waiya coach Ryan Keeton. “Not only are they great football players, but they are outstanding young men.”
Both rushed for well over 4,000 yards in their four years together in the Warriors backfield, totaling 9,412 yards and 191 touchdowns. As seniors, Glass ran for 1,907 yards and 29 TDs and Smith totaled 2,369 yards running, receiving and returning kicks and scored 36 TDs.
Nanih Waiya went 50-10 in their four years, including 15-1 in the fall when the Warriors just missed winning the school's first championship in a 22-20 loss to Simmons in the 1A title game.
Smith said Lafayette is “a special place. I really liked it there.” He plans to study kinesiology.
One of the reasons Glass chose East Mississippi is because the Lions have won four national championships in the last seven years. “I hope to bring them another championship,” he said.
Those signing from Louisville were:
— Lawilliam Holmes Jr. signed with Copiah Lincoln Community College. He is a 6-3, 260-pound defensive lineman who was credited with 79 tackles as a senior, including five sacks.
— Daylen Gill signed with Jones County Junior College. A 6-1, 225-pound linebacker, he led the team in tackles with 164, including 13 for losses.
— Alex Brown, a 6-4, 270-pound offensive lineman, signed with Itawamba Community College.
Lakevias Daniel, a 6-0, 170-pound defensive back, signed with Holmes. He had 33 tackles.
— Pervis Frazier signed with East Mississippi. He is a 6-0, 180-pound receiver who caught 56 passes for 842 yards, ran for 73 yards and scored 15 touchdowns.
— Jacob Cunningham, a 6-5, 305-pound offensive lineman. signed with Itawamba.
“This a great group of kids who will be moving on,” said Louisville coach M.C. Miller. “They did a good job this year and they did a good job all the way through high school.”
Louisville finished 13-3 and reached the MHSAA 4A North State final where they lost 35-28 to state champion Noxubee County. The Wildcats were ranked 15th in the state and third in 4A by the website MaxPreps.
