East Central Community College freshman kicking specialist Robens Beauplan has been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-America Special Teams squad, the NJCAA announced today. Warrior sophomore offensive tackle TyKeem Doss was named to the NJCAA Second Team All-America Offense.
A product of Riverdale High School in Lehigh Acres, Fla., Beauplan was twice named Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Special Teams Player of the Week during the season and was also an NJCAA Special Teams Player of the Week. He was named to the MACJC All-Conference South Offense as both a punter and a placekicker. For the season, Beauplan was 9 of 14 on field goals, 15 of 18 on extra points, and averaged 45 yards per punt.
Doss, a 6-5, 332-pound offensive tackle from Aliceville, Ala., was previously named MACJC Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and MACJC First-Team All-Conference South Offense after a stellar sophomore season.
— Bill Wagnon
BOWLING TIME
Mississippi State will go bowling for the 10th straight year as they will battle Louisville in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 in Nashville. USM will head to Fort Worth and will take on former rival Tulane Green Wave in the Armed Forces Bowl on Jan, 4.
— Dale McKee
ALCORN WINS SWAC
For the second consecutive year, the Alcorn State University football program used a big fourth quarter to defeat Southern, as it pulled away late for a 39-24 final Saturday in the Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
The Braves (9-3, 6-1 SWAC) trailed 17-16 heading into the fourth quarter, and were still down 24-22 with 8:43 remaining. Alcorn took the lead on a 23-yard field goal by senior Corey McCullough, and then put the game away with a six-yard rushing touchdown by senior De'Shawn Waller and a pick-six by senior Taurence Wilson.
Senior wide receiver LeCharles Pringle was named the SWAC Championship Offensive MVP. He hauled in a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown.
— School Reports
BAYLESS LEADS NCAA
Former Laurel Tornado Omar Bayless is the leading receiver in the nation playing for Arkansas State. Bayless (6-3, 215) leads the country with 1,473 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was recently named the Player of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference. The Red Wolves will play Florida International in Montgomery in the Camellia Bowl on Dec. 21.
— Dale McKee
TWO ECCC
SOCCER STANDOUTS SIGN
East Central Community College sophomore soccer players Leah Anderson and Macey Spencer have signed to continue their careers next fall at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus.
The MUW Owls currently compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, but have provisionally been accepted for full membership in NCAA Division III within the next two years.
Anderson, a forward from Leyland, United Kingdom, scored 16 goals this season for the Lady Warriors, including two hat tricks. She is tied for the most goals in a career with 22 and is in second place all-time in most goals in a season.
Spencer, a midfielder who prepped at Florence High School, started all 17 matches and scored seven goals. She led the Lady Warriors with seven assists. She received the team’s Most Valuable Player Award at the Fall Sports Awards Banquet.
— Bill Wagnon
