Choctaw County will step up in competition with a region game at Houston Friday. “Houston is good,” CCHS head coach Jeff Roberts said. “They went toe to toe with Noxubee County. That was a really good defensive game.”
Houston is coming off a 19-12 loss to Noxubee County, which won the 4A championship last year. Noxubee County dropped down to 3A this year as a member of 4-3A. and will play at Choctaw County Oct. 25. Houston is 5-2 and 0-1 in 4-3A. The Hilltoppers will run the ball and play strong defense, according to Roberts. Houston had 259 yards on the ground against Noxubee County.
Houston is led by senior running back Bobby Townsend and senior two-way lineman Calvin McMillian. Townsend leads the Hilltoppers with 74 carries for 552 yards, including 17 for 96 against Noxubee County. McMillian (6-6, 308) has committed to Mississippi State as an offensive tackle.
— Laurence Hilliard
LONG FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
In Kosciusko’s 38-35 loss to Choctaw Central, the Whippets lined up to attempt a 96-yard field goal early in the second quarter with field goal kicker Will Carter. The ball went out of bounds at the Kosciusko 48-yard line where the ball was spotted.
The move was predicated due to injuries to both Kosciusko punters. According to a local official, the ball has to cross the goal line to be spotted at the 20 and is live just like a punt and can be returned by the defense.
Later in the game, the Whippets lined up for a 76-yard field goal attempt that netted 19 yards.
— Robbie Robertson
COLEMAN MAKING IMPACT
After sitting out his junior season last year due to MHSAA transfer rules, Kendall Coleman has become an integral part of the Choctaw County offense as a running back and receiver. In a 37-14 victory over Aberdeen, he carried three times for 24 yards and caught TD passes of 20 and seven yards. For the season, Coleman has run the ball 14 times for 77 yards and caught 18 passes for 180 yards and four TDs.
Two years ago, he totaled 1,262 yards and 16 TDs running, receiving and passing for French Camp.
— Laurence Hilliard
UNBEATEN TEAMS
There are a total of 22 unbeaten high school football teams remaining.
Top-ranked Madison Central is the only undefeated team in Class 6A. Provine is off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 2004. Second-ranked Picayune and eighth-ranked West Jones are the other unbeaten teams in 5A.
Itawamba AHS, Greenwood and South Pike are the undefeated teams in 4A. Region 8-3A has the only undefeated teams in 3A in Columbia, Magee and West Marion. Magee travels to West Marion on Friday night. Northside, South Delta, Lake and Enterprise-Clarke the unbeaten teams in 2A. Resurrection is the only unbeaten team in 1A.
Teams undefeated in the MAIS are Heritage Academy, Riverfield (La.), Winona Christian, Greenville St. Joseph, Manchester Academy, Prairie View (La.) and Tensas (La.).
— Brandon Shields
CARTER HONORED
Choctaw County quarterback Tylan Carter was among 10 candidates for Clarion-Ledger Athlete of the Week for his performance in a 48-7 victory over Kosciusko September 20. He ran for 192 yards and two touchdowns and passes for 57 yards and two TDs.
Carter finished sixth in the online voting won by by Jackson Academy running back Marcus Harris, who carried 36 times for 214 yards and two TDs in 31-24 win over Oak Forest.
— Laurence Hilliard
LADY TIGERS ADVANCE
Ethel won its final regular season game on the road at Richland 15-1 last Tuesday. The Lady Tigers then swept Forest 10-0 and 11-1 in the first round of the MHSAA Slow-Pitch Softball playoffs on Saturday afternoon.
Ethel (21-4) was set to host Wesson in the second round of the playoffs on Tuesday.
— Brandon Shields
