AP releases information on Elliot’s injury

The Associated Press

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State running back Robert Elliott will miss the remainder of the season and undergo surgery to repair an injured knee.

Elliott, a redshirt freshman from Okolona, tore two ligaments in his knee on a run in the second half of Mississippi State’s 34-24 loss at LSU on Saturday. MSU’s head trainer Paul Mock says an MRI Sunday confirmed the injury.

Elliott’s absence will likely mean the Bulldogs (1-4, 0-2) will rely on starter Anthony Dixon and Christian Ducre to carry the load at tailback the rest of the season.

Elliott was promoted to No. 2 on the depth chart before Saturday’s game.

Mississippi State will face Vanderbilt (4-0, 2-0) on Oct. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

Slow Pitch Softball Playoffs

Lyndi Kidd and Coach Andy Wilbanks of Ingomar

Ingomar and Smithville will wait to see who they will face off against in the opening round of the playoffs as West Union will host Myrtle tomorrow night. 

West Union will have to win by four or more after dropping a 6-3 decision to Myrtle earlier in the season. 

If West Union loses or wins by three or less they will travel to Ingomar and Myrtle will host Smithville.  If they win by four or more they will host Smithville and Myrtle will travel to Ingomar in the first round. 

In the South State Tournament Stringer will host Sebastopol and Noxapater will host Puckett.

Other teams that have qualified for the playoffs:

1A Pine Grove (North 1 Runner-Up)
1A Bouge Chitto (South 7 Runner-Up) – defending 1A Champs
1A West Lincoln (South 7 Winner)
2A West Bolivar (North 3 Winner)
2A Union (South 5 Winner)
2A Philadelphia (South 5 Runner-Up)
3A Kossuth (North 1 Winner)
3A North Pontotoc (North 1 Runner-Up)
3A Nettleton (North 2 Winner)
3A North Pike (South 7 Runner-Up)
3A Richland (South 6 Runner-Up)
3A Columbia (South 7 Winner)
3A Franklin County (South 6 Winner)
4A Vicksburg (North 3 Runner-Up)
4A Neshoba Central (North 2 Runner-Up)
4A Cleveland (North 3 Winner)
4A New Hope (North 2 Winner) – defending 4A Champs
4A Quitman (South 5 Winner)
4A NE Lauderdale (South 6 Winner)
5A Clinton (North 3 Runner-Up) – defending 5A Champs
5A Madison Central (North 3 Winner)
5A Grenada (North 2 Winner)
5A NW Rankin (South 5 Winner) vs Warren Central (South 7 Runner-Up)
5A Meridian (South 5 Runner-Up)
5A Brandon (South 6 Winner)

October 7 – Opening Round
October 11 – Second Round
October 14 – North/South State
October 18 – State Championship @ VA Fields in Jackson

All series are best of three.

Moore adjusting to NFL play, Elliot injured against LSU

It has been a long road for former Okolona standout Kareem Moore, but all his hard work and dedication was proven worthwhile when he recorded his first tackle in the NFL last week in Washington’s 24-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Moore earned a spot on the roster after enjoying an impressive preseason with the Skins. The 5’11 213 pound rookie defensive back drew the starting nod against the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers while seeing playing time in three other games where he totaled 10 tackles, 1 pass deflection, and 1 interception against Carolina.

The Redskins acquired Moore as the 180^th overall pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft after the Skins made a deal with the St. Louis Rams that gave Washington a pair of picks in the sixth round.

During his college career he recorded 181 tackles (114 solo), five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 25 starts.

Kareem wears number 41 and saw playing time on defense and special teams where he recorded 3 tackles in the Redskin 26-24 thrilling upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the bitter rivals possible final meeting at Texas Stadium.

In other news: Robert Elliot rushed for 18 yards on four carries before coming out with an apparent leg injury in a 34-24 loss to LSU.  No information has been released on the severity of Elliot’s injury.

East Webster still perfect… barely

Cumberland – If you know anything about Calhoun City football you know what “GATA” stands for — replace “Get” with “Got” and you will know exactly what the Cats did in a 22-21 loss to the East Webster Wolverines.

Reggie O’Briant put East Webster (5-0, 5-0) on the board at the 5:48 mark of the first quarter on a 5-yard run, but Calhoun City (3-2, 3-2) answered with a little creativity when they jumbled up their normal offensive set.

Quarterback J.R. Jennings and wide receiver Brandon Lawrence traded positions.  Demarius Howard went in motion and took the Lawrence hand-off and appeared to look to get around the end when he lobbed the ball over the aggressive Wolverine defense to find Jennings for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Jennings moved back underneath center and found Brandon Lawrence on the two-point conversion to give the Cats an 8-7 edge with 1:27 left in the first quarter.

The 29-yard scoring strike was the first offensive touchdown given up by East Webster this season.

Johnathan Banks scored on a hard fought 10-yard run to give the Wolverines the 14-8 lead at the 11:52 mark of the second quarter and that is where the score would stand after the end of the first half.  Calhoun City regained the lead when Jennings found Lawrence on a 32-yard scoring toss and Colby Hamilton added the extra point to take a 15-14 edge with 7:00 left in the final frame. 

O’Briant appeared to put the game on ice with a 44-yard run with 5:26 left and Banks added the two-point conversion to take a 22-15 lead, but Calhoun City refused to give up without a fight.

The Wildcats went to the air to cover 58 yards as Lawrence made a diving catch across the goal line to make it a 22-21 contest at the 3:49 mark.  Calhoun City went for the win and completed a pass on the conversion attempt, but a hard hit inside the 1-yard line by the Wolverines barely negating the 2-point conversion.

East Webster picked up a first down on the ensuing possession and were able to take a knee to escape with the 22-21 region victory over Calhoun City.

Total Offense

East Webster 299 yards (258 rushing and 41 passing)
Calhoun City 220 yards (53 rushing and 177 passing)

Rushing Leaders

Reggie O’Briant (EW) 156 yards and 2 touchdowns on 30 carries.
Johnathan Banks (EW) 89 yards and 1 touchdown on 17 carries.
Brandon Lawrence (CC) 31 carries on 11 carries.

Passing Leaders

J.R. Jennings (CC) 177 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 INT on 10 of 14 passing.
Johnathan Banks (EW) 41 yards and 0 INT on 4 of 12 passing.

Receiving Leaders

Brandon Lawrence (CC) 96 yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 catches.
Demarius Howard (CC) 48 yards on 2 catches.
Love (EW) 41 yards on 2 catches.

The win was the second of the week for East Webster as they picked up a 36-0 win over rival West Oktibbeha on Monday night after lightning forced the game to be rescheduled.  

Next week East Webster will travel to Vardaman and Calhoun City will host West Lowndes with both game having major playoff implications on the line.

Region Standings

East Webster 5-0
Vardaman 4-0
Smithville 4-1
Calhoun City 3-2
West Lowndes 3-2
Falkner 2-3
East Oktibbeha 1-4
West Oktibbeha 1-4
Biggersville 1-4
Okolona 1-4
Thrasher 0-4

Lady Eagles Soar On Senior Night

Ingomar Seniors: (L to R) Suzanne Hill, Shauna Grisham, Maggie Cobb, Brittany Edwards, Haley Tutor, Natalie Frenn holding up Lyndi Kidd.

Tremont jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on a Lauren Mayhill home run, but 13 runs on 18 hits and two busted bats later the Lady Falcons celebrated a 13-3 region championship clinching victory.

Senior Lyndi Kidd cut into the 2-0 Tremont lead when she led off the bottom half of the first with a triple to right and came around to score on a throwing error by the first baseman.   The Lady Falcons tied the game in the third when Amy Foshee, running for senior catcher Suzanne Hill, scored when Kate Webb reached on an error. 

Ingomar took their first lead of the contest when senior Brittany Edwards single to right to score Webb — Edwards advance to second on the throw. 

Tremont battled back to tie the game at 3-3 when Lauren Graham reached on a fielder’s choice to plate Kammi Lease, but an amazing diving effort by Kidd to stop a hard hit ground up the middle and flipped the ball to second while laying face down on the ground to turn a double play to end the inning and stop the Tremont rally.

The Lady Falcons got things going in the bottom of the fourth when Edwards tripled to right to plate a pair of runs and senior Natlie Frenn followed with a two-run home run— her tenth of the season — to give Ingomar a 7-3 before Hill drove in Samantha Mayo to pick up the fifth run of the inning.

Ingomar put another five spot on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Edwards drove in two run on with her second triple of the night, Frenn scored Edwards with a single to left-center, and Cobb plated Frenn with an infield single.  Hill grounded into a fielder’s choice, but scored senior Shauna Grisham from third to invoke the ten-run mercy rule.

After recognizing the girls of the class of 2008, Coach Andy Wilbanks talked about the game.

 

South Panola makes a big jump in rankings

The South Panola Tigers jumped up six spots to number ten in the Rivals Top 100 High School Poll this week after beating Apopka, FL 28-18 behind a 238 yard rushing and four touchdown performance from Nicholas Parker.

Top 10

1. Trinity (Euless, TX)
2. Armwood (Seffner, FL)
3. Byrnes (Duncan, SC)
4. Bastrop (Bastrop, LA)
5. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft Lauderdal, FL)
6. Gateway (Monroeville, PA)
7. Poly (Long Beach, CA)
8. Plano (Plano, TX)
9. Lowndes (Valdosta, GA)
10. South Panola (Batesville, MS)

45. Wayne County (Waynesboro, MS) up from 49th
50. Apopka (Apopka, FL) down from 14th
69. Olive Branch (Olive Branch, MS) no change

How to lose 66 million dollars in day

There is finally an answer to the mysterious ankle injury that Golden State Warrior Monta Ellis suffered this past summer and it could cost him dearly.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports from a source close to the situation that the former Lanier Bulldog All-Star underwent surgery in late August to repair a torn deltoid ligament in his ankle. When the injury occurred it was reported that Ellis told VP Chris Mullin the injury happened during a pick-up game in Jackson, but due questions surrounding cuts on his ankle the team investigated the injury.

Ellis later confessed the injuries occurred during a low speed accident while participating in a banned activity. The accident is a direct breach of contract that gives Golden State the option to back out of their contract with the 22-year old star.

The timing could not be worse for Ellis — not that lying to cover up the situation helped matters either.

With the ongoing situation with suspension of Plaxico Burress and the New York Giants fining him $235,000 (two paychecks if you are wondering) for not calling in when he missed a workout the media is suddenly calling for heads to roll as superstars act like they have no one to answer to – Monta could be the sacrificial lamb they offer.

The Warriors will not rip his contract up and kick Ellis to the curb mainly because he has progressed into a great player ever since Don Nelson showed up and averaged 20 points a game last season, but do look for the front office to make an example out of Ellis by trying to put a very noticeable dent in his recently signed 6 year, 66 million dollar contract.  Then again, Ellis does not have to resign a new deal with Golden State.

If the injury is career-threatening, look for Ellis to be searching for a new employer.

If Golden State tries to put the hammer down on Ellis, will he opt not to sign with the Warriors allowing another NBA franchise be able to scoop up the Jackson star?

Chime in with a comment below: What would you do if you were Monta?

Is Monta too valuable for the Warriors to try to make an example out of him ultimately being forced to turn the other cheek to the situation?

Chime in with a comment below: What would you do if you were Golden State?

AP High School Football Rankings

Class 5A

1. South Panola 4-0
2. Oak Grove 3-1
3. Olive Branch 3-1
4. Meridian 3-1
5. Madison Central 3-1

Class 4A

1. Wayne County 4-0
2. Noxubee County 3-0
3. West Point 4-0
4. Picayune 3-1
5. Itawamba AHS 4-0

Class 3A

1. Louisville 3-1
2. Franklin County 4-0
3. Newton County 4-0
4. Aberdeen 4-0
5. Velma Jackson 4-0

Class 2A

1. Taylorsville 4-0
2. Enterprise (Clarke) 3-1
3. Bruce 3-1
4. Forest 4-0
5. Baldwyn 3-1

Class 1A

1. East Webster 4-0
2. Ray Brooks 3-0
3. Durant 4-0
4. Greenville St. Joe 4-0
5. Puckett 3-0

Academy AAA

1. Jackson Prep 4-1
2. Magnolia Heights 4-1
3. Washington 3-1
4. Pillow 4-0
5. Parklane 4-0

Academy AA

1. Winston 5-0
2. Trinity 5-0
3. Simpson 5-0
4. Kirk 4-1
5. Bowling Green, La. 5-0

Academy A

1. Porter’s Chapel 5-0
2. Glenbrook, La. 4-1
3. Huntington, La. 3-2
4. Sylva-Bay 4-1
5. Marvell, Ark. 5-0

Ingomar clinches playoff birth

Houlka, MS – Ingomar clinched their spot in the upcoming softball playoffs with a 10-3 victory over the Houlka Lady Wildcats, but seeding will be on the line Thursday night against Tremont.

The Lady Falcons jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Lyndi Kidd and Brittney Edwards scored on a Shauna Grisham double to left and tacked on another run in the top of the third when Natalie Frenn scored on a Samantha Mayo single to right.

Ingomar added three runs when Kidd and Frenn each scored when Mayo reached on an error in the fourth and  when Amy Foshee, courtesy running for Suzanne Hill, scored on a single to left by Kidd in the fifth.

Shauna Grisham - 3B - Ingomar

Houlka rallied in the bottom half of the fifth when Mallory Meyers scored on a sacrifice fly by Jasmine Spencer before Ranesha Townsend and Candiace McIntosh scored on a single to right by Marissa Hobson.

Ingomar plated five runs in the seventh to pull away for the 10-3 region victory.

Grisham led the way for Ingomar going four for four from the plate with a pair of singles, a double, a triple, 2 RBI, and scored a run.  Kidd was four for four with a walk, four singles, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored. 

Lyndi Kidd - SS - Ingomar

Mayo, Hill, and Haley Taylor each had a pair of singles on the night for Ingomar.

Townsend had a pair of singles for the Lady Wildcats.

Houlka first baseman Courtney Woodard went down with a neck injury after a collision with the Ingoamr base runner while going for a ground ball, but after a delay for cautionary reasons she was able to walk off the field on her own power with nurses and coaches standing by her side.

Brittany Edwards - 2B - Ingomar

Now for the Lady Falcons a Thursday night victory over Tremont equals a region championship and more importantly the number one seed heading into the playoffs.  A loss would give the Smithville Lady Seminoles the top seed.

In other playoff news, Myrtle and West Union will play for the top seed in their region next Thursday night.  West Union is currently the number two seed and will have to beat Myrtle by four or more runs to overtake the Lady Hawks as the top seed.

Schedule Change: Lafayette County Football

Due to Friday’s Presidential Debate in Oxford the Lafayette County Commodores have moved their game against Greenwood to Thursday night to avoid the frenzy that is expected in Oxford this week.

Kickoff is still slated for 7:30 p.m.