Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
Best Player: Patrick Patterson, Sr., WR, Noxubee County
Patterson blew up last fall, hauling in 72 passes for 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Tigers, just 4-5 in 2006, improved to 12-3 and reached the 4A state title game behind Patterson’s exploits. Perhaps signaling an upswing for Mississippi State under Sylvester Croom, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound pass catcher cast his lot with the Bulldogs this summer. Returning state leaders - Passing: Dominique Sullivan (Taylorsville) 154 of 259 for 3,189 yards, 38 TDs; Rushing: Richard Freelon (Bruce) 316 attempts, 2,533 yards, 32 TDs.
Best All-Time Player: Tie – Walter Payton, RB, Columbia; Jerry Rice, WR, B.L. Moor
Can any state in the country boast a better 1-2 punch than Mississippi with Walter Payton and Jerry Rice – arguably the greatest players ever at two of football’s most important positions? Payton was the NFL’s all-time leading rusher when he retired with 16,726 yards, while Rice owns nearly ever major single season and career receiving mark. Enough said.
2008 Must See: South Panola vs. Apopka (Fla.)
We know South Panola can pound teams from Tennessee, going 5-0 against Memphis-area schools over the past three seasons. But can the Tigers tame Florida? The longest current winning streak in high school football (75 games) will face its most intriguing test Sept. 19 when the Blue Darters of Apopka come to town.
On The Throne: South Panola
Five-straight 5A state titles. 75-game winning streak. What more is there to say about the Tigers’ incredible run? Head coach Lance Pogue will have to do it without the star power the Tigers have enjoyed in recent seasons as there doesn’t appear to be a Darius Barksdale-Chris Strong-Derek Pegues-type dominator on the 2008 roster.
Best Rivalry: Biloxi vs. Gulfport
Biloxi and Gulfport played for the 84th time last fall, with Biloxi winning a 48-44 thriller. It should have been the 94th meeting between the rivals, but in 1958 a fight broke out on the field, spilled into the stands and caused a melee so severe, the series was put on hold for 10 years. The two teams began playing in 1908 and Gulfport leads all-time, 48-32-4.
Future Star: Dylan Favre, Jr., QB, St. Stanislaus
By virtue of being Brett Favre’s nephew, Dylan Favre is already a star. But he has the game to back up the name. As a sophomore, Favre led all Class 4A passers with 3,092 yards and 36 touchdown passes. The Rock-a-Chaws (had to get this nickname in) went 8-3 with him under center.
Fun Fact
Running back Kendrick Hardy – being recruited by the likes of Alabama, Auburn and LSU – is the focal point of one of Mississippi’s most potent offenses. With Hardy in the backfield, Lawrence County posted 195 points in a three-game span late last season, putting 66 on the scoreboard against Jefferson County, 61 against Forest Hill and then 68 against Port Gibson. The Cougars averaged 42.5 points per game.
MaxPreps Preseason All-State Team
WR – Patrick Patterson, Noxubee County
WR – Chris Smith, Meridian
WR – Chad Bumphis, Tupelo
TE – Jacoby Bell, D’lberville
OL – Don Blevins, South Panola
OL – John Billups, Picayune
OL – Kevin Polk Brandon
OL – Kalvin Smith, Newton County
OL – Larry Banks, Jefferson County
QB – Clayton Moore, Louisville
QB – Chris Garrett, Tupelo
RB – Ladarius Perkins, St. Joseph
RB – Tracy Lampley, Wayne County
RB – Kendrick Hardy, Lawrence County
ATH – Tyler Russell, Meridian
K – Collin Crowson, Hattiesburg
DL – Josh Boyd, Philadelphia
DL – Fletcher Cox, Yazoo City
DL – DeAuntay Payne, Tupelo
DL – William Shumpert, Itawamba
LB – David Connor, South Panola
LB – Luzon Rivers, Shannon
LB – Marvin Burdett, South Panola
LB – Sawyer Wheatley, New Albany
LB – Carlos Williams, Vicksburg
DB – Dennis Thames, Louisville
DB – Khairi Usher, Meridian
DB – Rod Woodson, Olive Branch
DB – Cameron Lawrence, Magnolia Heights
P – Richie Long, Carthage
