Jackets, Knights searching for first victory

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 5, 2002
Union and West Lauderdale are both searching for their first win of the season when they tangle Friday night at Collinsville. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
West lost 17-7 at Florence, while Union dropped a 33-22 decision to Enterprise in last week's season openers.
Anthony Johnson led Union with two touchdowns and 179 yards on 18 carries. Derrick Harris had four receptions for 101 yards.
Surprisingly, Union holds an 8-5-1 lead in the series, but the Knights have won the last three meetings, including a 33-12 decision last year.
The Knights were 10-point losers at Florence last week after carrying a 7-3 lead into halftime. A 22-yard interception return by Chance Johnson put the Eagles up to stay.
Carlessio Blanks scored West's only touchdown and gained 157 yards on 23 carries. Blanks was limited by leg cramps.
Ridgeland at Newton County
There's no history between the two schools here as this is Ridgeland's first year of existence. There is some between the two head coaches, however.
Newton County head coach Jeff Breland was on Ridgeland head coach Lynn Moore's staff at Louisville.
The Cougars opened their season with a 28-6 win over Forest.
Newton County finished with 316 total yards with 254 coming on 46 rushes. Darryl Mapp had 128 yards on 17 rushes.
Ridgeland rallied from a 14-0 first quarter deficit to knock off Mound Bayou 35-22 last week.
Newton at Amite County
Fresh off last week's 7-6 overtime win at Lake, the Tigers head to Southwest Mississippi to take on Amite County.
The two did not meet last year.
At Lake, the Tigers ran the ball 36 times for 120 yards and were 11-of-24 passing for 135 yards. Laderrian Blaylock was 11-of-23 passing for 135 yards with one interception. He teamed with tight end Austin Bonds four times for 68 yards. Zack Logan and Coshune Bingham both had three catches for 33 yards apiece. Blaylock also ran the ball 14 times for 24 yards. Travaone Evans had five carries for 35 yards with Cornelius Caraway gaining 42 yards on a dozen rushes.
Kemper Academy at Newton County Academy
Two long-time academy rivals clash in Decatur as they have played every year since 1973. Both teams come in 1-1 after getting wins last week. Newton County Academy knocked off Calhoun Academy 18-13, while Kemper clobbered hapless Rebul Academy 42-7.
Tim Kirkland had 16 carries for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Kemper.
Dustin McGowin scored on an 18-yard pass and an 11-yard run for the Generals.
Kemper has won the last two games to take a 16-13 series advantage.
Lake at Scott Central
Lake was impressive defensively in its 7-6 overtime loss to Newton last week, while Scott Central was impressive on both sides of the ball in its 28-0 blanking of Sebastopol.
The Hornets had 33 rushes for 120 yards, but completed only 1-of-11 passes for 17 yards.
Damion Gray was the offensive highlight for the Hornets as he had 120 yards on 15 carries.
After last year's 19-16 Hornet victory, Lake holds a 30-7 lead in the series which began in 1964. The teams have evenly divided the last dozen games after Lake had won 24 of the first 25 meetings.