By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 13, 2002
The fans from Philadelphia and Neshoba Central aren't always the best of neighbors the week of their annual football game and this year's contest is set for Friday night at Rocket Field. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
While the fans and teams might not always get along, the same can't be said for the two head coaches. In fact, Neshoba Central second-year head coach Jim Ray coached Philadelphia second-year head coach Marcus Wood at Starkville High School several years ago.
In the past few years, Philadelphia has used superior speed to offset Neshoba's size advantage. That may not hold for this year's game.
Senior quarterback Tyler Threadgill has 21 carries for 216 yards and has completed 7-of-16 passes for 103 yards to lead the Tornadoes.
Philadelphia ripped 4A Kosciusko 50-14, but barely got past 1A Noxapater 21-14 in its first two games.
Neshoba took a 10-0 lead into halftime last week at 3A Forest only to lose 12-10. The Rockets lost 25-14 to 4A Quitman in the season opener.
Kevin Marshall had 101 yards on 14 carries for Neshoba. The Rockets finished with 184 total yards, but gave up 248 as Forest threw for 175 yards.
Philadelphia has won the last five meetings to reclaim a 22-20 advantage in the series which began in 1960.
Choctaw Central at Cherokee, N.C.
The Battle of the Nations VII the game between Choctaw Central and Cherokee, N.C. is slated for Cherokee's Ray Kinsland Stadium this year.
Choctaw Central improved to 1-1 with last week's 34-18 win over Kemper County. Cherokee dropped to 1-2 with a 21-14 last-minute loss to Mitchell, N.C. The Braves lost a 16-13 contest to Erwin, N.C., the previous week on a 28-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining. Erwin and Mitchell are both larger schools than Cherokee and Erwin handed Brevard, N.C., its worse loss since 1966 last Friday with a 43-3 spanking.
Cherokee won the first four meetings with Choctaw Central, but the Warriors have won the last two, including a 15-9 victory last year at Choctaw.
Cherokee quarterback Chris Kirkland (6-2, 175, Jr.) has completed 21-of-42 passes for 411 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Slee (5-7, 150, So.) leads the Braves' ground game with 303 yards on 47 carries. Slee had 130 yards on 22 carries against Mitchell.
Oak Hill at Leake
The Rebels come in with a 2-1 mark following last week's 35-26 win at Manchester. Brett Moore had 99 yards on 13 carries and was 4-of-11 passing for 94 yards, while Allen Byrd gained 97 yards on seven carries. Joshua Chamblee had three carries for 55 yards and caught three passes for 87 yards.
Central Academy at Kemper Academy
The Rams upped their record to 2-1 with a 28-0 blanking of Newton County Academy last week. The Vikings of Central fell to 1-2 with a 50-0 loss to Heidelberg Academy and have allowed 114 points in their last two outings.
Sebastopol at Nanih Waiya
Region 3-1A play opens this week with the 1-1 Bobcats heading to Winston County to take on unbeaten Nanih Waiya, 2-0.
Brent Blackwell leads the Warriors in scoring with three touchdowns. Trevor Stokes has two.
Noxapater at Puckett
Noxapater threw a big scare at Philadelphia last week before losing 21-14. Meanwhile, Puckett opened its season with a 43-12 rout of Stringer. The Tigers, 0-2, will have to contain speedy Terrell Jackson.