By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 27, 2002
Philadelphia hosts Carthage Friday night at Harpole Stadium at 7:30 with both teams entering the Division 5-3A contest with 1-0 league marks.
However, the Tornadoes are 4-0 overall following last week's 41-12 win over Choctaw Central, while Carthage is 1-3 after beating Carthage 22-6.
Carthage parlayed a punt block, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions into its first win of 2002.
Matt Corrigan led the Philadelphia defense with 18 tackles against Choctaw Central.
Philadelphia has been consistent through the years when playing Carthage as the Tornadoes hold a 32-1-1 series advantage over the Tigers.
Louisville at Neshoba Central
Both teams started their 2002 season with two losses, but that's where the similarity ends. Louisville has righted its ship, beating Meridian (33-17) and Aberdeen (30-0) the last two weeks to even its record at 2-2. Neshoba lost 25-7 to Philadelphia and 31-7 to Newton County to drop to 0-4.
Louisville holds a commanding 22-5 advantage in the series which began in 1972. Neshoba's last win over the Wildcats was in 1993.
Choctaw Central at Scott Central
Two former Cherokee Conference rivals clash Friday at Scott Central. Since the series resumed in 1997, Choctaw Central has won four of the five meetings to take a 15-6 series advantage.
The 1-3 Warriors trailed Philadelphia 27-12 last week until the Tornadoes got a pair of late scores to win 41-12.
The Warriors got a 27-yard touchdown pass from Anselm Henry to Kyle Thompson and a 9-yard scoring run by Geno Mack.
Scott Central whipped Morton last week to improve to 4-0.
Leake Academy at Bayou Academy
Who's hot and who's not tangle Friday at Cleveland. Leake is 4-1 while Bayou is 0-5 and has scored just eight points in its first five games.
The two are virtual strangers, having met only once previously with Leake taking a 28-14 victory in 1975.
The two do share a common thread as Leake headmaster Jerry Crowe led Bayou to a state championship in 1992.
Noxubee County at Kemper County
The powerful Noxubee Tigers, 3-1, travel to DeKalb to take on the winless Wildcats, 0-4. Noxubee steamrolled Kosciusko 54-6 last week, while Kemper was a loser to Bay Springs.
Noxubee is averaging 43.3 points per game, while Kemper is allowing 35.5.
Lake at Nanih Waiya
The unbeaten Warriors, 4-0, host Lake, 1-3, in a key Region 3-1A contest. Nanih Waiya claimed a 29-28 win last fall, but Lake holds a 10-4 lead in the series which began in 1970.
Senior running back/wide receiver Brent Blackwell leads the Warriors in scoring with six touchdowns, while quarterback Trevor Stokes has five including two against Noxapater.
Freshman Benny Hickman led the Warriors' defense at Noxapater with 12 tackles.
Damion Gray returned to the Lake lineup after missing the loss to Union with a broken hand. He scored three touchdowns on runs of 57, 51, and 8 yards and had 157 yards on 15 carries. Joseph Hunt threw a pair of touchdown passes to Willie Hickmon of 41 and 27 yards.
Thomastown at Noxapater
Noxapater is off to an 0-4 start, while Thomastown, 3-1, knocked off Union 14-12 last week in overtime despite being outgained 259-147 in total yards. The Bulldogs got a touchdown apiece from Jerry Huffman and Jerry Triplett.
In last week's 21-14 loss to Nanih Waiya, the Tigers got an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Darrie Brown and a 12-yard touchdown reception by Desmond Graham.