By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Oct. 25, 2002
The Academy 2-AA championship could be decided in Madden Friday night when the Leake Academy Rebels host Heritage Academy.
Leake is 8-1 overall and 5-0 in 2-AA. The Patriots are 6-2 and 4-1. Also lurking in the mix is Manchester Academy at 4-1 in the league. The Mavericks host Carroll Academy this week.
Leake and Heritage have faced five common opponents with Leake faring better in four of the five matchups. Leake beat Oak Hill 27-6, Benton 49-0, Manchester 35-26, Canton 49-15, and Carroll 7-6. Heritage defeated Oak Hill 24-14, Benton 21-0, Canton 19-18, and Carroll 35-24 while losing 25-13 to Manchester.
Leake trashed Canton last week.
The Rebels will have to contain Heritage quarterback Conner Wise, who threw for 250 yards, three touchdowns, and a two-point conversion in last week's 24-14 win over Oak Hill. He leads Academy AA in touchdown passes with 13.
Leading Leake's offense are Jeffrey Chancellor with 700 yards on 103 carries, Allen Byrd with 561 yards on 77 carries, and Brett Moore with 544 yards on 91 rushes. Joshua Chamblee has 22 receptions for 588 yards and 35 rushes for 253 yards. Moore has completed 47-of-100 passes for 976 yards and 11 touchdowns. Drew Thomas has a dozen receptions for 208 yards.
Leading the Rebels' defense are Josh Brown and Jay Allen with 50 tackles apiece, Byrd with 49, and Stuart Mangrum with 40.
Heritage holds an 18-9-1 lead in the series which began in 1971.
Neshoba Central at Aberdeen
Strange as it may seem, the Rockets can make the Class 4A state playoffs by winning their last three games despite an 0-7 start. Quarterback Andrew Robinson got the ball rolling last week as he led the Rockets to their first win of the season. Robinson ran the ball 28 times for 262 yards and a 25-yard touchdown in Neshoba's 20-12 Division 2-4A victory at Kosciusko. He also threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Eric Horne, who led Neshoba's defense with 10 tackles.
For the year, Horne has 76 tackles. Robinson has 609 yards on 111 rushes and Kevin Marshall has 505 yards on 123 carries.
Aberdeen is 2-3 in the league and 4-4 overall.
The Rockets are 9-0 lifetime against Aberdeen in a series that began in the 1991 state playoffs.
Heidelberg at Choctaw Central
The Heidelberg Oilers come into Friday's Division 5-3A contest tied with Newton County for the league lead at 4-0. The Warriors of Choctaw Central dropped to 1-3 with last week's 35-28 overtime loss at West Lauderdale.
Heidelberg knocked off Greenwood 22-12 last week to improve to 7-1 overall.
Quarterback Anselm Henry leads the Warriors' ground game with 378 yards on 86 carries. He's completed 12-of-26 passes for 170 yards. Shaun Jimmie is 13-of-30 for 208 yards. Geno Mack has 278 yards on 80 carries, while Rodgrick Anderson has 11 receptions for 203 yards.
Leading the Warriors' defense with 53 tackles is Randall Hickman. Cody Morris and Jason Webb both have 42, while Sean Ahshapanck has 40.
Central Academy
at Winston Academy
Winston enters Friday's Academy 3-A contest with a 3-2 league mark and a 4-5 overall record. Central is 0-5 and 1-8.
Winston's Lenny Boatner had 14 carries for 209 yards and four touchdowns in last week's 62-13 pasting of Newton County Academy.
Pelahatchie at Noxapater
The Tigers managed just 79 total yards in last week's 27-0 loss at Union. This week finds Noxapater (1-5, 1-7) hosting Pelahatchie (2-4, 2-5).
The Chiefs won last year's game 46-12.