October 3, 2006
Boys Athletes of the Week
BRADFORD BLACKMON
St. Andrew's l Football
By the numbers: Blackmon carried 19 times for 214 yards and five
touchdowns (9, 44, 1, 27 and 13 yards) in a 41-6 victory over Hinds
AHS in a key Region 6-2A game. For the season, Blackmon has rushed
for 614 yards and scored 14 TDs for the Saints (5-1).
Coach-speak: "Bradford's been solid all year, but I think he was
extra pumped the other night and it showed," David Bradberry says.
"He's unique. I don't see how he gets through some of those
cracks."
The 411: Blackmon, a 5-9, 165-pound C-L Top 125 senior running
back/defensive back, has rushed for 4,513 yards and scored 90 TDs
since making his varsity debut as an eighth-grader.
Born: Dec. 21, 1988, in Jackson
TV show: Entourage
Movie: Layer Cake
Music: Lupe Fiasco
Web site: MSNBC.com
Celebrity dream date: Jessica Alba
Prime Time cancellation: Blackmon ended up with No. 23 in an
unlikely way. "I wanted 21, but my middle school coach didn't like
Deion Sanders so he refused to give anyone that jersey," he says. "I
had No. 23 in basketball, so I just kept it for everything."
KEVIN YOUNG
South Panola l Football
By the numbers: Young was credited with 6 tackles, 2 quarterback
sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and several punishing hits
in the secondary as the Tigers (6-0) equaled a state record by
beating seventh-ranked Olive Branch 12-7 for their 51st straight
victory.
Coach-speak: "My brother came up after the game and said, 'You
couldn't pay me to go across the middle with No. 9 back there,' "
Ricky Woods says. "Kevin reminds you of Jamarca Sanford."
The 411: Young, a 5-11, 190-pound senior, plays linebacker and
safety for the three-time defending 5A champs. He has 28 tackles in
2006.
Born: March 8, 1988, in Batesville
TV show: Martin
Movie: The Green Mile
Music: Lil' Wayne
Web site: Rivals.com
Celebrity dream date: Beyonce
Football capital, MS: Young hails from tiny Courtland, a
producer of several Dandy Dozen picks, including Kevin's brother,
Chris. "If they ever split the schools and Courtland goes 1A, I'm
going to Courtland," Woods jokes. "Backyard football: That's all we
had to do growing up," Young explains.
|
Clarionledger.com
.jpg)
