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Hinds AHS War Dawgs favored to rule
6-2A
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| By: RICHARD DUBE,
DAILY LEADER Sports Writer |
August
24, 2006 |
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| The Hinds AHS War Dogs collected 24 votes
and are favored to capture the 2006 Region 6-2A football
championship according to The DAILY LEADER'S Preseason Poll of
region head coaches. St. Andrew's was a close second with 22 votes
and 2 first place votes. Wesson finished third with 16 points,
followed by Amite County, Madison St. Joseph, and Loyd
Star. |
In 2005, Hinds AHS (10-1) was the region champion. The War
Dawgs were defeated in the first round of the state football
playoffs. Head coach Michael Fields also coaches the men's track
team that won the state title last spring. The Bulldogs are expected
to have a lot of speed on this year's squad.
St. Andrew's
(5-6) is coached by veteran David Bradberry and could take the
region title with the all-star talents of running back Bradford
Blackmon and quarterback Conner Craig.
Loyd Star head
football coach Josh Thibodeaux picked St. Andrew's Blackmon and
Craig as the two top players in the region.
Last year,
Blackmon rushed the football 156 times for 1,247 yards (7.9 average)
and scored 19 touchdowns for the Saints. He caught 28 passes for 665
yards (23.7 average) and scored 8 TDs. Overall, Blackmon collected
31 touchdowns for 188 total points.
Craig completed 95 of
181 passes for 1,523 yards and 15 touchdowns for St. Andrew's. He
also had 20 punts for 748 yards (37.1 average).
The Wesson
Cobras, coached by Tommy Clopton, are powered by senior quarterback
Micah Davis and senior running back Otho Smith. Clopton's squad
finished No. 3 in the region last year with a 5-5 record. They
advanced to the state playoffs and fell to eventual state champ
Lumberton in the first round.
Davis (6-1, 190) completed 31
of 68 passes for 363 yards (5.8 avg.) and four touchdowns for
Wesson. He rushed the football 55 times for 322 yards and four TDs.
At linebacker, Davis finished with 27 solo tackles, 9 assists and 4
pass interceptions. As team punter, he punted 36 times for 1246.5
yards for a 34.6 average.
Smith (6-1, 175) rushed the
football 163 times for 1,081 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Cobras.
According to Clopton, Blackmon is the best running back in
the region.
Although picked in last place, the Loyd Star
Hornets (2-6) have the potential to surprise a few teams this year.
Hornet senior quarterback Jarred Rogers ((5-10, 180)
finished last year completing 18 of 35 passes for 314 yards for four
touchdowns. Rogers also rushed the football 55 times for 507 yards
(9.2 yard-average) and scored four touchdowns.
Selected to
finish fourth with 12 points was Amite County, coached by Charles
Jackson. The Trojans finished last year with a 2-6 worksheet.
Taking the fifth spot with 10 points was Madison St. Joe.
Coaching the 8-2 Bruins is new head coach Flip Godfrey. St. Joe lost
16 starters to graduation.
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| ©The Daily
Leader 2006 |
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