Bulldogs, Tornadoes eyeing history

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January 31, 2012

By Jamie Wachter / Sports Editor The Meridian Star The Meridian Star Tue Jan 31, 2012, 06:00 AM CST

MERIDIAN —     Clarkdale is one win away from school history.

   Granted the Bulldogs have already made school history even before McLaurin visits at 5:30 p.m. today at Chris Mabry Field for the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A girls soccer North State championship game.

   When Clarkdale blistered Greenville-St.Joseph 5-1 on Saturday, it marked the first time the Bulldogs had advanced past the second round. Now, they are one game away from a state championship berth.

   "It would be big," Clarkdale coach Lea Castleberry said. "This is the first time ever we've been out of the second round, so it's already big, but it would be big."

   In getting this deep for the first time, Clarkdale has controlled play and dominated its opponents, outscoring South Pontotoc and the Fighting Irish by a combined 8-2. Kayla Phillips has led the outburst, scoring five goals including a hat trick on Saturday. Haley Hutcherson has added two goals, one in each game, and Kennedy Castleberry also scored against Greenville-St. Joe.

   "We've had really good communication and moved the ball around well," coach Castleberry said. "Our kids have worked really hard."

   McLaurin reached the North State finals following a 1-0 win Saturday against Choctaw Central, a team Clarkdale defeated to clinch the division title.

Class 1A/2A/3A Boys

Forest at Philadelphia

   While McLaurin and Clarkdale aren't familiar with each other, the Bearcats and Tornadoes certainly are. After splitting division championship the past two seasons, Forest and Philly now meet at Harpole Stadium at 6 p.m. for a North State title.

   "Up until this year, they've been our big division foe," Philly coach Adam Huddleston said. "This is usually for the division championship."

   In 2009-10, the Tornadoes won that crown on points after splitting with Forest, while the Bearcats returned the favor last season.

   That history means there won't be much of a surprise today.

   "They know all our tricks and we know theirs," Huddleston added. "They've seen all the little plays we try to use to win a game."

   And those little plays have come in handy, as Philly downed Mooreville 1-0 in the first round before defeating Greenville-St. Joseph 3-2 on Saturday in double overtime.

   "I don't want to say they've played harder," Huddleston said. "But they've gone above and beyond what they're capable of and taken their game to a whole new level.

   "When we realized we could win the division and make a run in the playoffs, that's what they've committed to doing."

   And it has led to school history, this is the first time Philadelphia has reached a North State championship game, with a chance for more.

   "It would be unbelievable," Huddleston said.

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