SCOOBA — Rewarded for directing the East Mississippi Lions to their best football season in modern school history, head coach Buddy Stephens and freshman quarterback Randall Mackey have been named 2008 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player, respectively.
In his first season at the EMCC helm following a 7-year stint as an assistant coach at Pearl River, Stephens guided the 8-2 Lions to their first 8-win season on the field since 1974 en route to participating in the MACJC football playoffs for the first time since 1984.
Having gone undefeated (6-0) in the North Division for the first time in the school’s football history, East Mississippi claimed the school’s first outright North Division football championship since the state of Mississippi officially went to divisional play beginning in 1970.
In addition, the Lions’ seven-game winning streak propelled Stephens’ squad to a No. 8 national ranking — the school's highest regular-season ending national ranking since finishing at No. 7 in 1963 — by the NJCAA heading into the MACJC playoffs.
A first-year signal-caller from Bastrop (La.) High School, Mackey leads the NJCAA in passing yards (281.8) and total offense yards (330.4) per game. He threw for 2,818 yards and 24 touchdowns on 193-of-320 (60%) passing for the year, along with rushing for 486 yards and four scores on 80 carries in 10 contests.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound All-American candidate threw for 300 or more yards three times in 2008, including a 441-yard outing on 36-of-58 passing during EMCC’s 27-23 comeback road victory over defending co-national champion and then-No. 2 ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sept. 18.
Mackey threw for a touchdown in all 10 games this season, including six outings with at least three scoring tosses.
Lion wide receiver Leon Berry, who was also selected to the All-Region 23 Team a year ago, had 39 catches for a team-leading 661 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.
Offensive guard Quartney Cox and free safety Jamar Hornsby were also named to the All-Region Team
In addition to the All-Region honors, Berry was also awarded with a spot on the MACJC All-State along with Mike Outlaw and Meridian's Montrez Mosley.
Mosley ranks 15th nationally with 43 receptions for 625 yards (14.5 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.
Defensively, along with Hornsby, Leslie Stirrups and Alvin Ellis earned first-team all-state honors for the Lions.
All total, East Mississippi’s eight first-team all-state selections (five offensive and three defensive) doubled the four first-teamers claimed by North Division foes Itawamba and Coahoma.
On the second team was one of Mosley's former Wildcat teammates. Isaiah Lewis — an offensive lineman — was one of four Lions on the squad. Pat Shed, Alex Hill and Claude Davis were the others.
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EMCC's Stephens, Mackey win Region 23's top honors
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Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Eric Neel spent three seasons coach at East Central. The Hornets played in three state championship games.
Neel then coached the past three years at Wayne County, leading the War Eagles to three straight Class 5A fast-pitch state crowns.
And now, he doesn’t see why the same can’t occur at Quitman. After guiding Wayne County to its third straight championship Saturday, Neel resigned his position in Waynesboro on Thursday to replace Kacie Roberson at Quitman. -
Unexpected Honor
Winning a state championship, that Blake McMullen expected.
To be named the Player of the Year in Class 3A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, that caught the Southeast Lauderdale senior off guard. -
RCA’s Lee and pair of Generals chosen for All-Star tilt
Russell Christian Academy senior Camryn Lee and Newton County Academy duo Clay Upton and Dillon Williams will wrap up their senior seasons today.
The local trio will play in the MAIS All-Star Class A game at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson at 2 p.m. The Class AA-AAA game will follow. -
McFarland named first-team All-American for Jones County
The honors continue to come in for the Jones County Junior College softball program.
Pitcher Ginger Lonergan and centerfielder Relanda McFarland were both named to the NJCAA Division II All-American first-team on Thursday. -
A Family Affair
Five days. Two state titles. One family.
It’d be hard to find a family that had a better week than the one Robbi and Shay Cooper just experienced. -
Roundup — Stephens receives Sekul Award
Adding to his impressive collection of coaching hardware, East Mississippi Community College head football coach Buddy Stephens was presented with the 2011 George Sekul Award during the All-American Football Foundation’s Banquet of Champions held earlier this month at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
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The Drought Is Over
All Mason Irby was hoping for was to find a way on base.
The Southeast Lauderdale sophomore did that and so much more. Irby's single with two outs in the seventh inning broke a tie, lifting the Tigers to a 6-3 MHSAA Class 3A state championship win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday, and handing Southeast (32-7) its first title since 1966. -
Ramey shines again, hurls Tigers to MHSAA Class 3A crown
The bar was set pretty high.
After all, Southeast Lauderdale senior right-hander Colby Ramey needed just 65 pitches to beat Kossuth in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game Thursday.
However, according to fellow senior Blake McMullen, Ramey cleared the hurdle Wednesday when he scattered eight hits on 104 pitches to finish off the Aggies in a 6-3 state championship-clinching win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday. -
Southeast wins MHSAA Class 3A Championsip
Slideshow from the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game between Southeast Lauderdale and Kossuth.
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Briarwood to host Emerald Coast Golf Tour in June
Professional golf is coming to Meridian.
The Emerald Coast Golf Tour will be holding the Meridian Pro-Am Classic at Briarwood Country Club June 26-29. - More Sports Headlines
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Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers

