2002

Signing Continued from page 58

leticism are there. Hls leadership IS obvious in practice and off the field. The one compliment I think I can say about Kenshay is that he could play any position out there. I believe that." Hunter's two interceptions tied him with Threadgill for second on the team last year. Who was first? Peebles (5-11, 160), with four interceptions. East Central's coaching staff has told Peebles they will keep him at defen– sive back, if not cornerback, a good move. according to Wood. "Blake is a pure defensive back,.. said Wood, of the player whose goal– line stand tackle in the playoffs kept Philadelphia around to live another day. Peebles made 45 solo tadJes and contributed on 74 total stop this sea– son, but none was bigger than a tackle Peebles made in early November, the biggest tackle - so far - of hi~ foot– ball career. It was Nov. 9, the first round of the Class 3A playoffs, and the host Torna– does were leading Velma Jackson 35- 28, in the waning moments of the game. On fourth down at the Philadelphia 7-yard-Jine, with the season in the bal– ance, 18-year-old Peebles made the game-winning tackle, a touchdown– saving tackle, on Velma Jackson run– ning back Eugene Lockett with 19 seconds left. "There's something about Blake:' Wood said. "l can't quite put my fin– ger on it. But there's something very, very special there. He has a knack for being right in the middle. for being at the right place at the right time. He just makes plays, plain and simple:· Taking a page from the Pmsburg Steelers' all-purpose man Kordell Stewart, Love, 19, was the Tornadoes' version of "Slash," who may also see time in the ECCC secondary. "He started at defensive back."' Wood explained. "he played some strong s.Jer. and pl ') .:l a kt'v role as ~ eura H- d a -31 ., : : us this ~ar He' e:xuemdy underrated."

Love (5-9, 160) even caught pass– es for the Tornadoes. He grabbed two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, and the passes were big plays - he averaoed 36.5 yards per catch. L~e rolled up 492 yards rushing on 67 carries and scored five touch– downs in the course of the season and had nine kickoff returns for 278 yards, including a 97-yarder. for an average of 30.8 yards per return. Showing his as-advertised versattl– ity, Love was fifth on the team with 75 total tackles. Spivey (6-0. 220). 17, a nose guard, made a run at The Neshoba Democrat's Defensive Player of the Year award in December, leading Philly with 117 total tackles, 85 solo. He recorded six sacks to lead the team in that category, caused six fumbles and bad two fumble recoveries. "He's very aggressive," said Wood, of Spivey. "He's very strong. He's go1 a great work ethic. He does– n't back down from a challenge, at all. If you're picking a defensive player, you want as many of them as you can to be just Like Curtis Spwey."