2004

Local players play key roles in leading ECCC to success From press reports

Game. He's the kind of guy pion in high school. and that everyone wants on a he is a legit 4.3 or 4.4 guy. team. 1 know that Sed will We also look for big have a great year. He also . things out of him not only has the opportunity to con- . as a player but a.o.; a leader tinue his athletic career on ~ ity level." I are hoth qu~lity kids who

All four players said they l'agerly anticipate ..,tarting the season and doing what they can to give the Warnor.., thl•ir ,, fiN winning ..,ca.,on ....ince 2(X>I Eichclbcrgci said thi~ year'.; !::'i;d IS simple: win! ''We've all got to step up and make big plays this season and I know we can do it. We haw the rigiH attitude to be succcs'>– ful," Eichelberger stated AJdl'd '\fantrell A~hford. "Our spirits are lugh and I feel that if everyone come!'. tO!!l'ther as a team, we can win a .,tate ch~1111p1onship We JUst have ro go out on the field and prove ourselves.'' Mantrcll said he is abo looks forward to again playing football With his brother Den·cll as one of his tenmmales. " I wou ld not want to play without him. We help each other and motivate each other. We rl!ally enjoy playing footba ll together," he said. Derrell, who began last season as cor– nerback and later !'.witched to linebacker, described the Warrior:-. as a "chain with the links being put togethe r ...lowly but surely.'' He has praise for the Warriors new defensive system, devised by first-year defensive coordinato r Chris Boone, a for– mer a'>sistant at Nicholl~ State University. "We have three goals on defense - ~ See ECCC, page 18 ;H

Eao.;t

The success of

Central

Communi!) College's football team th1s sea.,on \l:ill depend greatly on the perfor- mance of the four returnees from ~\~n,ton County. so says ECCC head !outhall coach TeiT) Underwood. \\hOse Warrior~ began workout~ on.t\ugust II in pn.:paration for t_he 2004 campaign. I Underwood satd sophomores Sed l::ichelberger of Noxapater, twin<; Mantrell A..,hford and DeneiiAshford of Louisville. and Jay McMillin of Winston Academy ··wilt no doubt have a ' ' lot to do with the kind of year we will have. because everyone one of them wi ll beonthefieldinalot ofvariousways- '"\ lefensively and in the kicking game." J nderwood added that the Winston llayers will also be countcu on "to pro- McMillin ~ ....

come I rom a good

Underwood satd. Of Mantrell

.

1 _ horne and a great .______ high school football D. Ashford l program. If Derrell i \

Eic helberger A s h f o r d_.

Underwood said the 5-10, 198- pound linebacker "may be as tal- ented a kid as I've coached in a long time." He

luke~ care of his ' grades, he'll also have a d1ancl.' to play al a luglllr lc\ d."

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lJmkrwood ~l

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Underwood said

added, "Mantrell Underwood McMi ll in, a 5-11,

plays

a

line-

I H5 pound

strong

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sa ldy. ts a '\mart. hard-

backer/defensive end po'-.i rion we refer to as 'Bandit.·

uo~~d. tough l--id who can M. Ashfo rd

ide a lot of leadership'' on and ofT the

He has tremendous speed. ' play several positions."

ield. lie added, "Jay just about did it all at Eichelbe rger, a 6', 230-pound line- toughest kids I' ve ever coached. If hl' Winston Academy. He kicked. punted, acker, and Mantrell Ashford, a 6-2, 230- does well academically. he'll also have a and played running back. Here he plays in poun

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"one of our top football players,'' and his stats from last year support that claim. He was the third leading tackler in the stale last year and EC's top defender with 78 solo stops and 25 assists. l.n addi tion to excelling on the field, Underwood said Eichelberger "is a great kid." "Sed may be as good a kid as I' ve ever coached. He's an outstanding talent but is also a great c itize n. He led our team in tackles last year and no doubt deserved selection as a pre-season honorable me n– tion All-American. We feel li ke he is our team leader on defe nse and we expect a lot from him. I've watched him since he was in the tenth grade and saw him play in the Mississipp i/Alabama All-Sta r

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