2009

By Bubby Johnston Special to The S ar

returning quarterback Emmanuel Taylor, a ~foot, 17~pounder, one of 10 returnees from the offensive unit ~Emmanuel is very talented and we are glad he is back trus year," Anderson said of the first-teamAll– State selection in 2008. "He's not really a vocal leader per se but leads bygetf.ing the job done." Taylor, the only freshman in the state to receive first-teamAJl..State honors on offense, finished among the state's top passers by com– pleting 118 of 209 attempts for 1,649 yards and 10 touchdowns. He bad 10 interceptions. Taylor also compiled 642 rushing yards on 117 carries- a 5.5-yard per average– and scored $ix touchdowns. Anderson said he hopesTaylor will again be effective in running the spread offense, which scored 269 points- a 29-point average– during the 2008 campaign. In addition toTaylor, other top offensive returnees include wide receiver Antonio Hughes, running backDerrick Cade, offensive lineman Chuckie Curry of Newton and Jarred Flemming, a ~5. 250- pound lineman. Anderson said the offensive line will be "anchored" by Flemming and Curr y, both of whom are receiving attention from several Division I programs. Other receivers expected to see action are Antonio Ricks and Radarius Owens ofQuitman, who joined the squad at mid-year and participated in spring dn1ls. On the defensive side, Anderson said the secondary should be the strength. "Right now we are two-deep and we're solid," Anderson said. "Our entire defense has also improved and has a lotmore speed, particu– larly at linebacker.where we've got some guys very capable of making some big plays." Top defensive returnees include C. J. Estelle, a 5-10,195-pound cor– nerback, ElijahTanksley, a ~3. 1~pound safety from Meridian High School, Ken Griffin, a ~foot., 182-pound defensive back from Philadelphia; and Jeremy Dillon, a 5-11, 235-pound defensive end. Receiving praise at linebacker are sophomores Guy Holden, a 5- 11. 2~pound product ofNewton County and QuadariusWallace, a 5- 11, 19~pounder from Union, and freshmen Octavious Gilbert and Javad Wiggins. • See WARRIORS on page 9---

Interim head football coach Brian Anderson is hoping momentum is on the side of his East Central Community College Warriors, who finished the 2008 campaign by winning three of their last four contests, including a stun– ning44-38 playoff-bound Pearl River Community College Wildcats in the season finale in Poplarville. East Centra! also posted wins over Northeast (38-7) and Co-lin (35-28 in 01) during the season– ending stretch, and came within three points (33-35) of upending eventual state champion Gulf Coast Anderson. who begins his second year at East Central and will continue to serve as offensive coordinator, is counting on the Warriors to improve on lastyear's 4-5 overall mark and ~3 slate in the MACJC South Division. East Central will get its first test of 2009 by hosting Coahoma Com– munity College today at 6:30p.m. at BaileyStadium. 'The foundation was laid last year and now it is time to build upon that foundation," said Anderson, who succeeds former head coach Steve Cheathamwho resigned in July, citinghealth and family reasons. "I felt like we were one of the top two or three teams in the state toward the end of the season, and hopefully the momentum from the end ofthe season will carry into trus year." To be successful in 2009, Anderson said the Warriors must begin the season on a positive note. "Last year we did not get off to a good start and I think our condi– tioningwas a big factor in our loss (47-31) to Coahoma," he said. 'That's why we have put so much' emphasis on our summer workout program, which I think will pay big dividends during the season." However, Anderson noted the key to success will be the leader– ship provided by the 19 returning lettermen, beginning with double-overtime shocker against the then-No. 5 ranked and Anderson

AP

NESHOBADEMOCRAT ________ NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL ____ WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL _ _ CLARION-LEDGER------

CA sc SP ME