Mississippi
Scholar athletes, community members recognized at NFF banquet – Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper
![Scholar athletes, community members recognized at NFF banquet – Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper Scholar athletes, community members recognized at NFF banquet – Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper](https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/02/022523.NFFBanquetweb.jpg)
Scholar athletes, neighborhood members acknowledged at NFF banquet
Revealed 10:06 pm Tuesday, February 21, 2023
- Cathedral’s Jack Lewis accepts a plaque from Rick Cleveland, Mississippi sportswriter for the final 57 years. Lewis was the highest scholar acknowledged on the 2023 Miss-Lou Chapter of the Nationwide Soccer Basis and School Soccer Corridor of Fame banquet. (Hunter Cloud | The Day by day Chief.
NATCHEZ — Freddie Sandel, president of the Miss-Lou Chapter of the Nationwide Soccer Basis and Corridor of Fame, spoke on the podium for his or her annual scholar-athlete banquet Tuesday night time. It was the primary time they’ve held the banquet since 2020 as a consequence of COVID-19.
Fr. Aaron Williams blessed the meal and Rick Cleveland, a Mississippi sports activities author the final 57 years, set the stage for Tuesday’s recognition of scholar-athletes and Ray Simpson, Sue and Ken Beesley who invested time into youth athletics.
Walt Brown moreover took time to re-present a plaque to Sandel earlier than introducing Cleveland for the night. Sandel was awarded the NFF Chapter Management Award this previous November.
Scholar Awards
Six space junior excessive athletes acquired scholar-athlete awards. Brady Sullivan from Adams County Christian Faculty, Cathedral’s Adam Walker Probst, Delta Constitution’s Jason Hunter Meyers, Ferriday’s Robert Taylor, Natchez’s Kameron Morgan and Vidalia’s Caden Kossum.
Scholar Awards have been offered to 6 highschool seniors. Ferriday’s Chavo Thomas, Natchez’s Landen Sewell and Vidalia’s Courtlyn Brooks acquired $1,000 every in scholarship funds.
Adams County Christian Faculty’s Samuel Merriett and Delta Constitution’s Clay Roberson acquired $2,000 as they tied for second place within the metrics, Sandel stated. Cathedral’s Jackson Lewis acquired the highest scholar-athlete award of $3,000. He stated the scholarship might be a assist.
“I didn’t know beforehand I’d be getting this. It is going to assist for positive. It is going to assist pay for room and board. I plan to go to MSU and examine engineering,” Lewis stated. “I’ve all the time cherished math and science. It’s a good match. It’s the two topics I’ve all the time excelled in. I would examine mechanical or civil engineering, however I’m nonetheless undecided. Math and Science have all the time been the simplest topics since I used to be little.”
Jackson is the son of Matthew and Heather Lewis. He performed offensive guard, defensive finish and punter for Cathedral. In his senior yr, he was chosen to play as captain and has had an A+ common at Cathedral during the last 10 years.
Over these 10 years, he has additionally gained highest common awards in Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Trigonometry and pre-Calculus. He has been a member of the Nationwide Honor Society for 3 years, Key Membership for one yr and labored on the Hunters for the Hungry and Stewpot charities for seven years. He amassed 140+ hours of neighborhood service whereas at Cathedral. His time as a Inexperienced Wave is getting nearer to an finish.
“I’m going to overlook the sports activities and the neighborhood,” Lewis stated. “I loved the entire soccer season. Hanging out with your pals. One of the best yr for me was after we went 10-1. I realized from Cleveland that individuals from Mississippi can do something.”
Cleveland spoke concerning the soccer gamers Mississippi has produced who went on to the NFL and shared little private tales on Walter Peyton, Brett Favre, Archie Manning and Jerry Rice. He ultimately shifted his focus to the scholar-athletes in entrance of him.
“Congratulations to everybody. It’s a nice honor to talk tonight,” Cleveland stated. “We is perhaps good in soccer however aren’t so good scholastically. Mississippi is often someplace within the 40s out of fifty states. You’re proof that you are able to do each. You may make good grades and that can lead you to a whole lot of future success.”
Particular honors
College students weren’t the one recipients of awards Tuesday night time. Ray Simpson with Rex Crew Sports activities gained the Contributors to Beginner Soccer Award. In 1976, Simpson began his profession with Wade Craig at Sports activities Middle as a freight man.
Craig purchased Rex Sporting Items within the late 80s and Simpson realized the workforce enterprise from A.I. Rexinger. One of many memorable classes he realized from Rex is to all the time ship the top coach his polo earlier than the rest. Rex Sporting Items has now grown to 9 full-time highway salesmen.
He and his spouse Kitty of 45 years are energetic members at First Baptist Church Natchez. A previous president of the Dixie Boys Baseball League and Delta State Alumni Affiliation, the unique organizer of the River Metropolis Run Marathon, he considers himself fortunate to have offered to Joey Porter, Dee Faircloth, Bishop Robert Cade, David King, Tom Williams, Ed Reed, Bobby Mark, and Bob Ulmer. It needs to be famous he went to school for accounting.
“I’m fully blown away and honored by this recognition from the NFF and extra so humbled my identify might be listed with these giants from Adams County and Concordia Parish,” Simpson wrote. “I grew up calling on a whole lot of these people and nonetheless do name on a few of them.”
Ken and Sue Beesley acquired the Distinguished American Award. Ken coached soccer and baseball at Cathedral for 36 years, his son Craig Beesley adopted in his footsteps and grandson Andrew Beesley continues the Beesley custom of teaching and instructing.
Sue labored within the Natchez-Adams County Public Faculty system for 30 years. She was usually present in D’evereux Stadium cheering on the Inexperienced Wave every Friday night time. They now take pleasure in watching Andrew coach.
“It simply means so much to me. I had a enjoyable time with Cathedral. I’m pleased with Cathedral,” Ken stated.
“The award was a shock,” Sue stated. “It means the world to us to see Andrew teaching. We love the varsity and it’s great to see our grandson teaching. It retains us going.”
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Mississippi
Arizona State eyes first win against an SEC opponent vs. Mississippi State
Mississippi State at Arizona State, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Arizona State by 6 1/2.
Series record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Arizona State and Mississippi State both had dominant wins in the season-opening weekend and now have a tougher challenge when they face each other on Saturday night. The Sun Devils are trying to build off an impressive 48-7 win over Wyoming and prove they might be a factor in the Big 12 race. Arizona State has never beaten an SEC opponent. Mississippi State plays its second game under new coach Jeff Lebby. The Bulldogs beat Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in their season opener..
KEY MATCHUP
Mississippi State QB Blake Shapen vs. the Arizona State defense. The Sun Devils scored a touchdown on the second play of their opener when Zyrus Fiaseu picked off a pass and returned it to the end zone. It was one of two interceptions on the day for Arizona State. Shapen had a great debut against Eastern Kentucky but will face a much tougher defense on Saturday.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mississippi State: Shapen had a terrific first game with the Bulldogs, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 44 yards and a TD against Eastern Kentucky. The 6-foot-1 senior played the previous three college seasons at Baylor with mixed success. Shapen has thrown a TD pass in 12 consecutive games dating to this time at Baylor in 2022.
Arizona State: RB Cam Skattebo led a balanced rushing attack against Wyoming, gaining 49 yards and scoring a touchdown. Skattebo was a do-it-all player for Arizona State last year, spending time at quarterback, running back and receiver. The Sun Devils might not need him to be as versatile this season, but he’s still a threat from just about anywhere on the field.
FACTS & FIGURES
Mississippi State had six different players score touchdowns against Eastern Kentucky. … The Bulldogs’ 93.7 passing grade in the opener was the second-best mark in all of the FBS, trailing only Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus. … Mississippi State’s Kevin Coleman Jr. returned five punts for 117 yards last week. … Arizona State was credited with just two missed tackles on defense in the opener, tied for the third-lowest tally among FBS schools. … Skattebo is 270 rushing yards away from reaching 3,000 in his career. He is 342 all-purpose yards away from reaching 4,000 and 202 receiving yards away from reaching 1,000.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Mississippi
How Mississippi State football is preparing for Arizona State weather, late kickoff
![How Mississippi State football is preparing for Arizona State weather, late kickoff How Mississippi State football is preparing for Arizona State weather, late kickoff](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/09/03/PNAS/75060541007-usatsi-24129028.jpg?auto=webp&crop=5472,3078,x0,y0&format=pjpg&width=1200)
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football is preparing to play a team that, at least through one game, looks vastly improved from last season.
Coach Jeff Lebby admitted on Monday, and Bulldog players have noticed it too after Arizona State (1-0) thumped Wyoming 48-7 in its opener.
MSU (1-0) must also factor in the late kickoff that is scheduled Saturday (9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Mississippi is hot, but so is Arizona — a different kind of hot, too.
Modifications and remedies are being made, such as the team leaving Starkville on Thursday instead of how it normally would on a Friday for a Saturday game.
“For our guys, just knowing exactly what we are getting into,” Lebby said. “We continue to talk about that through yesterday and this morning and (are) having those conversations to understand what it’s going to look like late in the week. We got to do a great job from a preparation standpoint of how we are hydrating, how we are eating and how we are resting to give us the ability to go on the road on this flight and be able to be at our best Saturday night.”
Just this week, Phoenix broke a record with its 100th straight day of 100-degree temperatures. According to AccuWeather, the high on Saturday in Tempe will be 107 degrees with a low of 86. The temperature should dip to around 91 near kickoff with a humidity of 24%.
“Coach Lebby has already been harping on that,” tight end Justin Ball said. “We’ve already been hydrating and making sure we are getting rest every single day. We leave on Thursday, so we already talked about the plan to make sure we are hydrating the entire plane ride there, making sure when we get there we get acclimated as quickly as you can and just staying together. Making sure we’re focused, make sure we keep the goal first and then execute the game plan.”
MORE: Jeff Lebby says Mississippi State football didn’t put on a good enough show. Here’s how he’s wrong
Mississippi State played well the last time it played in Arizona
The Bulldogs played Arizona in Tucson two seasons ago. They squandered a pedestrian Wildcats team 39-17. Kickoff for that game was at 8 p.m. PST though the temperature was 84 degrees at game time.
Not many players remain on Mississippi State’s roster from that 2022 season. But the ones who are, like linebacker Nic Mitchell, can benefit from the experience and also share it with teammates.
“We know it’s going to be a long flight, so we know we got to be hydrated,” Mitchell said. “It gives people experience that have done it before and they can tell the young guys how it’s going to be in the flight, how you got to hydrate and stuff like that.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Mississippi
Playing for Mississippi State not an option for Arizona State back Kyson ‘Sipp’ Brown
Arizona State forces 3 turnovers in win over Wyoming to start 2024
All offseason, coach Kenny Dillingham preached getting turnovers. Forty seconds into the season’s first game, the defense produced its first one.
Sophomore running back Kyson Brown is one of the faster players on the Arizona State football team. But Brown seems to have a little more pep in his step this week. Why? Well, the Sun Devils (1-0) are set to take on Mississippi State (1-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Mountain America Stadium.
Sure an SEC opponent is enough to get any athlete fired up. But the 6-foot, 200-pounder hails from Tupelo, Mississippi, which is where he got his nickname, Sipp. Tupelo is 67 miles north of the Mississippi State campus in Starkville that Sipp has visited a handful of times.
“I have family, growing up they were all Mississipp State fans and some Ole Miss fans,” he said. “Some of my family are debating whether they want to cheer for me or not. It’s going to be good. A lot of hometown friends. Got a couple guys I went to high school with there. It’s going to be good seeing those guys and hopefully, we compete at a good level and get the W.”
Brown, a mechanical engineering major, is enrolled in ASU’s Barret honors program, He emerged as one of the team’s most improved players. He saw some time on special teams as a true freshman in 2023 and has set himself up for a bigger role, although the ASU backfield has a lot of depth.
In the last week’s 48-7 win over Wyoming, Brown pitched in with six rushing attempts for 25 yards and two receptions for 73 yards. His 68-yard touchdown reception was the longest play from scrimmage that ASU had on the night.
“It felt amazing just to get back in the end zone again,” Brown said. “You come out of high school, you know I’m used to being in the end zone every game, all the time. That play, I knew — once I made the first guy miss — I knew I wasn’t going to let anybody catch me.”
Brown lived in Mississippi until moving to Lancaster, Texas, outside of Dallas, after his sophomore year of high school. He sat out junior year after the transfer. As a senior he averaged 9.5 yards per carry, finishing with 707 yards and 11 touchdowns on 74 carries while adding 14 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
Sitting out his junior year hurt his recruiting, but he still had notable offers from Purdue, Missouri and Houston. The balance of his options were lower-profile schools. Mississippi State didn’t offer.
He is happy with the end result. A place on the ASU football roster. In the offseason, he worked on his agility, flexibility and catching the ball, which was evident in his recent scoring play.
“We all have the big-play potential,” he said of his fellow running backs. “I feel my role is to make plays, wherever they put me be able to perform.”
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Slingshot (2024) – Movie Review
-
World1 week ago
Swiss court convicts two executives of embezzling $1.8bn from 1MDB
-
World1 week ago
Commission mandarin flags convergence of digital with industry
-
World1 week ago
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 915
-
News1 week ago
Trump Vs Harris: The Battle Over Hot Mics Heats Up Ahead Of Key Debate
-
News1 week ago
After months on the run, a murder suspect falls through the ceiling and into custody
-
News1 week ago
The rise of the Pumpkin Spice Latte : It's Been a Minute
-
World1 week ago
Economic portfolios are key in talks to chose new EU commissioners