Horn Lake is well-represented
Among the preparations for Columbus (Miss.) in Friday’s homecoming game, and planning future schedules, Horn Lake’s was the recipient of several phone calls Wednesday that his 2018 football program so richly deserved.
The coaching veteran learned that he and three of his players had been chosen to represent DeSoto County in the 32nd annual Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game, to be played Dec. 17 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.
Linebacker
Brad Boyette Nakobe Dean, Raydarious Jones Matt Williams
cornerback and offensive lineman will suit up, giving the Eagles (7-0) their maximum of three players on the Mississippi roster. Boyette was then asked to coach the offensive line for the squad, led by Clarksdale’s
Henry Johnson.
“The guys that made the team, they’ve put in the work and the effort,” Boyette said. “They’ve earned that position and are very deserving of being selected. I’m just extremely proud of all three of those guys.”
Alabama enjoys a 22-9 advantage in the series, yet momentum of late has sided with Mississippi, winner of two of the last three contests.
“This all-star game is a big-pressure deal,” said Boyette. “You’re representing your entire state. It’s the one time where the state is not divided in any way. There’s not Mississippi State people or Ole Miss people or Southern Miss — it’s everybody in the state vs. everybody in the state of Alabama. This game is very important.”
As far as his Maroon threesome, Boyette is eager for them to play.
“Nakobe is the most purpose-driven high school player I’ve ever been around. He is intentional about everything he does,” Boyette said. “Raydarious is unbelievably athletic — has the ability to make a big play in any situation. And Matt is probably the most competitive. Some people like winning — Matt refuses to lose.” Another pair from Horn Lake, DB
and DL landed spots on the North roster for the
Washington Tony Omar Pew,
70th annual Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game. The contest, to be played Dec. 7 in Gulfport, will also feature four more DeSoto Countians: Lake Cormorant’s
(DB) and DeSoto Central’s and Olive Branch’s (WR).
Jordan Jalen Julian Hawkins Gavin Campbell Josh Stevenson Kyser named NFF Campbell Trophy semifinalist
The University of Memphis football team got one more feather in its cap, as senior center was recently named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell Trophy, an honor annually awarded to the nation’s top football scholar-athlete.
Kyser entered Saturday’s game against UConn having participated in all 44 games of his Tiger career, with 43 starts. In the classroom, Kyser is a history major with a 3.46 overall GPA. The native of Opelika (Ala.) is Memphis’s lone nominee. The NFF National Scholar-Athletes Awards program is in its 60th year.
Drew Kyser
(DL), (OL)
Tiger softball team members awarded
From a team perspective, Memphis also took an opportunity to shine academically as a program-record 12 members from the 2018 softball squad earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete honors. Additionally, Memphis, and its collective 3.36 GPA, was recognized as an NFCA Academic Team.
Sara Ann Davidson, Tori Harris Tyler Johnson, Jessica Lamb, Brooke Lee, Kendall Lee Rebeca Melton, Christian Novak, Molly Smith, Ashton Stowe, Ashley Threatt Kyler Trosclair
Road Baptist),
and were all selected as scholar-athletes. In the American Athletic Conference, Memphis had the second-highest number of scholar-athletes behind Houston (13).
Memphis rifle begins 2018 with victory
(Macon (Arlington), Ranked No. 14 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) preseason poll, Memphis recently opened 2018 with a first-place finish in the Tiger Open, held at the R.F. Fogelman Rifle Range.
The victory came by the smallest of margins, as Memphis edged No. 13 Jacksonville State, 4649-4648. Rounding out the competition was UT Martin (4578) and UAB (4552).
Senior posted career-highs in smallbore (582) and aggregate (1175), and tied her career-best in air rifle (593). She had the match’s highest aggregate and air rifle marks, placing second in smallbore to teammate
Clark. Former Whitehaven runner sets Cumberland record
A recent school record at the Greater Louisville Classic has earned former Whitehaven running standout
Mid-South Conference Runner of the Week honors.
Now at Cumberland University, Mays finished 50th out of 287 runners in the Blue Race at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park, which was 10th-best among NAIA participants. The sophomore registered a time of 19:23.50 in the 5K.
Cumberland took 18th as a team, good enough for fourth among NAIA squads.
It marked the second Mid-South Runner of the Week award for Mays this season.
Mays Leighton Dempster Ortiz kicks her way to Becker weekly honor
Cordova High graduate and women’s soccer player has been named the Becker College Athlete of the Week.
Attending the Leicester (Mass.) campus, Ortiz, a senior, earned her honor with a goal and an assist in the Hawks’ 3-0 win at Fisher College on Sept. 26. It was Ortiz’s 64th career match with Becker, where she now has 14 goals and five assists.
Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact Chris Van Tuyl at christopher.vantuyl@commercialappeal.com.
Helena Ortiz Levi Amber