Lets Get It On!
Vardaman
picked up a lot of confidence heading into the season opener with their play in
a scrimmage against Bruce last Friday while Calhoun City will be looking to get
things on track after struggling in their scrimmage against Senatobia at Ole Miss last Saturday.
This non-division game marks the second year in a row
where these two teams open the season just eight miles away from their own home
stadium. Last season the Wildcats took advantage of a lack luster start to the
season to pick up a 19-0 victory over the Rams, but with the offensive prowess
both teams possess this season don’t look for a low scoring affair to jump start
the football season in Calhoun County.
All Eyes On Me
There is no secret to the who’s who of tonight’s
match-up as all eyes will be focused on Calhoun City’s wide receiver Mark Fox
and quarterback Malcolm Belim along with Vardaman’s running back Kelvin Clemons
and quarterback Terrance Jones - all have been dubbed as some of the top 125
seniors across the state to watch this season.
Kelvin Clemons enters his final season at Vardaman
high school with 4,469 yards rushing only 1,369 yards behind former Tatertown
gridiron great Odie Armstrong. So what many fans at one time called “The
Odie-Meter” can now start “The Clemons Countdown” this season as Clemons rushes
towards Armstrong’s career mark of 5,838 yards rushing as a Ram.
Terrance Jones has been labeled one of the top
athletes in all of 1A football coming into this season and with the a second
season of running the spread offense as quarterback under his belt Jones will be
looking to improve on an impressive season that saw him throw for 1,129 yards
while rushing for 1,094 yards as a junior.
Malcolm Belim completed 53 percent of his passes last
season for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns and 1,303 yards passing and 19 touchdowns
as a sophomore for the Wildcats, but Belim is quick to remind you that there is
more than just an arm he can use against his opponents. In the past two seasons
Belim has rushed for 25 touchdowns for the Wildcats and as long as he keeps his
eye on the prize the Wildcats don’t expect any less from their quarterback this
season.
Mark Fox knows that he will have to be a prime time
player for the Wildcats this season and much like the Fox Legacy on the Bone
Yard he thrives in the spotlight. Over the past two seasons Fox has been a
do-it-all type player for the ‘Cats from catching or throwing touchdown passes
to returning kicks and interceptions left and right for touchdowns as well. Fox
has collected 22 touchdown passes over the past two seasons and will be looking
to do more of the same to help open up the running attack for the Wildcats this
season.
The X Factors
There are always the unsung hero’s that seem to go
unnoticed in most post-game victory fanfare, but look for Calhoun City’s place
kicker and strong safety Roger Turner and running back and linebacker Dante
Jennings performances to help influence the outcome of the game for the
Wildcats. While Vardaman’s wide receiver Jarred Hawks and tight end Jimmy
Wheeler to be two important cogs to keep the Rams wheels rolling against the
’Cats.
Get There Early!
With only one other game on the docket tonight with
Pontotoc playing host to rival South Pontotoc look for a large crowd to turn out
for this highly anticipated match-up between two high school powerhouses that
almost ensure an exciting start to the 2006 high school football campaign.
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. tonight at Carter Field in
Vardaman.