Vardaman vs. Calhoun City

The 2006 football season kicks off in a big way tonight in Calhoun County with what has become an very intense match-up over the past few years between when the Vardaman Rams and the Calhoun City Wildcats. Both teams will open the season riding two different waves of momentum.

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.