December 2, 2006

NORTH DEFEATS SOUTH 24-14 IN ALL-STAR FOOTBALL CLASSIC; NEMCC's CLARENCE WRIGHT NAMED NORTH DEFENSIVE MVP

BOONEVILLE, Miss.--  Behind the running of a pair of Northwest Community College running backs and solid defensive play in the secondary led by Northeast Mississippi Community College cornerback Clarence Wright (Olive Branch), the North All-Stars were able to hold off the South for a 24-14 victory in the thirty-third annual Mississippi Community/Junior College All-Star Classic in Booneville, Miss. today.

The game’s first points came when Northwest running back Curtis Steele capped a North drive with a nine yard touchdown run in the first quarter to give the south a 7-0 lead.

However, the South team would respond in the second quarter. First, a nine yard touchdown pass from Gulf Coast Community College quarterback Andrew Carcich to Damien Henderson of Southwest Community College tied the game at seven apiece. Later Southwest quarterback Fred Jones would cap a drive with a one yard touchdown run to give the South a 14-7 lead.

Just before halftime, quarterback J.B. Bailey (Itawamba Community College) got the North on the scoreboard again with a 19-yard scoring pass to Marquez Branson of East Mississippi Community College. Bailey’s first touchdown pass of the day tied the game 14-14 going into halftime.

After a third quarter field goal by Northwest’s Billy Bishop gave the North a 17-14 lead, Bailey connected with his Itawamba teammate Lindsey Patterson for a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to conclude the scoring for the day.

After the game awards were presented to East Mississippi Community College quarterback Chris Mitchell (North Offensive MVP), Northeast Mississippi Community College cornerback Clarence Wright (North Defensive MVP), Gulf Coast running back Larry Warner (South Offensive MVP), Southwest defensive end Antron Dillon (South Defensive MVP), and Northwest defensive end Devon Hicks (Overall Game MVP).