Senior quarterback Casey Williams was the major force behind theLawrence County offensive machine that advanced to the third roundof the Class 4A state football playoffs this season. Coach TrentHammond’s 10-3 Cougars finished No. 3 in the Region 6-4A in regularseason play but won two straight playoff games.

For his accomplishments, Williams has been named The DAILYLEADER’S All-Area Most Valuable Player on the 2004 All-AreaFootball Team. Williams is a repeater from last year’s team whichincludes players outside Lincoln County.

Selected as the Offensive Player of the Year was running backFred Williams of Hazlehurst. Lawrence County linebacker Joe Mageewas selected as Defensive Player of the Year.

Other running backs joining Williams in the Dream Team backfieldare Jessie Burton of South Pike, Randy Ferdinand of LawrenceCounty, Glover Quinn of North Pike and Jasper O’Quinn of FranklinCounty.

At quarterback are Fred Jones of South Pike, Casey Williams ofLawrence County and Tommy Gibbs of Franklin County.

The wide receiver is Demoyn Carroll of Hazlehurst. The tight endis Damien Seals of McComb.

The offensive line is made up of James Davis of South Pike,DeJuan Cony of McComb, Jake Buckles of Franklin County, PhillipKimble and Cory Williams of Lawrence County and Larry Hall ofFranklin County.

Nick Gunter of Wesson returns as place kicker for this fourthyear in-a-row. Joshfer Nichols of Jefferson County is theall-purpose player. The return specialist is Quentrelle Green ofSouth Pike.

Defensively, the linemen include Greg Porter of Hazlehurst,Herman Johnson of Wesson, Daniel Montgomery of South Pike, DeAndreDavis of Franklin County and Davis Ball of Lawrence County.

Damien Gary of Hazlehurst, Laddelle Jackson of Wesson, DominickPittman of North Pike and Dewayne Pittman of South Pike are thelinebackers.

At defensive back are Johnny Butler of Wesson, Dexter Haynes ofLawrence County and Jonathan Brooks of Franklin County. The punteris Chris Blackwell of Franklin County for the second-straightyear.

Casey Williams (6-0, 200), a senior, led 10-3 Lawrence Countywith 1,614 all purpose yards and a total of 22 touchdowns. Williamscompleted 40 of 78 passes for seven touchdowns and rushed thefootball for 844 yards (4.1 average) for 15 TDs.

“He is a workhorse,” said Lawrence County head football coachTrent Hammond. “He’s a warrior and a true competitor. He made thecalls.”

Fred Williams (5-10, 175) , a senior, finished the 2003 campaignrushing for 1,245 yards and 15 touchdowns as the leading rusher forHazlehurst. He was selected as the Region 7-3A Offensive Player ofthe Year.

Williams said the game with Franklin County was hisfavorite.

“Franklin County was my best game. That’s when I scored twotouchdowns and rushed for 195 yards.”

Joe Magee (6-0, 195), a senior, played linebacker for Lawrenceand finished the season with 132 total tackles, recording 87 solos.He was the team’s hardest hitter.

“”He is the most vicious hitter we’ve here, ” statedHammond.

Magee said his favorite game of the season was against archrivalBrookhaven. “It was a rival game. I did pretty good thatnight.”

Fred Jones (5-6, 157), a senior, was the starting seniorquarterback for Coach Randall Huffman’s South Pike Eagles. Jonescompleted 47 of 85 passes for 874 yards and nine touchdowns. Hecarried the football 95 times for 651 yards and 13 TDs. South Pikefinished the season with a 9-3 record and advanced to the secondround of South State 4A playoffs.

Tommy Gibbs (5-11, 190), a senior, started at quarterback forthe first time for Coach Anthony Hart’s Region 7-3A champ FranklinCounty Bulldogs. Gibbs directed the Bulldog offense completing 52passes for 81 yards and 12 touchdowns. He rushed for 210 yards andfive TDs.

Jessie Burton (5-10, 175), a senior, was the speedsterrunningback for South Pike and scored 20 touchdowns, 15 coming onthe ground. Burton had 121 rushes for 1,026 yards (8.5 average). Hecaught 13 passes for 336 yards (26.7 average) and four TDs.

Randy Ferdinand (5-7, 205), a senior, carried the football 102times for 735 yards (7.3 average) for seven touchdowns for LawrenceCounty.

Glover Quinn (5-11, 190), a senior, used his exceptional talentat runningback to power the North Pike Jaguars (4-7). Quinn rushedfor 1,120 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named Region 7-3A MostValuable Player.

Jasper O’Quinn (5-11, 165), a junior, directed the FranklinCounty running offense with 1,488 yards rushing and seventouchdowns. He averaged 135.2 yards a game. He has 4.45 speed inthe 40.

Demoyn Carroll (6-0, 180), a senior, played wide receiver forHazlehurst and caught 29 passes for 457 yards and seventouchdowns.

Damien Seals (6-3, 230), a senior, was one of the top receiversfor McComb this season.

Joshfer Nichols (5-10, 170), a junior, is this year’s auxiliaryplayer. Nichols caught 35 passes for 823 yards and two touchdownsat wide receiver for Jefferson County. At defensive back, he made47 tackles and intercepted four passes.

Nick Gunter (5-9, 180), a senior, makes his fourth consecutiveappearance as team place kicker. Gunter made 22 of 27 PATs and 10field goals (longest 47 yards) this season for the 6-5 WessonCobras. He had 23 punts for a 46.8 yard average. Gunter started atquarterback and played linebacker on defense.

Quentrelle Green (6-0, 196), a senior, is the return specialistfrom South Pike. Green carried the football 68 times for 485 yardsand five touchdowns. He had 11 catches for 189 yards (19.8 average)and three TDs.

Greg Porter (6-1, 240, a senior, made 57 tackles, seven sacksand recovered two fumbles for Hazlehurst.

Herman Johnson (6-2, 260), a senior, was the workhorse on theWesson defense making 90 tackles and four sacks. Johnson alsoblocked four passes.

Daniel Montgomery (5-10, 215), was tenacious and instrumental onthe South Pike defensive line.

DeAndre Davis (6-2, 240), a junior, finished with 88 stops andcaused two fumbles for Franklin County.

Davis Ball (5-8, 180), a junior, played on defense for LawrenceCounty and finished the season with 65 total tackles. Ball had 32solos.

Damien Gary (6-1, 190), a senior, started at linebacker forHazlehurst. Gary collected 100 tackles and caused two fumbles.

Ladelle Jackson (5-11, 190), a senior, played linebacker forWesson and finished the year with 62 tackles.

Dewayne Pittman (5-11, 190), a senior, started at linebacker forSouth Pike.

Dominique Pittman (6-2, 195), a senior, led North Pike with 90tackles and five sacks.

Johnny Butler (5-10, 170), a senior, played linebacker forWesson and made 52 tackles.

Dexter Haynes (5-11, 170), a senior, was one of the top backsfor Lawrence County. Haynes intercepted nine passes and finishedwith 26 solo tackles and had a total of 64 on the season.

Jonathan Brooks (5-9, 170), a junior, led the district withseven interceptions for Franklin County. Brooks also made 54tackles and deflected 10 passes.

Chris Blackwell (5-9, 180), a senior, returns for hissecond-straight year as team punter. Blackwell average 35.7 yards apunt for Franklin County His longest field goal was for 49yards.

Davis Ball (5-8, 180), a junior, played on defense for LawrenceCounty and finished the season with 65 total tackles. Ball had 32solos.

Damien Gary (6-1, 190), a senior, started as linebacker ofHazlehurst. Gary collected 100 tackles and caused two fumbles.

Ladelle Jackson (5-11, 190), a senior, played linebacker forWesson and finshed the year with 62 tackles.

Dewayne Pittman (5-11, 190), a senior, started at linebacker forSouth Pike.

Dominique Pittman (6-2, 195), a senior, led North Pike with 90tackles and five sacks.

Johnny Butler (5-10, 170), a senior, played linebacker forWesson with 52 tackles.

Jonathan Brooks (5-9, 170), a junior, led the district withseven interceptions for Franklin County. Brooks also made 54tackles and deflected 10 passes.

Chris Blackwell (5-10, 180), a senior, returns for hissecond-straight year as team punter. Blackwell average 35.7 yards apunt for Franklin County His longest field goal was for 49yards.