All eyes were on the afternoon lifters for the Bobcats. After the morning session, the Bobcats were locked in a tight battle for first place with the Ethel Tigers. Josh Richardson, Dakota McGary, Kobe Roberts and Nick Parker all did what they had to do in the morning lifting. The Bobcats now had to depend on their big boys to lift what they had to lift to win. About mid way through the afternoon session, the Bobcats coaches knew that the 1A State title was closer in their favor than Ethel’s. After all the chalk cleared, the Bogue Chitto Bobcats claimed their second state powerlifting championship in the past three years. The Bobcats had outscored Ethel by 4 points, 37-33.

“I am proud of our kid’s efforts Saturday,” said Bogue Chitto power-lifting head coach Chad Norton. His team won the South 1A and Region championships, which served as stepping-stones to Saturday’s state competition. “They have been working their tails off the last month and it showed. It’s great that our seniors will go out as State Champions,” said Coach Norton.

Norton had nine lifters who qualified for the state competition. They were among fifteen schools that were pursuing the 1A state title. The Bobcats had a little more fire that the rest of the teams because the Bobcats tied with Pelahatchie last year for first place, but Pelahatchie won the title due to the tiebreaker runs. The Bobcats dedicated themselves this year to improve their totals in the bench press, deadlift and squat.

Bogue Chitto claimed two individual state championships, Devin McEwen and Jeremy Blackwell. Devin McEwen won his 181- pound class with a total of 1’110 pounds. Jeremy Blackwell won his 308+ pound class with a total of 1,380 pounds. McEwen, a junior offensive lineman for the BC’s football team, performed a 415-pound squat, a 230-pound bench press and a 465-pound deadlift. Jeremy Blackwell, senior offensive lineman and linebacker for the BC’s football team, performed a 560-pound squat, a 260-pound bench press and a 560-pound deadlift.

Damien Terrell performed a 405-pound squat, a 185-pound bench press and a 530-pound deadlift. Jermaine Blackwell performed a 435-pound squat, a 220-pound bench press and a 540-pound deadlift. Dakota McGary performed a 205-pound squat, a 105-bench press and a 360-pound deadlift. Kobe Roberts performed a 295-pound squat, a 145- pound bench press and a 365- pound deadlift. Nick Parker performed a 290-pound squat, a 155-pound bench press and a 440-pound deadlift. Josh Richardson performed a 195-pound squat, an 85-pound bench press and a 250-pound deadlift. Devaris Bullock performed a 400- pound squat, a 235- pound bench press and a 475- pound deadlift.

The Bobcats are making plans to purchase their State championship rings. The Bogue Chitto Bobcats would like the support from the surrounding areas to help out in any type of fundraisers they will be putting together to order these rings for the well-deserved players and coaching staff.

Bogue Chitto Results 

First Place: 

Devin McEwen (181), 415- squat, 230- bench, 465- deadlift, 1,110 total. Jeremy Blackwell (308+), 560- squat, 260- bench, 560- deadlift, 1,380 total.

Second Place: 

Damien Terrell (198), 405- squat, 185- bench, 530- deadlift, 1,120 total. Jermaine Blackwell (242), 435- squat, 220- bench, 540- deadlift, 1,195 total.

Third Place: 

Dakota McGary (123), 205- squat, 105- bench, 360- deadlift, 670 total. Kobe Roberts (132), 295- squat, 145- bench, 365- deadlift, 805 total. Nick Parker (198), 290- squat, 155- bench, 440- deadlift, 885 total

Fourth Place: 

Josh Richardson (114), 195- squat, 85- bench, 250- deadlift, 530 total. Devaris Bullock (308+), 400- squat, 235- bench, 475- deadlift, 1,110 total

 Class 1A Team Standings: 

Bogue Chitto 37, Ethel 33, McAdams 24, Pelahatchie 22, Coffeeville 22, Falkner 20, Smithville 18, Noxapater 11, Nanih Waiya 9, Sacred Heart 7, St. Aloysius 5, Stringer 3, Durant 2, Sebastopol 1, Thrasher 0