“We lost to the state champs.”

The Brookhaven Panthers can look back on the 2002 footballcampaign and recall their two playoff victories over East Centraland South Pike. Then they can remember that Nov. 29 loss to theD’Iberville Warriors in the South State 4A semifinals.

After whipping the Panthers, D’Iberville slipped past GeorgeCounty 20-17 in the South finals. The Warriors scored the winningtouchdown with 20 seconds left in the game. George County can onlythink, “What if?”

Moving on to the 4A state championship test, D’Ibervilleoverpowered West Point last Saturday afternoon in Jackson’sMississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. It was the first state titlefor the Warriors and the ultimate goal of 21 seniors.

Recognized statewide for their awesome defense, the Warriorsmade some folks sit up and take notice when senior running backCarlton Cotten ran all over West Point’s highly touted defense.Cotten rushed 33 times for 235 yards and 3 fourth-quartertouchdowns.

Cotten (5-10, 185) has not been heavily recruited but thetalented youngster certainly has a future in college football. Thisscribe watched Cotten run through and around Brookhaven’s prouddefense. He has quickness and elusive speed.

If you need your memory jolted, Cotten accounted for 150 rushingyards, including TD runs of 33 and 37 yards versus Brookhaven. Itwas a matter of quickness. Once Cotten got past the line ofscrimmage, he made a few nifty moves and was gone. His youngerbrother, Clarence Cotten gained 85 yards and raced 54 yards for aTD.

Certainly, strength and power are keys to having a successfulfootball team. When you reach the playoffs, it is often a matter ofspeed and quickness which provide the catalyst.

You can become an awesome assembly of muscle by living in theweight training room. You can bench press 400 pounds and squat with600 but you must still be able to run.

Talk to a college football coach and the first priority on hislist is a player who can run to the football, with the football orwithout the football.

If you are 5-foot-5, weigh 145 pounds and can run, you canbecome a high school football star. The secret is durability andquickness.

Wayne County was crowned the Class 5A state champion last Fridaynight. The War Eagles (14-1) beat South Panola (13-1) 21-14,handing the Tigers their first setback of the season. That victorygained Wayne County No. 1 ranking in the final Associated PressPrep Poll of the season.

Wayne County, coached by Marcus Boyles, should be the favoriteto repeat as state champion. The War Eagles dropped to Class 4A inthe latest reclassification figures, making them an instantfavorite in South Mississippi. Obviously, South Panola, Oak Grove,Moss Point and other 5A members were delighted to see the Eaglesfind a new nesting area.

Veteran coaches will tell you that there are few differencesbetween the top teams in Class 4A and Class 5A. For that matter,2-time Class 3A state champion Collins is one of those rare teamsthat could compete and win impressively in either 4A or 5A.

Traditionally, Collins has a strong football team and CoachBruce Merchant has taken the Tigers to a higher level. He and hisbrother, Doug Merchant, currently at Morton, have produced manyoutstanding teams during their long coaching careers.

Looking ahead to the 2002 campaign, Brookhaven has two newRegion 6-4A members in the Jim Hill Tigers and the WingfieldFalcons. They are replacing Port Gibson and Raymond which droppedto Class 3A. For sure, the Tigers and Falcons will make the regionrace tougher.

BHS head coach Tucker Peavey said the Panthers would continueopening their season with Class 3A Hazlehurst and 5A Vicksburgback-to-back. Peavey hopes to make a 2-year deal with Laurel andfill the ninth playing date.

Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick Team Championship competitionwill be held Sunday at the Superdome and a trio of local athleteswill be on hand. Representing Brookhaven are Jimmy Johns, in theage 14-15 boys division; and Alan Chase McIntyre in age 12-13.Dorothy Elaine Smith is entered in age 14-15 girls. They wonsectional competition at Newel Field in Jackson and patientlyawaited the results from other regions to determine if they hadqualified.

The Mississippi Community/Junior College All-Star Classic isSaturday at Northeast in Booneville. Representing Co-Lin andplaying for the South are wide receiver Marcus Shannon ofBrookhaven (Loyd Star), offensive tackle Terrell Showers of SilverCreek, and defensive backs David Smith of Utica and Darius Cox ofMagee.