East Central game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. in Decatur

CLARKSDALE – Although Coahoma Community College’s closed pre-season football scrimmage with Hinds last weekend was productive, according to Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Freeman Horton, he says, “it shows we’ve got a lot of catching up to do on conditioning.”

Horton says the athletes at Hinds and other community colleges concentrated on staying in shape all summer while attending both sessions of summer school.

“Our players arrived on campus August 4, and while continuing to make progress, they are trying to catch up physically,” he said. “They also need to mature.”

The Tigers open the 2009 regular season with East Central on the road in Decatur next Thursday, August 27.

Horton says the game time has been changed to 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WNEV Radio, 98.7 FM.

The play-by-play will be called by a graduate of CCC and Mississippi State University with broadcast experience. Tiger baseball coach Chris Fair is in charge of the color commentary.

Assessing Saturday’s scrimmage with Hinds, Horton said, “It let us know some things; it gave our freshmen a chance to go up against real competition for two hours.

Horton says Hinds brought 75 players to Clarksdale for the scrimmage which was not open to the public.

The current Tiger team of 60 players includes 28 freshmen. Horton says he expects to name a roster of 55 by next Thursday.

Asked for an update on the team’s offense, Horton says, “We have a battle shaping up at quarterback.”

Challenging 2008 quarterback Keondrick Brown of Rosedale is Jarrick Jones of Memphis, a Whitehaven High School graduate who attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

“Jones has a strong arm,” says Horton.

The Tiger coach says CCC is deep in receivers and has five or six top running backs.

“There are five home games this season; we hope our fans will continue their strong support and fill James E. Miller Stadium to overflowing again this fall,” says Horton.

The stadium has seating capacity of 2,500. General admission seats are $5; CCC students, faculty and staff are admitted free with ID.

Home games include Thursday, Sept. 3, with Southwest; Thursday, Sept. 10 with Mississippi Delta; Saturday, Sept. 26 (Homecoming) with Co-Lin; Thursday, Oct. 1 with East Mississippi; and Thursday, Oct. 22 with Itawamba.

The CCC coaching staff includes assistant coaches: William Kirksey, T. C. Taylor, Kendrick Travis, Dick Brooks, and Billy Fields. Selina Reid is CCC’s Certified Trainer.

CCC Booster’s Club president Josephine Rhymes is in charge of a current membership campaign providing special support services to all athletic programs at Coahoma.

“The $50 annual dues may be sent to CCC Boosters Club at 3240 Friars Point Rd., Clarksdale, Miss. 38614.