CLARKSDALE – Coahoma Community College Football earned two additional accolades in its “Historic Status” this week with the election of Freeman Horton as Mississippi’s MACJC Coach of the Year and his assistants as Coaching Staff of the Year.

The selection announced in Jackson Monday was unanimous in a vote by Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College member schools representing 13 two-year colleges, according to MACJC officials.

“This is a great honor; it feels good,” says Horton with a smile.

Pronouncing the award “awe-inspiring,” CCC president Vivian Presley, said, “This is wonderful; Coach Horton is very deserving.”

“For years, he has worked hard with great faith in his staff and players,” she continued. “He is a tremendous role model for young people.”

Coahoma’s 30-20 win over Itawamba during a driving rainstorm Oct. 22 made history by earning CCC’s first playoff berth since joining MACJC in 1975.

Football 2009 also represents CCC’s first winning season with a record of six wins and three losses.

The Tigers will play the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs (8-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday at MGCC’s Perkinston campus.

The Bulldogs’ only loss was their season opener with Northwest (25-30) – a team that CCC defeated 41-36 on Oct. 8.

“The Bulldogs are big and big; they are a rushing team,” comments Horton citing defensive linemen James Carmon at 6-7, 360 lbs; Wayne Dorsey at 6-8, 250 lbs; and Jonathan Jenkins, 6-4, 340.

Offensive linemen, he says weigh 336, 350, 315, 300.

Horton says the Bulldogs are defending state champions and their running back Vick Ballard is the state’s leading rusher.

Asked how he feels about Saturday’s game, Horton says, “We feel upbeat; our team has confidence and every matchup is different.”

“We’re going to play our game,” he says. “We like to throw the ball, and Garrick Jones (who has been injured) has been practicing this week.”

The Tigers are leaving Clarksdale Friday morning and plan to practice at the University of Southern Mississippi, Horton’s alma mater.



Visiting there last Saturday, he said he watched two of his former CCC Tigers – Terrance Conners and Leroy Banks start for USM.



“Tavaris Jeffers (another 2008 Tiger) is starting at the University of Oklahoma,” he says.



Coahoma’s Department of Student Affairs is organizing a spectator bus traveling to the game Saturday. For additional information, call 662-621-4155.