September 1, 2008
The 2008 edition of “Backyard Brawl IX” is just days
away from kickoff at Harper Davis Field as 25th-ranked Mississippi
College will make the trip down I-20 to take on the homestanding
Millsaps College Majors. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be
the season-opener for both teams.
With the
Choctaws rallying for 21 fourth quarter points to win 27-26
last year
in Clinton and both teams coming off 8-2 records,
the anticipation of this year’s brawl is growing.
Millsaps
is led by third-year head coach Mike DuBose, who has guided
the Majors to a 15-6 mark in his first two
seasons, while the visiting Chocs turn to fourth-year head coach
Norman Joseph who has led MC to a 15-15 record in his first three
years.
“We’ve had some success here lately that has shed
new light on the program,” DuBose said. “The question
is how our team will handle that success. We must stay disciplined
and continue to prepare and respect every opponent the same way.”
Scouting the Majors:
Millsaps became the first team in school history to repeat as
SCAC Champions a year ago, sharing the crown with Trinity University
after the infamous “Mississippi Miracle.” In doing
so, the Majors broke a combined 32 school records, had 13 players
gain all-conference recognition and swept the SCAC postseason
awards, landing the Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams
Player of the Year.
With the departure of offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and
offensive line coach Jack Wright, replacements John David Caffey
(New Mexico State) at OC and Jon Long (Odessa HS) on the OL will
try and revamp an offensive onslaught that has worked so well
the previous two seasons. Also joining the staff in 2008 are
Davern Williams (Huntingdon College) and Drew Willis (Early County
HS). Williams spent three seasons in the NFL, playing with both
the Dolphins and New York Giants, and will handle the D-Line
while Willis will try and tune up a 1,300-yard rush attack at
the running backs spot.
Ranked as
the 18th-most improved football program in Division III football
and 46th
in all of college football by Somis Sports,
the Majors will have to do without a combined 19 All-SCAC selections
that were lost from the 2007 graduating class. Lost in that crowd
were five, four-year starters on the defensive side in Casey
Younger, Ray Kline, Cedric Lawrence, Canaan Farris and Ronnie
Wheat who helped the Majors to the nation’s second-ranked
pass efficiency defense and fifth-best scoring defense.
In all, Millsaps ranked amongst the Top 25 in the country in
12 statistical categories in 2007, including ranking in the Top
10 in six of those. The Majors were 7th in passing offense (318.7
ypg) and 8th in scoring offense (456.6 ypg), while ranking 2nd
in pass efficiency defense (81.6 ypg), 5th in scoring defense
(11.9 ppg) and 8th in punt return defense (4.05 ypr) and turnovers
gained (36).
Scouting the Choctaws:
Last year was a breakthrough season for the Mississippi College
Choctaws, finishing with an 8-2 record and a second place finish
in the American Southwest Conference, one of the toughest leagues
in the nation. Eight starters returning on offense and defense,
coupled with the return of record-setting quarterback Adam
Shaffer at the helm, has the Choctaws preseason ranked No.
25 and in the conversation for their first ASC Championship
in eleven years.
It has taken three years, but head coach Norman Joseph has rebuilt
the football program into a Top 25 caliber team and a legitimate
contender for an ASC Championship. Joseph's anticipated arrival
came in 2005, taking over a program rich in history but had produced
three-straight losing seasons including a 1-9 record in 2004.
That quickly changed as Joseph improved the roster, and the record,
every season.
Last year's 8-2 record probably came as a surprise to many,
but it was completely expected by Coach Joseph and the coaching
staff who have spent three years rebuilding the program. In his
first spring as the head coach, Joseph had 26 players participate
in workouts. This spring, 72 players went through spring workouts
and give the Choctaws a more solid foundation.
Plenty of talent returns for another run at an ASC Championship.
If new receivers emerge, the 2008 season can build on a great
2007 year.
Last
Year’s
Game:
For three and a half quarters, Millsaps dominated behind the
strong performance of Juan Joseph and a solid defense, but
it was Mississippi College who came out the victor at the final
buzzer as the Choctaws rallied for 21 points in the fourth
quarter to come-from-behind and top the Majors 27-26 in front
of an electric crowd of 5,293 at Robinson-Hale Stadium.
Joseph was 25-of-37 for 289 yards and three touchdowns passing
but was sidelined early in the third quarter to allow sophomore
Chris Graves to run the offense. Graves played the remainder
of the game, completing 6-of-13 passes for 48 yards while tossing
two picks.
Raymece Savage led all receivers with five catches for 76 yards
and one score while Louis Conley and Donnie Epps added a touchdown
apiece.
Terry accounted for 124 all-purpose yards for the Choctaws,
converting on a 51 yard rush on a fake punt and hauling in seven
catches for 73 yards and a score. Jake Allen added three catches
for 83 yards while Bullard had four catches for 41 yards including
a 5-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter.
Adam Shaffer looked promising at times and ended up 18-of-45
for 245 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Series:
Saturday's game will mark the 47th meeting between the two teams
with Mississippi College holding a 28-12-6 edge. Since the
rivalry
renewed in
2000 after a 41-year hiatus, the Choctaws have a slight 4-3
advantage including winning the last two years.
Pep Rally Information:
Pep Rally at 6 p.m. on Friday
in downtown Jackson at the Farish Street Heritage Festival Stage
(located at 151 E. Griffith and Farish Streets, across from the MC Law School).
After the pep rally, the Farish Street Festival will kick off with music from
Devi and the Devastators at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Presidential Players at 8:10,
Shawdy Jizzle at 8:50, and ML at 9:30.
Millsaps
Ticket Information:
For
the first time since the rivalry renewed in 2000, the rival
Choctaws outsold the Majors in pregame ticket sales in 2007
by over 600 tickets. With the Mississippi Sports Council hosting
the event for an eighth-straight season, both schools receive
$3 of each $10 ticket sold prior to the game that
will go directly back towards the athletic department. All
tickets sold the day of the game move to $15.
To
order your 2008 Backyard Brawl ticket(s), simply fill
out the order form and mail it in with a check made payable to
Millsaps College Athletics. Cash is also accepted, but checks
are preferred. All orders received prior to August 25 will
be mailed to you. If your money is received after the date,
please visit the Millsaps Athletic office prior to Sept. 6
to pick up your pre-paid order.
Tickets
are also available for purchase right now at the Athletics
front desk located in the back of the Hall Activities Center.
Purchase your ticket(s) during normal business hours from Mon-Fri,
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Please
be advised that ALL tickets are GENERAL
ADMISSION SEATING for this game and everyone must
purchase a ticket to get inside the gate. That covers all ages,
fans, staff, parents, etc. Students should contact their SBA
officers for special ticket pricing.
