From Daily Journal reports

With most high school athletes heading to the gym for basketball season or to the batting cage for baseball training, several area teams are still on the quest to take top honors on the football field.

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The Aberdeen Bulldogs proved to be a force to be contended with in the past two years and are still giving their foes more than they can handle. After trailing 21-0 at the half in their second round playoff game with the Ripley Tigers, the Dogs used a second half charge to claim yet another victory, 28-21.

- "Unbelievable, that's all I can say,amp" said Aberdeen Coach Chris Duncan. amp"I told them, 'Y'all can win if you believe in yourselves and keep working.' That's what we did in the second half. We took advantage of opportunities and came out with a win. I'm just proud of the kids.amp"

Duncan has seen his share of tough gridiron athletes, having spent several years on the sideline with the Vardaman Rams.

The Tigers took an early lead on three short runs into the endzone before the Dogs came back. Aberdeen QB Chris Hinton pushed over the line to start the ball rolling and then hit Mario Lucas for a 14-yard TD. Brandon Smith ran one in from five yards out and Erik Buchanan snagged a Hinton pass for a 55-yard TD.

The win moved Abedeen to 10-2 on the season. They will host the Winona Tigers in the quarter final game this Friday.

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- Ram Tough

The Vardaman Rams entered their elimination game against Drew with one thought in mind - move forward across the goal line. The strategy worked as the Rams took a 30-8 win over Drew to continue in the post season.

Coach Justin Hollis looked to his defensive line to contain Drew RB, Jarvis Smith, and they didn't disappoint.

amp"We knew we had to keep No. 20 out of the middle of the field,amp" Hollis said.

Hollis sicced the big dog on Smith - Jeremy Penson - and the plan worked well.

amp"Penson, when he plays hard, can't nobody block him,amp" Hollis said.

The Rams defense held Smith to only 42 rushing yards in the game and allowed the offense to shine as QB Gene Ruth kept the ball moving in a forward direction.

Ruth moved into the QB position mid-season of 2007 when the Okolona Chieftains sidelined the starting QB for the season.

amp"Gene's a one-year starter at quarterback and I don't know why,amp" Hollis said. amp"He should have playing there every year.amp"

Smith gained Drew's one TD with a one-yard run followed by a reception for conversion. After that, it was all Rams.

Ruth pushed over on a one-yard run with Demarcus Clemons gaining the conversion. Ruth scored again on a 14-yard run and Willie Lee followed with a five-yard run. Clemons capped the night with a 32-yard interception returned for TD with senior Britt Criddle making the conversion points.

The win puts Vardaman at 9-3 on the year and sends them off to Ray Brooks this Friday to try to move forward one more time.

- Cats scratch St. Joe

The Calhoun City Wildcats, much like the Rams, are expected to produce each year and they haven't let their fans down in 2008. With their only losses coming from county rival Vardaman and close county cousin East Webster, the Cats weren't about to let an opportunity to bring their game back home get away from them.

Tailback Jarvis Rounds was the shining star on the field, scoring six TD for Calhoun City in a 53-14 rout of Greenville-St. Joe last Friday. Kent Stafford got his name in the box scores as well, recovering a punt for TD. The punt was blocked by, guess who, Rounds. Kicker Colby Hamilton went 4-6 at PAT to add some padding for the Cats.

amp"Our offensive line did a great job,amp" said Coach Mike Ray. amp"We physically took it to them.amp"

The Cats went to 9-2 on the year and will host East Webster Friday night.

n Wolves claw Shaw

The East Webster Wolverines don't carry a perfect record for nothing, as they showed in a 59-7 drumming over Shaw Friday night. The dynamic dou of Jonathan Banks and Reginald O'Briant continued their impressive show, racking up EW points from the first quarter on. Banks first hit Taylor Williams from 25-yard out for TD and O'Briant got the second TD with a 29-yard run. BAnks racked up the next two TD with the running game and O'Briant returned a thrid quarter punt for TD. Banks and O'Briant swapped scoring through the third and took a breather to allow some younger playes to gain some experience.

Migel Graham hit Trey Ross for the final 14-yard TD.

The Wolves moved to 11-0 on the season and will travel to Calhoun City Friday night.

amp"We're going to be at their place and they're a good football team,amp" said EW Coach Jimmy Carden. amp"That's going to be a tough climb but we're going to give it a whirl.amp"

Possibilities

Local fans in Cumberland, Calhoun City and Vardaman are busy weighing the possibilities of a North Half competition right here in our neck of the woods.

A Vardaman win over Ray Brooks will put the Rams at or close to home facing old familiar faces in Calhoun City or East Webster. A Calhoun City win over the Wolves would mar their perfect record and possibly give them another shot at Vardaman, who defeated them earlier this season.

If EW and Ray Brooks both come out on top, the North Half will see a rematch between the numbe one team in the state from 2008 an the North Half runner-up.

Anyway you look at it, the excitement shows.