Last Meeting: 2001 MC 15 - Millsaps 3
Series record: 26-9-6
Backyard Brawl Meetings:
2000 -- Millsaps 20 - MC 19
2001 -- MC 15 - Millsaps 3
Listen to the game: Click on the TEAMLINE link on the front athletics page.
The Majors on Offense
Offensively, Millsaps will look to establish a strong ground attack with returning senior running backs Brent LeJeune and Chris Schiro leading the charge. LeJeune and Schiro, both hampered with season long nagging injuries, rushed for just 177 yards combined in 2001. Other returning rushers include sophomore tailback Jay Liles and sophomore fullback Brett Burgess, who rushed for 161 and 80 yards respectively last season. Also, look for freshmen tailbacks Stephens McVea and David Simoneaux.
Seeking to pave the way for their teammates, the strong men on the offensive line include junior Jesse Anderson and seniors Michael Phillips and Steve Sloan. Also playing up front will be junior Matt Cartwright, sophomore Jake Wilson, sophomore Brad Miller, sophomore Matt McCollough, and senior tight end Tyler Erb.
The Majors aerial attack will be composed of a stellar wide receiving corps led by junior wide receivers Thomas Bowden and Louisiana State University transfer Jack Casanova. Bowden hauled in 21 passes for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2001, while Casanova emerged as a late season threat and caught 9 throws for 101 yards. Other wide-outs include seniors Wayne Brown and and freshman Hunter Perrett. Sophomore Brandon Morris will start at quarterback.
The Majors on Defense
The Majors return 9 starters to an aggressive and experienced defensive unit that led the SCAC in total defense in 2001, allowing just 258.5 yards per game. Heading the squad will be 2002 Div. III pre-season All-American and 2001 All-SCAC first-teamer Matt O'Bryant, who led the conference with 121 tackles, including 11 stops for a loss. Aiding O'Bryant will be junior linebackers Steven Campbell and Luke Cochran and fellow senior linebackers Boo Zinn and William Jorden, who tallied 49 and 48 tackles respectively in 2001.
Anchoring the defensive line will be juniors Eugene Lamberth and Derriaux Gadlin. Lamberth accounted for 30 tackles last season, while the versatile Gadlin will make his return to the Majors after sitting out last year. Also returning is senior defensive end Jed Mooney who led the conference with 8.5 sacks for a loss of 112 yards in 2001. The formidable Mooney, a 2001 All-SCAC 2nd team selection has excelled as a linebacker and defensive end for the Majors for three years.
Patrolling the secondary will be seniors Jahreese Jones, Reggie Young, and Craig Bowman. Bowman led the Majors in interceptions with 4 picks in 2001, while Jones added 3 thefts and Young managed one take-away.
Adding depth to the defense will be junior defensive end Stephen Cutter, sophomore defensive end George Fowler, and sophomore defensive back Tarrance Miller. Also look for freshman defensive end David Cutter and freshman linebackers Ross Rutledge and Web Walters.
Mississippi College Outlook
The 2002 football season has Mississippi College primed for what could be another successful season for the Choctaws. Seeking to contend for their first American Southwest Conference championship since 1997, Choctaws' Head coach Johnny Mills is anticipating another successful season with many key players returning from last year's 7-3 squad.
One reason for such lofty expectations for 2002 is the return of eight starters from last year's offense that was second in the ASC in passing yardage and fifth in scoring offense. Much of the success of the Choctaw offense is due to the play of senior quarterback Payton Perrett. In three seasons at the helm of the Choctaw offense, Perrett has already shattered six records at Mississippi College. He is the school's all-time leader in passing yardage, completions, pass attempts, and touchdowns. Last season Perrett threw for over 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns.
But the Choctaws are far from a one-man team.
Several other starters return including the top two leading rushers from a year ago in senior Derrick Caples and junior Erik Haas. Last season Caples rushed for over 500 yards averaging almost five yards per carry and is a breakaway threat with his speed. Haas rushed for nearly 400 yards himself last season. The duo gives the Choctaws great depth in the backfield.
Defensively, the Choctaws are led by seinor linebacker Bryan Madden who recorded 91 tackles in 2001. Other linebackers include Kyle Crager and Craig Kingrea.
The secondary returns just one starter in John Michael Wilson.
