Instead of receiving Senior Night goodies at around 7:30, the Lady Commodores had to accept them at 7:50 as they took a little extra time to finish off the scrappy Lady Hawks.

Lafayette’s extra four minutes on the floor ultimately ended on a good note as the Lady ‘Dores topped Holly Springs 51-45 in their final home game of the season.

The Commodores also benefited with an extra period as they posted a 36-32 win over the Hawks to cap the successful night. (February 1, 2012, Page 7)

The Lady Commodores totaled 55 points, second to Charleston’s 63. Oxford finished third with 30 points, while Pontotoc (24) and Calhoun City (10) rounded out the teams at the meet.

Cate Clay lifted in the 97-pound weight class for the Lady Commodores and finished first with a 425-pound total. Meg Norphlet competed in the 105 class and was first with a total of 500. San Hairston competed in the 123 class as did Jada McIntosh. Hairston was second with a 595, while McIntosh totaled 500.

Toinella Marion competed in the 132 class and finished first with a 630. Corey Hollis was also in the 132 class and she finished third with a 615. Keyonna Perry competed in the 148 class, Meghan Sharp and Jazmine Jones competed in the 165 class. Kelsey Kesler competed in the 181 class as did Daniesha Phillips. Ashley Carter competed in the 220 class, while Madison Sharp was in the 220-plus class.

LHS boys
Lafayette’s first boys powerlifting meet of the season netted a third-place finish in the Wildcat Invitational Saturday. The Commodores totaled 33 points in the meet and had four lifters finish second or better overall. Pontotoc won the meet with 66 points, while Oxford was second with 36. Starkville was fourth followed by West Point.

John Mills finished first in the 114-pound weight division by setting records in the squat (270 pounds) and deadlift (305).

Mills totaled 700 pounds overall. Mario Toles (275) also finished first in his weight division thanks to a total of 1,400. He squatted 590, benched 260 and deadlifted 600.

D.Q. Reynolds (super heavyweight) was second with a total 1,405 thanks to a 540 squat, 315 bench and 625 deadlift. Cortez Coleman (242) was second in his weight division with a total of 1,255. He squatted 405, benched 250 and deadlift 600. Tyler Kemp (123) was the next top Commodore with a third-place finish. He benched 95, squatted 175 and deadlifted 175 for a total of 445.

Kalen Coleman (198) and J.D. Driver (148) both finished in fourth place. Driver totaled an 840 thanks to a 340 squat, 155 bench and a 360 deadlift. Coleman squatted 380, benched 275 and deadlifted 475 to finish with a 1,080. John Chance (275) finished fifth for the Commodores with a 1,110. He squatted 375, benched 205 and deadlifted 500. Eli Johnson (308) also finished fifth in his weight class with 315 squat, 250 bench and a 400 deadlift for a total of 1,000. (February 1, 2012, Page 7)

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The announcement show at Irie on the Square gave the area’s top football players a nice platform to not only announce their college choices, but to also be recognized by the community for their excellence on the football field.

With so many commitments from Oxford, Lafayette and Water Valley — and the crazy 24 hours that was regarding Ole Miss’ recruiting efforts — we decided to combine all the articles (in their entirety) in the space below for your convenience:

Conard, Jackson headed to Itawamba I.C.C.

OHS Chargers trio picks Northwest

Itawamba, Holmes garner commits from ‘Dores

QB Beathard flips to Iowa; Judon switches to football (and Rebs pick up former UCF commitment)

‘Geaux Tigers, Baby’: ‘Dores Liggins makes his call for LSU

Photo gallery of QB Jeremy Liggins announcement

Photo gallery of RB Demarkous Dennis, LB Jamel Dennis and K/P Tyler Jackson (January 31, 2012)

“I just feel I made a great decision because I believe in LSU football, the coaching staff and the players that are down there. I was looking at a place that had a great head coach, that was going to be real to me from the start to the end, to be able to go out and compete with guys that are going to be on a national championship level,” Liggins said about choosing the Tigers. “I want to be there. That’s the thing about it, I want to go to a program that can help me get to the next level.”

Liggins, who accounted for 114 touchdowns during his three-year varsity career at LHS, has been recruited to play quarterback at LSU the entire time by Miles and his direct recruiter, defensive line coach Brick Haley. Liggins has built a strong relationship with the pair and said he felt Miles had always been honest about his role with LSU even as some doubted his ability to play quarterback at the next level.

“He’s been telling me I’m his guy ever since I came down there,” said Liggins, who said he knew it was going to be LSU a week ago despite a misinformed rumor he had dropped the Tigers. “Deep down inside, my heart was telling me LSU, to be in Baton Rouge. That’s what I wanted to do, that’s where I belong.”

Lafayette head coach Anthony Hart can back up those sentiments about the way Miles recruited his signal caller.

“Coach Miles told me that Jeremy was his pick, that he was the one he wanted. Coach Miles said he wanted a mobile guy, somebody that could move around back there,” Hart said. “I feel like they are going to be able to use Jeremy in their system.”

Hart added that he felt like LSU started to win Liggins over when Miles attended the Commodores’ game at Shannon this season.

“I didn’t really pay attention, but I know that he was there a long time. He was there before the game and stayed way past halftime. To me, that made a lasting impression,” said Hart, who told Liggins he would help in the recruiting process as much as he needed. “I had a lengthy conversation with Coach Miles (Monday) about Jeremy. He told me that he and his daughter and Jeremy took a walk together around the hotel on the visit. He told me how impressed he was with the way Jeremy treated his 8-year old daughter. I think Coach Miles cares about his players and I think that made a real impression on Jeremy.”

LSU had the No. 1 rated quarterback in the nation, Indiana’s Gunner Kiel, verbally committed at one time during the year before he ultimately enrolled early at Notre Dame. Liggins was asked about that situation by reporters who covered his commitment announcement and Liggins said Miles never wavered about him playing quarterback, even if Kiel remained a commit.

“I know that he was being truthful because he told me when they got that guy what the situation was going to be,” said Liggins, who told Miles he was coming Sunday. “I told him that I was going to stick with him and be his guy. He was true to me and stuck with me the whole time. LSU has been in my heart since day one.”

Liggins added he stuck with all three of his finalists — LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State — because they continued to recruit him as a quarterback and didn’t discuss moving him to another position on offense or defense like some have speculated about.

Some reporters questioned Liggins on why he decided to hold his announcement ceremony on the Square and so close to Ole Miss, his second choice in the process.

“It wasn’t really as hard as people made it out to be because I felt like I had to be respected because this is my hometown too, not just Ole Miss,” Liggins said. “I grew up here. I wasn’t just doing it to go against Ole Miss. I was doing it to support my hometown.”

The last few days and weeks of Liggins’ recruitment turned negative on various message boards as fans seemed to try and find ways to figure out where the standout signal caller was headed.

Liggins said he didn’t buy into any of the negativity that appeared late in the process as he emerged as one of the last top players from Mississippi to be uncommitted.

Liggins did say prior to making his announcement on the show that the recruiting process had been stressful and he was looking forward to making his decision.

“People are going to say negative stuff regardless. I keep living. I put all that behind me. I keep looking forward. I’m not worried about all what people say about me,” Liggins said. “I was aware (people said I couldn’t play quarterback). They’re going to say what they want to say. It’s all about what you do when you get out there on that field. I’m a quarterback, an SEC quarterback.

“I know there are going to be guys my size out there that are going to be bigger, faster, stronger. It’s all about how you prepare.”

Liggins helped lead LHS to a 46-2 mark in three seasons, lead the ‘Dores to three appearances in the Class 4A state title game and back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.

Liggins can sign his National Letter of Intent to make his verbal commitment binding Wednesday. (January 31, 2012, Page 8)

Six Commodores are headed to play at Itawamba Community College next season, while a few others are sprinkled all over the rest of North Mississippi. The Indians turn out to be the biggest benefactor of Lafayette’s immense talent as they gained commitments from running back Demarkous Dennis, linebacker Jamel Dennis, defensive tackle D.Q. Reynolds, place-kicker Tyler Jackson, offensive lineman D’Andre Greer and defensive end Keeyon Tyson. All but Tyson and Greer made their verbal pledge on Monday night’s Sports Roundup Commitment Show held live at Irie on the Square.

Two other Commodores, defensive back Jeremiah Jones and tight end Dylan Gossett, chose to play for Holmes in Goodman.
“I’ll be able to go (to games) now. There are quite a few (Commodores) out there now. I won’t have to worry about Fridays so much. I think a big thing they will take wherever they go is the winning they have in them. They have always done the things that you have to do to be successful on the football field. I think wherever they go, that winning will breed a little more winning,” Hart said. “Those guys have meant a lot to me as young men and players. It feels like they are a part of my family. I’m just so happy for them that so many are getting a chance to keep playing.”

Staying together
Demarkous Dennis, who rushed for 2,464 yards and scored 35 touchdowns this year, was the first of a trio of players to announce to ICC. He was followed by his brother, Jamel, who had 154 tackles and 13 sacks his senior season.

“It’s something special to keep playing with your brother,” Hart said. “They’ve spent many hours playing together as brothers. I know there is something special about those two playing together. They’re comfortable with each other and all those guys are comfortable with each other.”

Jackson appeared on stage with the Dennis brothers and he made his pick surrounded by his family, including his grandfather, Justice Court Judge Johnny Wayne McLarty, who also doubles as the team’s video coordinator. Jackson capped a successful career by scoring 95 points on the year and averaging 36.4 yards per punt. He said he enjoyed kicking field goals and extra points more than punting during Monday’s show.

“I’m going with my boy at the end, Holmes Community College,” Gossett said moments after Jones made his selection during the show. “I feel like the coaches were real. I felt like I wasn’t lied to and I like the coaching staff. I prayed about it. Me and my dad had a talk and I felt right at home. It was the place for me.”

“I prayed about it and it felt real good. I got a chance to spend some one-on-one time and get my focus and get my business done, so I picked Holmes,” Jones added about becoming a Bulldog. (January 31, 2012, Page 8)

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Miles attended Lafayette’s regular season game against Shannon to get a better look at Liggins and also made an in-home visit with the signal caller and his family following the season. Liggins visited LSU officially Jan. 20-22 and came away very impressed with what the Tigers had to offer, saying he had a great visit and that he felt a part of the family.

Liggins threw for 1,660 yards and ran for 987 yards this past season. He accounted for 114 touchdowns during his three-year varsity career. Liggins was named to the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic this year and is regarded as one of the Top 150 players in the nation by ESPN.com.

The first day high school football players can sign is Wednesday.

For more on Liggins’ commitment to LSU, see Tuesday’s Sports pages in the Oxford EAGLE. (January 30, 2012)

Liggins is scheduled to make his announcement at Irie on the Square on the weekly Sports Roundup TV show at approximately 7:30. (January 30, 2012, Page 1B)