Grenada a virtual unknown for OHS

Oxford High football fans who attend Friday night’s game in Grenada should make sure and pick up a program. Not only will there be several new faces on the sideline for the Chargers, but Grenada is expected to field a young team led by first-year coach Ashley Kuhn.

Kuhn comes to Grenada after spending a season at Itawamba AHS. His name is familiar to locals who follow prep football because he served as Anthony Hart’s offensive coordinator at Lafayette a few seasons. (more…) (August 18, 2011, Page 1B)

Young Chargers give great effort in setback

Oxford may be young in spots heading into the start of the 2011 season, but those same youngsters showed they have some talent and grit in the right spots moving forward.

The Chargers may have lost their jamboree game, 14-7, to Shannon on Friday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, but coach Johnny Hill saw a good number of reasons to be optimistic about this week’s season opener at Grenada.

Defensively, OHS gave the experienced Red Raiders all they could handle up front, while the running game, led by senior tailback Mont Dean, produced more than a handful of successful gains against a defensive unit that returns everyone from a season ago. (August 15, 2011, Page 1B)

Chargers hit the ground running Monday

Oxford football coach Johnny Hill and his staff don’t have the luxury of wasting a lot of practice time getting the Chargers in shape. With a jamboree less than two weeks away, and the start of the 2011 season in 17 days, Hill is doing his best to make sure his team is ready when the ball is kicked off later this month.

The Chargers opened preparations for the season opener at Grenada on Monday with two practice sessions that focused on fundamentals, special teams and other various drills. Unlike last season when high school teams across the state had three weeks to prepare for the first jamboree, this year teams only have two full weeks and each practice session counts a little bit more. (August 2, 2011, Page 6)

Young Chargers gain experience in Classic

The opportunity to play several newcomers and get in better condition heading into the start of summer practice sessions were the two highlights Oxford coach Johnny Hill took away from this weekend’s O-Zone Classic.

Oxford’s varsity and junior varsity squads — Hill made two teams for the tournament after Vardaman dropped out — were unable to compete and win a title in the tournament held at FNC Park, but there were other things that were accomplished. (more…) (July 11, 2011, Page 6)

Adamson, Elliott still working to be No. 1 QB

Oxford’s quarterbacking tandem of Parker Adamson and William Elliott had its ups and downs this weekend at the O-Zone Classic 7-on-7 tournament held at FNC Park.

During the Chargers’ two games on Saturday, Elliott earned the bulk of the work and completed 16 of 27 passes for five touchdowns while also throwing one interception in six possessions.

Adamson, meanwhile, completed five of 13 passes for one touchdown in two possessions in Oxford’s first game against Saltillo. (July 11, 2011, Page 6)

O-Zone Classic begins Friday at FNC Park

The community’s first opportunity to get a glimpse of this season’s prep football teams comes this weekend at the second annual O-Zone Classic. The two-day 7-on-7 tournament begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. Oxford, Lafayette and Water Valley join seven other teams from around the North Mississippi area in the tournament.

Brad Freeman, FNC’s Planning and Marketing Director, said the success of last year’s inaugural tournament was more than enough of a reason to host teams again. (July 7, 2011, Page 6)

Swindall will lead 8th-grade Chargers

Perry Swindall just couldn’t stay away from the football field.

Swindall had left the coaching ranks after two seasons at LaFayette (Ga.) and relocated his family to Oxford to be able to watch his son, Evan, play for Ole Miss. (more…) (June 28, 2011, Page 7)

Nash promoted to OHS Associate AD

One of the most successful coaches at Oxford High School will be trying to help the rest of his colleagues reach even greater heights in the coming years. OHS tennis coach Louis Nash was officially approved as Oxford’s new Associate Athletics Director by the school board on Monday. (more…) (June 9, 2011, Page 6)

Area football teams shaking the rust off

Football practice may still be almost two months away, but high school teams have already gotten a jump on the 2011 season with work on the passing game, both from an offensive and defensive standpoint.

Every Monday night during the summer, Oxford’s Bobby Holcomb Stadium becomes a busy place as teams from around the area stop by to compete in 7-on-7 games that feature a lot of throwing, catching and defending on the part of cornerbacks, safeties and linebackers trying to cover everyone on offense. (more…) (June 8, 2011, Page 6A)

Oxford’s Nash honored by MHSAA

COLUMN: Oxford High tennis coach Louis Nash doesn’t like to brag about his long list of accomplishments. Never has, likely never will.

It’s rare to find a coach, in any sport, that has done as much as Nash has done at three different high schools. From his first team title at Laurel in 1982, to the amazing string of championships he has won at OHS, Nash’s record and dedication to his players speaks for itself. (more…) (April 7, 2011, Page 6)