Top running backs in area will be on field together

By Brad Greer

Two long-time rivals meet tonight as South Panola High School puts its unbeaten record on the line hosting Clarksdale High School in a 7 p.m kickoff at Robert H. Dunlap Stadium.

The Tigers lead the all-time series 23-11 over the Wildcats which included a 19-14 victory last year in Clarksdale.

South Panola (4-0) enters the contest No. 4 in both the Super Ten high school ranking and Class 6A polls according to mississippigridiron.com.

The Wildcats enter the game 3-1 on the season after falling to Cleveland Central 26-20 last week.

Two of the top running backs in the area go head-to- head as Clarksdale features senior Queston Skipper against Tiger counterpart Janari Dean.

The 5-foot-10,175-pound Skipper has been the center piece around the Wildcat offense that has generated 321 yards rushing per game.

Through four games, Skipper has 733 yards on 63 carries and nine touchdowns.

Dean meanwhile is averaging 180 yards per contest with 720 yards and five touchdowns.

The Dandy Dozen selection played sparingly in South Panola’s 57-0 romp over Meridian last Friday.

Clarksdale’s other offensive targets include senior running back Sammie Ray (43-319 5 TD’s) and wide receiver Joshua Hollins ( 6’,195) who has six receptions for 86 yards.

The Wildcats are led on defense by leading tackler junior middle linebacker De’Meric Strong (6’, 212) along with sophomore outside linebacker Justin Davis.

Seniors Zeilon Chestnut (6’2”, 250) and Kaleb Brown (6’, 250) anchor the Clarksdale interior line.

South Panola will counter with junior signal caller Anterrio Draper who tied a school record with five touchdown passes in last week. Former Tiger quarterback Lee Self also had five scoring strikes in 2010 versus Horn Lake.

Cameron Wright leads the South Panola receiving corps with seven receptions and three touchdowns while Ricky Farmer and Martez Clark follows with four catches each.