Post by rkb on Jun 22, 2008 12:07:12 GMT -5
www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=275216&pub=1&div=Sports
MudCats pull together, pull off road win
6/22/2008 2:50:44 AM
Daily Journal
BY BILLY BYLER
The Augusta Chronicle
AUGUSTA, Ga. - The new coach said he had "the best seat in the house," and it was the perfect place to watch Saturday night's convincing victory.
The Mississippi MudCats, rocked when their top three coaches quit on Thursday, pinned a 36-21 defeat on the Augusta Colts to improve to 12-1.
"We had nine coaches on the field for every play," said William McCarthy, the line coach who was named interim head coach after Brian Brents and his key assistants quit in a dispute about compensation. "We were going to find out if we had a bunch of individuals or a real team. And we have a real team."
Quarterback Aries Nelson, who entered the game with only five passing attempts all season, completed 11 of 26 passes for 165 yards and threw three touchdowns, two to Josh Smith.
"For a man who's never started he had a great night," McCarthy said. "He was tremendous. I can't say enough about him."
Rico McDonald caught one scoring pass from Nelson and also rushed for a TD.
The Mudcats trailed 6-4 after the first quarter, but Nelson found Smith on a 32-yard touchdown strike for a 10-6 lead on the second play of the second quarter.
The Mudcats never trailed again.
Receiver Darryl Carter, a high school football assistant coach, took over the playcalling duties and the team picked apart the Colts' defense for most of the night.
"We did OK,"Carter said. "We were looking for the best matchups and went with that. We had something to prove tonight."
The Mudcats' defense held Augusta (7-7) to its lowest offensive output of the season. The home team was shut out in the third quarter and scored only eight second-half points.
McCarthy was quick to deflect the credit.
"All I can say is the previous coaches did a great job getting this team set up," he said. "They came together like nothing I've ever seen. When your backs are against the wall is when you find out what you're made of. Tonight we proved we're a team."
The MudCats close out their regular season next Saturday at Fayetteville, N.C.
Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 6/22/2008, section C , page 1
MudCats pull together, pull off road win
6/22/2008 2:50:44 AM
Daily Journal
BY BILLY BYLER
The Augusta Chronicle
AUGUSTA, Ga. - The new coach said he had "the best seat in the house," and it was the perfect place to watch Saturday night's convincing victory.
The Mississippi MudCats, rocked when their top three coaches quit on Thursday, pinned a 36-21 defeat on the Augusta Colts to improve to 12-1.
"We had nine coaches on the field for every play," said William McCarthy, the line coach who was named interim head coach after Brian Brents and his key assistants quit in a dispute about compensation. "We were going to find out if we had a bunch of individuals or a real team. And we have a real team."
Quarterback Aries Nelson, who entered the game with only five passing attempts all season, completed 11 of 26 passes for 165 yards and threw three touchdowns, two to Josh Smith.
"For a man who's never started he had a great night," McCarthy said. "He was tremendous. I can't say enough about him."
Rico McDonald caught one scoring pass from Nelson and also rushed for a TD.
The Mudcats trailed 6-4 after the first quarter, but Nelson found Smith on a 32-yard touchdown strike for a 10-6 lead on the second play of the second quarter.
The Mudcats never trailed again.
Receiver Darryl Carter, a high school football assistant coach, took over the playcalling duties and the team picked apart the Colts' defense for most of the night.
"We did OK,"Carter said. "We were looking for the best matchups and went with that. We had something to prove tonight."
The Mudcats' defense held Augusta (7-7) to its lowest offensive output of the season. The home team was shut out in the third quarter and scored only eight second-half points.
McCarthy was quick to deflect the credit.
"All I can say is the previous coaches did a great job getting this team set up," he said. "They came together like nothing I've ever seen. When your backs are against the wall is when you find out what you're made of. Tonight we proved we're a team."
The MudCats close out their regular season next Saturday at Fayetteville, N.C.
Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 6/22/2008, section C , page 1
