7/8/2009 6:00:00 PM
Tornadoes getting stronger as football season nears
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By STEVE SWOGETINSKY
Sports Editor
In less than a month, the Philadelphia High Tornado football team will be hitting the practice field. And it won't be too much longer before they open their 2009 campaign.
"We are having a good summer of weight training," coach Teddy Dyess said. "Right now, we have 27 players who are close to getting their names printed on their jersey. And 15 more are close to it."
Any Philadelphia player attending at least 24 weight lifting sessions during the summer gets his number printed on his jersey during the summer.
Among the players who are making their presence known this summer with the weightlifting are defensive tackle Jeremy Brown, linebacker Lejamie Hill, quarterback Lee Smith, Caleb Gamblin, Montreal Jordan, linebacker C.J. Johnson, kicker Latimer Smith, Keenan Williams, receivers Tyrick Patrick and Georgio Grace, Andrius Huddleston, Brandon Willis, Jimmy Jeffers, Aaron McCarty, Ray Luke, Tevin McNair and Kip Fulton.
Philadelphia will get its first taste of action Aug. 14 when it hosts a jamboree. Joining the Tornadoes will be Kosciusko, New Hope, Brandon and one other team to be named later. They open the season Thursday, Aug. 20, at South Leake.
The Tornadoes will be in uncharted territory this year as they move up in classification to compete in the Region 5-3A. Other teams in the division include Choctaw Central, Southeast Lauderdale, Clarkdale, Kemper County and Heidelberg.
"We are looking forward to the challenge," Dyess said. "We have 16-of-22 our starters returning plus our kicker and long snapper. We have been to the playoffs for the past two seasons and that has given us a lot of experience. If we can stay healthy, we could get hot and go deep into the playoffs. After the first round, everybody is even and I like our chances."
The Tornadoes are coming off a 9-3 season last year that saw them advance to the second round of the playoffs where they were eliminated by Bassfield.
Philadelphia has been playing seven-on-seven games this summer and Dyess has liked what he has seen, especially in senior receiver/defensive back Georgio Grace.
"We finally have Georgio well," Dyess said. "He injured his ankle in the third game last year and was never 100 percent. But he has really looked good this summer. He made some great catches and was jumping up and deflecting passes. He really looked good."
The Tornadoes will be attending a lineman camp at East Mississippi Community College later this month.
Philadelphia Tornadoes
2009 Football Schedule
Aug. 14 - New Hope
(jamboree)
Aug. 20 - at South Leake
Aug. 28 - at McLain
Sept. 4 - at Neshoba Central
Sept. 11 - at West Lowndes
Sept. 18 - Kosciusko
Sept. 25 - Newton
Oct. 2 - Clarkdale *
Oct. 9 - at SE Lauderdale *
Oct. 16 - at Heidelberg *
Oct. 23 - Kemper County *
Oct. 30 - at Choctaw Cen. *
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