Local athletes to compete as MAIS All-Stars
Published 12:01 am Friday, November 30, 2012
JACKSON — Trinity Episcopal Day School seniors Tanner Cage and Sky Logan will get one more chance to play football together.
Logan and Cage, along with Centreville Academy’s Frasier Hogan and Randy Bell, and Wilkinson County Christian Academy’s Kaleb Sterling, Quincy Thompson and Taylor Prevost, were selected to play in the MAIS Classes A and AA All-Star game at 4 p.m. today at Mississippi College.
As a running back, Cage spent a lot of time running behind Logan, who played offensive line for the Saints, and Cage said he was glad to be lining up alongside his teammate today.
“It’s very fun to play with him,” Cage said.
Logan also said he was excited to team up with Cage and represent his school.
“(Trinity) had a down year the last two years (not winning a state title),” Logan said. “Me and Tanner want to prove we’re still here, and we still got it.
“It’s a big deal. This is the last time we’ll get to play football as teammates. I can’t wait to play.”
Cage said getting selected for the All-Star game wasn’t on his mind during the season, but he was honored once he found out he was going.
“We were too busy trying to win a state championship with my teammates, but I’m happy about it,” Cage said.
Logan also said his primary goal was to win state, but being an All-Star was nice, too — especially since it’s a chance to put him on some college coaches’ radars.
“There’s going to be a lot of college scouts there, and I have something to prove,” Logan said. “I want to show them that I can play with anyone.”
Centreville Academy assistant coach Brian Stutzman said Hogan played a versatile role on both the offensive and defensive lines. Stutzman said Hogan was the team’s most valuable defensive player and led the team in tackles.
“He’s a great kid to be around and coach,” Stutzman said. “He did anything we asked him to do.”
After starting out on offensive line, Stutzman said Hogan moved to tight end late in the season to help nurse an injury.
“He’s just a talented all-around kid,” Stutzman said.
Bell was the Tigers’ leading rusher with almost 1,400 yards on the season, Stutzman said. Despite splitting carries with Colton Terrell — who also had more than 1,000 yards rushing — Stutzman said Bell had a good attitude about it.
“He’s a very unselfish player, and he was also a leader for us on defense in the secondary,” Stutzman said. “He’s just a great all-around player.”
WCCA head coach David Wright said Sterling broke 1,000 yards rushing on the season and also punted well for the Rams.
“He’s a big-game performer,” Wright said. “When the lights came on, he improved that much more.”
Linebacker Quincy Thompson was a defensive captain and had a heart and desire not to give up when things got tough, Wright said.
“He was a leader in the locker room, and he plays on the field with a motor that doesn’t stop,” Wright said.
Prevost, the Rams’ quarterback, did an excellent job leading the team despite having to learn an entirely new offense.
“We asked him to do a lot,” Wright said. “He accounted for 24 touchdowns, and coming into the season, he had never scored a touchdown. He played above expectations, and you can’t expect anything more than that.”