Published: July 17, 2008 09:20 am      

All-star football

By Rocky Higginbotham

sports editor

A trio of players from Lauderdale County will highlight the South squad in tonight's Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Classic.

The 59th annual Blackwell all-star game kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. at Mississippi College's Robinson-Hale Stadium. Pregame festivities begin at 6:30.

The South team, which will be coached by Todd Mangum of Ocean Springs, includes Meridian High School running back Cedric Blanks, Southeast Lauderdale defensive back Jerry Wallace and Northeast Lauderdale offensive lineman Alan Michael Quinn.

Northeast coach Steve Nelson is also serving as an assistant on the South squad, which also includes Newton County linebacker Guy Holden and Lake defensive lineman Jeremy Johnson.

The North team includes the Noxubee County trio of defensive back Andre Wright, linebacker Kenneth Roby and defensive lineman Javarius Conner. Jamie Mitchell of Itawamba AHS is the North head coach.

Tickets at the gate are $5.

Last year, the South won 21-13 to up its series lead to 26-24-4 under the current format.