From JCJC Sports Information
ELLISVILLE – Six Jones County Junior College football players will participate in Saturday's 36th annual MACJC All-Star Classic at Keenum Stadium on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville.
Defensive back DeAntrae McInnis (5-9, 170), wide receiver Rafael Pollard (5-10, 175) and offensive lineman Darrell Leopold (6-3, 330), all of Laurel, along with offensive lineman Preston Cochran (6-3, 290) of Northeast Jones, linebacker Marcus Pierce (5-11, 185) of West Jones and punter/placekicker Jacob Chancellor (6-1,185) of Quitman will all represent the South team in Saturday's 1 p.m. contest.
McInnis, a cornerback, had an outstanding season for the Bobcats. He led the team and was one of the leaders in the state with five pass interceptions, including one he returned 99 yards for a touchdown in a 27-10 victory over Pearl River. McInnis had 29 solo tackles, 10 assists and two tackles for losses.
Pierce was one of the top tacklers on the team and in the state. Pierce finished the season with 42 solos, 15 assists, one pass interception, six tackles for losses, one quarterback sack and one forced fumble.
Pollard had 12 pass receptions for 221 yards and one touchdown.
Cochran and Leopold were both stalwarts in the JCJC offensive line. Cochran started every game at right guard and Leopold started every game at center.
Chancellor was 26-of-27 on extra points, made 10 field goals (including a long of 42 yards), averaged over 36 yards per punt and also caught a 27-yard touchdown pass on a fake field goal attempt vs. East Mississippi in the MACJC semifinals.
Gene Murphy and his staff from Hinds will coach the South team, while Jay Miller and his staff from Mississippi Delta will coach the North team.
Every team except state champion East Mississippi and runnerup Gulf Coast will be represented in the game. EMCC outgunned Gulf Coast 75-71 in the state title game on Nov. 7 and both teams are bowl bound.
Gulf Coast will meet Navarro (Texas) on Saturday in the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl in Copperas Cove, Texas. EMCC will face Arizona Western Community College on Dec. 6 in Biloxi in the second annual Mississippi Bowl.
The South won last year's All-Star game, 16-14, but the North leads the series, 17-16-2.
