Central Holmes Academy will be well represented at the small-school MAIS all-star football games this Friday.
Four Central Holmes players were named to the squad and coach Jim Crowder was named as an assistant coach on the team.
The Class 1A-2A-3A all-star game will be played at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Jackson Prep.
Making the team from Central Holmes are running back Wykece Johnson and linemen Robbie Rogers and James Windom. Also making the team as an alternate was Owen O’Bryant.
“We certainly feel like all four are deserving,” Crowder said. “Their stats kind of speak for themselves. All four of them are three-year starters and have meant a lot to this program. They have built a good foundation and left their mark on this program.”
Leading the way is Johnson who rushed for more than 1,800 yards this year and had 25 touchdowns, a year after rushing for 1,500 yards and 17 TDs in 2018.
“He had a great career,” Crowder said. “He’s a guy that in our league had to play both sides of the football and a lot of special teams. It’s a shame you never got to see him rested. He was the focal point of our offense. When you look back at our successful games, we found a way to get him loose in those game. And he made a ton of tackles for us on defense.”
Part of Johnson’s success can be attributed to two of the lineman who blocked for him in Rogers and Windom
Rogers is a 6-foot-3, 290-pounder who played left guard for the Trojans.
“Robbie made his name as a powerful offensive lineman,” Crowder said. “But where he really surprised people was on defense. He really stood out at nose guard. He was kind of the anchor of our offense and defensive lines.”
Joining Rogers up front is Windom, a 6-foot-4, 280-pounder.
“James was more of an offensive specialist,” Crowder said. “He is a prototypical left tackle. He was long and athletic. He did a really good job of run and pass blocking. We ran two out of every three plays behind those two guys. They have played a lot of football.”
Crowder said O’Bryant made the team as an alternate and it’s likely he will be able to play.
“Owen is a guy that played every snap at corner for us,” Crowder said. “He’s tall and long and very athletic. He didn’t have a ton of catches and probably wishes we would have thrown more to him but when we did, he was the guy we targeted. He also had a great season kicking the football. He made 47 out of 50 PATs and 8 of 10 field goals and two of those were from 40 yards or more.”
Crowder said he is looking forward to coaching in the game, where he will be an assistant for Carroll Academy coach Bo Milton. After the teams are selected, the coaches draft the teams. Johnson and Windom will be on Crowders team while Rogers is on the other squad.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Crowder said. “I think I will be working with the defense.”
