MRA ready for season opener with Prep

Southern Sports & Travel

For second year MRA head football coach Forrest Williams getting his system into place was a top priority last season and with the return of quarterback Matt Porter and a solid core around him Patriot fans are excited about what the 2012 season could bring. Under Williams the Patriots compiled a respectable 7-5 mark in 2011 that included yet another playoff appearance after finishing 4-2 in district play.

The 2011 version of MRA football produced 7 points more a game than the previous season and rewrote many Patriot team and individual records. Quarterback Matt Porter set a new MRA mark for single game passing touchdowns with 7 and the signal caller also broke the single game passing record with 503 yards last season.

While Porter is back for his senior season the Patriots will have the task of filling the vacancy left by wide-out Nick Everhart who as a senior was pivotal in the MRA passing attack. Everhart racked up 1,627 receiving yards last season as a senior, 295 of those yards were against Jackson Prep. Senior Will Trammell could fill that void as the wide-out is a deep ball threat to opposing defenses.

If MRA is to contend for their very first Division I championship they will have to do the obvious, take down Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep. Three of those five losses last season were to the two MAIS powers.

With the return of six starters on each side of the football and the addition of three exceptional transfers MRA may have one of their best chances in several seasons to be serious contenders to win that elusive Division I crown.

Two of those transfers will provide immediate spark to the Patriot squad and the other solid depth at the quarterback position.

Tailback Ramone Nash (Photo below) transferred in from Northwest Rankin where as a junior he rushed for 1,872 yards and 21 touchdowns. Nash is a physical, bruising tailback who never shies from contact and will team up with Zack Everhart in the backfield behind Porter.

Junior Jamarian Roberts made the move to MRA from Madison Central and will booster an already solid linebacker group.

Adding to the depth at quarterback will be University Christian transfer Caleb Shufelt. The junior passed for 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns last season as a sophomore and could get some quality playing time during the season.

MRA’s quest to win the school’s third state championship and first in Division I begins on the road next Friday night. The Patriots will face the team that ended their 2011 season, second ranked Jackson Prep, and according to head coach Forrest Williams getting his squad motivated will be the least of his worries.

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MRA Head Coach Forrest Williams