Stories from Sunday, February 5, 2017

ain McWilliams played just one season for the Marshall County Tigers, but it’s a season the Tiger faithful won't soon forget. McWilliams, a transfer from Fayetteville City High was a dominant force on the widely feared Marshall County defense which culminated in a 4A Mr. Football runner-up finish, All-State, All-Midstate, and All-Region honors. On the recruiting trail, the star linebacker finished things off early by committing to Middle Tennessee State University towards the beginning of the season over offers from South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia State, UT-Martin, Jackson State, Mercer, Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay.

Lindsey Wilson College will add a second Tiger on the 2017 roster as defensive lineman Tae Tae Lyttle signed with the Blue Raiders on national signing day Wednesday morning at Marshall County High School. "On my official visit it just really felt like home," Lyttle said. "I was really impressed by the coaching staff. I feel like adapting to the system will be manageable."...

The Citadel Bulldogs signed a star in the making when Jay Howard inked his Letter of Intent Wednesday morning at Marshall County High School during national signing day. Howard, who college coaches have been keeping an eye on since a standout sophomore campaign chose the Bulldogs over several other schools, including Air Force, Cornell, Valparaiso, Morehead State, Tusculum, Georgetown (KY), Lindenwood, Arkansas Tech and Cincinnati Christian.

Glenville, West Virginia was anointed little Lewisburg on Wednesday when three of the most highly decorated players in Marshall County history signed with Glenville State during national signing day. Glenville State, a four-year public school located in the rural north central part of the state has been in operation since 1872 in the tiny town of just under 2,000 residents.

Wednesday morning at Forrest High School, Rocket all-purpose standout Slayton Wild signed a Letter of Intent to play football next season at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “I really appreciate all the opportunities that I had and all the schools that did offer me a scholarship,” Wild said. “But today is about my decision to sign with Wofford and I think it is the best decision I have ever made in my life.”

The Forrest Rockets have lost five District 9A games in a row, but three of them have been close setbacks, including a heartbreaking 55-51 loss to Huntland Tuesday night at Chapel Hill. "It seems like those guys fight so hard and not to get rewarded is tough to swallow,” Forrest coach Randy Toombs said. “I seem to be saying the same postgame remarks the last three games. ‘Keep your head up, you have nothing to be ashamed of, we just have to persevere and keep trucking on learning from our mistakes and at some point the ball will bounce our way’.”

Most Marshall County fans won't soon forget the Tigers’ heartbreaking seven-point loss to Cascade last season on Pink Out Night where the outcome was heavily influenced by questionable refereeing, which ultimately resulted in several ejections and a two-game suspension for MCHS coach Arnett Bodenhamer in the thick of district play.

Marshall County finished off last week with two losses by a combined 14 points against the number one and two teams in District 12AA and started off the week with a disappointing 37-point loss against 3A Lawrence County on Monday night. The following night provided the Tigerettes a chance to wipe the bad taste of three consecutive losses out of its mouth with a senior night game against Cascade (4-18, 2-7). Marshall County (10-11, 4-5) took that opportunity to get back on track and stay in the thick of the district race with a 51-36 win that was ultimately decided by the end of the first half with Marshall County in the lead, 28-14. "We took control from the beginning and that was what we kind of talked about before the game," Tigerette coach David Steely said. "We set a different tone tonight than we set last night against Lawrence County."