The awards keep on rolling in for Carroll Academy quarterback Morgan Mims, who was recently named the Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year by the MAIS.
Mims had one of the best rushing seasons in the state with 2,024 yards, which led all MAIS athletes and was eighth in the state high school ranks.
“I don’t care what anybody says, 2,000 yards is a special season,” Carroll head football coach Bo Milton said. “He’s just a special player who had a special year. I certainly think the honor is deserving. He set the school records for points scored in a season. It was really a special season.”
From Winona Christian, Choyce Diffey was named the Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year after having 48 tackles and an astounding 12 interceptions. On offense, Diffey had 954 yards receiving on 40 catches with 12 touchdowns.
“He may have had as good a season as any one person I have ever had,” Winona Christian coach Junior Graham said. “If I have had a better one, it would be (former Weir High School and Mississippi State standout) Dicenzo Miller. We didn’t plan on him playing both sides but as we started preparing for the year, he looked better and better at safety and ended up with 12 interceptions. He scored every way you can score except for a punt return. He had a really special year.”
Mims was joined on the team by Carroll teammates Reese Fulton, who was also a member of the all-state team last year, along with offensive lineman Cooper Beck. Austin Smith and Hogan Costilow also joined the team on the offensive line. Rounding out the team is Logan Taylor, who made the team on defense.
“We had a really good year running the football,” Milton said. “I’m proud of Morgan and his 2,000 yards but we ran for more than 4,000 yards as a team. That means that the rest of the team ran for more than 2,000 yards. And if Hunter Brackin didn’t get hurt, he would have easily ran for more than 1,000 yards.”
Winona Christian’s Diffey is joined on the team by WCS offensive threat Dalton Wiggins had had 855 yards rushing on 111 carries and 837 yards receiving on 56 catches.
Four Winona Christian players also made the defensive team. Leading the way there was Hayden Self who recorded 119 tackles and six sacks. He is joined by senior Ben Pinkard, who had 101 tackles. Also making the team was Latham Hill (66 tackles), Thomas Costilow and Reed Roberts, all of whom played in the MAIS All-Star football game along with Pinkard.
