South Pike already had enough to worry about heading into Wednesday’s practice.
The Eagles, who are still searching for their first win of the season, were trying to figure out how to defend Wilkinson County standout and LSU commitment Devin Voorhies for Friday’s 7:30 p.m. non-conference game.
Then, South Pike coach Michael Andrews received word that his star player, William James, is likely out for the season with an ACL tear.
Talk about dumping fuel on the fire.
“It’s a big loss for us,” Andrews said. “William, we had big plans for him. He was one of the particular reasons we were so successful last year offensively.”
Andrews said there is not an official diagnosis for James yet, but doctors are almost certain he suffered a torn ACL. The injury occurred Aug. 24 against McComb when James’ knee was twisted in the pile. He has been unable to put pressure on it since.
James was South Pike’s leading rusher with 102 yards and a touchdown in its first two games.
“He’s a leader. He’s a senior and it really hurts me to not have him for the remainder of the season,” Andrews said. “Not only for his future as a player here at South Pike but William has the ability to play at the next level and I hate for this to hurt his chances of playing at the next level.”
Senior Destin McGhee will get the nod Friday against Wilkinson County. Also in the mix is sophomore Jamorris Shaw and freshman Marquez Andrews.
The left-handed McGhee played sparingly against McComb but has the mobility and the arm to lead Andrews’ shotgun spread offense.
If South Pike needs to run, Shaw is likely the player it will turn to.
“We will evaluate the quarterbacks day by day,” Michael Andrews said. “(Destin) is getting all the reps now.”
James was never a threat to throw the football but neither was South Pike as a team. He was arguably the Eagles’ best player, which is why Andrews built the offense around him.
Now South Pike must turn its attention to Voorhies, who is among Mississippi’s most talented juniors after verbally committing to LSU during the summer.
The 6-foot-2-inch, 185-pound Voorhies is 15 of 26 for 266 yards with three touchdowns and has accumulated 124 rushing yards and a TD.
Voorheis is the second area player to commit to LSU this season. Jewel Sumner defensive back Jeremy Cutrer gave his commitment to the Tigers last April.
Andrews is taking it with a grain of salt, however.
“That doesn’t really matter to us. We’ve played against top Division I players before and had pretty good success defensively,” he said. “We have been studying film on him. ... He’s an excellent athlete.”
South Pike held Voorhies in check as a sophomore last season to just 48 total yards and an interception in the Eagles’ 43-6 win.
