Wall: Coast players ready to represent in Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game
HATTIESBURG -- Brad Wall is hoping to be a busy man Saturday afternoon. The Ocean Springs High place-kicker would like nothing more than to be on the field -- a bunch -- at Southern Miss' M.M. Roberts Stadium. He is a member of the Mississippi All-Star team that is playing Alabama in the annual gridiron matchup.
Wall understands well that if he uses his leg a lot, it should be a good sign of how the team is doing.
"We've got a really solid offense with a lot of great athletes. The defense is going to keep them off the field. We should do pretty well," said Wall, who made 8 of 13 field goal attempts this year. "I know that I have a good line blocking for me. I'm not worried about them getting through. It's crazy how big these athletes are. I'm real confident in the snapper, the holder. We've gotten it together."
Team Mississippi has not won in the series for the past seven years. There has been a lot of talk about the long winning streak of Alabama coming to an end Saturday.
"A couple of us Coast guys are here to represent," Wall said adding the game was about another chance for him. "Hopefully it will open some doors. I'm hoping for a good day. That's what I'm hoping for, wishing for. I've been working hard getting ready for it. I'm feeling good, real confident."
George County tight end Brandon Walley is another Coast player who is looking to break the streak. He will be snapping to Wall. The two have gotten even closer over the past five days dressing next to each other at Hattiesburg High, the site of their practices.
"It's a lot of fun to be around some good players. I'm not used to doing that. It's neat to be around guys that are really that good," Walley said. "It's really a fun experience. Practice has been fun, a good chance to show what I've got compared to the other players."
Walley was confident that the Alabama winning streak would come to an end. He felt confident that Mississippi's talent on the defensive front was going to be the big a big key.
"It's the best I have ever seen. I think we'll win it, no doubt," he said.
About the only real bad news that the players had to deal with came before practice started when they learned Oxford quarterback Jack Abraham wouldn't be available to play due to injury. Walley really wanted to catch a pass from the Gatorade Player of the Year in Mississippi.
"It was upsetting. As a tight end, I was excited about Jack Abraham slinging them out there to me," Walley added. "(Laurel's) Keon Howard is a very good quarterback. He puts it on the spot. And then Vijay (Miller) from Itawamba is very good. I'm excited about them throwing it to me."
Saturday's kickoff is set for noon and will be televised on WLOX-ABC.
This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Wall: Coast players ready to represent in Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game ."