Count Marcellus Singleton among the few who foresaw Leflore County’s Cinderella run all the way to Saturday’s Class 2A state championship against Scott Central.
The winningest head coach in Tigers’ history and the namesake for their Itta Bena stadium, Singleton wasn’t surprised by the success this season because he spent three decades helping to lay the foundation for it. Several current players are second-generation Leflore athletes whose family members played for Singleton during his 30-year tenure with the Tigers.
“I expected this group to do well because 90% of the kids playing now are kids of my former football players,” Singleton said. “That’s a blessing because football was instilled into those kids from day one. So did I expect them to do this? I sure did.”
Senior star Dekari “Turbo” Johnson is the nephew of one of Singleton’s players, Anthony Smith, whom he calls “one of the best defensive players to ever come through Leflore.”
“He was big and fast and you couldn’t get away from him,” Singleton said of Smith.
Johnson has been the motor that makes Leflore’s offense run this year, totaling 1,091 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns to go along with 557 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The versatile playmaker has also found the end zone through the air and on special teams via punt return.
“It’s been really exciting to watch that kid,” Singleton said. “He’s an excellent kid and I hope some school will give that young man and Dezmond Ray an opportunity to show what they can do.”
Ray, Johnson’s partner-in-crime in the backfield, has racked up 808 rushing yards, four touchdowns and 21 2-point conversions on the ground. The junior has also been a factor in the passing game, hauling in 13 catches for 184 yards and two scores.
Standout defensive end Damarius Leflore’s dad, Damian, also played under Singleton. So did sophomore wide receiver Tavian Dean’s dad, Tavares, who started at quarterback and cornerback for the Tigers decades ago.
“When you’re in a small town, people have a tendency not to respect you,” Singleton said. “People throughout the state think that small towns don’t have the football that the other towns have, but that’s a mistake that they make. Some of the best football players come out of small towns.”
The Tigers may feed off their underdog spirit, but Singleton wants them to remember that they come from a long line of winning football.
“I want these kids to be successful Saturday,” Singleton said. “Leflore has always been a good football team in this state. You can’t say nobody knew about Leflore — I made sure of that.
“I made sure Leflore was represented every year,” he added. “I made sure we were tough as hell every day. I trained those kids just like I trained the people I commanded as a first sergeant in the United States military. And they bought into it. Leflore County will never be a loser, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart because I developed them along with my coaching staff, and Coach (Eric) House has continued to roll with that. But they’ll never be disrespected in football.”
- Contact Riley Overend at 662-581-7237 or roverend@gwcommonwealth.com.
