McCluster signs with Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs announced the signing of former Ole Miss standout Dexter McCluster on Wednesday.

McCluster, who signed a four-year contract, was a second-round draft pick by the Chiefs and 36th selection overall.

McCluster had more than 1,700 all-purpose yards during his senior year at Ole Miss, the second highest season total in school history. He's expected to compete for the Chiefs' starting slot receiver position.

Kansas City also signed Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas to a four-year deal. Arenas was also a second-round pick.

Ole Miss completes 2011 football scheduling

Ole Miss announced its complete 2011 football schedule Wednesday, including a home meeting with Louisiana Tech on Nov. 12.

The deal with the Bulldogs was finalized this week and concludes the Rebels' non-conference scheduling through 2012. Ole Miss boasts an 8-1 all-time edge in the Tech series, including a 24-0 homecoming win in 2007.

As previously announced, the Rebels' 2011 season kicks off with national-power Boise State in Oxford, while other non-conference games include Southern Illinois at home and Fresno State on the road.Highlighting the SEC slate will be home dates with Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and LSU, while conference road trips will be to Vanderbilt, Auburn, Kentucky and Mississippi State.

The 2012 campaign begins the highly-anticipated two-game series with Texas, as the Longhorns will come to Oxford. Other non-conference opponents will be Tulane and Central Arkansas, with UAB on the road.

In other non-league scheduling news, the Georgia Tech series has shifted years. The home encounter is now planned for Sept. 9, 2017, while the return trip to Atlanta is set for Sept. 5, 2018.

Stricklin: MSU football season ticket sales nearing record

Mississippi State's football program is closing in on a new season ticket sales record.

Athletic director Scott Stricklin said Wednesday in his weekly column on MSU's athletic website that 40,667 tickets have been sold, which includes the 11,000 allotted to students.

Stricklin says MSU is just 234 tickets short of the school record and says that's more than 2,100 ahead of last year's schedule.

The Bulldogs open the season Sept. 4 against Memphis.

Five MACJC football teams ranked in preseason poll

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Five teams from Mississippi, including defending state champion East Mississippi, are ranked in the NJCAA preseason top 25 football poll.

Gulf Coast is the highest-ranked team from the Magnolia State at No. 5.

East Mississippi, 19-3 over the last two seasons, is ranked No. 7.

Other Mississippi teams in the poll include Pearl River at No. 13, Jones at No. 19 and Northwest at No. 22.

Defending national champion Blinn College of Texas is the top-ranked team in the preseason poll.

Pontotoc wins state American Legion baseball title

Pontotoc scored six runs in the first inning on its way to a 14-3 victory Tuesday over Corinth to claim the state American Legion baseball title.

Lee Wilson hit a three-run homer to open the scoring, followed by a Jake Smithey two-run blast.

The Red Sox outscored its competition 72-11 in four games.

High school football practices kick off

It's still July, but area high school football teams began fall practice on Monday.

Several area teams have new head coaches, including Saltillo, which enters its first season under Pat Byrd.

Byrd spent the last decade as Amory's head coach.

"We want these kids to buy in to what we're doing, we want them to believe in themselves and their teammates," Byrd said Monday.

Stay tuned to WTVA and WLOV each weeknight for more area high school football previews.