By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Item Sports Editor

JACKSON — Picayune standout two-way lineman Jonathan Billups was selected to compete for the Mississippi team in the annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.

The prestigious game takes place Saturday, Dec. 13th in Mobile, Ala., at legendary Ladd-Peebles Stadium. This is the 22nd edition of the all-star affair.

“I am proud of Jon, this is a big honor for him,” Picayune head coach Dodd Lee said. “He is a fine football player and a fine person. He deserves this.”

Billups, who starts at both offensive tackle and defensive tackle for the playoff bound Maroon Tide, was selected as a defensive lineman for the game but could play on both sides of the ball.

This is the third straight time Picayune has had a player picked for the game, a school record.

The Mississippi team that was announced on Wednesday consists of: quarterbacks Tyler Russell, Meridian; Jamie Collins, Franklin County; running backs Tracey “Pound” Lampley, Wayne County; Isaiah Newsome, Petal; Kendrick Hardy, Lawrence County; LaDarius Perkins, Greenville St. Joseph, recievers Patrick Patterson, Noxubee County; Kevin Norwood, D’Iberville; Billy Hamilton, Taylorsville; Chad Bumphis, Tupelo; Tevin Blanchard, Aberdeen and offensive linemen Aubrey Phillips, Olive Branch; Don Blevins, South Panola; Devin Slayton, Lafayette County; Sam Marshall, Itawamba AHS; Jamie McCoy, Hattiesburg; Fred Smith, Newton County; Brandon Bender, Laurel

On defense, linemen William Shumpert, Itawamba AHS; Jon Billups, Picayune; Josh Boyd, Philadelphia; LaDerrian Cook, Bassfield; DeAuntray Payne, Tupelo, ends and linebackers Deontae Skinner, Noxubee County; Willie Daniels, Wayne County; Fletcher Cox, Yazoo City; David Conner, South Panola; Will Martin, Madison Central; Marvin Burdette, South Panola and defensive backs Rod Woodson, Olive Branch; Khairi Usher, Meridian; Charles Harris, Charleston; Martez Thompson, Pascagoula; Keshun Cowan, Olive Branch; Montez Phillips, Lafayete County.

The athlete is Dennis Thames, Louisville and Travis Bradley, Pascagoula will kick.