| |
By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
It was a big evening in Murfreesboro for three
Carroll County high school football players.
For one, it was huge.
Huntingdon senior Terrance Bell, who had a
record-setting prep season, put a lid on a successful
high school career by capturing the MVP of the East-West
Shriners All-Star game at MTSU.
Bell ran 12 times for 78 yards and earned top honors for
the West team. The West defeated the East 37-7. Bell
didn't score, but opened the eyes of the MVP voters.
"It was a huge surprise; I didn't expect it," Bell said.
"This is a great way to go out."
Bell also caught three passes for 10 yards.
Huntingdon senior and Tennessee State signee Kenneth
Hillsman and McKenzie senior and Sewanee-bound John
Craig Howell got their share of playing time. Howell
(linebacker) and Hillsman (defensive tackle) earned
starting spots. Bell came in off the bench.
"The competition was what I expected, but there were a
lot of D-1 players and everybody there was big," said
Bell. "But I didn't feel left out at all."
Bell scampered for a record 321 yards and six touchdowns
in the Blue Cross Bowl last Dec. 5 and earned the state
championship offensive MVP trophy for his work. Still,
Bell felt like he had something to prove.
"When I got on the field, I just wanted respect from
people who doubted me," he said. "I started out slow and
then got into a groove. It felt good to get back out
there."
Bell said he has narrowed his college choices down to
Cumberland, Bethel and Lambuth and plans to make his
choice soon.
Hillsman said he was pleased with Bell's accolades.
"He found his groove. I think he might have been
overlooked by some of the coaches because of his size,"
Hillsman said. "He showed them that he can go with the
best of them."
Hillsman also had praise for Howell.
"Howell made some good plays at linebacker," he said.
"It was good to see that people from this area made a
big impact like we did."
Howell also was in on five stops against the East.
Hillsman said the East-West game was beneficial in many
ways. He said playing against other Division 1 prospects
was a confidence boost he'll need when he laces them up
at TSU.
"It was good to see that I held my own against that
level of competition," he said.
