[12/13/01]Brett Morgan didn’t start playing safety until the fourth game of this season.

That was good enough, though, for a spot on the Mississippi Association of Coaches’ All-State team.

Morgan, who verbally committed to Mississippi State over the summer, will join Vicksburg High’s J.J. Brown and Andre Bennett on the first team.

Morgan also earned second-team all-state as a quarterback, while teammate Carlton Bradford earned second team all-state defensive back and tight end.

“It’s a big honor because I know there are plenty (of safeties) out there that are just as good,” Morgan said. ” … If it wasn’t for my teammates and the success we had, I wouldn’t be there. All-state for one player at Warren Central is all-state for the whole team. There were no heroes on this team. We all played together and this award is for us.”

As a quarterback, Morgan threw for 1,156 yards and nine touchdowns in leading the Vikings to their first playoff win since 1995. At safety he had 38 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception.

Morgan was also the county’s top punter with a 38.3 yard average on 50 attempts. He made first team all-state as a punter last year.

Bennett, a mammoth 6-foot-5, 350-pound offensive lineman who is being recruited heavily by LSU, Kentucky and Memphis, helped the Gators rush for more than 3,000 yards and Justin Henry to pass for more than 1,600.

“My coaches acknowledged me the whole year, but to know other coaches recognized me, that makes me feel better,” the soft-spoken Bennett said. “I wish more of our guys could have gotten picked, because I feel we have more of the best in the state.”

Bennett plans to share this with the “Lights Out Squad,” the nickname of VHS’ huge offensive line.

Brown, the 2000 Vicksburg Post Offensive Player of the Year, burned opposing defenses for 1,161 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. He also had 28 catches for 502 yards and four TDs.

Brown averaged nine yards every time he touched the ball.

“The L.O.S. helped open those holes,” Bennett said. “When the backs got their numbers and looked good, we looked good.”

Brown was more than happy to share the credit with not only the line, but fullback Phelan Gray, who also rushed for more than 1,000 yards and had 20 touchdowns.

“We had a good year because of the offensive line,” Brown said. “If it weren’t for Phelan, defenses would always key on me. If they keyed on me, Phelan did his job and when they keyed on him, I did mine.”

Bradford earned second team All-State honors as a tight end and a cornerback. He led the county with 32 catches for 574 yards and six TDs. As a defensive back, he had 27 tackles and an interception.

“He was very deserving and probably should have made first team,” Morgan said of his favorite target. “He stepped up for us since he was a sophomore and he did it again this year.”