[12/5/03]JACKSON It’s been a long season for Briarfield Academy coach Lance Prine.

His Rebels (9-4) reached the Academy-A playoffs with a wild-card berth. They narrowly won a pair of playoff games before losing 34-20 in the North State title to eventual Academy-A champion Heidelberg.

“I did a lot of poor-mouthing all summer, but I knew we were capable of getting in the playoffs,” Prine said.

With his team battling through injuries to an already small roster, Prine struggled to piece things together each week. Now he has a chance to relax.

For the first time in his career, Prine was chosen to coach the North squad in the MPSA All-Star game tonight at 6 at Mississippi College.

The only drawback to the honor is that Briarfield receiver Montellus Craft will be playing on the South team. Craft finished the year with 38 receptions for 600 yards and nine touchdowns, while also intercepting nine passes on defense.

Through the unique Academy-A playoff system, Briarfield as the wild card was placed in the North State side of the bracket, despite playing in a South State conference. Coaches are chosen based on the playoffs, while players are picked from their conferences.

“I had real mixed feelings about it and I almost turned it down,” Prine said.

He met with Craft and the rest of his players and asked if they had a problem with the situation.

“Half of them busted out laughing,” he said. “They told me go ahead, so I got their approval. I’m not worrying about anything else. It’s hard to pass up a week off from school.”

Prine will coach against a pair of familiar opponents from his conference in Sharkey-Issaquena offensive lineman Robert Wilson and Tallulah running back Cade Marsh, who ran for 1,546 yards and 22 TDs.

Central Hinds running back Craig Phillips will join Marsh in the South backfield. Phillips rushed for 1,282 yards and 12 TDs for the Cougars.

The South will also feature a pair of Tri-County defensive stars in James Morris and Edward Hayes. Morris, the Conference 4-A Defensive Player of the Year, notched more than 90 tackles and six sacks. Hayes racked up 80 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions for the Rebels.