[12/21/03]TALLULAH When he was a sophomore, Cade Marsh spent most of his time on the defensive side of the ball terrorizing opposing quarterbacks with his coverage skills. By the time he was a senior, that part of his game had faded a little.

“One of our guys went down this year and I had to go in at cornerback, and I looked like I had no idea what I was doing,” Marsh said with a laugh.

Fortunately, the deterioration of Marsh’s ability to cover a receiver was the result of a switch from defensive back to linebacker. For the past two seasons he has been giving running backs fits instead of quarterbacks, and spearheading one of the top defensive units in academy football.

Marsh totaled 94 tackles for Tallulah Academy this season, ranking second on a defense that allowed only 10 points per game and posted five shutouts. Porters Chapel beat Tallulah 7-6 early in the season, but returned a kickoff for a score for its only points of the game. Only two teams, Briarfield and Trinity, scored more than 14 points against the Trojans.

The defense, which has allowed an average of 9.7 points per game over the last two seasons, carried the Trojans to a second straight Conference 5-A championship and the South State title game. Marsh’s versatility, athleticism, and instincts allowed him to play several different positions when needed, and carried him to The Vicksburg Post’s Area Defensive Player of the Year Award.

“Not only did he have the quickness and the speed to play, he had a nose for the football and an ability to read, and he always seemed to be in a position to make a play,” said Porters Chapel Academy coach Bubba Mims, who has coached against Marsh for the past four seasons. “I’m glad I don’t have to look at him anymore.”

Marsh’s career on the defensive side of the ball has evolved over the past three years. In 2001, he grabbed eight interceptions at defensive back. Last season, he switched to a roving linebacker position and had 86 tackles and three interceptions. This season he was more of a standard linebacker and saw his tackle total increase slightly.

“I think if I’d have stayed at defensive back it would have been a better position. I’m kind of a smaller linebacker. But I like linebacker, too,” Marsh said.

Ironically, Marsh’s football life seems to be coming full circle. He played defensive back in the MPSA All-Star game and figures to be a safety on the college level. TCU, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas and a number of smaller four-year schools and junior colleges have shown interest in him.

“I’m going to try for free safety,” Marsh said. “That’s where my coach said I ought to play, and where I think I ought to play, too.”

As good as Marsh was on defense throughout his high school career, he was even better on offense. The 2002 Vicksburg Post Area Offensive Player of the Year, Marsh was an easy choice as the Conference 5-A Offensive MVP this season and was a second-team All-State selection at running back.

He rushed for 1,546 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, and finished with 4,187 yards for his career just 130 yards short of the school record.

He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his last three seasons, and scored 46 rushing touchdowns.

“He can explode on you at any point. He’s got great speed, field vision, and he runs hard. He’s a great running back,” Mims said. “He’s the landslide most valuable offensive player, so I think all the coaches realized how important he was to Tallulah and how he could control a game.”

2003 All-Area Defensive Team

Cody Hill, DL, So., Tensas

Jordan Clark, DL, Jr., SIA

James Morris, DL, Sr., Tri-County

Jim Lensing, LB, Sr., Briarfield

Chris Wright, LB, Sr., Hinds AHS

Zach McDaniel, LB, Jr., SIA

Darryl Nash, LB, Jr., Tallulah High

Leon Robinson, DB, Jr., McCall

Deiraton Turner, DB, Sr., Port Gibson

Austin Divinity, DB, Jr., Hinds AHS

Cole Grissom, DB, Sr., Tallulah Academy

Brad Gustafson, P, Sr., Tallulah Academy

Craig Phillips, All-Purpose, Sr., Central Hinds