Thursday sports page: Trojan trio sign to play college football
Photo: With head coach Tyler Gold and assistant coaches are, seated from left, Chase Jennings, Knox Cascio, and Chris Soriano. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Feb. 13, 2025-Northpoint Christian School Thursday afternoon saw three of its football players sign scholarship offers to play college football next season. The group are Knox Cascio, set to play at Hendrix College, Arkansas; Chase Jennings, who will be Wheaton College, Illinois; and Chris Soriano, who signed to play at Northeast Mississippi Community College.
“They’re all tough football players, they’re smart, they work hard in the classroom, and they’re guys that are just fun to coach,” said Northpoint coach Tyler Gold. “They give their best effort in everything they’re doing, and have made us a better program.”
Cascio, part of the Northpoint football program for six years and a varsity player for four years, completed his high school career as a TSSAA Division II-AA first-team all-West Region defensive lineman. He recorded 111 career tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks, including seven this past season.
The Warriors of coach Buck Buchanan, were 4-6 last season. Hendrix plays in the same NCAA Division III conference as Rhodes College of Memphis, the Southern Athletic Association
Jennings, who came to Northpoint for his junior and senior season, was the Division II-AA West Region Defensive Player of the Year this past year and was selected for the Tennessee East-West All-Star Game. He finished with 203 tackles (92 his senior year), and one interception.
Gold said Jennings received several offers and opportunities to play at larger schools before choosing Wheaton College.
The Thunder last fall finished with a 9-2 record and won its last seven games, including a post-season bowl victory over Wisconsin-Stout.
Soriano, who also played two seasons at Northpoint, was part of an offensive line that helped the Trojans to rush for 2,906 yards last season and 2,247 yards in 2023. Playing tackle, guard and center, Soriano protected quarterbacks to throw for 2,363 yards in his two-year career as an offensive line starter.
A Division II-AA all-West Region offensive lineman, Soriano was selected to play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl All-Star Game as a starter.
Soriano also played on the defensive line as a nose guard, where he made 53 tackles with one fumble recovery and one tackle for loss.
He’ll be a definite help for a Northeast football team that finished 3-6 last fall in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.
While Cascio has been with Northpoint and has been part of the football program for six years, four on the varsity team, both Soriano and Jennings were attracted to the program and school and spent just two years with the Trojans ahead of their college years.
Gold said he doesn’t have to sell the program, the players do it themselves.
“If you meet a Northpoint football player, they’re going to be good young men who are going to work hard, they’re going to be a family and we have a very family locker room, and they’re guys that want to play and do things the right way,” Gold said. “I think that attracts like-minded kids.”
SPORTS ETC.: TROJANS BASKETBALL POSTSEASON STARTS
Northpoint Christian School basketball teams start their TSSAA postseason journey this weekend. Saturday, the Northpoint boys travel to Jackson Christian for a 5 p.m. game in the first round of the West Region tournament. The Trojans are the fifth-seed from District 6. The winner plays at District 6 number one seed Harding Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the second round.
The Northpoint girls, the District 6 second-seed, have been placed in the second round and will host Trinity Christian Academy on Monday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. The winner advances to the region semifinals Thursday, Feb. 20 at Evangelical Christian School, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
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Center Hill will now play George County in the MHSAA 6A state soccer championship match Monday at 4 p.m. due to threatening weather forecasts expected for the weekend.
Lewisburg’s baseball game with Tupelo Friday, Feb. 14 has been moved due to field conditions in Tupelo. The game will now be played at Northeast Mississippi Community College’s field.
