Olive Branch High School

Star WR Cowan 'just makes plays'

Around the city of Olive Branch and on YouTube, it's simply called The Miracle on Blocker Street.

It was Homecoming 2010 and Olive Branch High School wide receiver D'Arthur Cowan's 17th birthday. Olive Branch, on its own 48-yard line, trailed Starkville 36-34 with 5.9 seconds left.

That's when Conquistadors quarterback Todd Mays scrambled, scrambled and then scrambled some more before finding a wide open Cowan, who reeled in the pass and sprinted to the end zone for a stunning comeback win.

"That was the biggest play of my life," said Cowan.

Big plays have become the norm for the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Cowan, the seventh player named to the 2011 Dandy Dozen. He caught 35 passes for 658 yards (18.8 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns as a junior.

"D'Arthur's a tall kid who has good speed and he just makes plays," said Olive Branch coach Scott Samsel. "Barring injury he's going to break a lot of school records for us this year. His numbers are comparable to (ex-OB receiver) Markeith (Summers). He is such a coachable kid and works hard at it."

Cowan, who says his fastest time in the 40 was a 4.4, is a three-sport star at Olive Branch, also making his mark on the basketball court and in track.

"A lot of people tell me that basketball is my best sport, but I think it's football," said Cowan, who lists Pittsburgh Steelers speedy receiver Mike Wallace as his favorite player.

He says his speed comes from working out with cousin Keshun Cowan, a former standout out at Olive Branch. Cowan is also related to former Mississippi State linebacker K.J. Wright, a fourth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in April's NFL draft.

"K.J. has given me advice about finding a school that would be a good fit for me," said Cowan, who could make a verbal commitment as early as this weekend.

Cowan has scholarship offers from Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Alabama, Arkansas, Memphis, Louisiana Tech and Arkansas State.

When Cowan isn't playing one of his three sports or dealing with his hectic recruiting, he enjoys spending time with his family. He describes himself as a "family guy."

Teammate Wynn McManus playfully describes Cowan as a "mama's boy." Cowan refutes that, although he enjoys spending time with Anita Cowan, his mom.

"I grew up a mama's boy, but I kinda got away from that a little bit," said Cowan with a laugh.

But on the field, he's anything but a mama's boy. He says he talks trash only to those who talk trash to him.

Desoto Times Tribune > News > Local > DeSoto Schools get ACT prep ...

"I am so excited about this grant and the opportunities that it will give our students," said Lisa Webb who will be teaching the course at Olive Branch High School. "We are very grateful to the person who made this possible. It is encouraging that someone is willing to invest so much to help our students in DeSoto County. We also appreciate the teachers at Southaven High School who are wiling to share their knowledge and experience to help us make this program as successful as possible. We want our students to be able to improve their test scores and earn college scholarships that can help them fulfill their dreams and become tomorrow's leaders." "Last year marked the 14th year Homer Skelton Foundation has donated $100,000 to our schools for teacher grants," said DeSoto County Schools Superintendent Milton Kuykendall. "Through grants from his foundation, DeSoto County Schools has been able to do so many projects and programs - we have equipped science labs, updated our technology, added arts programs, provided musical instruments, offered free tutoring to students - the list goes on and on. We have 40 schools, but being the biggest school system is not our goal, our goal is to be the best. Homer Skelton has helped us work toward that goal and believes in helping and serving the children of DeSoto County.

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