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Hawks wrap up spring By CLAUDE VINSON
Sports Editor  | Photo by Barry Burleson
Offensive drills
The Holly Springs Hawks go through some drills prior to last Friday’s football scrimmage at Sam Coopwood Park. |
It
was billed as “Hawk Pride Day” and it served as a platform for the new
football coach at Holly High to introduce his 2010 gridiron squad to
the Hawks community. A modest crowd turned out at
Sam Coopwood field Friday night to get a spring preview at the team
which will be led by new head coach Marcus Autry. Autry comes to Holly
High from Olive Branch. He was an assistant in the Conquistadors’
program for a number of years. His chief assistant and offensive
coordinator, Chris Rankin, also hails from the Olive Branch system Rounding
out the coaching corps will be Mike Warner, Andrew Walsh, Bryant Thomas
and Mario Hill. Walsh and Warner were already teachers in the Holly
Springs School District, but neither was involved in football last
season. Thomas (quarterbacks coach) and Hill (wide receivers/flankers)
both have football backgrounds, having played for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Walsh will mentor the running backs and Warner will work with both the
offensive and defensive lines. In sizing up his
new staff, Coach Autry said, “We have been very careful to select
assistants who have prior football experience. We are trying to provide
our kids with the best possible training. We fully expect their duties
and responsibilities to overlap”. The coaches are
grooming three quarterbacks for the fall trials – Brian McKinney, Jaren
King and David Bridges. Each of the trio had a chance to operate from
under center during the Black and Gold Game May 14. These signal
callers will probably be targeting Eric Hardin and Peter Thigpen, both
sophomores. Toting the load out of the backfield will most likely be Shaquille Falkner (sophomore) and Terrian P)ool (senior). Players
in the trenches to watch are Eldridge Milan (outside linebacker),
Curterius Jeffries (defensive tackle), Marquavius Walton (middle
linebacker) and James Williams (nose guard) all seniors. Javerderick
Mason (offensive tackle/freshman), Michael Perkins (center/defensive
tackle/junior) and Tyjae Jones (left offensive tackle and a sophomore)
are expected to add punch on both sides of the ball. All of the Hawks appeared to be optimistic about the upcoming season.
 | Photo by Barry Burleson
In the trenches
Coach Marcus Autry (far right, back) works with his linemen before the Black and Gold Game Friday. |
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