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Football season just few weeks away By BARRY BURLESON
Editor  | Photo by Barry Burleson
Team unity
Byhalia Indians huddle together at the conclusion of some summer seven-on-seven competition. |
It’s late July and it’s very hot. That must mean high school football. Most area teams started practice Monday in preparation for season openers. “We’re
ready to rock and roll,” said Markeith Washington, head coach of the
Byhalia Indians. “We had a great summer in the weight room and playing
seven-on-seven, and we’re looking forward to the season.” The
Class 4A Indians will host a jamboree Friday night, August 13, and then
kick off the season at home Friday night, August 20, versus Booker T.
Washington in a “classic game.” The Holly High Hawks, under new head coach Marcus Autry, start their season Friday night, Aug. 27, at home versus H.W. Byers. “We’re
going to practice early in the morning until school starts and get in
some good work,” Coach Autry said. “The kids have committed themselves
this summer, and we’re ready to go.” The Class 3A Hawks have played seven-on-seven games, lifted weights and participated in the Memphis Skills Camp this summer. At
Byers, coach James Kimbrough is getting his Lions ready for their first
varsity football schedule as an independent. The start-up program
played a junior high slate in 2008 and both junior high and junior
varsity games last year. “I’m pretty pleased with
what we accomplished this summer,” Kimbrough said. “We had a chance to
work on our passing game with the seven-on-seven. The entire community
is looking forward to the season.” The Lions will
play in the Byhalia High School Jamboree Friday night, Aug. 13, and
then open the season Friday night, Aug. 20, at home versus Coldwater in
a “classic game.” Marshall Academy started
practice Monday. Coach Keith Wicker is entering his fourth season.
During his tenure, the Pats are 28-9. They made the playoffs all three
years. He is excited about this year’s squad. “We have a good group of kids – plenty of speed but not very big,” Wicker said. MA will play in the District 1-AA Jamboree on Thursday, Aug. 12, at Kirk Academy in Grenada. The Patriots will kick off the regular season Friday, Aug. 20, on the school campus in Holly Springs versus Rossville, Tenn. Potts Camp is still one year away from tackling a varsity slate. The start-up football program, for the second season, will play junior high and junior varsity games. The Cardinals open the season Thursday, Sept. 2, at Mantachie. “Our field is not ready yet, so we will be going on the road again this year,” head coach Shane Stone said. This summer Potts Camp players have been lifting weights, going through agility drills and playing seven-on-seven at Oxford. “Seven-on-seven
was new to our guys, but they competed well,” Stone said. “We won some
and lost some, but there was a lot of learning taking place.” The
Cardinals will step up to varsity competition in 2011, but Coach Stone
is not sure if it will be as an independent or as a member of a
district. “It will depend on how this season goes
and what division they want to put us in,” he said. “We’re a start-up
program, and we need to be able to compete.” |
