Blue Devils rebuilding for 2021 season
Christopher Suggs, head football coach at Ashland High School, knows his team’s M.O. Will be changing for 2021.
He lost eight seniors from last year’s state playoff team that went 5-2 in the district and finished 5-6 overall.
“We’ll be young again,” Suggs said, “and rebuilding.” He will be replacing starters in areas such as quarterback, receiver and the line.
“We will have to try to find an identity with the talent we have left,” said Suggs, who will enter his fourth season at the Benton County school.
The process started in spring workouts, followed by a jamboree May 7 at H.W. Byers. Suggs’ 1A Blue Devils matched up against 3A foes Byhalia and Independence and district foe Byers.
“We didn’t back down to those bigger schools, and I’m proud of that,” Suggs said. “We were out-manned and outgunned, but overall, I felt good about our performance. I think improvement is coming.”
He will have 10th and 11th graders on the field who have never played at the varsity level.
“Really, it’s like they’re freshmen,” Suggs said.
Summer drills start soon — including lifting weights and seven-on-seven competition.
“We have to keep them mentally focused on competing all summer,” he said.
Going into a new season, he said his Devils will be undersized, but scrappy, with a lot of speed. He expects 25 to 30 players when the season kicks off in August.
“For the most part, we will be an option team,” he said. “But with the size of our line, we will not be equipped to run, run and run. We have to pass some, too, in order to be successful.”
Members of District 1-1A will include Ashland, Biggersville, Falkner, Byers, Okolona, Smithville, Thrasher and Tupelo Christian.
Non-district foes to open the season will be Walnut, Mantachie and Strayhorn. The season begins August 27 at Walnut.