Cardinals wrap up spring practice
Coach Chris Daniels recently got a good look at his next edition of Potts Camp football when the Cardinals hosted a spring jamboree.
Participating teams also included Holly Springs, Byhalia, Independence, Okolona, Senatobia and North Panola.
“The jamboree went well,” he said. “Traffic was parked out on Highway 349 toward Bethlehem. We had a great crowd, and the players got some good experience on the field. Plus, there were college coaches there watching, too.”
Daniels, who will enter his third season at the helm of the Cardinals, lost 28 seniors the past two years, 18 his first season and then 10 the next. Potts Camp went 8-4 and lost in the second round of the state playoffs in 2023, and then finished 1-7 last fall.
“We've completely flipped the roster,” he said.
However, Daniels is excited about the prospects for 2025.
“It's a rebuild for us,” he said, “but I think we will be greatly improved. We have some freshmen with experience who are not freshmen any more. Most of our players who are coming back had a lot of playing time (in the 2024 season).”
Daniels saw improvement in the jamboree games, and he's looking forward to sevenon-seven competition this summer.
Realignment lands Potts Camp in Region 2-1A with Ashland, H.W. Byers and Falkner.
“Those are some familiar teams to us, and the new district also helps with travel miles,” Daniels said.
“Meet the Cardinals,” is set for Friday, Aug. 22. Potts Camp opens the season Friday, Aug. 29, at Strayhorn. The pre-district slate also includes Myrtle, home, Thursday, Sept. 4; at Thrasher Friday, Sept. 12; at Byhalia Friday, Sept. 19; and homecoming versus Coffeeville Friday, Sept. 26. The Cards have open dates October 3 and October 10, and Daniels is hoping to fill one of those. District play begins Friday, Oct. 17, versus Byers at home and wraps up with a road trip to Ashland on Friday, Oct. 24, and a home date versus Falkner on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Daniels enters his 13th season as a head coach in Marshall County, the first 10 coming at Byers. He has coached 26 years, with 21 of those in Mississippi.