Lineman key for Indians

Head coach Reginald Davis knows where the bread is buttered when it comes to his Byhalia High School football team.

“Our trademark is physicality – offensive and defensive line,” he said. “We have some big bodies, and that’s a blessing. We want to line up behind them on offense and let them set the tone.”

Davis, entering his second season at the helm, got an early preview of his 2026 squad when the Indians participated in a spring jamboree May 8 at Potts Camp High School.

“With our guys, the main thing in the spring is understanding terminology and alignment,” he said. “We need to show what we’ve been learning, and it’s nothing fancy – two or three formations. I thought we did well (in the jamboree match-ups).”

The entire Byhalia backfield will be new next season, including quarterback, fullback and tailbacks.

“They have to get comfortable so we can play fast,” Davis said. “Not overthinking is the main thing for them.”

Anchoring the offensive line for the Indians will be three-year starters Jatari Rogers and Michael Lewis and two-year starter Carson Dean.

“I saw our interior guys move people in the spring jamboree, and that’s the way we will be able to compete – ball control and controlling the line of scrimmage,” Davis said.

The Indians had their struggles in 2025 but positive progress was obvious, he said, and it’s only going to get better.

“We have a good middle school program feeding us,” Davis said, “and our community as a whole is growing which will help us. Our goal is to have an established program moving forward.”

The Indians will take their version of iron-man football into a 2026 season that kicks off Thursday, Aug. 27, at home against a fellow Marshall County school, H.W. Byers. Other non-district opponents include Independence, Ashland, Potts Camp and Holly Springs. Competition in Region 3-4A includes Senatobia, Rosa Fort, Ripley and Clarksdale. They will face all four district foes in the month of October.

“Our strength and conditioning program is what we lean on,” Davis said. “That’s where we will get our wins and losses. We’ve made that into our culture.”