Hawks return experience

With a large part of his roster returning and a successful spring, coach Clifford Brown is optimistic the 2026 edition of the Holly Springs football team can turn things around.

“We will be a veteran group, and based on what I saw in the spring, I feel good about things,” said the veteran coach whose Hawks went winless last season.

Holly Springs has kicked off practice in preparation for a jamboree August 21 at Potts Camp and the season opener at home August 28 versus Mantachie.

“I believe we will be mentally tough and physically tough,” Brown said. “I am confident with this group. They’re close-knit, and they hold each other accountable.”

Back to lead the offense is junior quarterback Martravion Davis. And, if he’s not igniting the offense himself, he can hand it off to senior running back Kyson Isom.

“We plan to get our quarterback under center more,” Brown said, “and get our downhill running game going with Kyson. We will have some read concepts, too, and get Martravion outside the pocket with play action, bootlegs and rollouts.”

He is also excited about his offensive line, young overall but experienced.

“This group gets along well,” Brown said. “They’re buddies. I like our consistency in the line, and that in turn should help us to be more efficient in the running game.”

There will be some depth on this team, he said, but expect a lot of “iron man football” from the Hawks with the best players staying on the field for both offense and defense.

“We need to get a win in that first one (versus Mantachie),” he said.