Building up roster key for Byers Lions

Coach Chris Daniels is looking for a numbers increase when football practice kicks off next Monday, Aug. 9.

He had 18 players on the Class 1A H.W. Byers team last year and lost two seniors.

“I’m hoping for those 16, plus some ninth graders, to get us up to about 20 to 25 on the roster,” he said. “That would be great for us. But I really won’t know until school starts, and they get in the building.”

And, due to COVID, there were no junior high games last season.

“So, those ninth graders, who were in eighth grade then, had a year off, and how will it affect them?” Daniels said. “We need some of those guys to either play or back us up.”

The veteran of Marshall County head coaches is entering his ninth season. And most of all, he hopes this is a complete season.

Last year the Lions missed their final four games due to COVID. They had defeated Falkner to go to 1-2 in the district, needed just one more win to make the playoffs and didn’t get to suit up again. They finished 2-3 overall.

“If we can stay injury free and COVID free, I think we will be OK,” Daniels said.

A limited number of players participated in summer workouts, which included weights and conditioning.

“We just have to slowly ease them into shape, with this heat,” he said.

Top returnees for the Lions include junior quarterback Michael James, who Daniels believes is ready for a breakout season, and senior cornerback Devin Moore, who is being recruited by colleges.

The Lions will be a part of a new-look district — Region 11A. District foes are Ashland, Biggersville, Falkner, Okolona, Smithville, Thrasher and Tupelo Christian.

“There’s a lot of traditional powers on that list,” he said. “We will have to come to play every Friday night.”

The Lions start the season Friday, Aug. 27, at Bluff City, Tenn.

There’s an open date September 3, followed by a short road trip to Rossville Christian, Tenn., September 10. The non-district games quickly wrap up September 17 with a trip to Coldwater.

Then seven district contests follow, starting with Okolona at home September 24.

Then comes Ashland, away; Falkner, home; Biggersville, away; Smithville, away; Thrasher, home; and Tupelo Christian, home.

Marshall County’s other public school teams — Holly Springs, Byhalia and Potts Camp — also kick off practice next Monday, Aug. 9.

The Hawks visit Northside Friday, Aug. 27, to begin a new season, while on the same night the Indians host Ripley and the Cardinals host Falkner.