Experience returns for Indians in 2021

Coach Jeremy Jackson said his Byhalia Indians showed “a lot of promise” this spring.

“We have some experience returning, and the kids are excited,” he said. “The spring went well.” Jackson, stepping up from assistant to head coach, had to miss the conclusion to the spring work, a jamboree at H.W. Byers, due to sickness. But he said he got a good report from John Danley, former head coach who filled in for him. The Indians went up against the Lions, plus Independence and Ashland.

“This group has a good understanding of our offense,” Jackson said. “Of course, we have to clean up mistakes, but we will correct those with repetition.

“Our young guys need the reps. We have some who have not played at this level yet.” The Indians went 2-6 last year in a season hindered by the COVID pandemic. They lost in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs. There were no spring or summer workouts leading up to that 2020 season.

“This group was happy to be back at it and actually have spring practice,” Jackson said. “We’re trying to build back that winning culture and get them all to buy in to what we’re doing.”

A lot of work is planned in June, including weightlifting, camps and seven-on-seven competition.

“We have big plans for the summer,” Jackson said.

Byhalia will host Gentry in a fall jamboree match-up on August 21.

A couple of new foes will dot the Indians’ schedule in 2021. They will open up at home against Ripley August 27 and then host Lewisburg September 3. The next two weeks they go to New Albany and M.S. Palmer.

There’s a bye week before District 2-3A competition begins. Those opponents are Rosa Fort, North Panola, Holly Springs and Independence. In between those is a homecoming contest against Manassas, Tenn.