Bank of Holly Springs

Staying injury-free key for Lions

The injury bug took a big bite out of the H.W. Byers Lions last season.

So, after about eight spring football practices, head coach Chris Daniels was very happy to proclaim – “No injuries; we came out of it healthy. We had enough of that last year to last a lifetime.”

Byers started out with 26 players last season and played some games with 13.

“There’s not any school that can afford that, especially smaller schools,” said Daniels, whose Lions compete in the smallest classification, 1A.

The good news is he has experience returning in 2018.

“If we have all our bodies, we could be a pretty good football team,” said Daniels, who is entering his sixth season at the helm of the Byers football program. “But we have to stay injury-free.”

In the spring drills, he said he was not able to install as much offense as he wanted. The Lions did not participate in a jamboree due to Daniels having to be with his father, who was sick.

“We need more reps offensively, that’s for sure,” he said.

One of the main reasons is because Byers will be replacing quarterback Douglas Hill, who graduated after three years as the field general.

Malik Glover, a sophomore, will be the new quarterback.

“He is very athletic, so we will be implementing more quarterback runs and zone reads,” Daniels said. “We want to play a lot of option football, giving him the chance to run or pitch.”

Summer workouts in the weight room are in full swing, as is seven-on-seven competition.

“We have to get stronger,” he said.

And the seven-on-seven will be very important to the new quarterback.

“We’re in the beginning stages of teaching him how to ready defenses,” Daniels said. “There is only so much you can do in practice.”

The seven-on-seven is being played on Monday nights at either Potts Camp or Myrtle (possibly the New Albany Sportsplex).

Byers will continue to compete in what Daniels calls a “tough 1A district.”

District foes include Okolona, Falkner, Smithville, Tupelo Christian, Biggers­ville, Thrasher, Potts Camp and Ashland.

The Lions will open the season against three non-district foes – August 16, Hickory Flat, away; August 24, Myrtle (at New Albany Sportsplex); and August 31, Walnut, home.

The other non-district opponent is Coldwater later in the season.

Holly Springs South Reporter

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