FULTON — The foundation has been laid.
Jon Williams knows the next step is to put players in the right positions so they can make plays.
Williams and the rest of the Itawamba Community College football team will get a chance to see how close they are to achieving that goal at 6:30 p.m. Thursday when they play at Hinds C.C. in their season opener.
Williams guided the Indians to a 5-4 last season. Although ICC went 4-1 down the stretch, it missed out on its first MACJC playoff appearance since 2007 due to a tiebreaker. This season, Williams feels the Indians have the pieces in place to take the next step.
“I think everyone did buy in,” Williams said. “I think it took longer than expected last year. Our sophomore group has been really good about educating our freshmen as to what is expected. Once you get that, that is when I think you get good. The next step phase is consistency. … We should see some results. The flip side of that coin is everybody else is going to be good, too.”
Williams will rely on nine former local prep standouts to help push the team back to the postseason. Erik Buchanan, Rashad Pargo, Fred Ward, and Brandon Smith (Aberdeen), David Matusiak and Chris Wolfe (Columbus), Justin Rogers, (Starkville), Will Goodwin (Starkville Academy), and Tyler Gill (Hamilton) all will compete for playing time in what should be an ultra-competitive MACJC North Division that features Northwest Mississippi C.C. (ranked No. 9 in the preseason poll) and East Mississippi C.C. (No. 16).
Aaron Flores joins the coaching staff as offensive coordinator. Williams feels his team hurt itself last season by trying to do too much. He said the offense will have multiple looks where it can look to Buchanan to lead a four-wide receiver set or it can go to a running game and look to cousins Keon and DeShawn McGaughy to carry the load.
“We are going to be very sound fundamentally and we”re not going to try to re-invent the wheel,” Williams said. “We”re not going to outsmart ourselves.”
Pargo, a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, used a redshirt season last year to add 20 pounds and to develop the confidence he needs to compete at the next level. He joins Buchanan and Rogers in a group of seven wide receivers.
“It was the best choice for me (to redshirt),” said Pargo, who considered quitting the team. “I thought it would be bad, but it came out to be a good choice.
“For all of the folks in high school, you have to be ready to come up here because if you”re not strong or faster it is going to come out. I came up here and I was like 165. I gained a little weight, so everything is going good.”
Rogers expects to play in the slot and on the outside. He said he also played running back and in the secondary in his school, but figures to play a key role in a spread-type of offense that will try to put the ball in the end zone every play.
“I am very excited about it,” said Rogers, who is recovering from knee surgery in April. “I hope to be better than I was last year.”
Rogers returned in July and then sat out a week or two that month. He feels he is getting close to 100 percent and will be available for the season opener.
Matusiak, a 6-foot, 275-pounder, is one of nine freshmen on a 10-player group at offensive line.
Goodwin, a sophomore who also is a member of ICC”s men”s soccer team, made six field goals and 21 of 23 extra points last season.
“I think Will is as good or better as any kicker in the state,” Williams said. “He is a competitor that can flip the field and score some points.”
On defense, Williams said nothing will change. He said the team grew stronger as the year progressed last season, which he hopes will continue in defensive coordinator Sean Cannon”s second season at the school.
Ward, a 6-4, 250-pounder, and Wolfe, a 6-foot, 275-pounder, will compete for playing time at defensive end and defensive tackle.
“I have gotten stronger and have become a better pass rusher from listening to my coaches and learning how to use my hands,” Ward said. “I expect to have a great season.”
Wolfe said team has great team chemistry. He said the Indians are versatile enough to show multiple fronts. He praised the coaches for helping put him in position to earn a starting spot.
“They put me in a leader role early and told me it is time to grow up,” Wolfe said. “I believe with my hard work and my practice ethic I can get back to being an all-district or an all-state player.”
Smith, who is in the mix at defensive back, has added 10 pounds and is up to 180 pounds. He is expected to compete for playing time at strong safety.
“I am going to try my best to get three interceptions and to make a lot of tackles and help the team,” said Smith, who said the defense hopes to be known as “The Dark Side.” “I am going to try to make a lot of tackles on kickoff and anything I can do to help the team.”
Said Williams, “I am looking forward to seeing our defense play this fall.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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