When the lights go on Friday night at Davis Wade Stadium, the 2015 prep football season will be upon us.
This season, the New Hope Jamboree expands to seven games and will cover two days. Amory and New Hope meet at 7 p.m. Friday. Six games will follow Saturday (complete schedule, Page 3B).
Most area coaches are slowly installing their game plans for the regular season openers on Aug. 22. The jamboree will serve as a warm-up allowing these coaches to take a look at a few extra players and possibly a few extra formations.
Beginning Friday, we will see the first glimpses of who has what it takes to make the trek to Oxford for the Mississippi High School Activities Association state championship games and Clinton for the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools state championship games.
While we anticipate that first whistle on the field and first doughnut in the hospitality room, let’s answer one final set of preseason questions for the upcoming campaign before things get going.
1. What were some takeaways from attending practice at West Point?
West Point players and coaches are hungry. Despite some recent struggles, the Green Wave has not lost the swagger.
After winning state championships in 2009 and 2010, West Point has lost five games in three of the past four seasons.
Still, this group seems bound and determined. Despite being very young, a lot of the players still talk openly about the team’s No. 1 goal — winning a state championship.
There is a little doubt the big problem in recent years has been on defense. Prolific offenses have moved with relative ease against West Point.
It seems this year’s defensive unit wants to have something to say about it.
Oxford should enter the season as the North State Class 5A favorite. By his own admission, West Point coach Chris Chambless feels like his squad is firmly in the underdog role.
What became crystal clear is this team is tired of being kicked and relishing the chance to be someone’s afterthought.
Look for West Point to return to form this season and make some serious noise.
2. How about some takeaways from Columbus?
After checking in on the Falcons, two words immediately come to mind – calm and confident.
Last season was difficult at best as Randal Montgomery spent his rookie season sorting out who was committed to the program long term.
He found a group of hard-working players who needed a little love, guidance and patience.
In Montgomery’s second season, Columbus enters with a much deeper roster and higher level of respect for one another.
The schedule is brutal. However, one could forgive South Panola, Olive Branch or Tupelo if it does not have Columbus circled as the biggest opponent on this year’s card.
Columbus is also young in spots. However, the Falcons have confidence by the truckload.
The team follows the lead of its coaches. Columbus feels like it belongs. It feels ready to take flight and take that next step.
Now in the state’s toughest region in any classification, the step to take will be huge. No reason to think Columbus can’t take it.
3. How about some preliminary thoughts on New Hope?
After winning 10 games and losing a large part of its roster to graduation, one could go ahead and throw New Hope into the “rebuilding” category.
However, this writer would be shocked if Kris Pickle ever uses that phrase in his second season.
New Hope also began last season with something to prove and proved it. Now, the Trojans will shift to a team feared when entering the other team’s stadium.
Pickle has also gone about building depth. People like to be a part of a winner. A few minutes around Pickle and his staff and the positive vibes penetrate quickly.
New Hope also has some difficult assignments on its schedule. However, the Trojans are here to prove last season was not a fluke. Personally, I would feel confident jumping on board with this crew for the year ahead.
4. Let’s not stop there. Any thoughts on Noxubee County?
Oh yes, way too many thoughts for one column.
Let’s face it Noxubee County is also hungry. Winning the Class 4A state championship a year ago was fun but this team wants a whole lot more.
Noxubee County has never repeated as state champions and that is clearly this season’s goal. Just walking around practice, you see the speed, size, depth and athleticism.
On the sidelines, Tyrone Shorter has quickly established himself as one of the state’s best.
Noxubee County plays with a mean streak. The Tigers don’t feel disrespected. They don’t feel slighted. They just genuinely feel they are better than you and enjoy trying to prove that each Friday night.
Noxubee County clearly has the area’s best shot at a state championship. A talented offensive unit should blend with some really salty newcomers on defense to form quite a potent combination.
The schedule makes an undefeated record a daunting task. Still, the Tigers should go ahead and dust off that corner spot on the state championship trophy case.
5. Finally, what do you make of Starkville High?
Starkville is another team with so much to like.
The Yellow Jackets will be plugging in a few faces to a few new spots on the field. However, Starkville has an ample amount of returning starters on offense and defense to remain a state title contender.
Ricky Woods will begin his first season as coach at SHS. Obviously, he could not have been lured away from his prep job in Tennessee, if Starkville was not revved up and ready for a state title run.
There are some heavyweights in the Class 6A, Region 2 race. However, Starkville fell short of a state championship last season.
Don’t think that has not been a huge motivation to help get ready for this season.
Scott Walters is a sports reporter for The Dispatch. You can email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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