It is springtime in Mississippi, which means high school football teams are getting ready for the fall season. The MHSAA allows up to 15 days for spring practice.
Kosciusko, McAdams, and Ethel will conclude practice this week with scrimmages. Kosciusko and McAdams both play Saturday at the University of Southern Mississippi’s M.M. Roberts Stadium. Kosciusko faces South Jones at 2:30 and McAdams goes up against Clarkdale at 7 p.m. Ethel will travel to J.Z. George for a 2 p.m. scrimmage.
Kosciusko Coach Casey Orr said his team has looked good.
“We have guys across the board who have had good spring for us. They’re working hard and getting better every day,” he said.
Last fall was Orr’s first season as Kosciusko coach. He said the staff was limited in installing the offense and defense due to the pandemic.
“This is another year to try to get everything installed offensively and defensively; to get the kids a little more familiar with what we do,” said the coach.
Starting quarterback Ethan Wood has not participated thus far due to baseball. In his absence, freshman Caden Greer has been getting most of the reps at quarterback.
“He’s a guy we think has a bright future at Kosciusko. He has done a good job picking up the offense,” Orr said.
Youth and inexperience are concerns at this time, Orr said.
“That will come in time. Everybody is inexperienced until they get experience,” he said.
Ethel Coach Adam Smith said some players will be in new positions, but the backfield is set. Marcus Jones returns at quarterback, Anton Clark at tailback, Bobo Hubbert at fullback, and Cyrus Rone at wingback.
Clark has grown an inch and a half since football season and won South State powerlifting in the 195-pound weight class.
“He's going to be a load,” Smith said.
The key to success will be cutting down on turnovers.
“We have to hold on to the football,” Smith said. “That killed us. We had a couple of games we should have won.”
McAdams will be young team this season.
“We are going to play a lot of ninth and tenth graders,” Coach Kenneth Nelson said. “We need to work on toughness We're not very big.”
One plus they will have is speed.
“We have guys who ran track this year,” said the coach.
Freshman fullback and linebacker Ed Stewart has looked good in practice.
“He has impressed me a lot from a leadership standpoint,” Nelson said.
Ethel and McAdams will go their separate ways due to region realignment. The Tigers will compete in 3-1A with French Camp, Hamilton, Leake County, Noxapater, Sebastopol, Vardaman and West Lowndes. McAdams will be in 2-1A with Coffeeville, Coldwater, McEvans, Simmons, South Delta, West Bolivar and West Tallahatchie.
McAdams and Ethel will continue to meet, however.
“Both schools like playing each other. It’s just a tradition,” Nelson said.
