The Winona Christian Stars have enjoyed two of the best football seasons in school history the last two years, coming within a game of the site championship in both seasons and finishing with double-digit wins.
But veteran Coach Junior Graham said graduation has been hard on the Stars and numbers are down for his squad. He also said the Stars have a challenging schedule in front of them.
The Stars open the season with one of the state’s best returning teams in Carroll, who made the Class AAA title game last season. Last year, the Rebels took a 22-14 win over the Stars en route to a perfect regular season.
“It has been a really good game the last two years,” Graham said. “We are starting off with a really good football team. They have a lot of players back and if you had to pick somebody on our schedule that could make a run, you would think that Carroll would be one of those teams.”
In week two, the Stars will host French Camp. That will be the first game of the season for the Panthers.
“It’s always a shot in the dark with French Camp,” Graham said. “You don’t ever really know what to expect or what they have. And they don’t play a jamboree. The only thing I do know about them is they don’t have the really good quarterback.”
On Sept. 3, Winona will host Oak Hill, a team they beat 61-30 last year.
“I think we are going to be very similar except they will have an established quarterback,” Graham said. “Their offense will start with him. Their numbers will be similar to us. But I think it will be a good football game.”
The Stars will then open district play with Benton, a team they beat 32-26 last year.
“I think this could be Benton’s year to make a run at it if you don’t have Greenville Christian,” Graham said. “They have a dynamic running back and a good quarterback along with a Division I lineman. Most of their guys have been starting since they were in ninth grade. It’s their time to be good. I think if Benton stays healthy, they will be pretty good. I think that’s the key in our division, who can stay healthy.”
On Sept. 17, the Stars will host Winston, a team they beat 22-14 last year.
“I think Winston will be another tough football game,” Graham said. “I understand they had a couple of players move in from Choctaw County that will help them out. But I know they will be well-coached. They will be a challenge, but it has been a really good game the last couple of years.”
The Stars then return to district play as they travel to Central Holmes to take on the Trojans.
“I really thing we will be mirror images of each other except they have an established running back who has proved himself,” Graham said. “I think they will have some good skill guys but be short on linemen.”
On Oct. 1, the stars will travel to Delta Streets, a team that played eight-man football last season.
“I really don’t know anything about them,” Graham said. “They were eight-man last year. We will just have to see what they have.”
The Stars will then get a stiff test as they travel to Marshall, a team they beat twice last year, 33-7 win the regular season and 35-21 in the playoffs.
“I thought Marshall was as good in the box as anybody we played last year,” Graham said. “They are big and strong and will have a really good football team. It will be another challenge for us.”
On Oct. 15, the Stars will host North Delta, a team they have scrimmaged in years past.
“We watched them play Indianola last year and they had them beat,” Graham said. “They fumbled late and let Indianola put together an 80-yard drive to win it. They were running some midline and option so that will be tough to defend.”
The Stars will finish out the regular season by hosting Canton in a district game.
“I don’t know anything about Canton either,” Graham said. “They were AAAA last year and are moving down. I imagine they will have 25 or so players. I think everybody else in our district has less than 20 players. But they are in a good position to pick up some players.”
WCS football schedule
Aug. 20 at Carroll
Aug. 27 French Camp
Sep. 3 Oak Hill
Sep. 10 at Benton
Sep. 17 Winston
Sep. 24 at Central Holmes
Oct. 1 at Delta Streets
Oct. 8 at Marshall
Oct. 15 North Delta
Oct. 22 Canton
