Rafus Davis will be watching the Greenwood High School football team intently this year - especially his son, Rafus, who plays wide receiver.
But this is nothing new for the Davis family. Rafus Davis, who graduated from the school in 1972, hasn't missed a game in quite a while. One of his daughters, Chayeda, played saxophone in the GHS band, and another daughter, Constance, was one of the school's first featured dancers.
"We've been carrying them to games since they were in blankets," Davis said. "They grew up being part of it, and they're still part of it."
In a small Southern town like Greenwood, football is more than just something to do on Friday night. It brings people together and can teach the athletes valuable lessons, said the Rev. Calvin Collins.
Collins isn't an avid sports fan, but he has been a loyal spectator when his sons have played. His son Jeremy now is a freshman quarterback at GHS.
Collins said athletics help stress sportsmanship and teamwork to adults and other students as well as the players. "When a team is working together, it's hard to beat."
Of course, the spirit is higher when the team is winning. The Bulldogs finished 1-9 last season, but there's a lot of enthusiasm about this year already, Collins said.
Davis agrees. He and other parents have been attending practices for years, bringing lawn chairs and watching the action. Even before his son played on the varsity team, he enjoyed watching the other athletes.
At the end of last season, the Bulldogs had only about 23 players. This year, more than twice that many have come out, and the number keeps growing, he said. "For the first time in a number of years, I think the kids feel Bulldog spirit," he said.
There's also a camaraderie among the parents, who often travel and eat together on road trips - win or lose.
Robert McClung, a 1980 graduate of Leflore County High School, now teaches health and physical education at his alma mater. He also coaches baseball and girls' basketball and once coached football.
They can count on him to be there at the football games, too. "No matter where they go, I make sure I'm there."
He played football, basketball and track and LCHS, and he said the fans there have always been supportive. "We had some true diehards," he recalled.
Some of those fans will be with the team win or lose, while others are more demanding, but "the overall support is basically going to be there," he said.
McClung, who went on to Coahoma Community College and then graduated from Mississippi Valley State University, always planned to come back to Leflore County High and help the community as well as the school."
He said the new year looks promising for Leflore County's team, if the players push themselves.
Johnny Jennings, who has served as announcer for Pillow Academy games for a few years, said he enjoys having a bird's-eye view of the action and seeing everyone's enthusiasm. Plus, his daughter is a cheerleader.
Like Greenwood High, Pillow finished 1-9 last season. But the Mustangs' fans are excited about the year, he said.
"All week long, people are looking forward to it," he said. "It's just a lot of fun to be part of something that such an integral part of the community."
The athletes benefit from working together, Jennings said. "That team environment is just good for a kid. If you're going to be part of something, be part of something that's great."
