Pillow Academy football coach Tripp McCarty likes what he is seeing from his young team after weeks of practice.
The Mustangs scrimmaged against Benton and Winston Thursday.
“We are improving, but we still have a ways to go,” he said. “We made some plays and rallied to the ball well. I was glad to see that.
“Some of our youth showed up at times, but the great news is we came out with everyone healthy.”
McCarty has 18 sophomores on his 32-man roster that includes just six seniors.
The Mustangs open the season Aug. 18 on the road against defending State AAA champion Indianola Academy.
Across town at Greenwood High School, the Bulldogs completed their first week of practice Friday. Clinton Gatewood is pleased with how things have gone so far.
“We worked on conditoining and installing on both sides of the ball,” he said.
The Bulldogs will practice each day this week before scrimmaging against Meridian at 11 a.m. Saturday in Starkville at Davis Wade Stadium.
That scrimmage will feature a matchup of two of the state’s top linemen — Greenwood offensive tackle Kwatravious Johnson and Meridian defensive end Deuntra Hyman (6-3, 225). Both have been named Dandy Dozen by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger.
Hyman had 19 sacks for the Wildcats as a junior.
Following the scrimmage, the Bulldogs will return to practice Aug. 14, leaving them four days to finalize plans for the season opener at home against Leflore County High School.
