Having a winning record and making the playoffs is usually considered a successful season for any football team.
Going 6-5 and losing in the first round of the playoffs in 2021 left a bad taste in the mouths of the Carroll Academy coaches and returning players.
They are out for redemption in 2022.
Carroll, under the direction of eighth-year coach Bo Milton, will kick off its campaign Friday at Winona Christian School at 7 p.m. The following week, the Rebels tangle with Kirk Academy at Gordon Field in Carrollton.
“The expectations at Carroll Academy have grown in the last few years, so going 6-5 didn’t set well with us,” said Milton, who is 47-33 in seven seasons with the Rebels. “I’m glad we’re not happy with 6-5. It beats 1-9, but by the standards that have been set here, we weren’t happy with the way we finished.”
Carroll dropped a 27-15 decision to Indianola Academy in the first round of the State 4A playoffs. The Rebels only went 1-2 in District 2-4A play, losing 36-0 to Greenville St. Joe and 18-16 to IA. They were 3-4 through seven games and reeled off three straight wins to close out the regular season.
Following the first two games, Carroll plays host to 5A Magnolia Heights on Sept. 2 and visits Clinton Christian Academy on Sept. 9. The Rebels take on St. Joe on Sept. 16 at home and go to Indianola on Sept. 23 for their first two district games. They close out the month with a home game against Tri-County on Sept. 30.
Carroll visits Oak Hill on Oct. 7 and goes to Clarksdale Lee on Oct. 14 before hosting Winston on Oct. 21 to close out the regular season.
“When we started seven years ago, we were everybody’s homecoming game,” said Milton. “It’s no longer that way. It’s been two years since we played for a state championship. We’ve done a good job of cycling players through the program. We have 24 kids out this season, which is the most we’ve had in my eight years.
“We didn’t get the breaks, and the ball didn’t bounce our way last season. This group has the potential to be a great team. I’m not too fond of that word ‘potential,’ but we need to stay away from injuries and have things go our way this season.”
To say Carroll is loaded with skill players would be an understatement. The Rebels have their top five offensive weapons returning from last season. In fact, the quintet have been on the team since their freshman campaigns.
“We’ve got a solid group of skill players returning, and we also have two other key contributors on defense in Drake Dunn and Mason McCluskey,” added Milton, who is 176-107 in his coaching career. “We have nine starters returning on defense. A lot of these guys are going both ways. We have developed some depth, but we need to have our best 11 on the field.”
Directing the offense for Carroll will be senior quarterback Brennan Blaylock, who threw for 817 yards and 12 touchdowns on 61-of-141 passing in 2021. He also ran for 260 yards and two scores on 58 carries. Blaylock was the All-Commonwealth quarterback as a sophomore.
Senior Maddox Carpenter led the ground attack last season, gaining 810 yards and scoring five times on 154 carries. Senior Mathis Beck had 658 yards and seven touchdowns on 106 carries, and senior Lofton Holly picked up 426 yards and scored three times on 93 carries. Noah Beck was the team’s leading receiver last year with 34 catches for 530 yards and seven touchdowns.
For those players to be successful Carroll is going to need its offensive line to perform well.
“We had a lot of inexperience up front,” said Milton. “Those five guys played hard, but we just couldn’t get the job done. If we are better up front this season and more consistent, we could be real good on offense. It won’t be because of a lack of effort. These guys working up front are going to work their tails off.”
Senior JD McClain, who didn’t play last year, has worked his way into the starting center role. Senior transfer Brandon McKenzie, who was at J.Z. George previously, is working at left tackle.
Junior Will Rayesky, who started last season, will be at one of the guard positions, and sophomores Ryder Dowdle and Jacob Bennett are at the other two spots on the line. Max Bailey and Clay Powell could also see playing time up front.
Noah Beck, Dunn, Nathan Matthews and Landon Grantham will play receiver or slot back.
The defense is led by linebackers Carpenter and Mathis Beck on the outside and Holly and McKenzie on the inside. Beck led Carroll with 88 tackles (20 tackles for loss). Carpenter had 76 stops.
Noah Beck returns at strong safety, and Blaylock is at free safety. Matthews and Dunn will play cornerback, and Powell, McCluskey, Dowdle and Rayesky will play along the line.
Blaylock, who has been named an all-state punter the last two seasons, will handle the punting and kicking chores.
Milton’s assistants are Chad Crowe, defensive coordinator; Austin Brewer, running backs/linebackers; and Austin Woodall, receivers/defensive backs.
-Contact Calvin Stevens at 662-581-7234 or cstevens@gwcommonwealth.com.
