By Laurence Hilliard Choctaw Plaindealer Long time French Camp Academy head football coach Nathan Wright did not hesitate when asked the strength of his football team. “This is a really smart team.” he said. “I have noticed that I have some really smart kids. They learn fast and pick up quickly, which I really appreciate. I'm excited that they want to learn and that they learn quickly.” The Panthers return four starters on offense and eight on defense from the 2017 team that went 8-4, including 7-1 in Region 3-1A, good for second place. Most of the starters will go both ways. “We have the potential to be really good,” Wright said. “Some of the guys we have returning will have to play other positions.” As for the key to the season, he added “I always say it's if we are able to unite and get some camaraderie, trying to get everyone on the same page. That's a challenge that we are always going to have. It's just the nature of who we are.” French Camp is somewhat unique as a private school with some boarding students. The offense will be led by senior quarterback Holman Edwards, who completed 95 of 169 passes for 1,642 yards and 17 touchdowns last year and ran for 230 yards and five TDs. “He's the quarterback and will call all the shots,” Wright said. “We're working on trying to find somebody who is ready to play with him. It's a work in progress.” The leading returning running back is senior Zach Gilmer who averaged 6.1 yards with 46 carries for 279 yards and two TDs. Wright is counting on junior Phillip Carradine, a newcomer to the school and the team, to help out at running back. “I'm hoping he will develop.” C.J. Johnson, who had four receptions last year, and Hunter Vance, who didn't have any, have emerged as the team's two leading receivers. Clayton Leathers played only on defense last year, but will be counted on to help out a a receiver. Up front on both offense and defense will be Seth Box, Phillip Lucas and Logan Campbell. James Fowler will be the fourth starter on the defensive line. “We're hurting on both sides of the line. That's our biggest obstacle.” Wright said. “It's hard to find big kids. It is for us anyway.” Leathers will anchor the defense after leading the Panthers in tackles with 85 last year. He will be joined at linebacker, which should be the strength of the defense, by Bradley Edwards, who had 58 tackles a year ago, and Stephon Thompson, who had 27 tackles, including five for losses. Gilmer will lead the defensive back field. He had 64 tackles a year ago, with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, and tied with Leathers for the lead in tackle for losses with eight. He will be joined in the secondary by Holman Edwards, Johnson and Colby Walters. Bradley McGlothin will handle the placekicking chores again and might also do the punting. He was 43 of 46 on PATs last year and three of five on field goals, with a long of 45 yards. “My quarterback can punt too, but we're hoping Bradley can do it all,” Wright said. French Camp will again compete in 3-1A, a nine-team region that includes Ethel, Hamilton, Leake County, Nanih Waiya, Noxapater, Sebastopol, Vardaman and West Lowndes. The top four teams will advance to the playoffs. A proposal for 1A to go from four to eight regions, with only the top two from each region making the playoffs, was not approved by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. Nanih Waiya dominated the region last year on its way to the 1A championship game. The Warriors lost a lot of talent to graduation, including the region's two best running backs. But Wright feels Nanih Waiya is still the team to beat. “They still have terrific linemen. Anytime you are good up front, it doesn't matter that much who is running.” He said Hamilton and Noxapater should also be strong. French Camp did not have a jamboree game. The season begins with two road games against academy opponents, Winona Christian and Starkville Academy. The first home game will be Eupora, a 2A school, August 31. “For us, it's learning process every week, trying to get the puzzle pieces put together.” Wright said. “It might be game five before we find the right mesh for us.”
