The end of August means cooler nights, signaling the beginning of fall, the smell of hamburgers, and hundreds of football fans under the bright lights of Dale Davidson cheering the Chargers to victory. Because everyone in Choctaw County knows, Friday nights are for the County boys.
Coming off the 2021 season, the Chargers are ready to expand on their progress. The Chargers finished 8-4, dropping 14-30 against the Baldwin Bearcats in the second round of playoffs.
The Chargers were scrappy, fighting their way to victory in the Highway 9 Bowl against Eupora and the Highway 15 bowl against East Webster.
But some battles were harder fought, like the long standing one against Winona and the defeating the hump of getting so close to Hattiesburg.
“We have to finish once we get to that point. Force the other team to make mistakes,” Head Coach Jeff Roberts said.
As the old cheer goes, you have to want it to win it, and the Chargers want it badly. If there’s one word to describe the Chargers, it’s hunger.
The Chargers are hungry, and their sights are set on the University of Southern Mississippi’s M.M. Roberts field, and the goal is the same as every year — getting the gold ball.
Roberts said the objective is a simple one —the team with the most points and the fewest mistakes advances.
“The team that makes the fewest mistakes will be the team that advances each week. You have to harp on that each week throughout the season,” Roberts said.
Roberts lost key players like Dajuan Woods, Tyson Coleman, and Trace Beard.
But with Roberts’ Senior class, which includes Antonio “BB” Kennedy, who’s been named as one of the Top 20 Running backs to watch in the state, and a solid group of underclassmen ready to step up and put in work, Roberts and the Chargers are in good shape.
“It is always tough losing a good group of seniors,” Roberts said. “We have a lot of guys returning, who got good quality reps in those positions and who have had a really good offseason. We are hoping these guys can come in and fill those gaps.”
This year’s senior class includes Kennedy, Royce Mosley, Quay Lane, Wesley Vowell, Devon Jordan, Luke Beard, Terence McNeal, Alex Telano, Jadden Shell, Calvin Roberts, Juston "Bris" Reed, Eli Dale, Keyshawn Scott, Braden McGee, Kaleb Robinson, Mooka Hardin, Dschiedrich "D" Paden, Eli Cook, Eli Fulce, Tyler Boyd, Morris Smith, Samuel Dempsey, Brady Paulk, and Gavin Arnault.
Another standout with the chargers is Sophomore Caleb Cunningham. With two years left of high school, Cunningham is already getting attention from recruiters.
Roberts said with guys like Kennedy and Cunningham, it’s easy to focus on them, but there are other players on the team that can step in and make plays as well.
“We have to find ways to get the ball to our playmakers, but at the same time when you have those two it will take attention away from other guys, who will need to step up and make plays when their number is called,” Roberts said.
In the key quarterback position, Roberts said it’s a three-way competition, and it’s any man’s game.
“We have a three-way battle for the starting spot that could extend into the season. Freshman KJ Cork, Sophomore Jackson Hood, and Junior Jalon James are all competing at the moment,” he said.
Roberts wouldn’t name a standout player, but said there are several that he’s looking to step up and make big plays for the Chargers.
“We have several guys who I expect to make plays throughout the season. We have veterans on the offensive and defensive line that we hope will have a great year and some young guys in those positions, who are giving those veterans good competition,” Roberts said.
Right before the season began, the Mississippi High School Athletic Association created the 35-point rule, meaning that if a team is winning by 35, the clock will run.
“I don’t think it is a big change. I have always been one who was willing to run the clock in a blowout,” Roberts said. “You really don’t want to run the score up too bad on people. It may take some reps away from young guys, but we hope we can get them JV reps with those Friday night reps.”
Chargers fans should definitely get ready, the boys are back in action and they’re hungry.
The Chargers kick off play Friday night against the Leake Central Gators in Carthage at 6 p.m.
