#HSFT16: Stop No. 20 – Tishomingo County Braves

IUKA, Miss. (WCBI) – The Tishomingo County High School football team has felt like it’s been building toward this year for a while. The team reached the three-win mark a year ago, and is now in the third year under the current coaching staff.

Experience will be a strength for the Braves. The team only lost three or four starters from last season and has a large senior class, with 13 guys in their final year. Tishomingo County said this is the year to make a run.

“Most of the seniors have been playing together since they were sophomores,” Defensive coordinator Ryan Finch said. “They’ve been in the fire. They know what to expect going into this year.”

Finch is under head coach Preston Leathers. It’s a staff that says it’s been trying to alter the mindset of those in and around the program.

“With a school like Tishomingo County, where there hasn’t been a tradition of success, we have to start from the ground up,” Finch said. “Try to change the culture around here, try to build a winning attitude.”

The players said they’ve been happy with the program’s direction.

“It’s been tough but they’ve stuck through it all with us. It’s definitely been building,” junior Caleb Garner said.

“I’ve had a great experience. We’ve been working hard,” senior Jacob Rushing said. “I’m excited. We’re looking to do big things.”

“It all starts in here,” senior quarterback Braeden Maxcy said of the weight room. “We just carry it over to the field.”

The team will not have a lot of depth. The Braves have 55 total players, which isn’t a high number for 4A. Ninth graders will play this year and at least ten guys will get reps on both sides of the ball.

“I feel like depth is an issue. It’s going to be tough for us because the kids we have on offense, a lot of them will turn around and play defense,” Finch said.

The Braves said their goal is to get a win in the playoffs. They haven’t been to the postseason since 2008. They start the year hosting Mantachie Aug. 19.