#HSFT17: Stop No. 16 — Belmont Cardinals

BELMONT, Miss. (WCBI) — Despite making the playoffs the past two seasons, Belmont wants to accomplish more in 2017.

“We are excited about the opportunity to show our hard work this off-season. These kids have really worked hard. We’ve got seven coming back on offense. Seven on defense returning starters, and we got a lot of younger kids and a lot of question marks, but we are just excited about the season and the opportunity,” head coach Jason Coker said.

This year’s team doesn’t want another losing season; the goals and expectations for this team are to improve and build from last year, and experience a winning season for the first time since 2012.

“The mindset is a winning record. We are looking to make some noise in the division. Just improve each and every week. I feel like we are going to play hard. We are going to play to the end. I think we will finish some games that we didn’t last year,” Coker said.

“It’s just not going to be a growth spurt from now to the very first game. We got to put in extra work now before the first game. Just making the winning season and playoffs,” Gaige Shearon said.

Coker and junior linebacker Jared Rodriguez know leadership will be a key component for this year’s team.

“They’re close. Their attitudes are good. They’re a team-oriented bunch. It’s a ‘we, not me’ for them,” Coker said.

“Our seniors are really dedicated to winning this season. I don’t know what happened last season, but this season we have these seniors. They care about their teammates more than themselves, and that’s what’s really special about them,” Rodriguez adds.

The Cardinals are looking for their first playoff win since 2010.

“That would be amazing to me, being my first playoff win here at Belmont,” senior lineman Skylar Maxwell said.

“I’ve been here four years. Started all four years. That’d be great to get over that playoff hump.”

The Cardinals will open their season at home against Smithville on August 18th.