#HSFT17: Stop No. 30 — Hatley Tigers

HATLEY, Miss. (WCBI) — It’s a homecoming in Hatley for first year head coach, Ken Adams.

Adams returns to Mississippi after spending 24 years coaching in Alabama.

The Fulton-native looks forward to making an impact closer to home.

“This is an area that I wanted to be in,” Adams said.

“It was fortunate, I guess for me, the job came open and I was able to come back.

“Coach Adams is an intense guy that expects a lot out of us and I believe he brings the most out of us,” junior quarterback Will Cantrell said.

Adams will lead the Tigers into a new look region 4-3A, which adds Houston and Choctaw County into an already uber-talented region that includes Aberdeen, South Pontotoc, and Nettleton.

“They’re athletic,” Adams said, “but…I’ve been impressed with how [his players] work. I’ve been impressed with, since the first day I stepped on campus, they’ve been willing to learn and their work ethic is there.”

“We got to focus on our game, not play other team’s football, play Hatley Tiger football,” senior wide receiver Keyshawn Forshee said about the new divisional opponents.

The Tigers have penciled in a playoff appearance just once in school history, back in 2014.

This year’s bunch looks to add to the Hatley history books.

“It’s my last year, just being able to give it all I’ve got and maybe play football for my last time,” senior wide receiver Chas Sanders said.

“If you don’t do things right Monday through Thursday, Friday doesn’t matter,” Adams said.

“If you do things right, it give you an opportunity every Friday night, no matter who you play.”

The Tigers begin 2017 with a big time test at home against Nanih Waiya.