HSFT Stop #42: Winona
The DeAngelo Ballard era at Winona High School could hardly have gotten off to a better start. In his first season as head coach, Ballard guided the Tigers to a district championship and within one game of a return trip to the MHSAA State Championship. Now, with an experienced roster returning, the expectations are even higher heading into the 2026 season. Ballard said the foundation established during his first year is something the program is determined to build upon.
“We just tried to come in during year one and lay the foundation the way we wanted it,” Ballard said. “I think we established something that we can build off going into year two. We’re just trying to get the Gold Ball. It’s no secret—we’ve got four returning starters on offense, three on defense, and some big-time football players, including a couple of highly recruited kids. We’re just trying to finish it the right way.”
One of Winona’s biggest strengths this season is its senior leadership. The Tigers return 22 seniors, a group Ballard believes has embraced the responsibility of setting the standard both on and off the field.
“They’ve been doing a good job of leading the team and making sure everybody works hard,” Ballard said. “We tell them to lead by example and do all the right things because everybody is watching. What has me really excited is that even though we graduated some players, younger guys stepped into bigger roles during the offseason. They took it seriously, got better, and it’s made practice much more competitive on both sides of the ball.”
The Tigers are also using last season’s semifinal loss as motivation throughout offseason workouts and preseason camp. Senior linebacker Alejandro White said the team’s focus has remained on the ultimate goal.
“We’re just doing our job and staying focused on winning a championship this year,” White said. “We didn’t go out the way we wanted to last season, but we’re going to do it this year.”
Defensive tackle Antonio Young echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of hard work and attention to detail as the Tigers chase a title. This senior class has been together since their youth football days, creating a close-knit bond that they believe can carry them to a championship.
“We’ve been playing together since Little League,” running back Yoshawn Hudson said. “We’ve stayed together through junior high and high school. We didn’t accomplish everything we wanted last year, so we’re coming back with something to prove.”
Offensive tackle Neal Roberts believes the Tigers have the talent to compete with anyone in Class 3A.
“We’ve got one of the most talented teams in 3A,” Roberts said. “Our goal is a state championship. That’s what success looks like for us.”
With an experienced roster, strong senior leadership, and the motivation of last season’s near miss, Winona enters the 2026 campaign with its sights firmly set on bringing home the Gold Ball. The Tigers will begin their quest to return to the state finals on Aug. 28 when they open the season against Southaven.
