#HSFT16: Stop No. 4 – Smithville Seminoles

CLASS 1A  | REGION 1
HEAD COACH: Chad Collums
Aug 19 Belmont Away
Aug 26 Hatley Away
Sept 2 Eupora Home
Sept 9 Thrasher* Away
Sept 16 Biggersville* Home
Sept 23 OPEN
Sept 30 Falkner* Home
Oct 7 West Lowndes* Away
Oct 14 Nanih Waiya Away
Oct 21 Vardaman Home
Oct 28 Hamilton* Away
Nov 4 Coffeeville* Home
*District games

SMITHVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Talk to any Smithville football player, coach or fan and they’ll tell you the same thing about last year: they want another shot at Simmons.

It’s the game that drives the Seminoles during the offseason. A 46-0 drubbing in the 1A North Half Final lingers and has become the motivation that the coaching staff was looking for this summer.

We had a great season last year,” head coach Chad Collums said. “The way it ended it makes us want to work harder. These guys go back and watch that game film quite a bit. This summer so far has been the hardest we’ve worked since I’ve been here.”

“It just left us with a fire and energy,” senior Stuart Coggins said. “We want to get back there and try to beat them.”

“It’s always on our minds,” senior Wesley Grier said about last year’s Simmons game. “We want to work hard in the weight room and meet them again and beat them.”

It is a well-rounded and talented team returning for head coach Chad Collums that will take aim at the rest of Class 1A.

1,000-yard rusher Dee Moore returns in the backfield along with speedy skill guys that can play both ways. But it’s the mix of leadership and youth that the Seminoles hope will take them to the next level.

“I know we return 3 of the starting offensive linemen,” Coggins said. “We’re returning a bunch of guys from last year. We’ll be a step up this year and be leaders. It will take us far in the playoffs.”

“The seniors this year were on the State Championship team in 2013,” said Collums. “Last year, we went to north half. We have a lot of good leaders in the senior group.”

The words State Championship have become a common talking point around the community of Smithville.

Whether it be with the baseball or softball teams, the Seminoles have a Title-winning tradition. But football wants to return to that pedestal like they did in 1998, and that’s all that is on their mind.

“We should go back to the State Championship this year, hopefully;” Grier said. Collums agreed with that goal.

“That’s our big goal. We have more than one goal. We want to win the district again. The main goal is Belmont. That’s our first game.”

That match-up with the Cardinals of Belmont will kick off the season for Smithville on August 19th.

Categories: 2016, 60 in 60 2018, High School Sports, Local Sports, Top Story

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