PETAL, Miss. (WDAM) – For the fifth 12 months in a row the Hattiesburg Excessive Faculty Tigers and Petal Excessive Faculty Panthers open their seasons within the Leaf River Rivalry sport.
“We all know we’re up towards a tricky activity however we’re excited and searching ahead to the problem,” stated Tigers first-year head coach Kendall Lacey.
Petal head coach Marcus Boyles is 5-4 in his profession within the Leaf River Rivalry sport.
“Sometimes it’s going to be a one to 2 rating sport,” Boyles stated.
The all-time sequence between the Tigers and Panthers is tied 12-12 after Hattiesburg received 7-3 final 12 months.
The Tigers have a brand new chief this time round in Lacey. He’s trying to choose up the place Tony Vance left off.
The Tigers went 13-1 final season however misplaced to the Grenada Excessive Faculty Chargers within the Class 6A state championship sport.
“I’ve educated our workforce,” Lacey stated. “I’ve obtained us prepared, mentally and bodily, to play a sport like this. I simply hope we carry out and let the chips fall the place they might.”
On the opposite sideline, Boyles enters his thirtieth season as a head coach with 308 profession wins.
Might his expertise make a distinction?
“I feel in preparation, some, as a result of I understand how I need to do issues each week,” he stated. “(Lacey’s) been in some nice packages and been an awesome defensive coordinator. I don’t know if the training curve for him goes to be as large because it was for me.”
The Tigers are led by Tristen Keys.
The highest-ranked large receiver within the class of 2026 introduced on his ‘X’ account Thursday that he had flipped his dedication from Louisiana State College to the College of Tennessee.
Defensive lineman Corey Wells leads the way in which for Petal. He’s at present dedicated to the College of Texas Longhorns.
Each coaches identified a couple of features of every workforce that impresses them.
“They do a variety of issues effectively,” Lacey stated. “Their defensive and offensive strains are large.”
Boyles is impressed by Hattiesburg’s athleticism.
“Velocity,” he stated. “They’re very athletic. All people talks in regards to the big-time receiver, Tristen Keys, and he’s good, however they produce other playmakers round him.”
Every of the final 4 video games between Hattiesburg and Petal have been determined by a rating. Boyles stated he believes his protection must restrict large performs.
“Defensively, we’ve got to do a very good job at not giving up explosive performs,” he stated. “We have to power turnovers and get off the sector on third down.”
Lacey stated he desires his workforce to play collectively.
“Nobody group goes to win or lose a sport for us,” he stated. “We’re going to win as a workforce.”
Kickoff is about for 7 p.m. Friday at Panther Stadium.
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