2014 High School Football Tour: Nettleton

[jwplatform accHMPe8]

NETTLETON, Miss. (WCBI Sports) – It’s the progression that head coach Mike Scott has been aiming for. Nettleton won just two games two years ago but won six and reached the playoffs last season.

“We’ve come miles,” Scott said. He’s entering his third year.

“We took our baby steps, learned how to walk. I would just like to take the bridle off and let them go this year.”

He’s unleashing a team that has 17 seniors, just about the most you’ll see on a 3A team.

“[It’s the] winning ingredients of a football team,” senior wideout and linebacker Dre Sharp said. “We’re getting stronger. We should be better this year.”

“We always talk about being better than we were the last year. We want to go 11-0,” senior linebacker Garrett Sullivan said.

The Tigers lose their quarterback and a lot from their backfield and wide receivers. They will go to the run much more this year than in years past. But on defense, eight returning players have started for more than one year.

“We’ve got so much experience,” Sullivan said. “Everyone of us knows exactly what the other is going to do.”

“A lot of these kids got knocked around as sophomores and they’re ready to return the favor, “ Scott said.

Now, Nettleton is looking for a breakout season.

“The goal always is to make the playoffs,” he said. “Our goal this year is to make some noise in the playoffs.”

The Tigers begin the year hosting Baldwyn on Aug. 23.