2015 High School Football Tour – Stop #16: Amory

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AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) — Looking for a team to watch out for in 2015?

Look no further than the Amory Panthers this upcoming high school football season.

Head coach Ben Ashley returns talent from a season ago that led the Panthers in passing, rushing, receiving and tackles. All of that has the head coach quite encouraged going into the new season.

“We have a lot of experience back with eight starters on offense and seven on defense,” Coach Ashley said. “We will be way better on offense and defensively we’ve shifted to a 3-4. We did that because we have more speed on defense so as as result I think we’ll be better on defense.”

As mentioned previously, Amory may be flying under the radar this upcoming season.

With a loaded Region 1-4A, the Panthers hope to use the element of surprise on their opponents this season with what they have back.

“I want our kids to play with the mentality that we’re the underdog and we have a chip on our shoulder and play that way,” Ashley said. “Looking at the preseason, Itawamba and Corinth have everything back. On paper, they’re going to be really solid but we feel like we have a chance to make a jump to get in with those guys in Division 1-4A.”

Amory has missed the playoffs just twice in the last twenty years and have all the makings of being a top team in Class 4A this season.

Coach Ashley though doesn’t look that far into the future. He hopes his team focuses on what is in front of them and he uses the standard of high school football in Mississippi for inspiration.

“I spent a season at South Panola in 2007 and those people have an amazing ability to focus on four quarters at a time once they get into the playoffs,” Ashley said. “That’s kind of our mentality. When you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. We want to compete well in the division and have the chance to play a first round home playoff game and just take it four quarters at a time.”

Amory will begin the season with a tough test on the road versus Madison-Ridgeland Academy before welcoming in Saltillo and hosting Aberdeen for the A-Game.