#HSFT19 Stop #49 — Itawamba AHS Indians

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FULTON, Miss. (WCBI) — Year in and year out the expectation in Fulton remains the same for the Itawamba AHS Indians.

Coming off a 7-5 season in 2018, head coach Clint Hoots says he hasn’t noticed much change with his team and their work ethic remains as high as ever.

“It’s about hard work for us,” Hoots said. “It’s about the grind of it. We’ve had a great year in the off-season. We’ve revamped our strength program and the kids really bought into it. It’s paying off. Its paid off this spring, its paid off over the summer and you can tell our guys here coming into fall camp are a little more ahead of the game than they have been in the past.”

Much like every season, the Indians set the early goal of making the playoffs. Making the playoffs though hasn’t been the challenge for Itawamba over the past few years. It’s been advancing in them.

“As far as the season goes it’s a marathon. It is. It’s who can get to the end of the season healthy. The last couple of years we’ve limped into it. Into the division and into the playoffs and that’s something we’re really focusing on this year is trying to remain healthy. Trying to look at the way we practice and look at the things we do to try and find a way to make it to that level,” Hoots said.

Before the Indians can think about the playoffs, they have other business to attend to.

“Our goal here ultimately first is to just take care of the division. We want to try and win the division championship. We want to try and get that home playoff berth and then you get into playoffs and you want to try and take it one week at a time,” Hoots said.

“Being more motivated,” senior QB Daevion Sistrunk said. “Being more dedicated. Being more willing to want. You know want the game more and want to be in the championship more.”

Step one towards taking care of the division starts by taking care of the chemistry at home. The Indians have embraced the brotherhood in Fulton and continue to push each other to strive for more on the field.

“Step up and become a leader on my team,” Sistrunk said. “Like last year you know we just want to make the playoffs and hopefully we make it to the state championship. So we just keep that vibe and keep that motivation on our minds. Being able to push each other. Even when some don’t feel like coming to practice we pick each other up and let them know that we need you here  because we are an unselfish team.”

“Motivation and pick every body up,” senior LB/FB Quinnen Bennett said. “Push every body to their farthest point and keep pushing. If someone has a bad day you can pick them up and what not and lead them in the right direction.”

With less than two weeks until that first Friday night, Itawamba plans to come out with an enthusiastic attitude that’s ready to get after it.

“We’re going to be dogs in the trenches that are going to have a good time playing football.”

Itawamba’s season begins against Amory on August 23rd.