#HSFT20 – Stop #43 Eupora Eagles

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EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) — “We ain’t like we were last year,” senior middle linebacker and long snapper Jacob Collum said. “We’re better this year. Badder, and we’ll come out strong.”

2019 was a year of ups and downs for the Eupora Eagles. The team was able to win a post season game but ultimately finished the season with a 4-8 record.

Heading into the 2020 season, Eupora is taking those lessons learned last year into now. Lesson number one being perseverance.

“When bad things happen, it’s human nature,” head coach Stephen Edwards said. “You want to put your head down. We just have to find a way this year to overcome those things.”

“We struggled a lot,” senior wide receiver and corner back Tyjuan Hughes said. “Had a lot of people talk bad about us, but it’s going to be different this year.”

“Not listening to outside talking,” senior kicker and punter Kimble Dillinger said. “We need to listen to ourselves and boost ourselves up instead of listening to other people.”

A point of emphasis that the team has echoed is carrying the right attitude into the season.

“There’s things there,” Edwards explained. “If you keep fighting when bad things happen, good things can happen to you. That’s what I told these kids that are back.”

“Mainly, just attitude,” Hughes said. “Change your attitude. Can’t nobody beat us.”

“We all just have a better positive attitude,” Collum said. “We’re more uplifting of each other. We work more as a family this year.”

“A lot of young guys are just coming to workouts,” Dillinger said. “That means a lot to us seniors. Seeing a lot of the younger guys be here and be up with their attitude.”

With those younger players coming to workouts, head coach Stephen Edwards feels confident about what they add to the roster this season.

“We got more depth this year,” Edwards elaborated. “One kid doesn’t workout. Well, we have another to put it. Last year, I felt we were lacking in depth.”

Added depth and an improved mentality will be key in the Eagles quest to compete for the division crown. A region that’s traditionally produced contenders.

“You can see our division champ, other than last year, I think has played for the state championship probably the last five or six years,” Edwards said. “I just think if you win the division, it sets you up for that third season which is playoffs.”

The Eagles kick off the regular season at French Camp September 4th.