High School Football Tour: Mantachie

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MANTACHIE, Miss. (WCBI) — Being put in the same division as Aberdeen, Mooreville, Water Valley, and Nettleton wasn’t a welcome sight when Mantachie made the jump to class 3A in 2011.

After their 2-year stint in the mid-level class, the Mustangs are back down to class 2A where they belong.

Even with the difficult division schedule, head coach Lynn Moore and Mantachie made the playoffs for the first time since 2007 last season.

“Every goal for every team that starts August 5th is to get to the playoffs,” said Coach Moore.  “Any time you can do that you’ve accomplished something. It does have some carry over to the next season. We were in the playoffs last season and that’s something to work for and that’s the goal this year to get in.”

The Mustangs return a talented group on offense but will be without the services of do-everything junior Micah Sparks.

That won’t halt the aerial and ground threat that Mantachie possesses as talented receiver Nick Burns and quarterback Dustin Carrell are back for their senior seasons.

It will be a game of catch-up though: Mantachie only returns two starters on defense, compared to nine on offense.

“We have some young guys playing defense, but our strength is a lot better than it was. Offensively, that’s where the starters return. On the flip side of that, a lot of those guys will have to play both ways that didn’t do that last year.”

Mantachie will be in division 1-2A this upcoming season with Baldwyn, East Union, Hatley, New Site, and Walnut.