#HSFT17: Stop No. 13 – Bruce Trojans

BRUCE, Miss. (WCBI) — 2017 begins a new era for Bruce football.

Clint Faust takes over as the man in charge of Trojans football, and brings fourteen years of coaching experience into his first head coaching gig.

“I think a lot of preparation along the way has gotten me to this point,” Faust said, “…a goal of mine to strive for throughout the years. I just think that, as a head coach, you have a platform to reach these young people.”

Faust takes over a completely new Bruce team that will be missing close to 20 seniors from last year’s playoff squad.

“We’re going to be really young, I’m excited about that,” Faust said.

“We’re going to have a lot of young guys that get to come in and make their mark”

One of those young guys Coach Faust is excited about is sophomore running back DeAvion Cullin.

“I take it to most of my advantage to be a starting running back as a sophomore,” Cullin said, “Not too many people get that type of chance. I just work as hard as I can to make that happen.”

While Cullin looks to make an impact in the backfield, it’s the man under center that will need to step up in a big way.

Coach Faust will turn to one of the team’s only seniors, Trent Hall.

“Well, at first, I really wasn’t expecting it, I was supposed to be the starting receiver this year…,” Hall explained, “but when he told me I was going to start taking reps at quarterback, it kind of surprised me.

“Now, I’ve gotten through it and started working, it’s kind of easy now. I’m ready for the year to start so I can start the reps and start playing.”

There’s no lack of motivation this year for the Trojans.

Watching Skuna River rival Calhoun City take home the 2A crown in 2016 only adds fuel to Bruce’s fire this offseason.

“We got the hurt from last year, getting put out, and then seeing our rivals go and make the championship made us be more hungry,” Cullin said.

“I want this team to be a team that the community takes pride in and to bring back a tradition,” added Faust.

“Somebody asked me, ‘Why Bruce?’, and I said, ‘Why not?’ There’s so much tradition, players here that I think once we come in, install our work ethic, show the kids how we’re going to do stuff, that hard work, that tradition, will come back.”