#HSFT17: Stop No. 10 – French Camp Panthers

FRENCH CAMP, Miss. (WCBI) — Prepare for a strong and more experienced French Camp in 2017.

The Panthers were young and inexperienced a season ago but still managed to make it into the postseason. That has head coach Nathan Wright going into the new year with high hopes.

“We’re excited,” Wright said. “We have 19 players coming back. That hasn’t happened in a long time. Any time around here you get 19 guys back, that’s a big thing. A lot of those guys are here over the summer and that’s not a luxury we’re used to having. A lot of them are young guys. 10th graders and 9th graders last year that are moving on up. They played a lot last year and they have a lot of game experience. We’re encouraged and excited about that.”

You can hear it in head coach Nathan Wright’s voice that he’s eager for the 2017 season.

French Camp was young all over the field last year yet the Panthers got into the playoffs for the 5th straight season. That combination makes for a belief in more for the new year.

“Obviously it gives them a lot of confidence,” coach Wright said. “We took a lot of lumps early in the year. Some guys were fast in junior high but they weren’t as fast as they thought they were. And turning that corner and learning to be more physical.

“To mess around and get in the playoffs, catch some breaks, play well for a half against Lumberton, gives you excitement and momentum going into next season.”

For this year’s French Camp team, the goal remains the same. After that, anything can happen.

“We always make it our goal to make the playoffs,” Wright said. “That won’t change. Outside of that, once you get in the playoffs, one team will get hot at the right time and go on and you pray we’ll be that team that will continue playing. We set that goal making the first round and then we’ve got a chance.”

The Panthers will start the season with back to back home games against MAIS foes Winona Christian and Starkville Academy.