#HSFT19 Stop #3 — Hamilton Lions

HAMILTON, Miss. (WCBI) — It’s been five years since the Hamilton Lions saw a winning season.

It’s been six since they saw a playoff berth, and it’s been thirty-seven years since the Lions have been crowned 1A state title winners.

2019 presents a brand new season with a new head coach and a new team. This one determined that hard work will begin the road to a winning season.

“Many people counted us out,” senior running back/safety B.J. Jones said. “They were right but we’re looking forward to coming back stronger than ever with a new coach. It’s going to be difficult but a lot of things in life are difficult and we have to strive to make it better.”

“Hopefully I can come in an try to turn this around to back when it used to be whenever they won fifty games in a row back in the 80s,” first year head coach Wade Pierce said. “I know Hamilton has a very proud tradition and hopefully we can get back to that here.”

With eight seniors returning, Pierce says this team will count a lot on its younger guys but believes as long as the work starts in the weight room this Lion squad can find success.

“From the moment that I came in here you could tell that there’s some good football players here,” Pierce said. “Whenever you get that confidence back up that these kids have I really believe that were going to be successful here.”

“It comes from the weight room,” Jones said. “Not a lot of people attended work out sessions and that’s what caused people a lot of injuries and that was mainly our downfall last year.”

A fresh start on the gridiron for this Hamilton squad is the best way to look toward the future.

“Start practicing really hard and working out,” senior guard Brodie Collum said. “We’re putting in a whole new offense and defense. We’re going to try and tear up the field.”

“It’s getting the kids to believe they can win. That’s the hardest part whenever the kids start believing that, that’s when the wins will come,” Pierce said.

The future of the Hamilton begins with a match-up to Hatley on August 23rd. Until then don’t count out the Lions.

“We may be young but we’re going to be better,” Jones said.