High School Football Tour: Caledonia

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CALEDONIA, Miss. (WCBI Sports) – Caledonia coach Ricky Kendrick resigned after last season, steering the Confederates in a positive direction. Now, new head man Andy Crotwell is going to try to build on those successes, and make the playoffs. Something the team didn’t do last season.

“Talking to the guys, their main focus right now is being more competitive in division play and putting themselves in a position where they can make the playoffs,” Crotwell said.

The players say they want to make the playoffs, and are trying to keep the past behind them.

“We’re not really thinking about it but it’s in our heads. We want to do better than what we did last year, that’s what we’re striving for,” junior Brandon Henry said.

“We definitely want to do better than we did last year. I feel like we’re a better team this year as a whole, so we’ll click more this year with the new offense,” junior Cody Cliett said.

They players tell me the offseason workouts are more structured than before, under the first-year head coach. And while the offense may look a little different, the run game and relying on returning quarterback Ben Marchbanks is still the focus.

“Well it’ll still be a downhill running attack. It won’t necessarily be a Wing-T style but it’ll be a situation where we try to attack people with the run then use play action and the quick game to augment that,” Crotwell said.

11 seniors return to the team and Crotwell expects contributions from Jordan Anderson, James Longmire and Bubba Brauer but there are no returning starters. Well, at least not in coach Crotwell’s mind. He says it’s an open competition.

“Competition always bring out the best in people. That’s what we’re striving for everyday. Every day you’re competing for a spot. If a guy has a good day and can match that with another good one and another good one after that. He’s going to get an opportunity to play. I think that only makes the team better,” Crotwell said.