High School Football Tour: Tishomingo

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IUKA, Miss (WCBI Sports) – Tishomingo is setting its sights on the playoffs after another losing season last year. There’s plenty of optimism in Iuke with some players being heavily recruited by the top college football teams.

With six starters returning on both sides of the ball, there’s some experience returning for Tishomingo. Coach Lanny Jones says the team will feel the void of the 13 graduated seniors but still has high hopes.

“They’re kind of a greedy-type, young bunch, a bunch of sophomores in that class. Our expectations are high going into this coming up season with the backfield that we have coming back,” Jones said.

The Braves are a three-runningback team, but replacing the offensive line will be a focus, with only one returning starter. Junior Blake Hawkins will once again be the man under center. He’s started since his freshman season.

“We put it in his hands a lot of times. If we’re running the zone, and we get a pass read we expect him to make that play. He’s a smart kid, we wouldn’t let him do it if he couldn’t. The offense runs off him,” Jones said.

Hawkins is drawing interest from a long list of schools including Ole Miss and Mississippi State. He says the team has improved the past few seasons, but isn’t done.

“A lot of it is, mostly disappointment with last year’s season and that just makes me want to work harder to this season because I don’t want to feel like that again. You don’t want to feel like you’re disappointed after a season of football,” Hawkins said.

Wide receiver and cornerback Brandon Gamble is another standout. The 6-4 senior runs a 4.5 40. I spoke with Gamble about being recruited by colleges while still playing through his senior season. He says sometimes it can be tough.

“It’s pretty hard because all that can get in your head. You can get kind of cocky or whatever. You just got to keep working everyday to get better,” Gamble said.

The players say they’re working towards the playoffs this season, after last year’s 3-8 finish.

“We’re much more focused than we were last season. We’re determined to change the name of Tishomingo County football to better ourselves and our school,” Hawkins said.