HSFT stop #44: East Union

https://cdn.field59.com/WCBI/1628638625-a6da44edafe49915fd7d7b20aac198652e382739_fl9-720p.mp4 BLUE SPRINGS, Miss (WCBI)– Last season was Todd Lott’s first year as the head coach of East Union. They won 11 games. This season they are in a prime position to build on that success. 2020 ended with a 22-14 loss to Calhoun City in the 2A semifinals. While Lott saw success in his first year, the message for this season is clear. “We’re just starting all over again. We don’t talk about last year a whole lot,” Lott said. “I don’t believe in looking back at the past, good or bad. We’re trying to get better at East Union each day. One day at a time, one rep at a time, we will do what we need to do. It didn’t take long for the Urchins to get back to work following last season. “It started during January when we got back from Christmas break. A lot of guys spent plenty of time making an investment into our program,” Lott said. “Workouts have been tough but they have been helping us a lot,” senior WR Hayden Roberts said. “We’re getting bigger, faster and stronger. We’re trying to have the best season East Union has ever had.” Only five seniors graduated from the team that was one possession away from making it to the 2A state title game. One of the experienced position groups that has impressed Lott so far has been the offensive and defensive lines. “A lot of starts on those guys,” Lott said. “They’re seniors now and have been starting since ninth grade. They’ve worked so hard in the offseason and I am super pleased with them.” Another big victory Lott had in his first year was earning his players’ respect. They’re bought in. “He’s a great coach. He knows just what to say when we are struggling,” senior offensive/defensive lineman Josh Duley said. “He can give us a kick sometimes when we’re doing something we’re not supposed to, but we need it. “It helped because when he came in we didn’t know what to expect,” senior TE/DB Thad Bell said. “Going into junior year, we realized he knows a lot and he has been really good.” “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse,” Lott said. “As long as we improve East Union each day, we will be OK.” East Union’s season opens up August 27th at New Albany.