#HSFT17: Stop No. 18 – Mantachie Mustangs

MANTACHIE, Miss. (WCBI) — Coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, the Mantachie Mustangs will go through a rebuilding year in 2017.

“We got a good, young group of kids that we really like,” head coach TJ Seago said, “It’s going to be tough early on, but they have to play, then play some more, and play some more before they get to that level of comfort on the field on Friday nights….”

The Mustangs will make the jump from Class 2A to 3A, and but the Mustangs have become familiar with who they’ll be facing in the upcoming season

“…as young as we are, it doesn’t matter if we’re still in 2A, 3A, or 4A…we’ve played a lot of those teams, ” Seago said, “We’ve played Belmont and Alcorn Central every year. We play Booneville and Kossuth in the spring too, and have done fairly well against all those teams. So, for me, I’m excited…”

The Mustangs will be missing senior fullback Logan Pettigo in 2017, a big piece of the Mustangs’ offense in the past three seasons.

“That’s a kid that averaged eight yards per carry for a career…his sophomore year, he was on pace for 1,500 yards, which would have been three years with 1,000 yards or more,” Seago said.

“He was a hard runner, we’re going to miss that, but we have two other kids that played fullback that backed him up. They may not be Logan, but I think as a duo, they can do just as well as he did.”

The past four of the five seasons have featured the Mustangs in the playoffs. Seago said this year won’t be judged based on their record at the end of the season.

“Our goal is to get better every day. I know that’s cliche, but that’s the honest truth, especially this year, as young as we are,” Seago said.

“As I’ve told the guys from the start of the spring practice, our goal is not to win eight of nine games. We’re not going to look at this season as a success based on wins and losses, not this year. It’s going to be more by how they grow as individuals, and grow as a team. That’s what we’re really looking for, that’s my goal. To have more team leadership, and team cohesiveness as opposed to years past.”