#HSFT17: Stop No. 37– Winston Academy Patriots

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Winston Academy looks to end a playoff drought.

The Patriots of Winston Academy are hungry to play late into the fall.

Last season, the team finished below .500 and missed out on the post season for a fifth straight year.

The Patriots lose nine seniors from a year ago, but returns 10 starters, and this team looks to get back to winning ways in 2017.

“I’m looking forward to this season,” said senior running back Jessie Boydstun. “Last year we went 4-6 and didn’t quite end up like we wanted it to, but we are going to come back this year. We got a good group of seniors coming in and we are hoping to really have a good year this year.”

“I’m ready to get it rolling,” adds another teammate Peyton McCool. “We have a lot of expectations going for us this year. We got a lot of seniors coming back. The work ethic right now is going really well. I think everybody is excited of what’s going to go on.”

“We improved a little bit last year,” said head coach Andy Greening. “Hopefully the seniors can take charge. I’m going to kind of put the onus on them. It’s their last go around, and I expect them to lead their team. I feel good about where we are at right now and where we are headed.”

This year’s senior class was in seventh grade the last time the Patriots patrolled the postseason.

“I think the focus really starts this summer, and getting your mind right,” Boystun said. “Getting ready for this season, and then those non-conference games before we get to district. That will really get us rolling. We going to the playoffs this year.”

“Our goal now is the way this is set up you can just about win one league game,” Greening said. “If you win the rest of your non division games you are going to get in the playoffs. That’s what we are shooting for.”

“We haven’t made the playoffs since I’ve been here,” Mccool adds. “It’s something that I think will help everyone. It will help the school honestly. When you are playing good in sports, I think school gets better. Everybody is behind you, and we are trying to get everybody behind us.”

The Patriots will open their season at Newton County Academy on August 18th.