HSFT19 Stop #46 — South Pontotoc Cougars

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PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) —2019 will be a season of “new” for South Pontotoc. New impact players as the Cougars work to replace 18 seniors. Also, a new head coach as former defensive coordinator Rod Cook enters his first season as head coach following Michael Bradley’s resignation.

“With Coach Bradley leaving, we had plans to carry things on just like he wasn’t here,” said head coach Rod Cook. “The kids made a commitment when he left at Thanksgiving. They knew what they were going up against. All of them stepped up to meet the challenge.”

“Nothing really changed. He’s still the fiery head coach,” said junior lineman Brandon Flake. “Whenever he was defensive coordinator, he was the same. Nothing changed. It’s going to be good having him. He’s really lifted the program after Coach Bradley left. We’re still going to play hard for him no matter who’s the coach.”

“I like Coach Rod,” said senior fullback and linebacker Eli Brown. “He’s a good coach. He’ll get on you when he needs to then let you know he loves you at the end of the day.”

One of the key guys Coach Cook won’t have at his disposal this season is running back Eddie Ivey.

“It’s going to be difficult to replace him, but I feel like we’ll be able to do it,” said junior tight end and cornerback Isaac Finley. “We have some people that’s stepped up and have taken control and I feel confident about them.”

“It’s hard to replace those guys. They’ve come up through the program. They’ve worked hard. We got guys who’ve stepped up and fulfilled those positions and roles and we got some good seniors and leaders. It feels like they never left,” said Flake.

“I have a lot of respect for those seniors but everyone is replaceable. Everyone has to go. You can’t stay forever. I feel like there’s a bunch of young people stepping up filing those shoes,” said Brown.

But the team keeps their stabilizing force and field general, Eli Allen, who looks to have a big junior season.

“He’ll comeback and step in like he normally does and lead our team. We’ll just come out with the victory,” said Flake.

“Definitely, this off season he’s stepped it up a notch. He’s gotten better in everything he wasn’t as good as last year. I’m pretty confident in his abilities. I feel like we’ll be pretty good this year,” said Finely.

The Cougars kick off the season August 23rd against East Webster.