OAK HILL ACADEMY RAIDERS

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) — It’s not a coincidence that Chris Craven is the new head coach at Oak Hill Academy.

The long-time assistant has been putting in time in every avenue of the Raiders football program, and the time has paid off.

“What excites me about being the head coach at Oak Hill is getting to do something I love,” Craven said. “It’s something I’m called to do. At the same time, I love shaping young boys into great men. We have a good group of guys that can do a lot of good things.”

Craven takes over a program that has seen success in recent years and they hope to build off the legacy the outgoing senior class left.

“We did have a great senior group,” Craven said. “One of the things I always appreciated about that group was their level of play and level of commitment caused everyone around them to be better. Even though they graduated, the help they gave this program lives on.”

As a 5-6 team in 2014, Oak Hill Academy had many high points including victories over one of the best teams in MAIS single-A in Newton County Academy and their impressive division win over one of the best in double-A in Canton Academy.

Those big wins showcased the kind of belief the Raiders have, but it also showed Coach Craven’s most important attribute he likes going into the new season.

“What I like most about them is their heart,” coach Craven said. “At the same time, we have a great backfield with Collins Brown and Drew Riley. We have our whole line returning and we have a good skill set. That’s a great situation to be in as a football team.”

Oak Hill will start the season at home versus Newton County Academy before hosting TCPS the following week.