#HSFT16: Stop No. 19 – Pontotoc Warriors

PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) — After 3 consecutive losing seasons, Pontotoc began to put it together in 2016.

The Warriors just missed out on a playoff birth from Region 1-4A but a 6-5 season has them grapes moving forward in the direction that head coach Jeff Carter wants to see.

“I like the way they go out and work,” Carter said. “I like our senior leadership. They didn’t have a lot of leadership and they’re trying to leave a legacy here. They got their winning season last year and they’re still hungry to get to the playoffs. You hear them talk about it. They come in here and say what we do we have to do and go to work.”

“I think we have commitment this year,” senior McKinley Windham said. “Last couple years we haven’t been fully committed to our team or program. I think we really have it this year.”

Starting the season with a 5-2 record began to turn the mindset of the young Warriors football team, but a tough run to end the season ultimately left Pontotoc out of the postseason.

That has the Warriors chomping at the bit to get back and exact a little revenge on last year’s end to the season.

“All the teams that beat us will come back,” senior Jacob Carter said. “We’re going to try and get our revenge on them. Try to beat our rivals too. We haven’t beaten Shannon in a long time so we’re looking forward to that game too.”

The teams that came right at us we’ll have to do a better job this year,” coach Carter said. “Offensively we have to score more points this year. That’s our goal is to raise that up 6 points per game.”

The expectations going into this season? As high as you can go.

The words State Championship are still working their way back into the vernacular at Pontotoc but it’s one brick higher towards the goal of playing big time football in November and December.

“You always talk about trying to get to play in the big game,” coach Carter said. “That’s why you come out and work and try to get some hardware and recognition. It’s always there.

“We’re taking it one step at a time and one game at a time. Right now, we’re in the phase of getting bigger, faster, stronger and getting in shape. The next phase will be the game. If they keep their eyes on one game at a time, everything will take care of itself.”

The Warriors will begin the 2016 campaign at home at The Hollow against Houston before closing out August at Kossuth.