#HSFT17: Stop No. 41 – Winona Tigers

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) — Saying the 2016 Winona Tigers were a young football may be an understatement.

More than forty players on head coach Joey Tompkins’ team were underclassmen.

The Tigers didn’t use youth as an excuse, locking in their third straight postseason appearance, but the season didn’t end the way Tompkins and the team expected.

“We have to do a better job when it comes playoff time,” Tompkins said, “Two years in a row, we’ve got two disappointing losses. One of them, last year, we had a very inexperienced team, and we went to a team that was pretty good and they beat us up pretty good.”

“I say it gave us a better drive to push each other because we were so young and now, getting everyone mentally ready for the next season,” senior safety and running back J.T. Townsend said.

The good news for Winona is this year’s team will be almost identical to last years, with more playing experience under their belt.

“We have a bright future as far as our younger guys coming, and I think the sky’s the limit this year,” Tompkins said.

“We haven’t changed, since I’ve been here, as far as our expectations. Our expectations have been the same every year. Our kids know it. Our kids, hopefully, know what it takes to try and get there.”

“I think people will underestimate us as we’re playing this year,” senior middle linebacker and long-snapper Kaleb Hicks said, “and that we’ll strive to do better than they think we will”

One of the biggest pieces returning for Coach Tompkins is three year starting quarterback JaTyler Moore.

“I’ve been in the playoffs both times, they really hurt,” Moore said of back to back playoff losses.

“So, I try to help my craft, and help better for the team. Try to win 16 games, play 16 games and win the last one. That’s really our goal.”

“I’ve been coaching for, I think, seventeen years and I don’t know if we’ve ever had a quarterback that’s started for three years. I know we haven’t. That’s a big time advantage,” Tompkins said.

“Another big time advantage is, we’re losing one offensive lineman from last year. If you’re not good up front on either side of the ball, then you’re not going to be a very good football team. I think we’re going to be very much improved on the offensive line this year, and that’s huge.”

Winona has battled it’s way to 15 playoff appearances in the last seventeen seasons, but still searches for that first state title appearance.

“This season will mean a lot. It’s my last year, but my main goal for myself, and my team, is to get us to the ring,” Townsend said.

The Tigers kick off their season at home against Strayhorn, before going on a road trip to Choctaw County and Nanih Waiya.