H.S. FOOTBALL: Will South Side be a passing team?

There are a number of question marks surrounding District 14-AA football heading into the season because of a number of coaching changes and young teams around the league.

One of the biggest questions could be surrounding the team in Jackson.

South Side has long been known as a team that would line up and try to run the ball 50 times a game and only throw it in extremely long situations.

But the last time the Hawks were on a competitive football field, then-sophomore quarterback Cade Willingham was passing for 10 touchdowns and breaking a few school single-game passing records.

So will South Side football spread the field and air it out this fall?

"We're going to do whatever puts our kids in the best situations to try to win," said Hawks head coach Jason Driggers. "If that means we run something like some of these schools that throw the ball 40 times a game, then we'll do it.

"But we need to be bigger and faster before I feel good about committing to anything and saying 'That's what we're trying to do.'"

Willingham has plenty of targets to pass it to or hand the ball off to, no matter which the Hawks' coaching staff chooses to direct.

Austin Pearson and Jalen Moore are a couple of experienced guys who have some speed. Jesse Williamson and Jordan Taylor are a couple of linemen that can anchor the Hawks up front and protect those guys in the backfield.

"What I know for sure is these guys are working hard and responding to what we're asking of them," Driggers said. "And that tells me that no matter what we ask to put them in position to be successful, they'll hopefully respond the way we want them to."

Brandon Shields, 425-9751

South Side Hawks

• 2013 record: 3-7

• Despite a sub-.500 record, South Side came close to making the playoffs last year. A win over Chester County would've given the Hawks second in the district and an automatic playoff spot.

• The Hawks leave the city of Jackson three times this season: Week 2 at Fayette-Ware, Week 8 at McNairy Central and Week 10 at Bolivar.