SPORTS

H.S. FOOTBALL: Haywood seeks return to past success

Brandon Shields

BROWNSVILLE – Last year marked the first time in four years the football team at Haywood High School made it to the playoffs.

While the postseason bid was short-lived, it was a step in the right direction under first-year head coach Ernie Jackson.

Jackson said the work ethic and ability his returning players have shown this past offseason is proof of a desire to return the Tomcats to their former glory and write a new chapter for Haywood radio man Dr. Robert Rooks to add to his Tomcat football history book.

“The players that had been here before, they remember what it was like to go through seasons where they didn’t win a lot, and they don’t want to go through that again,” Jackson said. “And I’ve gained a lot of respect for how hard some of these guys have come out and worked the entire year for some playing time.

“Knowing how much they put into it and want it makes me want it for them even more.”

While some talented players are no longer on the roster, there’s a great deal of ability coming back to play football in Brownsville this fall.

Junior defensive lineman Emmit Gooden is getting a lot of attention from big-time colleges. Junior quarterback Wil Austin already has a year of experience as a starter under his belt with two years left to play for Haywood.

The key is trying to make it through District 15-AA play. The Tomcats were one of five teams in the district to make the playoffs last year, and Jackson said he expects every game to be a battle once again.

“You look at the teams in this district – North Side, Liberty, JCM, and I haven’t even named last year’s champion Covington,” Jackson said. “Then Ripley is there with a lot of kids and experience coming back and good coaching from Carey Craig.

“All six of us will have to be ready to bring it if we want to compete in this district.”

Brandon Shields, 425-9751

Haywood Tomcats

• 2013 record: 6-5

• The Tomcats’ leading rusher last season, Bryce Young, will not be back with the team this year as he moved to another state last winter.

• Haywood replaced a home game with Fayette-Ware, who hasn’t won a game in a few years, with a road trip to Alabama to play Muscle Shoals, who finished as the Class 5A runner-up last year.