A new football season is about to begin, and with it are the hopes that it will bring a fresh start for the Thomas Edwards High Tigers.
Beginning next Friday (August 29) night, the Tigers open their 2025 campaign on the road to Greenwood High School – a night of play which will feature the debut of their new Head Coach Quintarus McCray.
However, Coach McCray and his staff will get a glimpse of his team tonight at Riverside High School in Avon. The Tigers will take the field at 6 p.m. against J.Z. George of Carrollton.
In addition to Coach McCray’s first regular season night on the sideline, the game will feature the Tigers playing Greenwood High School for the first time in almost 100 years.
Although geographically close, unbelievably the last time a public high school football team from Ruleville played Greenwood High School occurred during the 1927 season.
As mentioned, there is a new head coach who will be directing traffic from the sidelines, and there is little doubt that Coach McCray’s job #1 is to begin turning the Edwards High program back toward consistently winning football games.
The Tigers are hoping to improve on last year’s 1-8 record, a won-loss mark which extended their program’s recent history to six consecutive-losing seasons.
Arriving at Edwards High with nine years of head coaching experience under his belt, Coach McCray noted, “I feel we hold our own destiny this season.”
As for their Region 3-3A competition, the Tigers will battle for the crown and a 3A playoff berth against Amanda Elzy High of Greenwood, Humphreys County High of Belzoni, O’Bannon High of Greenville, and Yazoo County High of Yazoo City.
Among the regional lineup, Coach McCray expects Humphreys County and Yazoo County to field strong teams this season.
It is noteworthy, however, that none of the teams in the Tigers’ new region recorded a winning record last season, a situation which could bode well for Coach McCray’s squad.
That optimism is fueled by the fact that Coach McCray lists 13 positions that he expects to be filled by returning starters. Seven of those positions are on the offensive side of the ball, while the defense returns six starters.
There are also three teams on the Tigers’ schedule which they did not play last season.
Included in that list are West Tallahatchie High of Webb, O’Bannon High, and Leland High.
Although new on the job and with fall practice having just started, Coach McCray feels, “Our line play should be our strength because most of those guys have been playing and have game experience.”
On the opposite side, one of Coach McCray’s biggest concerns is, “The running back position because they are young and do not have a lot of game experience.”
Last season, the 2024 version of the Tigers were only able to post an average 12.9 points scored per game while allowing 26.8 points per game to their opponents.
Those numbers could see noticeable improvement this season with the number of returning Edwards High starters who will be taking the field each Friday night.
As for the players who will hopefully make success happen on the field, the Tigers’ offensive unit is expected to once again have junior quarterback Ian Harris (6’3”, 175 lbs.) taking snaps under center.
In the offensive line, the Tigers are blessed with four intimidating returning starters.
Playing the positions where games are largely won, the group includes Antwan Brinkley (6’2”, 225 lbs.), Darious Calvin (6’3”, 310 lbs.), Thomas Foster (6’1”, 240 lbs.), and Braylon Reed (6’4”, 276 lbs.)
At the wide receiver positions, the Tigers boast 4.5 speed as A’Kerrion Ingram (6’2”, 190 lbs.) joins Kenan Williams (6’1”, 175 lbs.) in snagging passes and executing downfield blocks.
Williams is also listed as practicing at the quarterback position.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers’ front line has Calvin and Reed returning to plug holes.
At the linebacker positions Foster will join Mario Davis (5’9”, 185 lbs.) in running down ball carriers.
In the secondary, Ingram is expected to return to his safety position while Williams will do the same while occupying a defensive back slot.
New players who are listed to possibly make an impact on this year’s season include Jamarion Willis, a player whom Coach McCray notes, “Is an athlete. This kid should bring some excitement and speed to the offense side of the ball.”
Also listed as possible impact players are running back Latavion Minton, wide receiver Jacorian Steadman, and linebacker Bryce Reed.
Aiding Coach McCray in guiding their expected 40-45-player roster this season are assistant coaches Kondwani Coleman (linebackers/running backs), Roderick Lewis (offensive line), Cornelius Peoples (defensive line), and Quantavius Peterson (defensive coordinator).
