Manning High School had a heartbreaking loss by one point to Timberland last year in the Region Championship game.
Ultimately, the Monarchs ended 2016 with a 7-4 record and second in the region, and Coach Keith West is looking in 2017 to improve on those results.
"Overall, it was a successful season," West said of 2016. "At one point, we were 7-2. We went on a couple winning streaks here and there, and we had a chance to win the region championship. So, I think it was a successful season."
West defined 2016 as a "winning season."
"We made the playoffs," he said. "They had three straight losing seasons here at Manning before that. So, we kind of turned the corner a little bit, and hopefully, we can take it a step higher this year."
West believes having his players "know we can win" will help the team most in the coming season.
"Anytime you come along a couple of losing seasons, I think there's always some doubt in players' minds, 'Can we win?'" West said. "But now, they've seen us win. We're winning scrimmages. We're winning seven-on-sevens. We're winning games on the field on Friday night. I think that winning momentum will carry over into this season."
The team will rely heavily on returning defensive players like K. Dupree and Kayshawn Garris at safety. Both players competed about every snap last year, West said.
"We've got D.J. Felder back at defensive end," he said. "We've got Jullian Richardson back at linebacker. So, we've got a good core group of guys in the secondary and up front on the defense line who have played and have experience. We feel pretty good about our defense."
On the offensive side, David Fulton will return as a receiver.
"He caught a lot of balls last year," said West. "We've got Dejuan Wilson back at running back. He got a lot of carries last year. We've got Darias Williams back at full back and tight end. He can catch a lot of balls and run the ball when we need to."
Jack Owens is serving as the team's quarterback.
"Jack has done a really good job for us in the spring and summer," said West. "Direl Parker has also done a good job at quarterback. Direl is lookingat also possibly playing some receiver or defensive back roles. He's done a really good job for us on both sides of the ball this spring and summer. We've got some good returning guys this year, but we've also got some good newcomers."
West said the team's first make-it-or-break-it moment will be its very first game against Wade Hampton.
"This year, that game will be huge," he said. "It's on the road. We had a chance to beat them last year. We were up in the first half. We had the momentum. We had a lightning delay. We came out a little flat after that and ended up losing that game."
West said, had the team won that game in 2016, the Monarchs would've been 4-0 to start the season, because the team won its next three games.
"Again, this year, I feel like, if we find a way to beat Wade Hampton down there, we've got a chance to get off to a good start and get the season rolling early," West said.
West said he is, therefore, putting "a lot of emphasis on that first game with Wade Hampton."
"Then, our focus turns to the region," he said. "We're one point away from a Region Championship last year. Once we get into the region this year, we feel like we can win that. We know it won't be easy."
The team will have to face the likes of Bishop England and Timberland yet again.
"Bishop England is always good," he said. "Timberland is always good. Those are probably the top two teams in the region right now in competition for the Region Championship. So, it's probably between us, Timberland and Bishop England."
West said Monarch alumni and fans should look for "an exciting brand of football here at Manning" in 2017.
"We throw the ball around; we throw it deep; we throw it all over the field," he said. "I think we're agressive. We run the spread. We run the shotgun. We do some power running games. I think we’ve got good athletes. I think we’re exciting. So, I think we’re the best show in town. I think ours fans should definitely come out and support us this year."
