By Joseph W. Gex, II
May 25, 2010, 17:27

The Bay High Tigers used their 2010 spring football practice to improve on the successes gained in the 2009 season. Younger players got a little more seasoning and the team focused on becoming a more intelligent team in terms of knowing why they do the things they do on the field.

Tiger head coach Jeff Hopgood had plenty of good things to look back on when spring football ended. He commented, “Our defensive line was young last season and they got better during this practice time. On offense, we are an I-formation team but we opened it up a little more during the spring and worked on throwing the football to become a more balanced team. We entered the spring wanting to play more of the younger guys to build their foundation. We also focused on becoming a more intelligent team in terms of knowing why we do the things we do on the field. I feel good about we accomplished during the spring.”

The Tigers will have some new faces on the defensive side of the field as they try to replace players such as Skyler Favre, Dillon Ladner, Elijah White, Pat Fontenot, Carl Ivy and others. Some players who stepped up and had a solid spring were MLB Rory Island, DL Phalen Booker, DL Kendall Island, DE Dan Wilson, DE Tyler Barrett, LB Antonio Reed, LB Justin Conrad and LB Stewart Foote.

The Tigers played in a jamboree at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College last week. In the jamboree, the 4A Tigers squared off with West Harrison and St. Martin, both Class 5A schools. Hopgood liked what he saw. He stated that the defense only gave up one touchdown in their scrimmage. Hopgood commented, “Our defense has improved. Defensive coordinator Ben Foreman has done a tremendous job teaching this spring.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the quarterback returns with Braxton Lafontaine but the Tigers lose a workhorse tailback in Rahien Lyons. Brennan Dunklin moved from wide receiver and worked some at tailback along with Rory Island at fullback. Donovan Davis got some reps at quarterback as Lafontaine’s backup. Justus Lett also had a solid spring at wide receiver.

The Tigers established themselves as a solid running team last year but Hopgood wanted to work the Tigers in the passing game this spring to become a more balanced team. He stated, “We focused on passing the football this spring and we opened it up more. We accomplished some things during the spring.”

Paul Johnson will take over for his departed older brother, Seth, with the kicking duties.

Hopgood added, “We have 13 seniors, six juniors and 31 sophomores entering the fall. It is a unique makeup which is why we wanted to play so many of the younger guys. Over the summer we will have our established workouts that will help make us faster and stronger. We are looking to be a more complete team in the fall and the guys are working hard to achieve that. We come out of the gates in August against a solid Vancleave team and continue with a solid non-division schedule with North Pike who is being picked to win it all and Hancock which is a 6A school that is improving quickly. It will be a tough road but one that we will enjoy the challenge of going down.”

The Tigers open their season on August 20th with a home date against Vancleave. As the school year comes to an end, football is just around the corner.