25 teams in 25 days: George County Rebels
“On paper we are supposed to be a really good football team.”
Coming off a season where the rebels finished 8-4, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to Terry – in a nailbiter – 41 to 39 – the expectations are high moving into the new year. This years Rebels team may just be the most experienced team in South Mississippi.
“These guys have been starting since they are sophomores,” coach James Ray said. “We started 14 sophomores two years ago. Now, we didn’t end up to well in that season but we saw what the benefits of that was last year – coming out and winning eight games – and we have a majority of them coming back this year.”
Leading that majority of returning players is four-star quarterback Deuce Knight, and returning defensive players in seniors Kohl Bradley and Layten Hyatt. With this upcoming season being their last at George County, Hyatt and Bradley understand what is at stake. They also understand the potential the Rebels have on both sides of the ball.
“Yes sir, it is like we have a target on our back right now,” Hyatt said. “It’s like everyone is expecting us to be the best and we are going to live up to those expectations. We are going to be us. We are going to play hard, we have been putting in the effort in the weight room, everything.”
“We feel like, with this class in particular, we are supposed to be very good,” Bradley said. “We won the championship in 8th grade and now we have to get a championship in high school. You know, we feel like we should be a state contender every year.”
The potential is there, the hard work is there, and the determination to live up to the hype is absolutely there. Now, Rebels players like Hyatt and Bradley are just looking forward to Friday night lights – where they can put the pads on and go against an opposing team.
“It feels like you are in a movie or something.” Bradley said. “It doesn’t feel real. It’s a surreal feeling, your adrenaline pumping, you are juiced up – it’s a good feeling.”
“It’s electric,” Hyatt said. “Your adrenaline starts pumping, you just want to go and hit the other person on the other side of the ball and get in that endzone. It is amazing.”
But when the Rebels of George County do take the field in late August, they will be playing for more than just the logo on their helmets and jerseys. MJ Daniels, who tragically passed away earlier this year, was a George County alum who constantly poured back into the community that made him the man and player he was. Coach Ray says his players have already started to dedicate this season to the late Daniels.
“MJ came back every summer during spring practice when he could and he worked out with these guys. There is a strong connection with MJ and our current team – and this community too.”
The Rebels will honor MJ this upcoming season, which begins on Friday, August 30th against the East Central Hornets.
