25 teams in 25 days: Harrison Central Red Rebels

We have already reached double-digits on our visits for this years 25 teams in 25 days. Today we visit with a team who is welcoming a first-year head coach – the Harrison Central Red Rebels.

“We try to look good, feel good, play good and that is our mentality right now.”

A good mentality to have for first-year Red Rebels head coach Nekemia Rich. Harrison Central finished last season 6-5. They saw their season come to an end in the playoffs against Brandon and the Bulldogs. Coach Rich says there are things to be excited about heading into his first year as the man in charge.

“I’m extremely excited. I am familiar with the kids; I am familiar with the community and the culture,” Rich said. “I have been here so long that I am a part of the culture and help create the culture. With me, you know, it is bigger than football. Most coaches are just about football, but mine is way beyond football. I am trying to prepare you for life also.”

From the top down this is a team that clearly has leadership – both on and off the field. While last season didn’t end the way any of the Red Rebels hoped for, seniors Marlos Walker and Josiah Vaughn say they are ready for what is to come.

“I’m ready, I am really ready,” Walker said. “All of these other school they underestimate us and when we put the pads on, we are going to show them we are coming.”

“Everybody looks at HC as, you know, one of those teams that they can just beat,” Vaughn said. “I feel like this year we are actually going to set a purpose. Coming up from our freshman year we were not that good but we have improved a lot and I see that we will do good this year.”

To say that this Harrison Central football team is itching to prove doubters wrong might be an understatement. We are now in the month of August, when they will get their chance, but Walker, Vaughn, and coach Rich say they want to put the pads on as soon as possible.

“It’s that feeling man, you know how football is, just putting on a show and giving someone a purpose,” Vaugh said. “Go out there and put your skills out there and stuff like that.”

“Yeah, there is a chip on our shoulder,” Walker said. “Now that the losing streak that we have had the last couple of year…I am excited for this year.”

“There is nothing like a Friday night in the state of Mississippi,” Rich said. “Football is king. You kind of plan your day or your week around Friday night football. We just want to put a product on the field that is going to make our community proud, that will make our parents proud, that will make our school proud, and you know just make the whole HC culture proud.”

The Red Rebels will get their chance soon enough. They open their season in 25 short days against the Gautier Gators on Friday, August 30th.