25 Teams in 25 Days: Biloxi Indians
All aboard the hype train on News 25’s 25 Teams in 25 Days next stop number 14.
Last season, the Biloxi Indians doubled their win total from the year before tying them for the largest increase in wins in their district and they still haven’t even reached their full potential.
Big year for Big Red, one the program has been looking forward to for a long time.
Head Coach Katlan French said, “We preach a lot here about making history each and every year because there hasn’t been a lot of good history football wise here since probably the 60’s and the 80’s and things like that. We’ve had some good years here and there, but it’s never been consistent.” Last year’s overall mark of 8-4 was Biloxi’s first winning season since 2012. According to third year Head Coach Katlan French, it’s also tied for the program’s second winningest season in 35 years. But whether or not history is on Biloxi’s side again this year may not matter as long as talent has something to say about it. “This is a year that Biloxi is a little different because our players are a lot better than they have been in the past.”
Middle linebacker Thomas Patterson said, “If everything goes according to plan, we have a phenomenal defense. We are stacked. As far as defense on the Coast, we should have a groundbreaking achievement as far as record and as far as points we put up.”
Defense is a good place to start, considering the Indians have three players with at least one Power Five offer on that side of the ball. Devon Smith says he could announce his commitment as soon as this month while junior transfer R.J. Moss just picked up offers from Mississippi State and Arkansas Wednesday.
Then there’s three-star recruit Elijah Sabbatini who just gave his verbal pledge to Ole Miss last month. “He’ll kind of just appear out of nowhere. All of a sudden it’ll just be quiet and then boom there he is.”
SS/WR Elijah Sabbatini said, “I mean I definitely have to set a standard to where I have to be above because if not then I won’t look SEC. Got to make that statement.”
Of course, that statement applies to the entire team. Biloxi’s four-win improvement is the highest win percentage increase in region 4 class 6A, a district the Indians haven’t won since this year’s senior class was in the third grade. “Our plan for – since we started playing varsity – was on the beginning of the locker room there’s posters, and the last one we have is 2011 and we want to make the class of 2021 to have another one up there.”
Despite last year’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 that 2011 season also marks the last time the Indians won a playoff game. In 2019, four-seed Biloxi got a tough draw at Petal, resulting in a 31 to nothing shutout loss for Big Red. Defensive End Devon Smith said, “We had a sour taste because I hate losing, so we’re trying to step it up.”
“They were a very good team. But it taught us that no matter what, no matter how much better you get, there’s always room to improve.”
“We just remember looking at the scoreboard at the end of the game and we don’t want to feel that ever again. Or we want to give that to people instead of being the receivers.”
They say it’s better to give than to receive, but that doesn’t meant this year’s class of about 25 seniors doesn’t have a wish list of its own.
If the Biloxi stock watch being way up is any indication the Indians might just want it all. “We’re trying to take another step to that. We’re trying to get to South State, State.”
“State championship, that’s what I want. It’s a childhood dream, so why not go for it.”
“One of these days – and I think it’s going to happen this year – we’re going to be a consistent program. We’re going to be a program that everyone looks at and says I want to be that program, and that’s going to happen here at Biloxi before it’s all said and done.”
Biloxi lost a pair of home games against Greene County on August 21st and Gautier on August 28th, but then picked up Poplarville for the September 4th season opener as this year’s Shrimp Bowl opponent as well as Vicksburg at home on September 11th.
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