25 teams in 25 days: Pass Christian Pirates

Pass Christian, Miss. (WXXV) – Our third stop of this seasons 25 teams in 25 days takes us to a school looking to continue the momentum built last year, as they were able to make it to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in school history.

We head to Harrison county this week as we visit with the Pass Christian Pirates.

Last season the Pass Christian Pirates finished the season 9-3 before falling to Columbia in the third round of the playoffs, 42-7. The year’s team understands the impact left by last season and are looking to build off the foundation that was set.

“I am ready because there has been a lot of talking and stuff like that,” senior Matthew Daniely said. “We went to the third round of the playoffs last year, we got beat, so we have stuff to handle. Handle business and stuff like that.”

“Going that far last year, nobody thought we could, and we showed them that we can,” Perry Williams said. “That just makes us want to work harder and exceed what we did last year.”

“I feel like we have big shoes to fill,” Lathan Lewis said. “We went 9 and 3. The first time we went to the third round of the playoffs, so we have to try ad improve.

Like many teams around the coast, the Pirates have top tier leadership. Head coach Jeff Stockstill and senior linebacker Aiden Jones say that, yes, they have leadership at the top. But it doesn’t just stop with the coaches and the seniors.

“That is really what separates average teams from good teams, you know,” head coach Jeff Stockstill said. “All schools are going to have coaches that are going to do what needs to be done, lead their team, and stuff like that. When the players own it and the players take responsibility for it and they start leading by example then your team can really grow.”

“Leadership is a great thing,” linebacker Aiden Jones said. “It doesn’t matter if it is the coaches being your leader, players being your leader – there are younger guys that I can follow behind like there is no tomorrow – and leadership is the most important thing for a team.

While summer workouts on the field and in the weight room are good for a team chemistry and bonding, senior Perry Williams and coach Stockstill understand there is no joy like playing under those Friday night lights.

“I don’t know what to compare it to,” Williams said. “I don’t know. It’s just a feeling that you can’t get anywhere else. Friday nights, it’s just, meaningful.”

“I have been doing this over 20 years,” Stockstill said. “You’ve just got to get through the summer and then once that first week of August hits, it just feels a whole lot different. It’s just my time of year.”

The Pirates of Pass Christian are set to open their season on the road against the Long Beach Bearcats on Friday, August 30th.