25 teams in 25 days: Hancock Hawks

“For all the haters, they can keep hating,” senior Tyran Ramsey said. “We are going to prove them wrong every year.”

The Hawks are looking to build off an impressive 2023 campaign, but will have to do so with what might look like a brand new offense. Despite changes coming to that side of the ball, head coach Neil Lollar says his team is prepared and ready.

“We were able to put ourselves in good positions as far as some of the players that are coming back this year getting some good experience,” Lollar said. “Last years guys, you know, we were very heavy on the offensive side as far as senior led. We are going to miss those guys but we have some guys that I feel like are ready for the moment.”

Being ready for the moment will be one of the main keys in replicating last seasons success. One of the most ready according to coach Lollar, is starting quarterback Kaison Koenenn.

“I am excited about seeing Kaison perform,” Lollar said. “He has done a good job of putting himself, and when I say putting himself in position to take over and lead this team, he has done everything we have asked. Not just from a playing standpoint but from a leadership standpoint as well.”

“Our guys, we know what we can do,” Koenenn said. “Nobody really knows. They think that we have lost a lot of pieces but we know what we can do. We are just excited to show everybody that we have been working hard and we are ready to get after it.”

It might not be the start of the regular season just yet, but jamboree week is officially here. The Hancock Hawks will travel to Bay to take on the Tigers on August 23rd. While it might not be a game that counts towards any overall record, the Hawks know they are ready to get rolling.

“Man I am ready to go hit and head top somebody and go score a touchdown,” Ramsey said. “The goal this year is to go undefeated, obviously go back to the playoffs. We are going to set a lot of things for this year.”

“We are excited,” Koenenn said. “We know we have to come out and practice and get ready for the game. It’s just a jamboree but we want to show everybody what we’ve got before week one and going into next week. Coming out everyday, practicing as hard as we can, making sure that we have our stuff and are ready to go. We are excited.”

“We are excited,” senior Mathieux Sims said. “I played with some of these kids through pee-wee and up now and we are just ready.”

“When you wake up and, you know, your wife tells you good morning and that it is game week that is always fun,” coach Lollar said. “Around the school they know, even though it’s just jamboree it is still an important week and we are taking it as game week.”

The Hawks, led by Lollar, will get their season started in week 1 on Aug. 30th when they welcome the Natchez Bulldogs to Hancock county.