#HSFT20 - Stop #18 Nettleton Tigers

#HSFT20 - Stop #18 Nettleton Tigers

Spx open "a place that i've always looked at and somewhere that could be a long term destination for me and somewhere i could put roots down."

Planting those roots is the plan for new head coach john keith as he leads the nettleton tigers into the season.

Keith has spent 6 of the last 7 years coaching at tupelo along with a playoff appearance at mooreville as the head coach in 2016.

Fast forward to 2020, keith and the team want to take the program up a notch by fixing the little things.

"there were 50/50 games and we want to try to close in on those games and have them swing our way.

If you get a couple of those, instead of a .500 year, you're looking at a year where you win 8 or 9 games.

We're working on building a mentality where we can finish those and take that next step."

"last year, we just shot ourselves in the foot, but this year, we're going to win the games we're supposed to win."

Keith has coached at both amory and mooreville so he's very familiar with the region.

He believes if they take care of business they can be in the mix for the crown.

"we can't beat ourselves.

The tigers aren't going to beat the tigers.

We just got to go week in and week out and put the work in and let that stuff sort itself out.

I feel like if we take care of what we need to take care of that when the time comes, we'll be in the hunt."

Players like the culture keith and his staff have established as they prepare for the season.

"they showing us that he's here for us and that he's putting in the work as much as we're putting in the work.

That's a good thing that we want to see."

"they changed my love for the game.

I think i'm going to really enjoy it this year.

Have fun out there on the field."

It's that love and passion for the game and for the town of nettleton that's fueling the team.

"last year, we went 6-6 or 6-7.

Something like that, that was a big change.

This year we're going to make it even bigger because it really means a lot to nettleton.

Everybody came out and came together."

The tigers start the season with a home opener against bruce ausgust 21st.

Reporting in nettleton on the high school football tour.

Chris bolton wcbi sports.