Jay Beech, head football coach for the Poplarville Hornets, is ready to build on the foundation he laid last season in his first year as head coach.
The Hornets won their district last season for the first time since 1995, said Beech. They went 10-3 on the season, losing to Purvis in the third round of the playoffs.
Beech first joined the Poplarville football coaching staff in 2011 as the offensive coordinator. His offense was ranked in the top ten in the state all three years he held the position.
Beech has 20 seniors on his roster this season, and is very excited about the potential his team possesses. One of the Hornets’ many standouts this season will be junior running back Jesse Pernell, who racked up over 1,000 yards last season. Beech is also excited about junior quarterback Camden Ray, who he says is the probable starter.
One of the bigger games Beech is looking forward to this season is against the Pearl River County Blue Devils, a coaching staff he was a part of for five years before he came to Poplarville.
“We haven’t beat them in a while so I am looking forward to it,” said Beech.
Beech is also looking forward to a rematch against Purvis this season among other matchups, including Columbia.
“Those are tough district opponents, and always good games,” said Beech.
The Hornets will open their season on August 21 against Saint Martin at home.