Winona enjoyed a banner 2018 football season with a 13-1 record and the championship of Region 5-3A. But graduation created some big holes with the loss of players like region MVP Jalen Campbell, Offensive MVP Jay Lofton and cornerback Davandre Bays, MVP of the North/South All Star Game.
Coach Joey Tomkins is hoping that some of the younger players can fill those holes. “We better have them step up because we don’t have anyone else,” he said.
Spring practice gave Tompkins an opportunity to evaluate the younger players and he likes what he saw. “It's been a good spring. There's a long way to go, but we got a lot done. It's been a learning experience,” he said.
“I haven't had a lot of my guys here due to track and other things. Some of my younger guys have gotten reps. That's more important than anything else.”
Spring practice ended this week, but that doesn't mean the players can relax until August. Beginning later this month there will be weight room work three days a week, seven on seven drills and lots of running.
Winona will move to North State in the fall as a member of Region 3-3A. Other teams in the region are Amanda Elzy, Coahoma AHS, Humphreys County and Ruleville Central. Charleston, the defending 3-3A champion, will drop down to 2A in the fall. Ruleville Central was runner-up in the division.
