HSFT Stop #2: Vardaman

Vardaman, miss. (WCBI) – Vardaman lost to Biggersville in the 1A North Half championship game last year. It was the Rams’ first loss of the season. That team featured 12 seniors.

Head coach Brennan Pugh said it was a learning experience for his guys.

“I hope this gives a taste of what we’re capable of. I hope the young people, the large group of ninth and 10th graders, and I hope they can see and let them know that the work that these 12 seniors have done started when they were in seventh and eighth grade,” Pugh said.

“Vardaman isn’t known for making deep runs, so I think that will motivate us, make us want to do it again and keep going,” senior quarterback Brady White said.

White broke his collarbone in a practice game last year and missed most of the season. He’s now fully healthy. And Pugh is thrilled to have his No. 1 QB back.

“Brady is a talented player. I regret that he didn’t get a lot of reps last year, but he had a good spring and summer and hopefully he can get more comfortable and become a weapon that we didn’t use as much last year.”

The position groups that stood out to the coaching staff were linebackers and defensive backs.

“We have all three seniors playing linebacker this year. I’m excited about that because I feel like we’ll be able to stop the run pretty easily,” senior linebacker Bryson Moore said.

Even though much of what made last year’s team successful is gone, this year’s team is making no excuses.

“I think we got closer as we played last year,” running back and linebacker Bentley Hamilton said. “We had a lot of confidence going into the North Half championship game, but I think with our team together, we can bounce back this year and have a season that’s just as good.”

The Rams’ season begins Aug. 30 at home against Nanih Waiya.