HSFT Ruling No. 5: TCPS

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — The TCPS football team is coming off an 8-4 season where the Eagles managed to return to the playoffs after serving a postseason ban in 2022.

TCPS beat Coffeeville in the first round, but lost by 28 points to Vardaman in the next round.

“It really motivates you,” senior linebacker James Thomas said. “I feel like everyone agrees it was a tough loss, and I mean it hurt us, but it also made us hungrier.”

This year, the Eagles will have to rely on their young players.

“We’re a young team. We’re going to have some sophomores this year and maybe a freshman or two, which wasn’t the case at all last year,” head coach Brad Kimberlin said. “But this is the perfect time to grow your program.”

While TCPS will have a new face at center, senior quarterback Jeb Brown has worked closely with last year’s starter.

“Brewer Bailey taught me everything I know,” Brown said. “He was a real mentor. He took me out to dinner, he spent time with me.”

The Eagles have worked hard this summer.

“These guys know you win your football games in the offseason,” Kimberlin said. “You can’t just expect to be there and it just happens. These guys are willing to pay that price.”

TCPS begins its season at East Union on August 30.