HSFT Stop #22: Oak Hill Academy

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) — The Oak Hill Academy football team is entering its first year with Tom Goode as head coach. After a 3-8 season last year, Goode is looking to lead a drastic change and that starts with being the toughest team physically and mentally.

“As well as getting fit you also have to develop mental toughness and that’s what we’re working on and they’re rising to the challenge,” Goode said.

One of the biggest changes from last year is the focus on the little details. The team wants to be ready for anything that can happen on a Friday night.

“Last year there wasn’t a lot of preparation, this year it’s a main focus,” senior running back Hazard Zepponi said. “It’s a pretty positive change.”

The first six weeks of summer training were all about physical preparation. It was a real ordeal, but going through these tough workouts as a team brought everyone closer together, which is a change from 2023.

“Nobody ever came out and communicated, everybody just did what they wanted to do, so after those first two losses, we never looked back, we just looked down,” senior receiver Mason Pruden said.

This season seems to be different.

“Everybody is more determined to hustle and burn their legs for this season,” senior lineman Aiden Nguyen said.

Oak Hill has just six seniors on a 30-man roster, but each of them has proven to be a leader in some way this offseason.

“You couldn’t ask for six better young men and they really showed leadership,” Goode said.

The Raiders aren’t shy about their goals, they want to compete for a state title. To achieve that goal, every player on the roster will have to make an impact, embodying the true definition of a team.

“Everybody’s going to be motivated, we’re all going to work as a group,” senior lineman Chip Ballard said. “We’ve got new kids, but we’ve all bonded.”

Oak Hill Academy kicks off its season in just over a month on August 23 at home against Central Holmes Christian.