Mount Olive certainly does not have the largest roster in 1A ball as they field less than two dozen players, but head coach Dante Durr felt last Friday night that his players have worked hard throughout the summer and in the scrimmages at the Hattiesburg jamboree.
“I think the first game we were pretty timid. The second game against Collins I felt like we showed much more improvement. We still have a lot of work to do, but I feel like we are on the right path,” said Durr.
The Pirates finished scrimmages 0-2, falling to both North Forrest and Collins, however, both teams are higher in classification as both teams play 2A football.
Quarterback Brandon Butler returns and played in the scrimmage, but expect Mt. Olive to practice ball-control with emphasis on the run-game throughout the season. JT Dossett will be the anchor on both the offensive and defensive line this season, bringing experience as a four-year starter.
When asked how the summer and fall practices had gone for Durr and the Pirates, he was ecstatic from the progress he has been seeing.
“We had the best summer workout we have ever had here. We averaged 16 players routinely every day, and that is a pretty good summer for us. It is probably the best summer we have had in the four years I have been coaching at the school. We are excited to see what happens this year.”
Durr and his squad face a tough test as they will square off against 2A’s Loyd Star Hornets to open up the season Thursday night. The Hornets finished 7-4 in 2018 and fell to Mize in the first round of the playoffs. Thursday night’s game will take place at Mt. Olive. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
