Can Poplarville return to the 4A championship game? The Hornets plan on it.

Poplarville made school history last year when the Hornets earned their first berth in the Class 4A state championship game.

Coming off a 12-2 season, the Hornets have the talent and experience to make another championship run this season.

The Hornets return 14 starters, including nine on offense, from the squad that lost to Lafayette 27-12 in the 4A state finals at Mississippi State’s Davis-Wade Stadium.

Poplarville coach Jay Beech sees a different mentality in the 4A South State and Region 7-4A Champions.

“Losing in the championship game made us hungrier,” Beech said. “We’ll handle things a lot better if we get back to the championship game. We’ve been working real hard.”

Offense

The Hornets’ strength is their Wing-T offense, which averaged more than 40 points a game last year. Leading the charge will be senior tailback Austin Bolton, who ran for 1,746 yards and 21 touchdowns last year.

Antonio Barnes will start a third straight year at quarterback. Other returning skill players who started last year are are wingback Tyson Holston, tight end Mario Barnes and wide receiver Canaan Ray.

The offensive line returns four starters: tackles Tyler Mata and Josh Spiers, center Seth Godwin and guard Kyle Tynes.

New offensive starters are guard Heath Smith and fullback Roosevelt Raine.

“We’ve run the Wing-T here since 2011 and gotten better at it,” Beech said. “The players bought into it and have been running it since the seventh and eighth grades. When they come to us, we’re just expanding it.”

Defense

Defense is a question mark for the Hornets. Defensive tackle Amari Harmon is the only starting returning lineman. Devin Hart and Luke Mitchell will be the bookends. Kaden Wheat and Ahmad Bolton will start at defensive tackle and noseguard.

Both starting linebackers — Peytan Graham and Ross Barnett — return.

Half the secondary is back: cornerback D.J. Travis and strong safety Tyson Holston. Kyle Chambliss will start at free safety, Caziah Daniels at cornerback.

“I’m concerned about our inexperience on defense, especially the defensive line” Beech said.

Special teams

Special teams is another question mark. Graham will take over as punter; Ethan Spiers is the new placekicker.

“We’re concerned about our kicking game,” Beech said. “We don’t have a kicker with any experience.”

The Hornets’ tough schedule includes home contests against Pearl River county rivals Picayune and PRC in the first two games.

“We’re focused on not cramping up,” Beech said. “We cramped up against St. Martin last year. We’re focused on winning our first game, then the region.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2017 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Can Poplarville return to the 4A championship game? The Hornets plan on it.."