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While high school football ended in November for the Miss-Lou it is about time we take a look back at a remarkable season for the area and celebrate the success our programs had. The 2024 football season will be here before we know it and the work for it is underway. 

Success can be measured with championships and victories or how far a team has grown over the course of the season. Adams County Christian School won a state championship, went 12-3 and managed to improve with each game they played. Head Coach David King is likely thinking about how he can continue to get the best out of his players. 

King is our 2023 All-Metro Coach of the Year for winning his sixth state championship with the Rebels. He did not accomplish the task by himself. King had help from a strong coaching staff and offensive player of the year Coleman Carter. 

Cathedral started a new chapter under head coach Josh Loy who has transformed the program in just a year. While the work he did to reinvigorate the program did not translate to more than a couple of wins on the football field, it should be a step in the right direction. Green Wave fans should have hope for 2024. 

Delta Charter won its first ever district championship in program history under head coach Blake Wheeler this year and went 8-2. While they fell short of winning their first playoff game at home, they have a lot of promise for the future and Storm fans should be encouraged by the football program as it continues to improve. Wheeler was named the 4-1A District Coach of the Year by his peers earning him an honorable mention for our Coach of the Year. 

Ferriday got back to the playoffs this year under head coach Cleothis Cummings Jr., second year in his second stint. The Trojans finished 5-7 for the season but there is evidence the program is starting to pull in the right direction. Most importantly, the players and coaches are working on transforming the culture of the program in a positive way. 

Franklin County went 3-9 this year beating out Port Gibson, Wilkinson County and Amite County. They had a tough loss to Brookhaven and nearly beat the Panthers. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs had to face the strongest Wesson, Jefferson County and Loyd Star teams in recent history. Maybe 2024 will be the year for the Bulldogs to make a deep run in the playoffs. 

Jefferson County went 9-4, won a district title and hosted its first south state championship game in program history coming up just short of a trip to the state title game. Head Coach Roderick Holmes has something special brewing in Fayette. 

Holmes was the reigning Coach of the Year and earns credit as an honorable mention for our Coach of the Year this year. Jefferson County junior Jermall Williams is our Defensive Player of the Year for his outstanding performance on the field. We look forward to 2024 and maybe a state championship appearance for the Tigers. 

Natchez went 5-7 and made the playoffs under head coach Steve Davis in his second year with the program. Similar to Ferriday, Natchez is a work in progress but the culture of the program is being transformed with each day. Bulldog fans should be excited for 2024 because when the Bulldogs get rolling they will be hard to stop. 

Vidalia finished the 2023 season 4-6 and Head Coach Josh West seemed to bring a new energy to the program in his first year in Vidalia. Viking fans should celebrate the swagger and belief West brings to the team and should not be surprised if Vidalia manages to reach the playoffs and perhaps win the Concordia Parish Classic in 2024. 

Wilkinson County Christian Academy had a tough season in 2023 with a 3-8 record. The young squad was plagued by injuries and misfortune. Rams fans should not be discouraged. Head Coach Randy Holloway has a history of developing young players and winning. It is possible 2024 could be a great year for the Rams. 

Wilkinson County High School improved from a tough 0-11 season in 2022 by winning two more games this year. The Wildcats are capable of winning more games in 2024 with the talent and speed they have. Head Coach Christopher Brown and his program should celebrate the growth they had and where they can go in the future. 

Over the next few papers we will share more about The Natchez Democrat 2023 All-Metro Coach of the Year, Players of the Year, and announce the Offensive and Defensive teams of the year.