STRIDER — Strider Academy varsity football coach Kelvin Newton has finalized the 2017 football schedule with the addition of Tunica Academy on what would have been an open date after the schedule’s release by MAIS.
This season the Rams will return to traditional 11-man football after playing in the eight-man division the last four years. Newton is looking forward to the fall season.
“We are excited about the upcoming campaign,” he said. “Old-time fans will recognize some of the schools we will be playing, such as Carroll, Central Holmes and Oak Hill. We are fortunate that all of our district games (Deer Creek, Delta Streets and Columbus Christian) will be played at home. With the addition of Tunica, we will have seven home games, which will certainly help our young team.”
Newton advised that the junior high team will continue to compete in eight-man.
“With some of the ninth-graders playing six quarters a week and helping us on Friday nights, we felt that was the best thing to do,” he said. “Plus, they want an opportunity to defend the eight-man championship they won last season.”
Newton noted that preseason workouts have already begun, with weightlifting and running each week on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
