On the heels of a 9-3 season, hopes are high that the Cougars can make a good run in Class 5A.

Carroll is the third Briarcrest player to make his college choice known, joining quarterback J.D. Sherrod (Troy) and offensive lineman Nate Bledsoe (Rice).

Local high school football season kicks off with games on Aug. 18.

With all-state quarterback J.D. Sherrod and a host of talented receivers returning, Saints’ offense should be potent.

Hope springs eternal. And here are six teams with good reasons to think 2022 will be better.

Hamilton’s last victory came in 2016, but first-year coach Jerel Blanchard has his team believing.

Class of 2022 grad willing to lend a hand, while getting a chance to compete alongside the pros.

Law Wright says he’s approaching his final high school season with the same kind of approach he did the backyard games with his brothers Hays, a sophomore who is the backup at Central, and Brooks, a seventh grader at Bellevue Middle.

Players will emerge once the season begins, and opinions will rise and fall based on team performance and strength of competition. 

With the arrival of a new head coach and 15 players who started for MAHS last year before the charter school closed, MASE is a legit threat for a deep postseason run.

On the first day Tennessee schools are allowed to practice in full pads, Devin Scates announced he’s leaving. He replaced the previous coach who’d quit three games into the 2021 season. 

The former star defensive back at Whitehaven will lead his team onto the field for the first time on Aug. 20 when the Golden Wildcats open the 2022 season at home against White Station.

Collierville pitcher Grayson Saunier was taken by the Texas Rangers in the 19th round.

Senior led the state with 10 interceptions in 2021, but he’ll also see increased offensive duties this season, because as his coach said: “When the ball is in his hands, good things happen.”

From nervous freshman to highly recruited senior, Glenn has grown by leaps and bounds on the field and physically.

The Rebels, with four Shelby-Metro area players, sweep Oklahoma.

Jack Dougherty, normally a reliever, retired 15 batters in a row as the Rebels beat Oklahoma, 10-3. A win Sunday would give Ole Miss its first national baseball title in school history.

The junior standout had a hand in 25 goals for Class AAA state semifinalists. 

Dean DiMento and Wylly Willmott led their teams to state runner-up finishes in 2022.

Unselfish game has drawn attention from some of college basketball’s big hitters.

The M Club Hall of Famer and new high school coach pledges to bring grit and determination to new role.

The coach boasts professional and college experience and helped Houston to a state title in 2021.

Future Ole Miss player produced some eye-popping numbers for Division 2-A state runner-up.

Sophomore shortstop led the Shelby-Metro area in batting average and runs while leading her team to 27 victories.

Jordan Ware won two individual titles and anchored two winning relays for Rashad Haynes’ championship squad.