The Lake Hornets aren’t making any secret about what they want to do this season.
Veteran coach Tate Hanna said the Hornets return a veteran offensive line and a 1,000-yard rusher.
After suffering through an injury-plagued 4-7 season last year, Hanna said he is ready to turn the tables on opponents this season.
“We are a veteran team and really expect big things,” Hanna said. “We have seven linemen back that have started. We have a quarterback and two running backs that are back. The only new people we will put on the field will be receiver type kids. I just expect for us to dominate up front from the starting five. And we’ve got the big H-back so we should be able to line up and run the ball right at people.”
On offense, quarterback Griffin Boles returns after an injury-plagued season last year and will be backed up by Kaelyn Williams.
In the backfield, Jamarrion Blaylock returns after rushing for 1,059 yards on 198 carries last year. He will be joined by Jeremiah Mayers. At H-back will be Cole Bergin and Eli Odom. At wide receiver will be A’zylan Hunt, Kaelyn Williams, Blake Hutchinson while the slots will be Benjamin Moorehead, Cam Campbell and Jonahvan Hawkins.
On the offensive line, Josh Posey will be right guard while Carter Callahan will be right guard. Logan Stroud will be the center while O.D. Hunt will be left guard and Austin Watson will be left tackle. Brayden Clark, Mitez Ickom and Hunter Marcum are also expected to see playing time.
“I expect us to run the football and expect to throw it when we want to,” Hanna said. “Anytime you have a veteran team, you expect big things. Last year, we lost a lot of kids to injuries. It was bad then but it’s a plus for us this year. On defense we have Jamarrion Blaylock back and a bunch of linemen and we’ve got guys with playing time on the back end. When you look at everything, you thing that you have a good chance to have a good run and we are excited about that. We are pumped about where we are at.”
On defense, the Hornets will base out a four-man front after years of basing out a three-man front. At defensive end will be Eli Odom and Cole Bergin while Hunter Marcum and Mitez Ickom will be at defensive tackle. OD Hunt will see playing time at all the spots on the defensive line along with Trenton Evans and Carter Callahan.
At linebacker, Blaylock will hold down the middle after leading the Hornets with 110 tackles last year. Jeremiah Mayers and Benjamin Moorehead will be the outside linebacker’s while Chris Coffee and Tristan Harris will also see playing time. At cornerback will be Jonahvan Hawkins and Andrew Posey while Cam Campbell and J.J Green will also see playing time. At safety, Kaelyn Williams and Landon Harris will be the starters while Boles, Kaiden Hedrick and A’zylan Hunt will also see playing time.
“I think the move to the four-man front has been good for us,” Hanna said. “The main reason we made the change was personnel. We have more defensive linemen type kids. We don’t have those long, rangy kids. Seven out of my nine years at Nanih Waiya, we based out of an even front so I’m familiar with it. I think it will help us in the long run because we have more depth inside the box.”
Griffin Boles will handle punting duties while Brody Bufkin will kick the PATs. Hunt will kickoff while Austin Watson will be the long snapper.
The Hornets will compete in district play with Newton, Pelahatchie, Puckett and Scott Central.
“Our kids know that we have a good chance to win district,” Hanna said. “We have to go out there on Friday night and execute. Puckett has a new coach and I don’t know anything about them. Pelahatchie will be improved and Newton will be better. Scott Central is Scott Central and it will be a tough better. I would think it would come down to us and Scott Central.”
Hanna is assisted by John Shellenback, Kyle Watson, Zach Hanna, Fred Hampton and Jared Massey.
The Hornets will kick off the regular season on August. 29 at Forest.
2025 Lake High School Schedule
Aug. 29 at Forest
Sept. 5 at Sebastopol
Sept. 12 Leake County
Sept. 19 at Choctaw Central
Sept. 26 Union
Oct. 3 at Newton
Oct. 10 Puckett
Oct. 17 at Pelahatchie
Oct. 24 Pisgah
Oct. 30 Scott Central
Lake High School Roster
0 Jamarrion Blaylock Sr.
1 Jeremiah Mayers Jr.
2 Griffiin Boles Sr.
3 Andrew Posey Sr.
4 Jamarious Green Jr.
5 A’zylan Hunt So.
6 Benjamin Moorehead Jr.
7 Kaelyb Williams Jr.
8 Tristan Harris So.
10 Jonahvan Hawkins Sr.
11 Brody Bufkin So.
12 Kaiden Hedrick Fr.
13 Kellen Watson Fr.
14 Landon Harris So.
15 Myzavious Waits Fr.
16 Asa Jones Fr.
17 Cam Campbell So.
18 Jondrea Ickom So.
19 Willie Braggs So.
20 Kason Edwards Fr.
21 Ty’zarious Chandler Fr.
22 Kayden Ickom Fr.
23 Giles Boles Fr.
24 Blake Hutchinson So.
25 Casen Johnson Fr.
30 Trenton Edmonds So.
31 Josh Townsend Jr.
32 Mason Hattaway Fr.
33 Brayden Harrell Jr.
34 Westley McDonald So.
35 Chris Coffee So.
40 Hunter Marcum Jr.
42 Elijah Odom Jr.
43 Zaidon Clark Fr.
44 Cole Bergin Sr.
50 Mitez Ickom Jr.
51 Elijah Dunn Fr.
53 Josh Posey Sr.
54 Logan Stroud Jr.
55 Carter Callahan So.
56 Austin Watson Sr.
60 O.D. Hunt Sr.
63 Ca’von Moore Fr.
64 Kamden Myers So.
65 Odis Hunt Fr.
66 Jessie Floyd Fr.
67 Gage Sanders Jr.
68 Case Evans Fr.
71 Jay Ware Fr.
72 Charles Grigsby Fr.
75 Micah McNair Fr.
77 Brayden Clark So.
78 Patrick Tillman Fr.
79 Trey Ball Fr.
81 Brysen Budhoo Fr.
83 Marcus Nickson So.
88 Kendarius Waits Sr.
Head coach: Tate Hanna
Last year: 4-7 (lost in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs)
Assistant coaches: John Shellenback, Kyle Watson, Zach Hanna, Fred Hampton and Jared Massey.
Players to watch: Jamarrion Blaylock, Sr., RB/LB; Cole Bergin, Sr., H-back/DE; Griffin Boles, Sr., QB/DB; O.D. Hunt, Sr., OL/DL.
District: 5-2A (Newton, Pelahatchie, Puckett and Scott Central)
Three Things to Watch:
The Hornets had an injury plagued season last year which led to a 4-7 record. But it also built depth. If the Hornets can stay healthy, especially at quarterback, they should be serious contenders in 2A South.
Senior Jamarrion Blaylock was a 1,000-yard rusher last season and the Hornets bring back seven linemen who started at one point last year. While the Hornets should be able to pound the ball at opponents, quarterback Griffin Boles and his ability to keep defenses honest will determine how good the Lake offense can be.
The Hornets are switching to a four-man front this season, because of their depth up front. The Hornets will have to adjust to the new scheme to be successful this season.
