Newton County football coach Bobby Bass said he doesn’t quite know what the identity of his team will be this season but it will likely include a lot of skill players.
Bass said this year’s squad has more skill than he’s ever had at County after coming off a 5-6 season and a second-round playoff appearance.
“We are still trying to figure out our identity,” Bass said “We are trying to figure out what we are going to be good at. We aren’t just going to run our stuff. If we have to change, I will do whatever it takes to make our kids successful. I’m not going to try to hammer that square peg into a round hole.”
On offense, Bass said there has been a good competition at quarterback. Multi-talented Hayden Amis has been battling with CJ Towner while Tali King has also been taking reps.
In the backfield, the Cougars return plenty of talent. Senior Kimari Brown, who had 644 yards rushing on 151 yards, will lead the rushing attack along with Tylan McNichols, who had 239 yards rushing on 40 carries last year. Also getting carries will be Logan Evans, Jacquez Redwood and Kaleb Webster.
At fullback and H-back is Talon Cooley and Logan Usry. McNichols led the Cougars in receiving last year with 41 catches for 583 yards and will be joined by Kelin Johnson, Bishop Tillman, Byron Pruitt and Landon Huber.
“This team has the most skill potential overall as far as depth than any I’ve had here,” Bass said. “Their skill will allow us to do a lot of different things. We just have to get the front figured out. Coach (Rob) Roberts does a really good job of thinking players, not necessarily plays. If you are a good coach, you have to put those dudes in a set where they have a chance to go make a play.”
On the offensive line, Charlie Carmichael returns as a three-year starter at and the team leader at tackle while Grant Keith will be at the other tackle. Wesley Cooley returns at center while Blain Garrison, Garrett Sessions, Jeremiah Thames, Micah May, Jordan Chaney and Josh Bender are all working at guard.
“The offensive line is a concern because we have to play some younger guys there,” Bass said. “I just asked our guys to get one percent better every day and I feel like the offensive line is doing that. They just have to play the game faster. We have a good competition going on with the offensive line and I don’t feel like our younger kids are shying away from that competition. They will be thrown to the wolves right off the bat.”
On defense, Bass said he is going away from his age-old 4-3 defense to a 4-2-5 look that he learned from former East Central Community College coach Terri Underwood.
On the defensive line is Caleb Davis, Salvador May, Dontavious Robinson, Tylon Cooley, Wesley Cooley and Charlie Carmichael.
At linebacker, Bass said he has a deep group of linebackers. Starting with McNichols, Cooper Johnson returns while Logan Evans, Collier Mangum, Logan Usry, Bobby Little, Bryce Jones and Ron Brown are all expected to get playing time.
“I would play any of them any time,” Bass said. “They will run to the ball, hustle and they will hit you. At some point in the game, they are all going to play. And with the defense we are running, we need a lot of depth and will play a lot of people there. We have more skill-type kids this year and this fits
In the secondary will be Bishop Tillman, Cam Bell, Byron Pruitt, Kaleb Webster, Kelin Johnson, Nicholas Minkler, Tucker Keveryn and Kamari Brown when needed.
“Defensively, I feel like we can play a great number of kids and keep people fresh,” Bass said. “There is not a big drop off in skill set. We really don’t have a second team, but I have a lot of confidence in our 1B players so to speak. We are going to play a ton of players on defense. Our best players will play on both sides and at some point they will need a break early in the year. I have full confidence in the guys that we put out there that they will do the job well.”
In the kicking game, Bass will have to replace East Central signee Kade Mangum. Looking to fill Mangum’s shoes are Taul Clanton, who will handle kickoffs and place kicking. Usury will handing the punting duties while Collier Mangum will be the long snapper. CJ Towner will be the holder for kicks.
The Cougars will participate in Division 4-4A with Northeast Lauderdale, Choctaw Central, Leake Central and West Lauderdale.
I really have no idea about most of the people in this district,” Bass said. “Other than West Lauderdale and I know they will be good. We have played Northeast Lauderdale in junior high but that’s it. But I have no idea what anybody else has coming back.”
In non-division play, the Cougars have a loaded schedule in Winona, Raleigh, Poplarville, Union and Kosciusko.
“We are going to play some tough opponents,” Bass said. “I probably have a different outlook that most coaches but I want us to play in big games in the preseason so when we hit those big games later in the season, our guys know what to expect. We aren’t going to be big eyed when we play a quality opponent. I like our team and like the mentality that our kids have shown this summer. We have the opportunity to be a pretty good team.”
| Newton County High School Roster |
| No. |
Name. |
Yr. |
| 1 |
Kimari Brown |
Sr. |
| 2 |
Tylan McNichols |
Sr. |
| 3 |
Byron Pruitt |
So. |
| 4 |
Kaleb Webster |
So. |
| 5 |
Juan Brown |
So. |
| 6 |
Kalieb Davis |
So. |
| 7 |
Cam Bell |
So. |
| 8 |
Collier Mangum |
Jr. |
| 9 |
CJ Towner |
Jr. |
| 10 |
Bishop Tillmon |
Sr. |
| 11 |
Landon Huber |
Jr. |
| 12 |
Logan Usry |
Jr. |
| 13 |
Cooper Johnson |
Jr. |
| 14 |
Kelin Johnson |
So. |
| 15 |
Hayden Amis |
So. |
| 16 |
Bobby Little |
Sr. |
| 17 |
Jays Torgusson |
Jr. |
| 18 |
Tali King |
Fr. |
| 20 |
Cohen Liggett |
Fr. |
| 21 |
Tucker Keveryn |
So. |
| 22 |
Emmanuel Thaggard |
Fr. |
| 23 |
Austin Marcum |
So. |
| 24 |
Logan Evans |
So. |
| 25 |
Jacob Gilbert |
Fr. |
| 27 |
Roman Bender |
Jr. |
| 28 |
Chris Burton |
Sr. |
| 30 |
Taul Clanton |
Jr. |
| 31 |
Nicholas Minkler |
Sr. |
| 32 |
Dontavious Robinson |
Jr. |
| 33 |
Talon Cooley |
Jr. |
| 34 |
Bryce Jones |
Jr. |
| 35 |
Charlie Hollingsworth |
So. |
| 36 |
Cooper Berryhill |
Fr. |
| 40 |
Ben Norman |
Fr. |
| 41 |
Harrison Chaney |
Fr. |
| 42 |
Jacquez Redwood |
Jr. |
| 45 |
Shammond Jones |
So. |
| 46 |
Miles Mangum |
Fr. |
| 47 |
Zaden Anderson |
Fr. |
| 50 |
Eli Garvin |
Sr. |
| 51 |
Tate Thompson |
So. |
| 52 |
Zack Garvin |
Fr. |
| 53 |
Salvador May |
Jr. |
| 54 |
Lyndon Cooley |
Fr. |
| 55 |
Wesley Cooley |
Sr. |
| 57 |
Grant Keith |
So. |
| 58 |
Jace Chaney |
Sr. |
| 59 |
Hunter Wallace |
So. |
| 60 |
Peyton Hardy |
So. |
| 61 |
Garrett Sessions |
Fr. |
| 62 |
Jadaveon Keys |
Jr. |
| 64 |
Jordan Chaney |
Fr. |
| 65 |
Micah May |
Fr. |
| 67 |
Patrick Bounds |
Fr. |
| 69 |
Blain Garrison |
Jr. |
| 72 |
Charlie Carmichael |
Jr. |
| 74 |
Josh Bender |
Sr. |
| 77 |
Jeremiah Thames |
Sr. |
Quick Facts
Mascot: Cougars
Head coach: Bobby Bass, 6th season
Career Record: 31-27, 14-9 in region play
Playoff Record: 6-3
Assistant coaches: Rob Roberts, OC; Wes Cox, DC; Lucas Poole, WR; Kyle Adkins, OL: Parker Belk, RB; Hunter James, Secondary; and Justin Chaney, H-Backs.
Division: 4-4A: Northeast Lauderdale, Choctaw Central, Leake Central, West Lauderdale
Overall School Record: 195-173
Overall District/Region Record: 106-79
Overall Playoff Record: 21-18
Players to Watch
No. 2 Tylan McNichols, Sr., RB/WR/LB
No. 1 Kimari Brown, Sr., RB/DB
No. 72 Charlie Carmichael, Jr., OL
| Projected Depth Chart |
| Quarterbacks |
Defensive Line |
| Hayden Amis |
Caleb Davis |
| CJ Towner |
Salvador May |
| Tali King |
Dontavious Robinson |
| |
Tylon Cooley |
| Running Backs |
Wesley Cooley |
| Kimari Brown |
Charlie Carmichael |
| Tylan McNichols |
|
| Logan Evans |
Linebackers |
| Jacquez Redwood |
Tylan McNichols |
| Kaleb Webster |
Cooper Johnson |
| |
Logan Evans |
| Fullback/H-Back |
Collier Mangum |
| Talon Cooley |
Logan Usry |
| Logan Usry |
Bobby Little |
| |
Bryce Jones |
| Wide Receivers |
Ron Brown |
| Tylan McNichols |
|
| Kelin Johnson |
Defensive Backs |
| Bishop Tillman |
Bishop Tillman |
| Byron Pruitt |
Cam Bell |
| Landon Huber |
Kaleb Webster |
| |
Kelin Johnson |
| Offensive Line |
Nicholas Minkler |
| Charlie Carmichael |
Tucker Keveryn |
| Grant Keith |
Kimari Brown |
| Wesley Cooley |
|
| Blain Garrison |
Long Snapper |
| Garrett Sessions |
CJ Towner |
| Jeremiah Thames |
|
| Micah May |
|
| Jordan Chaney |
|
| Josh Bender |
|
| |
|
| Place Kicker |
Punter |
| Taul Clanton |
Collier Mangum |
3 Things to Watch
1.The Cougars open with 3A favorite Winona and have a rigorous non-division schedule that includes defending 3A champion Raleigh, 4A powers Kosciusko and Poplarville along with 2A contender Union.
2.Coach Bobby Bass said the quarterback competition has been a battle. Sophomore Hayden Amis, who is a standout in baseball, is the likely winner of the battle but has been battling nagging injuries.
3.Senior Tylan McNichols is getting Division I interest and is one of the area’s top players. Look for McNichols to play several positions for the Cougars and rarely leave the field.
