Sports Journalism

While some might see not playing sports as a disadvantage, I turn it into a strength. I am able to cover multiple sports and learn about each activity throughout the school year. I enjoy writing, photographing, and digging deeper into the sports at my high school.

One Last Ride

Hannah Hoang, The Prowl News

October 23rd, 2019

Senior year can bring many emotions for all athletes ending their high school sports career. This week, the senior football players here at Amory High School will compete in their last regular season home game under the stadium lights at Longenecker Field. And so, in honor of this sentimental time for the boys, I asked them a few questions to reflect on their time playing in the black and gold on Friday nights.

Their 3 years of long summer workouts and endless hours watching film finally paid off when, during the 2018-2019 season, the Panthers came out victorious in the “A-Game,” ending the school’s 10-year losing streak. The game was filled with adrenaline and fierce competition, and they were able to walk away with the infamous “A-Game” trophy afterwards. Also, the nail biter Caledonia game was a favorite of the senior’s, with many of them playing well and battling it out to the end to secure a spot in the first round of playoffs.

Of course, talent is needed to win a football game, but I was wondering...are there any specific rituals that these players do before games to secure a win? If you were to ask Tobias Williams, he would let you in on the secret that he listens to at least one gospel song before every game, and Alex Chilcoat never forgets to put on his left knee brace before his right one.

The majority of us will never get to be on the sideline during an intense game or get to hear the motivating speeches from coaches in the locker room. So, I gathered a few favorite quotes said by their coaches from the seniors.

Chris Satterwhite : “We are in a dog fight”-Coach Glenn

Pete Moore : “What’s easy isn’t always right, but it’s always right.” Coach Kendrick

While they’re wrapping up their time here at Amory High School, some players are just getting started. The seniors gave a few words of advice for their successors…

Will Buskirk : “Have fun with football everyday because it will pass by faster than you can imagine.”

Easton Higginbotham : “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

It’s a bittersweet time for these seniors, and looking back on their 4 years of playing for the Panthers, they got to reflect on the things they’ll miss most about playing football at Amory High School.

Jacob Cox : “...the friendship and brotherhood...fighting side by side in the trenches with my boys”

Drew Lockhart : “...coming out of the tunnel and getting that feeling that you cannot explain”

Jazavion Ezell : “...going to miss playing with my boys”

Make sure to come support these seniors and the rest of the Amory Panthers this Thursday, October 24th, as they play in a home division game against Booneville with kickoff at 7 PM.

Rounding Up Their Rituals

A Look Into Amory High School’s Coaching Staff and Their Pre-Game Traditions

Hannah Hoang, The Prowl News

January 10, 2020

You might wonder, how do coaches prepare for a game? Obviously there is a pre-game pep talk filled with words of encouragement for their players, but some coaches at Amory High School have some pretty interesting rituals that they practice before they take the field or court.

These coaches can have an everlasting effect on the players that they mentor. They can teach them valuable life lessons, shape their morals, and possibly even train them to go on to the next level of playing. So, while players are often the center of sports articles, I wanted to dig deeper into what the coaches of AHS do behind the scenes to make our athletic program what it is today.

Head soccer coach Nathan Clayton and head football coach Allen Glenn both like to take care of last minute preparations to stay busy before their games. Coach Glenn gets the water coolers ready, passes out jerseys and pants, and gets the field set up. Similarly, Coach Clayton paints his field in the same sequence every time. He also goes over plays with his team to make sure that everyone is on the same page for the game.

Slow and fast pitch softball coaches, Chris Pace and Jessica Seger, both have similar traditions before games. If the girls win a game, they both wear the same clothes that they wore on the day that they won, even if it’s the next day. Coach Seger added that she didn’t always eat before games, but if she did, it would have to be sunflower seeds. The teams are either rewarded or punished after they win an away game. They’ll get to eat Chick-Fi-La or Mcdonald’s on the way home.

Third Round Bound

The AHS Football Team Tackles Their First Playoff Appearance

Hannah Hoang, The Prowl News

November 18, 2020

The subtle anticipation of Friday Night Lights could be felt throughout the hallways of Amory High School last week as the band, cheerleaders, dancers, and football players all prepared for the first playoff game of the season against the Choctaw County Chargers. Due to COVID-19, Amory had a bye week the first week of playoffs, giving them an extra week to work towards a state championship. The Chargers were fresh off of a win against Water Valley in the first round (31-14.) AHS entered post-season play as division champions, having beat key teams such as Nettleton and Booneville.

Last year, the Panthers lost their first playoff game due to a last minute touchdown scored by Independence High School. Deja vu kicked in for fans at Longenecker field Friday night when Choctaw County scored a touchdown in the last minutes of the game putting them up 26-20. As the stands began to clear out in anticipation of a loss, the Panthers made a fast drive to the endzone, and a touchdown pass from quarterback Hunter Jones (SR) to Braxton Griffin (SR) tied the game with seconds left on the clock. As special teams took the field, the remaining fans took to their feet with clasped hands of anticipation. After several flags were thrown against the team to push them back, punter Bryn Camp (SR) kicked the ball through the field posts, sealing an Amory win.

Amory will play at Winona this Friday for the third round of playoffs. A win there means a North Half appearance for the Panthers.

All on the Line:

Amory Panthers to face Noxubee County in the Division Championship

Hannah Hoang, The Prowl News

October 13, 2021

Coming fresh off a win against Hatley (0-6), the Panther Football team will travel to Macon, Mississippi, to face the Noxubee County High School Tigers this Friday, November 15th.

NCHS (4-2) won their game last Friday against Kemper County 22-14. The Tigers have also racked up a non-conference win against Shannon. Both Amory and Noxubee beat Hatley, with Amory putting up 49 and Noxubee scoring 52 points.

Junior running back Charleston French spoke of the mindset that the team has going into this week’s game.

“(Our goal) is to play the best game we’ve played all season, execute from all standpoints of the game, and play with our best effort.” French had 13 carries for 196 yards last week against Hatley. The game begins at 7 P.M. at Noxubee County High School.

Tale as Old as Time-Amory Faces Independence in the Second Round of Playoffs Once Again

Hannah Hoang, Prowl News

November 11th, 2021

As October comes to a close, the nights get colder and the days get longer. Amory Football prepares for the peak of their season: regional playoffs.

For the past four years, the Panthers have had a playoff appearance, with the longest run lasting through the 2020-2021 season ending in the third round during the game against Winona. Coming fresh off a win against Mantachie last week during the first round, the Panthers will travel to Independence for the second time in AHS Football history.

Current defensive back coach, Steve Griffin, attended Amory High School in the 90’s and was in the eighth grade when Amory faced Independence in the playoffs last. “I went with my dad and uncle to every game that year-home and away. The atmosphere at the game was intense...you don’t get many opportunities to face the team that put you out in the playoffs the year before on their turf. There was definitely a feeling of revenge in the air.”

Amory is in a similar situation this year, facing Independence for the first time since 2019, when Independence scored a last minute touchdown securing their spot in the next week of playoffs.

“There’s definitely a rich history between these two teams. The seniors now remember the loss their sophomore year and have already been talking about their anticipation for the game this week.” In terms of preparation, the team has tweaked their practices for the playoffs.

The Amory Panthers will travel to Independence on Friday, November 12th for the second round of playoffs. The game starts at 7 PM.

State Championship Bound

Hannah Hoang, The Prowl News

December 2nd, 2021

For the first time in over fifteen years, the Amory Panther Football team is headed to the 3A State Championship to face the Jefferson Davis County Jaguars. The Panthers (10-3) were recently crowned North Half Champs after defeating North Panola over Thanksgiving break 29-16. They received this accolade along with the Division Champion title which was awarded to them after dethroning the previous title holder, Noxubee County High School.

The last time black and gold jerseys were worn at the championship was in 2002-a time in which everyone on the team wasn't even born. Amory lost that year, unlike 1994,1995,and 1998 when they brought home the golden football trophy.

The team has been treated to a plethora of VIP treatments, including dinners, breakfasts, and a special send off to Hattiesburg. A very special event that took place was the community wide pep rally held at Longenecker field on Thursday morning. The band, dance, and cheerleaders all pumped up the crowd and student body in the stands to support and rally behind the football team. The team was even awarded the coveted spirit stick, cheering with the cheerleaders the loudest out of everyone at the field. Senior Ja´Tavious Ward and Head Coach Brooks Damper both were given the microphone during the pep rally and gave a speech thanking the fans and student body for their continued support throughout the season.

The Panthers will play in Hattiesburg at the University of Southern Mississippi (The Rock) at 11 AM on Friday, December 3rd.