25 Teams in 25 Days: Stone Tomcats

There are a lot of ways to measure success here on News 25’s 25 Teams in 25 Days where Stone High School checks in as stop number 23.

- there's a lot of ways to measur- success, here on news 25's 25 - teams in 25 days... where stone- high school checks in... as - stop number 23.

- for the tomcats... their recent- success is measured by- playoff appearances... but not- so much playoff wins... - and that's the part they're out- to change... in year 5... of th- john feaster era.

- - 25 teams in 25 days... brought- to you by gulf coast business - furniture and supply... your- source for covid-19 supplies an- all of your sanitation needs.

- nat ---> sled banging - "we've been blessed since i've been here to make the playoffs- every year.

And when- you're not used to winning and- you don't have tradition - it's- been a long time since- we've won here at stone county - so i think guys kind of get - complacent and think- oh, we're going to make the - playoffs.

We're going to be - good.

And that's not- the case, man.

You've got to- come out and you've got to play- the game is not played on - paper and you don't play with - the past."

In present day stone county...- the tomcats are coming off thei- fourth straight trip, to the- playoffs... despite last- year's overall record, of 3-7..- and just seven wins combined...- over the past two seasons.- "the past couple of years, we'v been like four and three wins,- and we just want to be- different.

We're hungry this- year.

We want to be different.- we want to leave our mark, just- - - - get out and grind, you know?"

Better late than never... the - 20-19 tomcats finally built up- an- appetite for winning, by the en- of october... dominating their- - - - last two region 7 games... to - crack the post-season... yet- again.- "that was good for us to finish off the regular season - i mean- we played great - two - great wins at the end of the- season in the regular season.

- but we just want to feel- that every week.

What we felt - last year in the beginning of - the season, we don't ever - want to feel that again.

We jus- want to keep the winning going,- playing hard, - - - - playing for each other."

After drawing a first round - match-up, at region 8 - champion moss point... stone- found itself on the brink of- winning its second first round- game, since 20-17...- after not having previously don- so... in 26 years.- but it just wasn't meant to be,- for the tomcats... who dropped - 24-23 heart-breaker... at the - hands of the tigers.- "windy.

It was windy, cold but at the end of the day it hurt."

"i mean, we were hurt.

Our kids were hurt.

And of course, i fee- like moss point - outplayed us that night.

Our- kids played hard, but i always- say the team that plays - the hardest wins and the team - that coaches the best wins and- - - - that's what happened.

So i thin- it left a bitter taste in our - mouth, their mouth and i think- they're looking forward - - like i said - i think they're- looking forward to the season - now.

They feel like hey, we - could've made a run, but we - didn't."

One of the things working - against last year's team- could actually be a strength, i- 20-20... having now run its new- offense... for a full season.

- "we transitioned more into a spread offense.

But we spread i- to run it, and we basically - just takes what the defense - gives us.

So at the end of the- day, that takes a lot of- repitition on timing.

When- you're trying to rpo and- different things like that, - you've- got to get a lot of reps.

You'v- got to have your quarterbacks - and your receivers working- on timing all the time."

"it was all new to me, but i feel more experienced now with- - - - reading the defense and - everything like that and i feel- good now."

Incumbent starting quarterback- triston hickman - is one of about four returning- starters, on the offensive side- of- the ball... although stone is u- from 10 seniors, last - year... to 13, this year.

- and it's a class of 20-21 that- still remembers what it's like,- to get- out of the first round... so- long as the tomcats remember...- to- drink up.

- "making the playoffs is one thing.

That's an expectation- that's kind of built around - here.

- but we want to exceed that and- go deeper, and leave our mark - here."

"it's the top thing.

We work every day to get to the state - championship, to win- that state championship.

No - mercy, no matter what."

"like i try to tell them, it's here.

It's in the water, man.

- but it's up to us to tap into - it.

So i- think - like i say - i hear the- kids, their conversations, and- they believe.

They- believe they can make a run in- the playoffs.

They believe that- they can win a district - championship.

But now it's time- to go out and do it."

- stone actually opens its season- a week late, on september - 11th... - on the road, at hancock.- the tomcats picked up an extra- home game, against