25 Teams in 25 Days: Ocean Springs Greyhounds

25 Teams in 25 Days is starting to become a staple here at News 25 as we bring back our award-winning high school football preview series for the third straight year.

Grace boyles, in tonight fo- jeff haeger.- 25 teams in 25 days is starting- to become a staple here at- news 25... as we bring back our- award-winning high school - football preview series... for- the third straight year.- w-x-x-v sports director jeff- haeger kicks us off from- jackson county... with stop - number 1.

- - and now... news 25's 25 teams i- 25- days... with jeff haeger.

- the last day of july and the- first day of news 25's 25 teams- in 25 - days... albeit a couple weeks - - - - behind schedule.

You know when- blake pennock took the head - coaching job- here at ocean springs... he had- no idea his first opponent woul- be against a global pandemic...- of course, no one - did.- and yet here we are... just ove- a month away... from the- greyhounds' season opener.- nat ---> "hey, work on one time one time, work!"

"yeah, i mean it's been a tryin time.

If someone would've told- me that back in - december i would've questioned- it.

I've never even heard of a- pandemic until now.

- but we're just rolling with it,- doing the best we can, adjustin- on the fly and trying to- make due and get ready for a- season."

Starting the season as late as- september 4th... at moss- point...- certainly better than the - alternative... of not having a- season at all.- "we were all super exited about it.

I mean there probably was a- spot in the back of our - minds thinking we weren't going- to have it.

But to know we star- on that day, it's - special."

"we just got lucky that we can play.

I mean things happen in - this world and you've just- got to fight through it.

And i'- just very glad we get to play.

- don't know what i would do- without football.

I mean i've - been playing since i was little- and i don't know- what i would do if i couldn't - play football for a year."

Social distancing on the- sidelines... wearing a mask to- team- meetings... and disinfecting- footballs during and after- practice... all just a small- price to pay... in this new - - - - world, of high school football.- "oh definitely with the mask an definitely the six feet apart - and everything but it is- different."

"everything they've listed us t do, we're trying to do them to- the best that we can- to make sure we save a season."

Especially a season with so muc- promise, under this new - - - - regime... starting at the top - with coach pennock... who led - pass- christian to its first playoff- win, in school history... as a- part of a seven-win turn-around- in 20-19.

- just imagine the- possibilities... at ocean - springs.- "i said it in my press conference back in december.

I- said i think it's a sleeping- giant."

"ocean springs is a sleeping giant."

"some guys are still sleeping.

And so we've just got to wake - them up and i feel like - we'll be well coached on the- field if we all get aggressive- and stuff.

We're not going- to be the biggest.

But you know- - - - how it goes, you never know."

That any given friday mentality- has the greyhounds- coming off back-to-back trips t- - - - the post-season... but also - back-to-back first round- exits... as well as a losing- season, in 20-19.

- "last year we were what, 5-7 i think.

We don't want to do that- again.

We want to - have a winning season."

"we're just trying to be great, not good.

That's what he- preaches every day and coming - out and not be average and just- be great every day."

"we want to try to be great all the time, be consistent and - stuff and stop just thinking- about the coast but thinking- about your region 3, thinking - - - - about statewide and comparing u- to the big picture in 6a rather- than just a small focus."

The greyhounds are admittedly - small in size... but they've go- plenty enough speed, to run - their zone read option... - - - - through either jak king or bray- hubbard... who continue to- battle it out, for the starting- quarterback job.- they also have a senior class,- of more than 20 players... who- simply can't afford to take thi- covid-shortened - season... for granted.- "i think you've seen it now since they made that- announcement.

I know our team i- pumped up through the roof.

The- feel like there's a goal, - there's an end game in- there."

"i just want to honestly make i past that first round of the- playoffs.

Our first goal is to- win - district, make it to playoffs.- but i just want to get past, an- i think we can make a - run."

- - - - all in all... coach pennock say- the greyhounds are only losing- one - game against ridgeland due to - the corona-virus pandemic...- having- re-scheduled pascagoula... to -