By Angie Ledbetter

The 2008 Pope football team has been working hard to get ready for their new season. The team of 34 seventh and eighth graders has been working every day from 3:30 to 5:30 to get prepared.

The team will be under head coach Mike Turner who will start his ninth year as the Bulldogs’ coach.

According to Turner, last year was the weakest year that he had in several years. He had dominant teams up to then. Many of his players go on to start on the South Panola varsity team. Each year, he has four or five players who are on that team and proudly speaks of them.

Turner praised the players’ dedication this year.

“They worked hard all summer but it was all voluntary.  But to have a winning season, you have to start in the summer.”

The players came in during the summer and lifted weights, ran and pulled tires, according to Turner.

“It is things like that which make the program successful,” he said. “Their attitudes are good and they have listened well.  They are excited about the season.”

Turner talked of several key players who he will depend on this season including quarterback Tevis Flowers, an eighth grader. Two runningbacks include Lekedrick Flowers and Tyler Beard, both eighth graders.

At strong tackle is Billy Lightning, and at strong guard will be Luke Latham, both eighth graders.

The Bulldogs will start the season on the road at Water Valley on September 4, where they will take on the Jr. High Blue Devils.

Pope Football Roster

No.    Name     Grade

8    Landon Fullilove    7th
9     Eugene Love     8th
10    Hunter Sawyer    7th
12    Hunter Darby    7th
19    Tevis Flowers    8th
20    Austin Graves    8th
27     Bob Smith    7th
28    Gabriel Lloyd    7th
29    Lekedrick Flowers    8th
40    Tyler Tapp    7th
44    Tyler Beard    8th
47    Chase Beard    7th
51    Scotty Daugherty    8th
52    Cody Cook    7th
54    Gable Barefoot    7th
55    Chris McGee    7th
60    Trevor Boyette    8th
61    Garrett Barefoot    7th
62    Chase McCullough    7th
63    Adam Major    8th
64    Steven Sturgis    7th
65    Tanner Toliver    8th
68    Luke Latham    8th
72    Parker Jones    8th
73    Louis Nash    7th
75    Quardarius McMurry    7th
76    Jason Lantrip    7th
77    Billy Lightning    8th
78    Zane Surrette    7th
81    Blake Darby    8th
84    Logan Roberson    8th
88    Taylor Lee    8th
98    Hunter Pifcher    7th
99    Josh Sturgis    8th
Coach Mike Turner
Managers – Lake Dubois, James Ellis, Demetris Market, John Ellis